1919 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT POST WWI DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY A VIVACIOUS AND VACUOUS OMAHA GIRL DETAILING A FUN LIFE ALL THE WHILE THE CITY FACES VIOLENT TROUBLED TIMES, MUDEROUS LABOR STRIFE AND A CHILLING REFERENCE TO RIDING AN ILL-FATED ROLLERCOASTER

On offer is a diary that records a year in the life of a young Nebraska school teacher following WWI. The slim leather-bound volume measures 6 inches by 3 1/2 inches. It contains 110 pages and is 100% complete. The writing is quite legible. Millie McMillin is a young woman living at home in Omaha, Nebraska, USA and teaching in a local school. Her diary runs from Aug 6th 1919 to June 30th, 1920. She writes in a relaxed, casual manner, recording daily events at school, family interactions and her very busy social life. "The Tonners left after having taken Alleene, Carl and me to the "Gayety'" (Time! Such a show!). Carl went out to dinner with us. Then all 5 of us went to Krug Park. I danced with Uncle Will and we all rode the roller coaster" [Aug 30]. It's interesting to note that Krug Park would be the scene of the most deadly roller coaster accident in the United States up to 1930. "Cousin Clara, Mother and I dolled [up?] and went to S.S. in the rain, only a few there but very nice little meeting. Glory!! 'Cheter' Orr is back ... Discharged Sept 22, 1919" [ Sept 28]. Her diary notes are very local and personal. She makes no mention at all of the Omaha Race Riot which took place Sept 28th and 29th. These resulted in murders, the attempted lynching of the mayor and the lynching of William Brown at the hands of a 4,000 strong violent mob that wrecked havoc on the downtown of the city. Eventually nearly 2,000 soldiers were brought in to enforce order. "Rainy and still had a little fever so I had Mamie Duer teach again. Agreed to pay her $1.50. Cut out and worked on my new blue waist." [Oct 21]. The pleasure in some time away from school at Christmas is evident here: "All my cares are over for a while. Am just enjoying life ... " [Dec 20]. All-in-all, this is a chatty record of a young woman going about her life. A social historian would find this an interesting resource as it offers one backdrop to the very tense and troubled times Omaha was experiencing after the war - troubles that ranged from serious racial tensions, labour disruptions and the fear of socialism.; Manuscript; 16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF; UNITED STATES; DOUGLAS COUNTY; NEBRASKA; MIDWESTERN UNITED STATES; 20TH CENTURY, 1910s; WW1; GREAT WAR; FIRST WORLD WAR; MILLIE MCMILLIN, OMAHA, NE, OMAHA RACE RIOTS, KRUG PARK, THE LYNCHING OF WILL BROWN; ENTERTAINMENT IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY; NEBRASKA TEACHERS IN 1910s; YOUNG WOMEN IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY; OMAHA IN 1910s; WOMEN'S STUDIES; SOCIAL LIFE IN EARLY 20TH CENTURY NEBRASKA; 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