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Snyder, Charles H : 1935, 1940 & 1941 ORIGINAL DIARIES HANDWRITTEN BY A WESTPORT, MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA MAN PROVIDING INSIGHT INTO LIFE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND EARLY DAYS OF WWII

24mo - over 5" - 5¾" tall. On offer are three (3) original 1935, 1940 and 1941 diaries authored by Charles H. Snyder from Mendocino County in California. Charles Snyder (1873 - 1942) lived with his wife Georgia, who he mostly refers as "G" in his diaries and son Harrison (b. 1904), mostly referred as "H.K." The family came from Michigan in 1923, probably attracted by the construction boom in the area, and first settled in Iowa Hill, later moving to Mendocino. The first of the diaries documents the year of 1935 and each page is densely filled with details of their everyday life, making it an excellent document of life in small towns in Northern California coast during the Great Depression. The main activity of the men in the family at the time was logging, which had been the most common job at the redwood region, but the county was hit hard by the Depression, many mills closed down, and the Fort Bragg mill cut back its production. They continued cutting wood, tried to get jobs from the State Emergency Relief Administration (SERA), and spent much time working on their two cars - Dodge truck and Oldsmobile. Charles thoroughly documents all car failures, repairs, purchase of spare parts. As many families during the Great Depression, in addition to irregular earnings and state assistance, they turned to subsistence fishing and trapping, and were growing flowers and vegetables. He mentions having dandelion meal few times. Charles and Harrison drive around quite a lot looking for jobs in Fort Braggs, bringing mail and groceries from Rockport. In spring they took a trip to Sacramento and San Francisco. It seems that Charles probably got ill between 1935 and 1940 , his handwriting got smaller, and sometimes shaky, 1940 entries are very short, and he seems to spend more time at home, listening to the radio or reading. He often mentions news, including Pearl Harbor and president speeches: Harrison goes to work at camps - probably the camps for migrant workers that were built by WPA or by Resettlement Administration. The diaries contain many names of local residents and businesses and mention different local and national events, and details related to the Great Depression. The diaries are in a very good condition, the 1941 diary cover is slightly soiled.. Illustr.: /. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good +

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