Beschreibung
On offer is the diary of a rural Iowa seamstress turned wife and mother, allowing a peek at her life as the eldest daughter of a pioneering farming family, and her equally challenging life as a doting wife and mother. This diary was kept by Nola Grace (Thackrey) Mayne (1888-1926). Nola was the oldest of six children born to William Salathiel Thackrey (1864-1924) and Margaret (Hockett) Thackeray (1869-1965). The Thackreys were pioneering farmers of Swea City, Iowa. Nola married Howard Dwight Mayne on Feb 18, 1913 in Martin, Minnesota. They had three children together at their home near Ledyard, Kossuth County: Laurence Dale Mayne (1913-1977) , Evelyn Fay Mayne (later Rose) (1919-2014) and Deloris Fern Mayne (later Anderson) (1926-1997). Tragically Nola died of childbirth complications at age 37, one month after Deloris birth. Deloris and Evelyn would be raised not by Howard, but by Nola s sister, Inez Ellen (Thackrey) Kelly (1891-1981), and her husband Frank Thomas Kelly (1888-1955). Nola keeps her diary from July-December, 1908, February-June, 1909 and from November, 1914-November, 1915. In 1908-1909, Nola is 20-21 years old. She is living at home with her parents and siblings, working unbelievably hard both on her tasks in the household and as a seamstress hired by endless Kossuth community members. She keeps careful track of her siblings, her peers, and her neighbours activities. Some excerpts: "Made two waists Archer and Howard Two dresses for Deva and a mother hubbard for Sarah all but putting in sleeves and braid…" [July 28, 1908]. "Mama phoned to me this eve that Grandpa Thackrey was awful sick she got a card from Jessie. I talked with Inez this evening" [Aug 17, 1908]. "Mr. And Mrs. And the children went away this morning. Clinton took them to the train. I churned. Moped the floor and got dinner…Cora came up in after-noon to stay with me. All four went down the bus tonight us girls all sped down home" [Aug 20, 1908]. "Morning work. Mixed the bread stiff. I churned. Meda and Clinton cleaned…ducks. Meda and I was dressing the ducks when she got a telegram that her father was dead. We baked the bread got us a bit to eat. She and the children went down to Bells. Howard came and we went down home, Papa was fishing had 14 fish. Inez walked over home we fooled around and came back…got home at eleven" [Oct 11, 1908]. ".I went home with Mrs. Powell on Fri eve, helped her paper the front room…Annie brought me home Sun morn. Art and Bell came in evening, stayed for supper. Papa broke out with small pox" [Oct 21, 1908]. ".Got it over to the school house to the basket supper. Howard, Roscoe and Ruth got it but us girls didn t take it. Been sewing this week and helping with scrubbed the upstairs…" [Oct 22, 1908]. "The big day. The day we was guaranteed for small pox…Havent written in this book for a long time. Have all had the small pox. But had it light, Has been the same old thing the past four weeks. Had a Xmas dinner at home. We all got a Xmas present…Charles Kelly came home Xmas…Nothing doing now days on account of small pox" [Smallpox announcement written Nov 30, 1908 and then further writing undated, but likely January, 1909]. "I came down to Woolstock to work for Mrs. Wallen" [Jan 19, 1909]. Nola returns to her diary following her transition to independence. We meet her again when her firstborn, Laurence, is about to turn one. She records many of his milestones and paints a tremendously clear picture of the challenges of raising a baby in the early 20th century: Washed in forenoon Joes came in after noon. I helped Lenona with her dress. Laurence is 1 year old today. He can walk a few steps alone Took his first steps alone last Tues He weighs 26 pounds [Nov 2, 1914]. This diary measures approximately 7.5x11.5 inches. The cloth-covered notebook 100 pages packed with diary entries. Marks on the covers and some rips on the label. Spine intact. ASK SELLER FOR FULL LISTING, ABE WORD LIMIT EXCEEDED.
Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 0012286
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