Buy this book on-line

GWEN STEDMAN [later KENNEDY] : 1942 - 1947 HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT TORONTO HOMEFRONT DIARY

32mo - over 4" - 5" tall. On offer is the original handwritten manuscript 5 year diary [1942 - 1947] of Gwen Stedman, later Kennedy, who resides in Toronto in the East York - Riverdale area with frequent mentions of Broadview and Danforth, Pape Avenue, Logan, Woodbine +++. This is a super home-front Toronto diary as this dedicated diarist details a charming picture of a vintage Toronto living experience with the mention of visits and trips touching many, many popular spots in the city some still existing others closing over the years. This diary is A++ in the Toronto nostalgia index for the later World War II years and just after the War. She mentions: movies at the Uptown, evening at the Stork Club, off to the Pilot for pie and coffee, big fire at the Tudor Hotel, blackout nights in 1943, dancing at the Arcadian 'with a fellow from Peterboro. Rather nice but hair awfully thin.'], dancing at the Royal York's famed Imperial Room +++ Besides the treasure trove of vintage Toronto content is a very interesting sociological and gender studies thread. This girl is 18 years old [b.1925, died Sept. 7, 2006] at the earliest writings and she never misses a day until the end of the book at the age 23. Her life is split between family [mother, father and brother Ron] and boys, held together by work [at Lever Brothers], shopping and entertainment. Sadly her boyfriend of two years enters the war and is killed in operational action over India in 1945. Multiple memorial newspaper clippings attest to Gwen's deep feelings for 'Andy'. That said there are a number of 'dark' entries including the very first day of January 1943 when she writes: 'Dick called in evening. What is marriage coming to? I was nothing short of surprised.' Dick appears to be a senior married employee at Lever Brothers. Research finds Gwen's obituary with the following: "Daughter of the late Sidney and Ada Stedman....Predeceased by her late husbands, Frank Kennedy and Hugh Adrain and her brother Ron Stedman. Formerly of Lachine, Ste. Adele and Rosemere, Quebec." The leather of this 5 year diary is chipped and rubbed, the hinges are cracked but overall G.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

Bibliophile Bookbase for antiquarian books, maps and prints.