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ADELE RICE [MRS OWEN R. RICE] : 1929 ORIGINAL, SIGNIFICANT MANUSCRIPT RELIC OF EARLY SOVIET UNION AND AMERICAN RELATIONS HANDWRITTEN BY A KEEN EYED AND ENTHUSIASTIC AMERICAN DELEGATE FROM OAK PARK ILLINOIS A MERE SEVEN YEARS AFTER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE USSR

12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. On offer is a super, historically significant manuscript artifact of early Soviet Russia and American relations being the handwritten journal of Adele Rice [Mrs Owen R. Rice Oak Park Illinois], dated April 10th 1929 titled "Our Trip to Russia"; a member of the American Delegation sent on an educational and fact finding mission to Russia a mere 12 years after the Russian Revolutions. The findings and observations of this group are, research suggests, what the book "Russia and the United States" was based on. The book's first entry of the 185 or so pages of narrative was April 3rd then sporadically filled until the last entry Oct. 22nd which we note was exactly one week before the Black Tuesday stock-market crash. The diary is filled with detailed entries of her personal experiences entries cover politics, delegation business, Russian history and social commentary and her journeys whether shopping for antiques and jewelry or to the many parties. She takes numerous lessons on Russia while also teaching them. She also does a super job providing specifics with names, times, dates including; E. Gordon Fox (head engineer of the group the diary refers to) who wrote 'Russia and the Communist Challenge'; Miss Tolstoy, grandniece of the immortal author Count Leo Tolstoy; the Secretary to Swedish Consul; mention of the funeral of Kutlikoff "The Communist head of finance"; Kshesinskaya Danseuse; Mr. Miller of the Hamburg American Line; Sir Perry (Chief Engineer at Ford Motor Company [this was the time Henry Ford signed an agreement with the Soviet Union to produce cars there]; Bill Orr (William); Naberezhnaya Krasnogo Flota, the Red Fleet; talks about VOKS (a cultural society for relations with foreign countries) and much, much more. Here are some snippets: Saturday April 20th Passport official ordered us off the train because we had no visa, in Chicago we were told a visa was unnecessary. Had we been passing thru Holland a visa would not be required. However, as we were returning to Germany one was required. Official very mean. Wouldn't return out PP until we were seated in return train. Damn those Dutch! Monday April 22nd - Went down to lunch. Became acquainted with an aristocratic old lady. After I left the dining room she sent the head waiter after me to ask if she could show me around town. I accepted with pleasure. Frau Tipplekirch took me around in the old section where there were a number of antique shops especially on wall Str. Everything was expensive. Monday April 29th - At 1:40 PM We arrived in Moscow, where we were met by Miss Tolstoy grandniece of count Leo, a man of the legation. Our baggage was locked in the compartments and train switched on another track. Went on a tour of the city in 4 automobiles. Saw the summer palace of Catherine the great, but we were so cold we almost froze to death. Tuesday April 30th - Took an automobile and went to the Europa Hotel. Went out to find a restaurant but none were open, so we returned to hotel and ordered breakfast which was served at 11:30. I never could bear a soft boiled egg, but this morning I ate two! Then we had a business meeting. After which Manus arranged with a Druski driver to take Mary and myself out to see #48 Naberezhnaya Krasnogo Flota, our new home. Sunday May 19th - Up at 9 AM for breakfast. Came back and built fire. Heard the band coming down Naberezhnaya Krasnova. Opened our double window and watched the band escort over 200 sailors to the transport boat. A large crowd had followed, many wives with little children, also sweethearts and parents. One little boy about 2 yrs old cried bitterly to go to his father who was in the ranks. Saturday May 25th - Walter Leck, Ed Everhard, Willis Cleminult, Vance Cronk, Earl Collister & Leo Mandeville left for Kharkov tonight. Gipromez sent a touring car for baggage. No one is allowed on train cars with more than one bag. Most of the fellows had two. They'll be gone for 4 or 5 weeks. Saturday June 1st - Cold and rainy. Sinus headache. Our housekeeper says meat is very scarce. No beef until after the 15th and perhaps no pork. Only veal and fowl. This is because the peasants have no fodder for the cattle and so they are killing them for their own use. Friday June 7th - After dinner walked over to see the Eisenbergs, a very pleasant evening. Mrs. E walked part way home with me. Promised to take me thru Prince Yusupov's Palace next week. Monday June 10th - Got two cards from Owen - one from Kharkov, where he said there were great quantities of Ukrainian Embroidery work. He bought two Emb blouses for himself. The second card was mail in Enakievo. Wednesday June 19th - Had my dinner at 5 instead of 5:30, so I could attend the funeral of Kutlikoff the communist head of finance. Very interesting. Vola, Mrs. Fincke and I watched the procession of thousands of people, soldiers and sailors a short distance from the palace of Labor. Sunday July 21st - Most of the boys worked today so we had tea and sandwiches at noon and dinner at 5:30. Mrs F. & I took a walk as far as the winter palace. The way was crowded with people who came to see the submarines & nine destroyers or cruisers that are here on holidays. In the evening Owen and I went up to the summer gardens, rested a while and then walked down to the church of resurrection. Monday July 22nd - Bill Orr, Mr. Thomas, Hartog, and Ed attended banquet at Europa tonight for the American Delegation. Miss Helen came at 9:20 to give us a lesson. We all laughed and joked quite a lot. [Further talk about a dinner with Sir Perry chief Engineer of Ford Motors.] Friday August 16th - Had a busy AM got a long letter from sister. Phoned "Voks" - Cultural Society for relations with foreign countries, about permit to go thru Kremlin. Friday August 30th - Arrived Moscow 9:20. Took a taxi to Savoy. Ed went directly to Metropole where Freyn and Thomas were stopping. Gordon had wired to Miss Tolstoy to reserve two double-rooms, but seemingly it hadn't been taken care of. Could get only one single-room which we took, deposited our bags, washed up and phone Miss Tolstoy to make arrangements for her services as guide. She arrived at 11 am and soon after we started off for the "Voks" to join group to go thru Kremlin." The 5¾ x 4¾ book is VG.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Very Good

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