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CYRENA COLES : 1942 ORIGINAL HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT DIARY OF YOUNG, LOVING, AND DEVOTED HOUSEWIFE AND MOTHER IN NEW YORK, AS THE WAR BEGINS TO AFFECT THE DAILY LIVES OF THOSE ON THE HOMEFRONT

24mo - over 5" - 5¾" tall. On offer is a lovely, 1942 slice-of-life diary of by a young housewife, Cyrena Coles living in Corning, New York, with her husband Herman, and her two teenage children Kate and Billy. Her entries are, for the most part, matter of fact statements on the day’s events and observations. Many of them seem to be written many times during the course of the day, as it is common to see different ink colors used throughout a single entry. Though the book is a 5-year diary, Coles only uses it for the year 1942. The book was most likely carried around on Mrs. Coles’s person at most times of the day. Most of the entries are filled with details of events throughout the day, while others merely record a statement or two. Each entry usually contains the day of the week and weather as well. Mrs. Coles spends her days caring for her husband and her children, writing almost as much about about their whereabouts and their lives as she does her own. She speaks fondly of her friends and husband, and seems to be a kind and matronly presence to them. Occasionally, weddings, funerals, and events outside of the immediate family environment. She also speaks occasionally of World War 2 going on around the world and its impact on life in America. Talk of ration cards and the restrictions they put on her family come up every once and while. Mrs. Coles two sons would eventually join the Army, one fighting in the European theatre and the other in the Pacific. She also often mentions the Corning Glassworks, the glass and ceramics manufacturer that the town was (and still is) most known for, and for which it seems her husband works for. The back of the book contains lists of presents (given and received) and their prices, as well as a few pages of lists of items bought and their prices as well. The diary is in good condition. The cover and spine is full leather and shows little evidence of wear or marks. The cover also contains a metal latch in order to lock the diary shut, however, the corresponding piece of leather which would’ve been locked into it, is missing. Inside, the pages are still in good condition, showing little discoloration, wear, marks of aging or rips/tears. The handwriting is legible and readable throughout, in blue ink, with only small areas showing fading or smudging, though these defects do not affect the legibility of the words. OVERALL: G+. Text: “June 13, 1942. Billy goes to work at store 9am. Expects to quit to-night, go to factory if he can. Herman work on Production Club outing house at 3: to take Bath and change his clothes. Billy home just before. It is terrible muggy, rain stops very hot...Herman home at 9:30. Billy home to supper. We eat to-gether. We go to Bar-B-Q late, nearly 12: While we are there large crowd. When we return Herman calls Billy at store not to go to Elmira with boys. He doesn’t, comes right home. “August 14. Stop in here at 2:30 visit until Herman starts painting front porch at 4:30. Billy goes back to school at 7 at nite for trial typing test. We go out at nite and I get Ice Cream at Hanns. We have Roast supper. Kate goes down to her sister. Goes for another Bowling Party at nite.”; “September 9. First bomb landed on U.S. Mainland in Oregon. Set woods a fire. Billy out at nite.”; October 12. I hang clothes on line that didn’t get dry yesterday. Herman called about No. on Ration Card. Kate gets letter from Del. Billy goes to Elmira last nite in Packard with fellow who works at Eclipse in Elmira, Cobgrove and girl with Billy named McLaychok. Kate in here to visit at nite. Billy home. Payne call K late at nite about wish to see rooms to paper.”; “Billy works at store at nite. Kate went with us at nite. We don’t go for groceries. We go for short ride, get Ice Cream. Elizabeth & Myron Fuller have baby son to-day. 20 were poisoned at Glassworks Lunch room. Effie’s boy one of them taken to Hospital also Mrs. Kiesler. They can’t serve anything for a while that has not been cooked first.”. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good +

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