Buy this book on-line

MARIAN PURCELL : 1910 - 1915 ORIGINAL GROUP OF FOUR [4] MANUSCRIPT DIARIES HAND WRITTEN BY A YOUNG LOS ANGELES WOMAN DETAILING PRE WORLD WAR I LIFE IN LOS ANGELES

16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall. On offer is a pair of leather bound diaries written by Marian I Purcell. The diaries cover parts of 1910, 1913, 1914 and 1915. This first diary is a small leather-bound notebook measuring 6 inches by 3 1/2 inches. It is in fair condition. It covers the period Sept 16, 1913 to Sept 14, 1915. The bulk of the entries are in the last half of 1914. Marian Purcell was born Sept 16 1892 in Fort Wayne IN where she lived until she was 17. The first book covers the period July 19, 1910 to Jan 6, 1911 but there are many gaps in entries. They are typical of a teenage girl of the time. They note essentially social interactions with friends and family. "Slept till quite late ... fooled around all day" [July 19, 1910]. "Delight A and her mother were over in A.M. and P.M. …just fooled around in eve went over to Tad Werner and Charlie called over We went to [ ]" [July 28, 1910]. Just laid around all day, in eve ma and pa and I all went walking in late" [Aug 21, 1910] She notes on Oct 1, 1910, that her family is moving to Los Angeles, CA. She makes it very clear that she does not want to move: "Left ... for California hated to come" [Oct 1]. The second book is a 5-year diary. However, the entries do not cover all of the time period. Entries begin in Sept, 1913. In the Memoranda section, she notes: "Went to Business College to learn shorthand from April-14-13 - June 14-1913". Although here are frequent gaps, there is enough information to know when she was married, her husband's name, some addresses where they lived and what type of work she did. She married William L Harris June 18th, 1914. They note that she worked in an office, likely the Los Angeles Herald Examiner which was a major Los Angeles daily newspaper of the time. There are numerous references in 1913 about ... at the office ... On May 2nd, 1914 she notes: "Quit work at Examiner to get ready to be married" [May 2, 1914]. There are no further references to her working. Subsequent entries focus on interactions with friends and social events. It appears she never worked again outside of her home. There are no references to children or other family members, although some of the named individuals may well be related There are no references to outside events and she seems very focused on her own life and experiences. "At office all day. In eve went to see "The Quaker Girl". It was fine". [Sept 14, 1913]. "To the office. Did not come back for afternoon. In eve stayed home" [Nov 18, 1913] "Payday Gribbeu's were over, Velma, Billy and I went to picture show & Porters" [Nov 26, 1913]. "My wedding day. The day of my life. Married at 8:00 in evening by Deacon Mac Cormack on roof gardens of the Pickwick Left that night stayed at the [ ] left the next A.M. for Catalina" [June 18, 1914]. The last entry was made in August, 1915: "Stayed home all day - in eve was home ..." [Aug 9, 1915]. Additionally, there are newspaper clippings (mostly referring to her wedding), several photographs that appear to be of her and her new husband and several post cards. There is also a copy of her formal wedding invitation. These two diaries give a look into the life of a young woman in the early years of the 20th century. A historian, especially on studying daily life in pre-WWI Los Angeles would find this to be an interesting description of social life at that time.. Illustr.: /. Manuscript. Book Condition: Fair

Bibliophile Bookbase for antiquarian books, maps and prints.