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ARLENE BERYL MANUEL : 1940 - 1941 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY A YOUNG PENNSYLVANIA GIRL WHO WAS A STUDENT AT THE SOUTHERN COLLEGE IN PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA IN ONE OF THE INSTITUTION'S FINAL YEARS

12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. On offer is an original 1940-41 diary authored by Arlene Beryl Manuel from McKeesport in Pennsylvania, who was a student at the Southern College in Virginia shortly before it closed down. The college was founded by the Davis family in 1863, was considered one of the finest female schools in the U.S. until early century, but then experienced financial problems, did not open for 1938-39, and finally closed down in 1942. The diary shows what life of students in junior colleges for women was like before WW2, though not as much in classrooms as in dormitories. Arlene writes mostly about her social life, which consists of shopping, playing tennis, bowling, dance lessons, swimming, and going to movies, and describes parties in the dormitories and coming after curfew hours. Arlene starts her records on September 26, 1940: "Had first class today. English teacher - Mr. Rusterholtz. Visited Country Club and played table tennis. Movie in evening "Dance, Girl, Dance". Several times she mentions Dr. Davis - Arthur Kyle Davis, the college president, a prominent educator and scholar, chair of the Virginia War History Commission, who was a son of the college founder, but not in the context related to studies: "Stayed home from club today because of a cold and sore throat. Had a pillow fight in smoking room. Dr. Davis was glad!", "Somebody hid the bell and kids who had dates got scolded by Dr. Davis". On September first students went on a Pilgrimage through historical battlefields: "Very interesting. Came back in time for supper. Dr. Davis gave a talk in assembly after which I wrote some letters and read". On November 5 she attends an art lecture by an art professor and artist R. Crawford Livingston, and on January 28th a lecture by Dorothy Draper, a famous American designer. Though her college life does not seem very stressful, she feels homesick, and when Chuck (probably her brother) leaves after a short visit she is upset: "Chuck and I sat in an ice cream parlour and talked instead of going to church. Wend for dinner and sat around a while. He left on the 2:15 train. How I hated to see him go. Cried a lot this evening." She describes Christmas party and a drunk party she had in her room, and Christmas holiday she spent at home with her family. The last entry is made on January 31, 1941. At the end of the diary she gives a detailed list of her expenses, and a list of college students with their home cities, and of teachers. The book itself is a Diary of the Travels issued by Samuel Ward MFG Co in Boston, it contains maps, distances, list of national parks and other information for travellers, has a leather cover with a picture of a sailing boat attached with copper screws.. Illustr.: /. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good+

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