Buy this book on-line

DAVID HARRIS UNDERHILL aka 'DHU' : 1932 + 1935 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARIES HANDWRITTEN BY DEPRESSION ERA SCION OF THE UNDERHILL SOCIETY AND ONE TIME LIBRARIAN OF THE NEW YORK LIBRARY

8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. On offer are to very interesting manuscript relics of Depression era Americana being the original handwritten diaries of David Harris Underhill (1850-1936) the rather well-known founder of the Underhill Society of America. "DHU" as he was commonly known, was a librarian at the New York Public Library and also at St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church in the Williamsburgh section of New York City. DHU was married to Caroline F. Green and they had 2 children, Stephen Greene and Lucinda Harris [a census record of the Harris household also included an adopted daughter Emma and an adopted grand-daughter Miriam]. All are mentioned throughout both diaries. In addition to his labors at the Library and at St. John's, DHU became the Corresponding Secretary and Family Historian of the Underhill Society of America once it was formally organized in the 1890's. His activities are detailed in these diaries as he answered correspondence, organized paperwork, and engineered the relocation of his duties to Lincoln, Vermont in 1935 after his wife's death. The diaries also detail the family's activities both while living in Brooklyn, while summering Vermont, and finally after moving to "Apple Blossom Cottage" in Lincoln, Vermont. He writes in an aged hand and his failing health is apparent in the 1935 diary. Ephemera littered throughout the book adds to the depth of the entries. Here are snippets: 1932 diary: "Jan. 14th Had lunch with Harvey P. Underhill at the Princeton Club 1p.m. 39th & Park Ave. to confer about putting his picture and biography in next annual report U.S.A.;" "Jan. 22nd Emma's birthday. Had birthday cake and grape juice in evening;" "Jan. 26th At work on ancestry of Charles A. Underhill;" "Feb. 5th Working on list for M.C. Taylor for Underhill Genealogy to give or sell to members of the U.S.A.;" "Mar. 8th Clear and cold windy Lindberg not found after a week;" "Apr. 5th The Underhill Genealogy is published and for sale...$30.00;" "May 1st Mr. Thomas F. Underhill, gr-son of Thomas F. Underhill called...suggests calling the Sunrise Bridge 'The Capt John Underhill Bridge.' He knows Harvey Boro Pres of Queens;" "May 26 ....saw President Harvey of Queens about tablets for the Rockaway Boulevard Bridge...Capt John Underhill Bridge;" "Jun. 12th Descendants Day at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Eastchester (tickets attached)." While on vacation in Vermont: "Jul. 9th Rat killed one of Lu's kittens in the wood shed last night;" "Aug. 2nd Mamma, Mary Jones, and I attended Lincoln Union of Old Folks;" "Aug. 20th Bought lawn mover for Lu $6.50. Took snooze in evening. Weight 190 pounds;" Back in Flatbush: "Oct 12th Went to Jamaica to Underhill Bridge Unveiling. 2p.m. parade started. I was on grandstand....I unveiled the tablet to Capt. John Underhill (includes list of some in attendance out of the crowd of 1,000, including 4 photographers);" "Oct 17th Spent most of the day recording gifts to the Underhill Soc. Library of curios & letters from Elizabeth Sullivant Columbus, Ohio. She also presented the wine glass that Capt John Underhill used;" "Wed. Oct 19th Finished recording articles from Elizabeth Sullivant 82 articles recorded;" "Dec. 2nd Elmer gilding and cleaning portraits of Rev. Eli Wheeler, Clavin (?) Underhill, and Mr. & Mrs. Well;" "Dec. 3rd Elmer cleaning and gilding Harris portraits David and Margaret;" "Dec. 4th Elmer hung portraits of David C. and Margaret Harris in the dining room;" "Dec. 16th M.C. Taylor sailed on the Bremen;" "Dec. 24th Tag (the dog) much better. Elmer, Miriam, Lu, and Emma trimming the tree;" "Dec. 31st Radio from various cities abroad and U.S. celebrating New Year....DHU sat up til 2AM." As this listing is getting out of control we'll try to go lightly over the 1935 diary....which is actually more relevant to the relocation of DHU and his files to Vermont....and how that move was accomplished. Sadly, this diary opens the day after the death of DHU's wife, and just as funeral preparations were being made. Here are some exerpts: "Jan. 1st Lu, Stephen, Mary, and DHU went to Locust Valley to Underhill Cemetery to locate place to put Mama away....sorrowful journey;" "Jan. 3rd Mamma was buried in Underhill Burying Ground;" "Jan. 23 Blizzard 18 inches of snow....similar to blizard of 1888;" "Jan. 24th The trial of Hautman for the kidnapping of Lindberg baby ended the prosecution and defense begins at 6p.m.;" "Jan. 30th President Roosevelt's 53 d birthday. Hauptman trial still on;" "Feb. 16th Elmer Lathrop had an interview about moving U.S. Library this summer to Vt.;" "Feb. 24th Will be glad when we get to Vermont;" "Mar. 24th Ready to pack Underhill Library material;" "Apr. 31st Mr. and Mrs. Baum called. Took some of the J.T.U. effects sword, gun, Lancashire Bible, J.T.U. Bible, and steins;" "Apr. 9th Packing of U.S.A. all finished for Vermont and W.C. Taylor vault. Family portraits to be crated;" In Vermont: "May 4th Began to be uneasy about the second load of goods...was glad to hear the truck about 9 o'clock...moving cost was $140. but we sure are glad to be here at last;" "May 17th Harley Farr's boy Paul 3 yrs old was lost on their farm about 4 o'clock and they had men from all over the neighborhood looking for him but they gave up the search about 11;" "May 18th Little Farr boy found by his Aunt about a mile from home....no bad effects so far;" "Aug. 15th Listened to memorial service for Will Rogers & Wiley Post who were killed in an air plane accident in Alaska;" "Sep. 16th ...a fire broke out in the garage of the Moses (?) place burning the entire barn & garage, a car, and a truck, but they saved the house;" "Oct. 16th Arthur dug potatoes. We had 6 bushels of good ones and about 2 bushels of half rotten ones;" "Nov. 4th Lu found one of the 12 small chickens dead in the pen...no cause apparent;" "Thu. Nov. 28th Thanksgiving Day ....had a 13 pound turkey and a good dinner;" "Dec. 31st Sat up with Daddy and Steve to see the old year out." The diaries also list household expenses, weather observations, number of eggs laid, and the like. The 5 x 7 inch books' exteriors are in rough shape and the insides somewhat better. Overall Fair.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Fair

Bibliophile Bookbase for antiquarian books, maps and prints.