1907 HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT DIARY OF A YOUNG TOPEKA KANSAS WOMAN WITH CHARM, PERSONALITY AND A KEEN OBSERVER

On offer is a terrific, original 1907 handwritten diary and journal of Susie C. Staples of Topeka, Kansas. This book, hand dated by the author, has over 300 entries for the year. The diary is a wonderful bit of western Americana as it provides a detailed inner look at this mature young [28 y/o at writing] woman's life is like in early 20th century Kansas and is also a super travel diary of an extended mid-western road trip. Susie worked for the Santa Fe Railway in Topeka, Kansas apparently as a senior clerk working on foreign account records, passenger records, training other clerks, etc., but she doesn't go into great detail. She is an ideal diarist starting with mention of that day's weather and a synopsis of her day and evening, mentioning names of calls and visitors and local historians and collectors will find a wealth of local history and genealogy. For transportation she still used a horse & buggy but also used the electric car and many trains to get around. At one time there is an entry that their horse got scared by an auto & fell & hurt his knees quite badly - the vet was called a day or so later and said not to use him for 10 days. They played a lot of Flinch after dinner, sewed, shopped, went to parties, Church, visited relatives constantly, she sometimes quotes what was served for dinner, it seems someone in her family was always taking a train somewhere, she mentions illness, redecorating of their home, attending parades and other amusements, and much, much more. Here are some snippets: Wed. Jan 2 - .Terrible wreck on Railroad only 43 miles west of Topeka this A.M. at 5:00. 30 persons killed. One a colored porter was killed, lived just back of us. Thurs. Jan 31st. Ground one glaze of ice everything covered. Started to drive down - so slippery horse could not stand up had to get out & walk down so was 20 min. late. Told Miss Fauble the reason. Sun. Feb 3rd. Coldest day so far this winter.Gas pressure so low had to all live in kitchen not very warm there. Cousin Ivy started a wood fire up in her room and we visited up there. She came with me to depot. I left Kansas City at 4:30 arrived home between 6 & 7. Thurs. Mar. 14th. A lovely day first time the sun has shown for over a week. Mattie & I asked to get off to go to depot to see Cousin Agnes. We saw Cousin Agnes & her three children Lewis, Mac & Elinor & Cousin Gertrude it was quite a satisfaction to even see them & we had a nice little visit. Just think they go from Penn. to Cal. take all their meals on the train, travel in a drawing room section. C. Gertrude is not much larger than Minnie, not any better looking she is so wrinkled & freckled & red hair but very pleasant.Mama, Aunty & C. Anna went to a tacky party at Mrs. Shorts to sew carpet rags.Clarence went to "Alice in Wonderland" home talent play. Sun. Apr. 21. .saw Marvin at church this a.m. with his girl, the preachers daughter. We had a lovely little trip to KC. Mr. Freeman knew the conductor so we got to go out on the observation car.We took trolley ride out to "Electric Park" as we had to wait till 9:00 train out. Met Mr. F at the depot. Had quite a Sunday lesson on the train. One of the girls from the office was on the train, she bo't a pack of cards & asked Marvin & I to play cards with her. Oh how it made my heart ache for her & what a lesson it taught me on firmness of character. Tues. July 23rd. Hot July day. Word was rec'd in Topeka that two vessels on the Pacific Coast had collided & lots of passengers were drowned. Cora & Sadie Shull were on one of the vessels & are afraid they are among the missing - everyone is talking about it. (Later entry confirms they died). Tues. Oct. 1st - .Mattie & I got off (work) to go to Kansas City, a whole crowd from the office went. Left Topeka at 5:30. Had a jolly time going down. At Lawrence Mattie & I got a seat together "skinned" a fellow out of it. Met Geo. Rogers right inside the depot.Geo. took Mattie & I to the Telephone Office where he w.…