Past lives: women’s journals online
October 12th, 2006
Ever idly wondered what a woman might have been writing in her diary on this day in, say - 1920?
I just found Harvard’s Open Collections website, where they publish primary-source documents from their collections - 7,500 pages of manuscripts, 3,500 books and pamphlets and 1,200 photographs. If you go to the diaries page you can see women’s journals opened at today’s date (updated daily).
I read what was written on this day by a farmer in 1887 ( “…rained quite a shower after dinner”), a schoolteacher in 1906 ( “…took a bath. Mended.”), a secretary in 1914 ( “…stayed in bed and fooled until 8.30″) and an actress in 1920 ( “…we saw Cohan’s opening - “meanest man in the world”).
Vicarious and addictive.
Technorati tags: women’s history, historical documents, women, diaries, history
5 Responses to “Past lives: women’s journals online”
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Past lives: women’s journals online
October 12th, 2006
Ever idly wondered what a woman might have been writing in her diary on this day in, say - 1920?
I just found Harvard’s Open Collections website, where they publish primary-source documents from their collections - 7,500 pages of manuscripts, 3,500 books and pamphlets and 1,200 photographs. If you go to the diaries page you can see women’s journals opened at today’s date (updated daily).
I read what was written on this day by a farmer in 1887 ( “…rained quite a shower after dinner”), a schoolteacher in 1906 ( “…took a bath. Mended.”), a secretary in 1914 ( “…stayed in bed and fooled until 8.30″) and an actress in 1920 ( “…we saw Cohan’s opening - “meanest man in the world”).
Vicarious and addictive.
Technorati tags: women’s history, historical documents, women, diaries, history
5 Responses to “Past lives: women’s journals online”
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Feminist Law Professors » Blog Archive » Links, On The House Says:
October 12th, 2006 at 5:07 pm[…] “Past Loves: Women’s Journals Online” at Feminish […]
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Sandy D. Says:
October 13th, 2006 at 2:51 pmHave you seen this, N? It was really fascinating reading this woman’s diary, but Laurel Thatcher Ulrich’s commentary (and her website! unbelievable!) added a huge amount to to it. I can see why she won the Pulitzer.
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natasha Says:
October 13th, 2006 at 3:00 pmBut of course!
I think it’s the most moving history book I have ever read. There’s the day when she unexpectedly loses a child (and mum? I can’t quite recall). The entry is so short - maybe three sentences. But I cried.
I thought of Martha Ballard when I started this blog actually. She’s one of the reasons I write so much about the weather.
What an awesome human being she was - and I think LTU’s scholarship exposed the incredible woman latent behind the stark words.
Thank you so much for reminding me - and what a cool post you pulled together!
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scribblingwoman Says:
October 14th, 2006 at 4:16 pmBusy marking…
but wanted to note the marvellous Open Collections Program of the Harvard University Library. Available for perusal is “Women Working,…… -
History Carnival XLI | ClioWeb Says:
October 15th, 2006 at 9:51 pm[…] Feminish’s “Past Lives: Women’s Journals Online alerts us to Harvard’s Open Collections, containing thousands of primary sources, including diaries. Jennie W. at American Presidents Blog recounts Children’s Letters to the President,” Jennie highlights a letter to Ronald Reagan by Andy Smith, a seventh-grader, who requested “federal funds to hire a crew to clean up [his] room.” […]
October 12th, 2006 at 5:07 pm
[…] “Past Loves: Women’s Journals Online” at Feminish […]
October 13th, 2006 at 2:51 pm
Have you seen this, N? It was really fascinating reading this woman’s diary, but Laurel Thatcher Ulrich’s commentary (and her website! unbelievable!) added a huge amount to to it. I can see why she won the Pulitzer.
My Bloggage on “A Midwife’s Tale”
October 13th, 2006 at 3:00 pm
But of course!
I think it’s the most moving history book I have ever read. There’s the day when she unexpectedly loses a child (and mum? I can’t quite recall). The entry is so short - maybe three sentences. But I cried.
I thought of Martha Ballard when I started this blog actually. She’s one of the reasons I write so much about the weather.
What an awesome human being she was - and I think LTU’s scholarship exposed the incredible woman latent behind the stark words.
Thank you so much for reminding me - and what a cool post you pulled together!
October 14th, 2006 at 4:16 pm
Busy marking…
but wanted to note the marvellous Open Collections Program of the Harvard University Library. Available for perusal is “Women Working,……
October 15th, 2006 at 9:51 pm
[…] Feminish’s “Past Lives: Women’s Journals Online alerts us to Harvard’s Open Collections, containing thousands of primary sources, including diaries. Jennie W. at American Presidents Blog recounts Children’s Letters to the President,” Jennie highlights a letter to Ronald Reagan by Andy Smith, a seventh-grader, who requested “federal funds to hire a crew to clean up [his] room.” […]