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WILLIAM ALLEN PUTNAM; CAROLYN ROSALIE RICHARD PUTNAM; MARGARET VRYLING PUTNAM : 1891 - 1948 VERY LARGE ORIGINAL FAMILY ARCHIVE OF HANDWRITTEN DIARIES [31] NOTEBOOKS [4] AND LETTERS [250+] DETAILING A SIGNIFICANT AMERICAN FAMILY FROM THE VICTORIAN ERA THROUGH TO THE END OF WORLD WAR II

24mo - over 5" - 5¾" tall. On offer is a fine 5-year diary from the 1940s detailing the life of a young woman in Washington DC. Measuring 5.5 inches by 4 inches, the diary has 365 pages and is 100% complete. The cover and pages are in good condition. The spine has cracked. There is a strap closure which has been broken. The pages are all intact and the handwriting is legible. Rose Louise Putnam is the author of this diary. Born in 1926, she grew up in Arlington, WA with a brother and a sister. During WWII, Rose worked in the USO. She met Jim Kimbal and they married in Dec, 1949. They later moved to Wenatchee, WA where they lived for the rest of their lives. Her husband passed away in 1981. Rose passed away in 2016 at the age of 89. The diary covers the years 1944 through 1948. The first year she is still in high school and her entries reflect many activities around that: "... went to party at "Radar". Gordon didn't work. ... Jim made at me I guess. Gabby voted most popular boy. Pat R. Most popular girl. Met Tommy Barnes. Sure is swell. Gordon and I walked up from Edgecomb …" [Mar 4, 1944]; "Senior class meeting. Went downtown this noon ... Went to show ... "Sherlock Holmes in Wash"" [Apr 26, 1944]. In November, 1944, she began work at Union Oil. The next four years detail her days at work, social activities and activities with friends and family. During this period, she also changed jobs several times. "... Rec check from Seymor & Co. Typed all afternoon. Worked hard. Went to bed early" [Mar 2, 1945]; "... Got ride home from work. Talked to Mr. Johnson for while. Wrote long letter to Ray. Jim came up. Went to show "Music for Millions" with Margaret O'Brien, June Allyson, Jose Aturby (sic) and Jimmy Durante. Very good" [Apr 3, 1945]. She noted the D-Day invasion on June 6th, 1944 and the end of the war with Japan on Aug 14th, 1945. Many entries record the extensive letter writing she was engaged in - something that was much more common at that time: "Wrote cards to Mother, Georgie, Grandma & Merton. ... Wrote letters to Ray & Merton & Bill Wanser" [Oct 15, 1945]; "... Rec letters from Ray Parker and Pat Falcus. Wrote to Ray. Stayed with Grandma in afternoon. Rec phone call from Ray. Bob up in afternoon. Leila, Dale Bob & I went dancing in Everett" [Apr 20, 1946]. Her writing style is very easy and chatty. A social historian would find this diary an excellent snapshot of life in mid-1940s America. A researcher in the area of Women's Studies would certainly gain a clear picture of the traditional role that women played in their families and communities. It offers a fine impression of American life as it enters the prosperous post-war years of economic growth.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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