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MARGARET ELLIOTT : 1925 UNIQUE DEEPLY PERSONAL ORIGINAL HANDWRITTEN DIARY OF A YOUNG LIBERATED WOMAN IN UNIVERSITY, LIVING AN EXCITING SOCIAL LIFE, DATING SEVERAL MEN, AND EMBODYING THE QUINTESSENTIAL ‘FLAPPER’ IDEAL

4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. On offer is an exceptional diary of the personal life of a young woman in the mid 1920s, who perfectly embodies the Aesthetic and ideas of the “Flapper”. The diary is extremely personal in nature, and showcases an amazing view into the life of a woman on the vanguard of a new generation of women. The diary provides fascinating insight into the mind of a young women during the 1920’s “Gilded Age”. As can be seen throughout the diary, she definitely embodies the ‘liberated’ woman ideal of the time: attending University, dating several men at a time, hinting at casual sexual encounters, and maintaining a strong individualistic streak throughout. The diary is packed with details about her ever changing and active love life. The diary belonged to Margaret Elliott, a sophomore at Purdue University circa 1925. There are many entries dealing with Sorority life as she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega, and briefer entries about her studies. Nevertheless the majority of the diary concerns her relationships with men and almost every page has some discussion of her thoughts about dating the personalities of boyfriends, how she met them, what shows they have attended,and in cases hint at sexual encounters, There are also very personal entries dealing with periods of depression and times where she questions her own inability to be with just one partner and her constantly changing state of mind when it comes to her many suitors. Elliott is in so many relationships throughout the diary that it can be hard to keep track of all the names. This is an intensely personal diary of a very active young woman, who represents a very new and exciting period in American history as well as women’s history in general. The diary is a fascinating read. In all, it contains 368 handwritten pages. Her handwriting is very easy to read, usually done in either blue ink and occasionally pencil, and can be quite dense, as she often takes up the entire page with her thoughts and observations. Most entries also have a small quote at the top of the page. These quotes also show an important part of Elliott’s intellectual life, as many of them are from prominent feminist writers and thinkers of the time such as Sarah Grand and Margaret Widdemer, as well as poets such as Tennyson, Kipling and others. The last three pages also contain a number of quotes and passages and poems, mostly dealing with love and womanhood. Some of the quotes also show distinct feminist thought, such as: “Man may redeem the past but woman never can,” “Does a woman ever marry the man who is kindest to her? It is unrecorded if this has ever happened,” and “There is no such thing as justice in the world!” This is one of the most personal diaries listed here. It’s definitely the type of diary that encourages the reader to turn the page and read on. The book is in good shape. The front cover and portions of the spine show a good bit of wear and tear from use and age. There are also two bits of tape on the diary, that Elliott used to close off the diary from other people. It is evident Elliott thought this diary to be absolutely personal. The front cover reads, “Personal. Hands off! Eyes off!” Samples of Entries: “Jan 18,1925. Slept until 12 o'clock Dreamed I was at home. Got up and ate dinner. Dot called up. She is a good old scout. Pinkie was not at the dance last nite but sang a serenade outside while Tex was here Oh My ! I suppose he was drunk! Rode right across the aisle in the St so confront him yesterday he couldn’t look anywhere but the window. If he wanted to come back I wonder what I’d do ? Tex! called me about his “ Pain “ and his episode “ last night. Here to be another horrible morning I fear.”; “Jan 31,1925. Had a somewhat serious conversation with Chris, and he thinks “ I care an awful lot for someone else” I told him i didn't and I don’t think I do. Anyhow I could live without them all. He was not expecting me to go back Sunday P.M. and I did feel momentarily sorry for him. The show was “What Man Desires” and had for it’s “theme” Girls strive to be what the man they love ; thinks and wants them to be” it is very true I guess. I wonder wonder, and wonder!”; “Jan 28, 1925. Got home last night about 6:30 car broke and we had to transfer making 45 mins late. Read last night and heard all the news. Got up late this morn have a date tonight with Feister, and am not at all crazy about seeing him bet I hate him before evening is done. Went to see Conrad Nagel and Lou Cody in “So this is Marriage.“ Bible picture was pretty but story and theme was bunk. Saw no one I knew.”; “Jan 29, 1925. Got up and wrote a letter to Tex! Hope he appreciates it but he won’t. Received no letters from La Fayette yet so guess he is still ok. Harvey Kendall is going to write me if he takes sick so is Claude. Had a miserable evening last night. I’m growing to hate Feister as I hate them all around here. He can’t help it or know it I think . I wouldn't let him near me. He makes me shriek Ugh! If he knew!”; “Feb,5, 1925. Tex gets out of Quarantine Oh ! Tex got out Wed am at 10’o clock. He did call me and came over just as I hoped. We danced awhile and acted crazy, then shut the door and talked. He said people didn't fall in love by seeing so much of each other but by being separated awhile. He said he realized he loved me when i was gone Skeetz was here with Lou and he hardly knew what to make of us I'll bet Tex was so mean and teased me all evening. We had a peach of a time. I asked him to out.”; “June 7,1925. “Nat” didn't leave till 3 am it was just light as day. He doesn't trust or love me now. But maybe he will get over it. It made me feel badly but I am not worrying it was wrong but - We went to the mixer for a little while Sat night it was an Alumni mixer big crowd but didn't know many people. Nat came over and took me to the Fauter- for dinner all showed up in full style and it sure was good. Came home and tried to make up with him but he wouldn't get over it till I got mad!”; “July, 13,1925. Blue Monday ! I feel depressed lost , as if I had forgotten something I can’t figure out the cause. Nat is better but is still on crutches till Wed or Thursday He is going to make me write him an invitation before he will come to see me ! Sensitive nature again ! I like him for it I mailed him a letter today and am going to write tonight again One day! M came and told me lots of News!!!”; “Aug 26,1925. There is something wrong with me this week I feel entirely different towards Nat. His letters don’t even interest me Oh diary, am I wicked or so terribly different from other girls in that I can’t like one man alone? It seems there must be two before I’m happy.When I get a letter from Nat I am looking for one from Tex. I almost get mad at Nat. I have been writing him short letters because I can’t think of a thing to say.” (Historical Notes: This was the age of the “Flapper”. Flappers were a generation of young Western women in the 1920s who wore short skirts, bobbed their hair, listened to jazz, and flaunted their disdain for what was then considered acceptable behavior. Flappers were seen as brash for wearing excessive makeup, drinking, treating sex in a casual manner, smoking, driving automobiles, and otherwise flouting social and sexual norms. Flappers had their origins in the liberal period of the Roaring Twenties, the social, political turbulence and increased transatlantic cultural exchange that followed the end of World War I, as well as the export of American jazz culture to Europe. The flapper stands as one of the most enduring images of youth and new women in the twentieth century, and is viewed by Americans as something of a cultural heroine nowadays. However, back in the 1920s, many Americans regarded flappers as threatening to conventional society, representing a new moral order. Although most of them were the daughters of the middle class, they flouted middle-class values. They shrugged off their chaperones, danced suggestively, and openly flirted with boys.). Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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