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MRS. FRANK PINNEY : 1893 - 1907 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY A HOMEY RURAL WIFE DETAILING LOCAL LIFE AND TIMES

24mo - over 5" - 5¾" tall. On offer is a superb collection of three diaries written by a woman in up-state New York covering years 1893, 1894 and 1907. The volumes measure 5 inches by 3 inches each, contain 365 diary pages plus information and memoranda pages. The first 2 diaries are 100% complete and the third diary is about 90-92% complete. The covers and pages are in very good condition and the writing is quite legible. The author is a Mrs. Frank Pinney. She never identifies herself more specifically. Her husband is Frank and together, they run a farm not far from LeRoy, NY southwest of Rochester. She and Frank have several children, including a new baby. In 1907, another baby is mentioned, however with no further identifying information. Each diary contains detailed descriptions of the days principal events. Most revolve around the operations of the farm household. Often, her mother comes over to help her. Her days begin early and are filled with daily tasks: "I baked pies, cookies and bread today. I finished Nell's outing dress. I mended some this evening. I made some new sleeves for baby's nighty" [Feb 16, 1893]. We done some baking this forenoon. I made some more pies this afternoon so I would not have to bake tomorrow. I ironed the colored clothes, the girls took the tacks out of the carpet tonight" [May 24, 1893]. We churned (butter) and finished the ironing this evening and fixed some apples for mince pies ..." [Feb 7, 1894] "I done my baking after we got home from Le Roy. Got home a little after 11. Made pie cake and bread. We mended all the afternoon. I finished one of my work aprons this afternoon. I got the paint for the floor" [May 19, 1895]. Twelve years later, not a lot had changed in terms of daily tasks: "... washed and churned did not get through til night" [June 11, 1907]. "... washed, did not get through till about 4 OC , worked up the butter, baked bread , was some tired" [Apr 29, 1907]. Through all of this, there is never a word of complaint. She is quite close to her family who visit often and she is part of a close rural community where friends drop by and she in turn visits with them. Her references are all local. Events in her immediate area such as births, deaths, illnesses, celebrations, etc. are what matter to her. There are no references to events taking place in the wider world. Her husband Frank is equally busy operating the farm and helping out with friends and neighbours. His tasks keep him going from dawn to dusk as well. The great value in this collection is the very detailed listing of tasks and activities that there were involved with to make a success of their life. For a researcher into women's studies, this is an outstanding description of the live of a rural woman just over a century ago. Certainly, for a rural planner or historian, these volumes give an excellent insight into life in upstate New York at that time. They can certainly serve as a baseline for comparisons to life in upstate New York today.. Illustr.: /. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good +

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