1936 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HAND WRITTEN BY A KEEN EYED, WELL READ AND EDUCATED YOUNG WOMAN TEACHING IN THE BURNSVILLE AND ASHEVILLE AREA

On offer is an interesting diary of a young woman living in the far western reaches of North Carolina's mountainous Appalachian region. The diary is in fair condition. The spine has broken but all save the first page remain sewn in. The diary measures 5 1/2 inches by 4 inches and has 356 pages. There are entries for all of 1936 and the first 2 1/2 months of 1937. The handwriting is fairly legible. The only identification of the author is the inscription M. Hensley on the frontispiece. From context, we learn that she is a young woman who lives at home and teaches in a local school somewhere close to Burnsville, NC. Her life is taken up with activities involving her teaching and some socializing with friends. She makes frequent trips to Burnsville for education activities and goes to Asheville with friends for shopping and entertainment. She reads extensively (e.g. Pearl Buck's The Exile), enjoys listening to classical music on the radio (piano concert by Mozart , Metropolitan Opera Company broadcast of Carmen) and seeing performances in Ashville such as Tale of Two Cities and Mutiny on the Bounty. She is certainly aware of things happening in the wider world. For example: "... news of a new kidnapping case 10 yr old Chas Mattson." [Jan 5, 1937]. This refers to the famous Mattson child kidnapping in Tacoma WA in December, 1936. It was news across the United States and ended unfortunately in the murder of that child - something she noted in her Jan 15th entry. "Read an account of Bruno Hauptmann's execution. I was among one of the many Americans who hoped in vain for a reprieve. The sensational crime is unsolved to my mind." [Apr 4, 1936]. The 'sensational crime' that she is referring to is the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh's son in 1932. "The world is all agog over the abdication of King Edward. Ah romance is still alive in the 20th century. Or, is it really romance - no-one knows save the abdicated King" [Dec 10, 1936]. One of the most poignant series of entries occurs in April, 1936, when she learns of the sudden death of a very close friend: "A letter from Dan brought the dreadful news - the breath-taking news of Emma's sudden death. I am unable to realize it. I can't comprehend it. I rebel against her being taken from me - who loved her as devotedly - my dearest of friends! Why!" [Apr 11, 1936]. "Wretched day. How miserable I feel - I walked 3 miles - Oh Emma, if you could only come back to me! How I love you darling. How can I go on without you - my heart is broken so" [Apr 12, 1936]. The raw emotions and feeling lift off the page and transform this diary from a dusty recollection of words from years gone by and breathe life into this indistinct image of a young school teacher in rural North Carolina. A social historian or a researcher into women's studies would find this diary quite valuable in examining life in a small rural area of North Carolina, particularly as it was written by an educated and observant young woman.; Manuscript; 24mo - over 5" - 5¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, M. HENSLEY, 20TH CENTURY, 1930s, GREAT DEPRESSION, UNITED STATES, NORTH CAROLINA, ASHEVILLE, NC, BURNSVILLE, NC; BUNCOMBE COUNTY, YANCEY COUNTY, APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS; MATTSON MURDER CASE; LINDBERGH KIDNAPPING; ABDICATION OF KING EDWARD; DUKE OF WINDSOR; TEACHING IN RURAL NORTH CAROLINA; WOMEN'S STUDY, SOCIAL STUDY, AMERICANA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, DIARY, DIARIES, JOURNALS, PERSONAL HISTORY, SOCIAL HISTORY, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, DOCUMENT, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, MANUSKRIPT, PAPIER OGGETTO D'ANTIQUARIATO, ATTO, VELINA, DOCUMENTO, MANOSCRITTO, CARTA ANTIGÜEDAD, HECHO, VITELA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITO, PAPEL