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WILLIAM L. SANDER : 1931 ORIGINAL BITTERSWEET MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY A CELEBRATED BUT ILL FATED ROCHESTER NEW YORK POLICE OFFICER WHO WORKS HARD, HAS A CHERISHED LIFE BUT SADLY DOESN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE YEAR

16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall. On offer is an interesting diary detailing the last year in the life of a 1931 Rochester NY police officer. What makes this especially interesting is that mid-way through the year, as his health fails, his wife takes over keeping the daily journal. The diary is a hardbound book (6 1/2 inches by 4 3/4 inches) with about 210 pages. There are 180 pages of diary entries and they are 100% complete. The binding is loose but otherwise, the book is in good shape. The handwriting is quite legible. The author of the diary is 'Will', a police officer in Rochester, NY. His wife is always referred to as 'H' but there is an entry where she is identified as 'Harriet'. The diary chronicles the last year of Will's life. That he is ill is made clear from almost the first page. Each daily entry has a note about the weather and a reference to how he is feeling. Over the months, the reader can see a slow but steady decline. Included in the entries are many references to friends. There are also references to local events in the city. There are frequent tidbits of domestic life. These entries can give a sense of the diary: "Cold and getting warmer. I did not feel as well all day but H cured her [ ] Glick and Goldman gave us a call After supper harry and Celia were up left at 10:30 PM Quiet Cold 12 above Had a bad night" [Jan 24], "Cloudy 36 above No change in temp. I don't feel any to good. Renaud and Wilson were up brought Bananas and loco nuts had a poor night. Feel weak. Sick spells" [Feb 21], "... H Dink and H Sander called 11 to 12:45 am After dinner Dink came back with a new Patent 5 Gal can of Beer. The Harry Goldman came instead of Glic. We had a little party. Had a bad night. My water bothering me. Hay 9:30 PM" [Mar 14]. There are many margin notes recording doctor visits. On April 2nd, he comments about his friend: Glick had another stroke. His entry for May 1 ends with the simple statement I retired at 9:30 PM . There are references to the wider community: "Thousands of men out of work and nothing in sight" [Feb 12], " ... Lots of sickness about" [Feb 13] "Eastman Kodak Explosion ... 5 killed" [Sept 11]. On Feb 17, he celebrated his 34th anniversary on the Police Force: "... Renaud and Wilson called. They brought a boquet of flowers ordered by Harriet for me on my 34 th anniversary of the Police Dept & Deputy Chief H T Copenhagen sent me a beautiful basket of flowers". In June, the entries change as Harriet begins to take over writing them. It is clear that his health is failing. Most daily entries have a comment about how he is feeling and they range normally from fair to poor. "Will very sick. Cecilia came at 9 PM Elmer called for her at 9:30. Called for priest in morning" [Oct 23]. As the days slowly spin into November, he is getting weaker by the day. In one margin note, she comments that 124 times Doc [ ] called in 1931. Finally this entry: My Dear sweetheart died at 10:50 PM [Nov 13} He was 9 days shy of his 61st birthday. Harriet was 50. Beginning Nov 14th, each day from then on was numbered - counting now the days since he had passed away. Only on Christmas Day, does she refer to children: "... Thank God for the kiddies ... 6 weeks Billy is dead" [Dec 25]. The diary ends with this poignant note: "This was an aweful year for me - losing my best pal" [Dec 31]. This diary is a very good look into the life of an ordinary working man as he deals with his declining health. I also gives a very good look at the web of friendships and how they sustain and support him and his wife. It is an excellent reference work for a social historian or a researcher into early 20th century Rochester, NY or the Rochester Police Dept.. Illustr.: /. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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