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RUTH BOGARDUS : 1937 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY THE DAUGHTER OF A PROMINENT SOCIOLOGIST, AS SHE ATTENDS SCHOOL, FALLS FOR BOY AFTER BOY, AND LIVES A LIFE FULL OF DRAMA AND EXCITEMENT IN PRE WW2 AMERICA

8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. On offer is an exceptional handwritten diary, presenting a lovely slice-of-life from pre-World War II America. The diary is from the year 1937 and was written by Ruth Bogardus who was at that time a teacher, and living with her parents in Los Angeles, California. Her father was a very important and prominent man; Dr. Emory Stephen Bogardus (1882-1973). He was a professor at the University of Southern California and one web site is quoted as saying, “Bogardus must be recorded as one of the most prolific writers among all the American sociologists. His total bibliography, beginning in 1898 and continuing for more than fifty years, added up to 275 titles of which he cataloged some 41 as being in the field of general sociology, 15 on leadership, 27 on social distance, 52 on race and ethnic groups, 30 on social psychology, 17 on social research, 16 on cooperatives.” This diary contains 147 handwritten pages with almost full entries per page so there’s a good deal of information concerning Ruth’s life in 1937. In the beginning she is faithful and writes every day until about March 27th. She skips a month and then is pretty faithful through the summer but then skips from August 24th to November 15th. She writes sporadically through to December 31st. At the time Ruth is writing she is 23 years old, hasn’t married yet and is still attending the University of Southern California. In many ways, Ruth is a typical young American woman. She attends school, has tiffs with her parents, goes on dates with boys (there is some fairly intimate talk of sex in some entries), hangs out with friends, etc. She appears to be studying to become either a teacher or a librarian. Ruth is a marvelous writer too. Her entries are very detailed, full of opinions, and really adept at portraying the world around her and the ways in which she interacts with it. Her entries are an absolute joy to read. Even better, Ruth is quite the California socialite, attending social events very often, often at fairly high-end places. In fact, one fascinating entry talks about attending an event at the Philharmonic Theater in L.A. and seeing John Crawford in the audience, among other famous stars. The diary also contains a few pieces of interesting ephemera. These pieces consist of mostly newspaper clippings, but there is also a card for a dinner reception honoring her father, and an excellent condition Western Union telegram along with its envelope. The diary is fairly large measuring 5 1/2” x 8 1/4”. The front cover reads, “The Self-Book”. The covers are in good condition both structurally and aesthetically. The pages within have almost completely detached from the binding. The pages are held together still though. The pages are more or less free of age-toning or major rips or tears. However, the diary does contain a number of pieces of ephemera glued in and the parts of the pages in which the newspaper clippings and such are significantly more discolored than any of the other pages. This does not affect the content, as the words can still be read, just with slightly more difficulty. The handwriting is clear and legible throughout in black ink, with little fading or smudging. TEXT: “January 9th, Several things happened. 1) I drove all the way to school in my car. 2) I had my hair fixed a new and different way, with bangs, sorta ‘little French girl’ style. It was lots of fun and so funny because NO one recognizes me. Studied up in the education lib. For the afternoon. Tried to get started on a paper but spent most of my time talking to Ed and some others from the Edu. class. Dad came for me at 4:30 but didn’t know me. Then I drove home again! There was a little more traffic. Mother almost cried she was so disgusted with my hair. She takes all the fun out of it.”; “January 10th, Dear diary, just between you and me it is very funny around here. Mother has an awful jant on because of my hair. It seems so silly, getting peeved certainly won’t solve the problem. I can’t help laughing up my sleeve at her. She hardly talks to me. Daddy and I had to talk to each other at the dinner table. Anyway, I’m going to try very hard not to say anything but just be nice to her. You know, the doctrine of non-resistance and personal valor that I read about in “White Banners!” Now, I feel better after exploding and had better concentrate and get some hard work done!