And now, a REAL slice of life

14 years ago

My parents once were managers of some apartments. My dad found this diary in a storage locker in the basement, and gave it to me. It was written by a young woman, Charlene Robinson, started on September 14, 1939 which was her 21'st birthday, and is written on nearly every page until August 2, 1940. Nothing exciting happens, she never talks about world events, but does detail things like how late she stayed out, what she had for breakfast, what time she left for work, who she hung out with etc. She worked in a doctor's office and lived with her older sister and brother in law.

Her first page is as follows:

Thursday, September 14, 1939

Dear Diary: Today I am 21. Strange, but I feel the same as I did yesterday - in age I mean. the whole day has been perfect beginning at 12:01 a.m. I was with Ed Painter (or Panter) at the Wigwam & received congratulations from the Wigwam bung - Dorothy, Rusty, Eleanor Lynn, Laura, Ginny & Eddy_stopped at Gene and (can't make out the name) for coffee & some drunken woman smashed the rear left fender of Ed's car. Tonight Ed & I and Ginnny & Lynn had dinner at Zella & Nig's and then met Jimmy & Martha & Jolly at the Wigwam. Never had a better time. Danced so much I'm just worn out_stopped at J & E's for coffee & then home to bed. Here's what I got - a white saffeta slip from Bea, a black satin slip from Marg, a bunch of yellow (can't make it out) & perfume from Ginny a box of soap from Laura a box of candy from Mr. Heikel, a wine taffetta housecoat from Lee & Eva, perfume from Myrtle, hankies from Lynn, pair of hose from Jimmy, Corsage from Ed. Goodnight.

And, so goes the rest of the diary but for a few referances to having to tell the dr "NO". She doesn't go into any detail on that at all..No good stuff! LoL

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Comments (10)

jeaninwa
Original Author
14 years ago
oops..that "bung" shoulda been "gang", and the "saffeta" should be taffeta...need to proofread better!
alisande
14 years ago
Too bad we no longer wear slips every day. They solved a lot of gift-giving problems. :-)

I love voices from the past like that!
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chisue
14 years ago
Where did she live? The only 'Wigwam' I know is the old Republican hangout in downtown Chicago. Chicago also has a restaurant "Gene & Georgetti's" -- famous steakhouse.

Hah! Sounds like her employer was a skirt-chaser!
marry
14 years ago
Just an everyday.....but still it makes you want to
know who everyone was...what did they look like like,
where were all the different places and what did the
buildings look like, looking up and down the streets,
what did she see??? Just makes you wonder........
Marilyn Sue
14 years ago
Indianapolis also had a "Wigwam".

Sue
jannie
14 years ago
Fascinating to me. My mom was born in 1923. She kept a diary somewhat like that when she was 13 or 14. She let me read it once. Mostly entries about going to the movies with her cousin Irma.
bunnylover21
14 years ago
How interesting!
Great find!
jemdandy
14 years ago
It's too bad that diary did not extend past Dec. 7, 1941, the bombing of the fleet in Pearl Harbor. Diaries during the next few days contained notable snippets of history and hysteria.
ronf_gw
14 years ago
Grandma was born in 1901. When she and Grandpa retired from farming in the 60's Grandma started keeping a diary. Both her son and daughter (my Mom) lived on farms within a half mile of her. She would write nearly every day. There's always a mention of the weather but mostly it's about what was happening on the farm or day to day comings and goings. "The men finished 2nd crop hay today. Cecelia and Ted came out for a game of dominoes this evening." As the years went by her diary became a wonderful resource. "What year was it that we bought the Oliver 1650?" Grandma would say, "Oh, I can look that up in my diary." She continued this for nearly 30 years, until Alzheimers stole her mind. Mom has them now and still goes back and reads them occasionally.

Ron
jeaninwa
Original Author
14 years ago
I have to say I was quite disappointed she made no mention of the war at all.
She lived in Tacoma Washington I believe.

And now, a REAL slice of life

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