April 11
Laura M., age 16, North Carolina
April 11, 1998
Went 2 work at 9:00 and made samples. Ash came at 10:00. We worked till 2:00. Went 2 the mall. Came home and ate (Em, Cap, and Ash). Me, Jon, Bryan, and Ash went 2 Courtney’s and took care of B (the cat). Went 2 Ash’s. Watched “Mallrats.” Took Jon home.
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
April 11, 1997
Okay day at school. No Driver’s Ed. Went to Renee’s. Me and Mom went to mall for cleats and pants. Saw Sean working. Came home and chilled. Brian and Kathy came at 7:00. Had dinner. Picked up Renee and went to Zach’s. Courtney came there later. Everyone was real happy. Me and Crozier kissed! :) It was really good. Way better than Sean. Me and Courtney spent night with Renee. Watched some of “Hairspray” and went to sleep. Good night!
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 11, 1960
Cloudy and rainy but cleared. Geo came up ate some breakfast and on to office. Loie really tired. Kept doing all day till most everything was done. Out to cabin to clean up kitchen etc. Cats hungry. Lo shopped at Piggly’s, stopped at Carrie’s, home to bed.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
April 11, 1944
Cloudy and rain again. Cooler. Had to give first part of report in philosophy. Mr. Berry said it was good job. Have to write rest of it. Good lunch. Connie is in the infirmary and Mary Lou has a new soldier who has asked her to marry him!! Studied and practiced in afternoon. Took dictating at 4. Went to P.O. with Marian. Letter from Mum. Studied Eng. Lit. Jack is in Nashville at Vanderbilt Hosp. and Aunt Edith and Florrie are there this week visiting him. Mum and Dad are going down to see them today. Wish I could go, too! Good dinner. About 7:30 we went to Burrall concert with Jane, Mary Jo, Neen and Eleanor. Had to split up. Carroll Glenn was guest violinist and was wonderful!! Betty and I felt so frustrated.
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
April 11, 1941
Good Friday. Perfect Spring day. Warm as summer. Daddy has holiday today. Lovely and mild when I left for school at 8:00. Just as Mary S. and I were rounding the corner, Mary and William drove by and picked us up. Mary was going to hear the contata and get her books. At 8:00 she went to chapel and heard the same contata that I had heard at the church the other night. It was better today. The front was decorated with flowers and branches of hedge and ivy -- smelled like a funeral. Right in the middle was a cross of golden flowers. Very hot. So lovely outside. Sky so blue. Budding trees so green. Test in English. Having Mary is so wonderful. Sorta fun in history and Latin. Seems so near the end of school. At noon I didn’t get off early and William and Mary drove Helen and I home. It was like a summer noon. Dad home. Prayed that Mary would be back. She was. We cleaned typewriters the whole period and got our hands nice and dirty. Fun. In fifth study hall Mary read my diary. In office we were all alone ’cause both coach and Mr. B. were absent. We talked and, just as Mary was going to tell me something, Mr. Goddard came in and rang the bell. We were out at 2:45. William drove Helen and I home. We sat in the car and talked awhile. Actually hot! Then Mary and I went around in George’s back yard to see the fruit trees in bloom and to pick violets. Helen and William stayed in car. When we came back around, George was there asking embarrassing questions. Helen and William drove him to town, and Mary and I talked. We sat down on the curb and she said she had prayed that Pie would like her. Also that she felt perhaps what has happened to her might help me -- I felt like a murderer. We weren’t in the mood to be serious so she didn’t tell me the rest of the secret. When Helen and William came back, Mary and William left. Mary said I had been sweet today. I went in and practiced till I nearly went crazy. Then I went up and talked to Helen awhile. When I was sitting on porch later, George and Joe Coury came by and stopped to talk. Fortunately, I had to be at 6:30 practice at school. After a lot of discussion we were all excused to see the Senior play at South Harriman. I went in Margie’s car. Play not worth trouble it caused. Home 9:30. Lovely night. Margie and Anne are plain [?]. No good. Loved today.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
April 11, 1888
I came through to Mt. Pleasant this forenoon, and took Will and his folks entirely by surprise. I took dinner with uncle George and aunt Nancy, and supper with Will and his bride. They are cosily situated, and I am favorably impressed with my new cousin. It has been a fine day and as there is no snow here I have enjoyed walking around.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
April 11, 1887
It began to rain this morning and I had to carry an umbrella up to the store, but it soon stopped and has turned cooler. I have been clerking all day. I sent a telegram to Frankfort this morning, and the operator there tried to ask me some questions about it, but I got nervous and couldn’t read and I got to feeling bad over it. I am afraid they will get sick of me on the line. I wish I could have had a chance to learn as I could too so I could read better. I am afraid I will get into some bad scrape before Charlie gets back. I finished a letter to Kate tonight. I expect and hope the stage will go to Frankfort tomorrow, so I can hear from Kate soon.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
April 11, 1862
Mail came this morning but no news. We have had a terrible battle at Corinth Miss. Loss heavy on both sides. I cut Peter a pair pants this morning. Atheline at work on them. I went on with my turfing. Mr. Henry came & helped me some & then called Jim, who is ditching in the meadow by the spring. He helped me finish it. We turfed up the chimney a piece, got done about two o’clock. I sewed a little on Peter’s pants. I was very tired. Atheline not well yet. Willie can run all over the house, can get up alone when he falls.
*(Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family, Eds. Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell, used with permission.)
Samuel P., age 35, London
April 11, 1668
News of Peace. Conning my gamut.
*(The Diary of Samuel Pepys M.A. F.R.S., edited by Henry B. Wheatley F.S.A., London, George Bell & Sons York St. Covent Garden, Cambridge Deighton Bell & Co., 1893.)