…...”; “January 25th, Oh dear, still cold. But I can be so thankful I’m not one of the 500,000 homeless in the flood area of the Ohio River Valley. Drove to school and home again. It’s still an event! Came home as soon as possible and started typing on my paper for history of libraries but couldn’t finish it. The big event we’ve been looking forward to. We went to the Philharmonic to hear Baroness Ishimoto! Alida couldn’t go at the last minute because of flu and so Mrs. Neumeyer took her place. Rosie went too. We 5 sat in the front row! She is a fine, intelligent, very appealing speaker. Of course she read it but did it well. She has a fine literary style. Spoke about 1 hr. then answered questions. Full moon tonight.”; “March 2nd, A really long day. Classes the whole day. I went to hear Marion Anderson, sensational young Negro contralto. She certainly made a hit! Had fine breath control, a marvelous, wide range, almost uncanny at times. Sang mostly in German, “Ave Maria” was supremely exquisite, so soft and melodious. Phil and I and Mrs. Otto migrated during the intermission. Big big thrill!!! Saw Joan Crawford and Franhan Tone [Franchot Tone] also Elissa Landi. Joan Crawford is certainly unusual and vivacious looking. I was so excited I could hardly concentrate on the concert. We have quite a list of celebrities seen at the Philharmonic. 1) Mr. and Mrs. John Barrymore. 2) Anita Louise. 3) Gene Raymond and Jeanette MacDonald. 4) Clark Gable and Carole Lombard. 5) Elissa Landi. 6). Joan Crawford and Franhan Tone. & Aline Mahone.”; “March 20th, More fun! Rose and I drove to Pasadena. First we had lunch at “The Rose Tree” at $1.00 per lunch. No, we had $.55 salads and 4 rolls a piece. Then we went over to the Pasadena Community Playhouse. Somethings we’ve always wanted to do. So now we’ve done it! We saw the grandest play, “Lost Horizons” not the James Hilton play. It was very restlessly played with splendid staging. Suspense between every scene. Had coffee at the intermission in the courtyard and saw Ann Donnelly and also Mrs. Freeman who was on the trip this summer. Got home in good time, 45 min. Oh my. I was quite a twitter because I was going out with Earl again. It seemed so very, very nice to see him again! We went down to see “Green Light” at Warner bros. but it wasn’t there so we went to the Paramount and saw Carol Lombard and Fred MacMurray in “Swing High and Swing Low.” Petty laugh comedy. It was lots of fun. Stage show too...Earl didn’t respond (hard as I would try!). Stopped for something to eat on the way home. Sorta picked at each other on the way. Then Earl came inside. Well we just --------- and danced to the radio and oh it was so nice to dance again and with him. Then we lay on the couch. I love to kiss him! He’s so sweet. Didn’t go home until 1:30. I tiptoed upstairs in my stocking feet. I don’t know whether it’s love or not?”; “April 30th. Were the first to arrive at Dr. Baxter’s. The library school went in to Dr. Baxter’s for buffet supper. We had a nice meal. But talked and looked at nothing else but books. I was too tired to appreciate them. We all went to the play, “God Save the Queen” at the Pasadena Community Playhouse. It was riotously funny in places. I brought Dorothy Darland and Betty Reade back to L.A. made good time, home by 11:15.”; “May 20th, Oh dear, I just have to have a blues session. I went to a shower for Frannie Folsome today out at Jay’s. There were 8 of us and all married or engaged but me. Darn it all, I just don’t like showers! They are fun for the person who gets it but that is all. I get so darn discouraged with myself. Not even a boyfriend that I like to take me places, let alone nice places! Now that dad’s away, mother and I shall probably trot places together. It’s nice but I want a man (a nice, tall man) to go with sometimes! Oh dear, I suppose worrying about it doesn’t help but what am I going to do about it. Well, maybe I can cheer up now-----until the next party or wedding. But I still hate showers.”; July 2nd, A day I’ll never forget!! Yes, a telegram arrived, just what we expected but hoped so fervently wouldn’t happen, Phyllis married. I just can’t believe it. Right now I feel right mad about it. Phil so darn anxious to get married. She has to go way off to Florida to do it and just can’t wait to do it nicely with all her friends and parents out here to be happy about it. I guess I’m being an awful baby about it but it just makes me cry, all the time. Although I’m getting to the place where I just feel kind of numb and don’t want to tell anybody. (I can’t be jolly about it and I’m kinda ashamed too.) I seem to have lost my zest in living, certainly nothing to look forward to, just school, school, school, all the rest of my life. I’m not interested in marriage now because I have such an unhappy association with it now…...” (BACKGROUND: Ruth was born on April 7th, 1914. Her mother was Edith and she married Avery Shaw Allen in 1941. She had two children and died in 1998 at the age of 84. She was the daughter of Emory Bogardus, longtime professor and chair of sociology and dean of the Graduate School at USC, and Edith Bogardus. At USC, she was “Helen of Troy” and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Allen was a charter member of the East Bakersfield High School faculty and an active contributor to Bakersfield community life. She was preceded in death by her husband, Avery Shaw Allen ’29, MS ’39. She leaves a daughter, Wendy Naylor, a son Stephen Allen, and three grandchildren.) OVERALL: VG.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Very Good

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