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NELLIE PROCTOR : 1910 ORIGINAL PAIR [2] OF MANUSCRIPT DIARIES HANDWRITTEN BY A VERY ACTIVE, VERY SHARING SACREMENTO AREA GIRL

8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. On offer are two interesting diaries from the early years of 20th Century California. The first measures 8 inches by 4.5 inches. It has 144 pages and is 100% complete. The second measures 8.5 inches by 7 inches and contains 120 pages. It too is 100% complete. Both volumes are in good condition and the handwriting is legible and easy to read. Nellie Proctor grew up in Woodland, CA. She wrote her first diary in 1910. It covers the months of September through December of that year. From context, she is a senior in high school. Her writing style is very easy and chatty. As the pages are neither numbered nor dated, the entries vary in length depending on what is happening in her life. She lives on a farm with her family. As you would expect, her comments revolve around school and family/social life: "The girls took me to school this morning. I saw Gladys Fishback so walked to school with her. We met Sylvia and Lizzie. Started in with McBeth today in English. Had two experiments today, and yesterday Sylvia and I had one just alike so Miss Montgomery got after us and I nearly laughed out loud. It tickled me so. We had to do it over ..." [Sept 29, 1910]. "... Pearl and Jamie were in town yesterday. They treated me to ice cream. It was [ ] as it was so soft. ... Jamie and Charlie went to town this afternoon. Charlie had a few drinks so was very talkative. I wanted to go to the game very badly tonight. The score was 10-8 in Woodland's favor ..." [Oct 8, 1910]. Throughout the pages, she mentions many people by first and last name, including in one entry, the line-up roster for her school's football team. This diary ends on December 26th. The second diary is undated but context suggests that it was written in the spring of 1916. By this time, Nellie has graduated from high school and is in a Teacher' College in San Francisco. Research shows that she was later hired in 1916 to teach in a small rural school (Fairfield Elementary) which was located not far from where she grew up. Research also shows that in 1923, she was listed as Secretary of the Yolo County Teachers' Club. She uses the same, chatty style of writing. This diary with its undated and unnumbered pages covers the very short period of time between May 14th and June 25th. Entries often take several pages and speak about her studies and social activities: "... We had a conference with Dr. Burke this morning and he gave us a lot of advice etc. He is going to help us get schools and wants us to let him know if and or how we are getting along. He was very jolly and nice this morning. Taught part of B Section ..." [May 23] "... Got a letter from Annie and she told me to apply for a school at Blacks so "I will" ... " [May 26]. Wednesday, June 4th is her last day and she recounts her graduation exercises (as well as noting that she lost 3 books and had to pay $1.50 for them.). Later that day, she and some friends take a boat tour of San Francisco Bay: "... We went to Alcatraz, Angel Island, Fort Baker, Praesidio and back to the dock. We had a dandy time. ..." [June 4]. On June 9th, she returns home to her family's farm. She is still seeking a teaching position: "Heard from Bertie and another school letter but I didn't get a position…" [June 23]. However, by September, she is one of seven new hires for the Yolo County School District. For a historian, these two diaries offer a first-hand glimpse into the life and times of a young woman growing up in California in the early years of the 20th Century. A researcher looking at the role of women in the early 20th century would find the 2nd diary especially interesting as teaching was one of the socially accepted careers for young women at that time.. Illustr.: /. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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