1943 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT HOMEFRONT DIARY HAND WRITTEN BY A HARD CHARGING SIERRA MADRE CALIFORNIA WOMAN WHO DOES A SUPER JOB DETAILING HER LIFE AND TIMES WHILE THE DARK BACKDROP OF WORLD WAR II LOOMS

On offer is the interesting, original 1943 manuscript diary of Maybelle Caley Barker. A treasure trove of narrative making for a fascinating look at gender or women's' issues and the changing roles and perceptions of women in the mid-20th Century, a time of unprecedented change and the backdrop of a world at war. For a social historian, the diary opens a window of insight into the issues she thought were important and worthy of commenting upon. She didn't shy away from social issues either; although how she tempered her actions reflected a wider social view of women in society. When a male friend published an article in a local newspaper critical of women, she joined other women in writing letter of complaint we girls are writing Stan "letters of protest re his column sending them from other towns under assumed names ..... I signed it "Irate Husband". (Sept 23) She went on to quote the following rhyme - even though my wife's heels are high and her seams are crooked, she makes swell pie and I love her - so what are you going to do about it." The diary also recounts the day-to-day activities in Barker's life throughout 1943. These focused on personal issues, health matters, status of family and friends and social gossip. Here are some snippets: "Got Gov check and Pension chk (May 31) [her husband, an Army Captain in WWI was deceased]; "went after meat - stood in line a half hour. Sliced bread has come back - thank goodness. Wrote H [her sister Hilda] and N {her niece Nadine] a letter (Mar 13); Rained steady all day Am glad I have a stew on hand so I do not have to look for food Letter from Hilda (Jan 22)." However, she wasn't unmindful of great events swirling around her. Attending Hollywood Bowl appearance of Madame Chiang Kai-shek, she notes: Surrounding the Bowl was heavily guarded by soldiers as they looked for a Jap invasion (Apr 4). She goes on to record that Spencer Tracy opened the program., introducing Henry Fonda USN in sailors uniform ..... Mary Pickford, dressed in yellow presented flowers. Many other individuals are noted such as Gov Earl Warren, later Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court and principal author of the Warren Report concerning the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It appears there is a Caley Family Papers collection at the Earl Gregg Swem Library at the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA. The diary is in good condition. The entries, a combination of pencil and pen, are legible and easy to read. The diary is hard-bound and the binding is in good condition. Included in the diary is a newspaper clipping from the Sierra Madre News of the last editorial written by Perley Poore Sheehan - a film writer (17 films), novelist (13 novels) and former New York Times Paris correspondent.; Manuscript; 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, MAYBELLE CALEY BARKER, CALEY FAMILY PAPERS, COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY, GENDER STUDIES, WOMEN'S STUDIES, SOCIAL HISTORY, SIERRA MADRE, EARL GREGG SWEM LIBRARY, CALIFORNIA, WWII, WORLD WAR II ERA, HOMEFRONT DIARY, WAR WIDOW, CALIFORNIA, WWII, AMERICANA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, KEEPSAKE WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, ARCHIVE, DIARY, DIARIES, JOURNAL, LOG, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, DOCUMENT, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, MANUSKRIPT, PAPIER OGGETTO D’ANTIQUARIATO, ATTO, VELINA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITTO, CARTA ANTIGÜEDAD, HECHO, VITELA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITO, PAPEL