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PAT OWEN : 1954 CHARMING, ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HAND WRITTEN BY A FUN-LOVING, LIKABLE GIRL-NEXT-DOOR FROM THE PANHANDLE OF NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA, SHOWING LIFE OF AN AMERICAN TEENAGE GIRL IN 1950s

16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall. On offer is a handwritten diary showing what life is like for a teenage girl growing up in the 1950's in the great state of Oklahoma. The diary belonged to Pat Owens who lived in the Panhandle, most probably in Beaver, the first town built in the territory known as "No Man's Land." She is a typical teenage girl, extremely social, who loved dancing, playing sports, going to movies, and boys - in the front of the diary she has a list of all the boys she's either interested in or hangs around with. The main man Pat is interested in is Keith Williams and it looks like she does end up marrying him in 1958. Other boys seem to be competing for her attentions too. On January 7th she writes: "Dear Diary, Well today I made it! Gary told Boo we are both near the top of the "babes" list…….." She sings in the choir, plays the piano and bassoon, is on the girls basketball team, attends tons of dances, and her best friend seems to be a girl by the name of "Boo." She gets the mumps in the spring and then in the summer of this year is admitted to the hospital with heart trouble. The diary is full of details characteristic for 1950s, like car brands, popular movies, dating patterns - they are riding around in Studebeckers, Buicks and Oldsmobile, "going steady" with boys, go to sock hop and Rainbow parties. She mentions many names of movies popular in 1950s, like comedies "Living it up" and "Her Twelve Men" or film noir "Bullet is waiting". It really is a fascinating look into one young woman's life during the 1950's. The first record mentions 1954 Orange Bowl game, the ninth in the winning streak of 45 games won by Oklahoma: "January 1st, Dear Diary. I began this morning dancing. I was at a party with Donald Langley. It was a Rainbow Party. Listened to the Orange Bowl game. O.U. won 7-0 over Maryland but I lost a malt to Ronnie Hodges because I gave him 14 points. Played basketball with Donald Langley, Ronnie Dodges, Donald Pugh, Don Nelson, Del Wilmont, Hero Bridgewater, Roe May, Keith Williams, Jacque Altman and Vesta Haskell of course Bob. Larry has the mumps so I'll probably get them before long. Don Nelson had a dance and party for his cousin Dave. I went with Donald again. Had loads of fun even more than last night. Didn't get home till after 1 and I had blisters all over my feet." Pat used this 5 year diary as a 1 year diary and every page is full. Below are some more excerpts from it: "March 23rd, Dear Diary. Mom said I couldn't go to Liberal with the club if they did go…….Gary said he wouldn't go unless I could. I have a date with him. We went to the show. It was the "Glen Miller Story." It was real good. We rode around. We had a good talk on whether we should keep going steady or not. We finally decided to try it awhile longer. I was sure I was going to give it back to him this afternoon because Nell and Boo came over. We made some fudge and popcorn and talked about it. I decided to give his ring back to him but I didn't. I prayed about it tonight. Got home at 11:00." "July 7th, …..Donald and Ronnie came in. Donald had his dad's car and wanted us to ride around with him. He brought me home last. He said he hadn't heard anything from Keith in a long time. He said he wished I didn't have to work till 7 or that his car would be out of the shop so I could go with him. I read Keith's first and last letters tonight. Maybe, just maybe I'll be over him soon. I don't think it's God's will for him to be in my life. I only hope I can do God's will." The diary finishes with the following entry: "New Year's Resolutions. To forget or quit thinking about a certain somebody so he won't ruin my teen age life cause I think about him too much. Put others before myself especially God to try and do his will." The diary is in good shape other than the flap that use to act as a closure is torn and there are a few small tears on the outside spine. The binding and pages look good.. Illustr.: /. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good +

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