February 5
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
February 5, 1997
Today was a good day at school: (1) Sean was nice (2) early release day. Me, Renee, Tim, Crozier, Sean, Zach, and Justin went over to Ashley’s. Me and Sean pecked a lot and he sat on my lap non-stop, but nothing more. I liked it :(. Came home. Homework and story. Went to Dad’s. Sean called! Watched “90210.” Did guitar. Talked to Renee.
Laura M., age 13, North Carolina
February 5, 1996
Woke up and Ashley Rogers was here. We went out to lunch w/ Dad at Chili’s. It was O.K. Then me & Ashley & Becca went sledding. Fun. Went to “Toy Story.” Came back & sledded some more & it was really fun! Ate pizza w/ Rogerses. Spent night w/ Shannon & watched “Melrose” (2 hours). Took magazine pages.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
February 5, 1944
Yesterday Miss Erb handed back our brief-form tests. I got H- with no errors. She said, “Marcy, you always come out.” About 6 Mary, Betty and I went down to Jack Latch’s Cafeteria for dinner - yummy. Then stopped by dairy for ice cream. Betty and I studied philosophy til late but didn’t feel we’d covered the ground very well. Went in Nan’s and Joyce’s room about 12 and listened to records. To bed at 1 a.m.! No assignments for Monday. * * * Mild in morn and windy. Then got colder and wind higher. Slept til 7:30. Betty and I acted so silly getting dressed! Seemed like Spring somehow. Betty left for class at 9 and I went to grooming clinic. Pam Hellday and some of the sororities have the cutest costumes! Miss Winkler gave me some helpful beauty hints! To history at 10 and Mr. Carson had us indicate our reactions to the course on a chart. His little daughter was there and was so cute! Out early. Betty and I went to Social Studies library and got some books on politics and race. To philosophy at 11. Kids waiting outside and had Betty and I sign a petition to Mr. B. not have an exam in view of the fact that we haven’t had any formal review. But along came Mr. Weaver and persuaded us to go in and do our best . So we broke down. Test not so hard but long. Sororities ate in Senior so Betty, Mary and I went over to Tower for lunch. Huge dining room - nice! Good lunch. At 1 Mary went to a meeting and Betty and I went to see a girl about selling calendars. There she left me and I went to all halls on north and middle campus to get girls to sell calendars. Not many results. To town at 2. Then washed clothes and read. Borrowed magazines from Mary. About 4 Mary and Betty went to town - Kath had a date. I slept. About 5 they returned with the news that the town was full of cute new air cadets so I dressed and we went down again. But most of them had disappeared! Went to grocery store and all bought some cookies. Dinner at 6. Good. To cinema lab. afterwards. Took cookies and books along. Saw Cecil B. DeMille’s “The Crusades.” Ancient but good. Back to ironing and washing hair. Betty and I quiet most of evening. She apologized for being so crabby today - she was tired. To bed late - borrowed Mary’s radio.
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
February 5, 1941
Milder, bright. Ruth and I played in South Harriman Chapel in the morn. Mary wasn’t at school, so nothing interesting happened. Dentist’s after school, then home and washed hair. Wrote dearest a note. Get so tired of Helen’s carrying-on about school, etc. History test not hard.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
February 5, 1888
We got up very late this morning on account of being up so much nights with Una. I did not get around to go to church. Kate has had a headache some today and I have tried to help care for the baby so she could get some rest, but I guess I am not a very good hand. Una has been feeling pretty bad this evening. I commenced a letter to ma today. Have been reading of the great snow blockade in the eastern states. I think Michigan is about as good a place to live in as any states we seem to escape fearful storms and extreme cold.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
February 5, 1887
The thermometer was 6 o above zero this morning, warmer than it was last night. I wrote copies and studied Bookkeeping this forenoon. Taught as usual this afternoon. I am carrying my class in penmanship through the capital letters now. They are doing good work, but of course some of them will persist in getting discouraged and that is a hindrance to progress. I called at Mr. Waters after school tonight. Fred’s wife is home, sick with some kind of scrofulous disease in her arms and hands. I have been reading out of “Gold Foil” tonight, to try and learn how to do the better work in this world. It has commenced to storm tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Columbus T., age 31, North Carolina
February 5, 1874
The Senate finally agreed up a bill to adjust the State Debt. […] Bill in favor of Contractors on Marion and Asheville Turnpike adopted. Pays half. February 18th fixed for meeting of University Trustees. Went down street bought some figs for a purpose — had a shave and hair cutting — on return found some married ladies and boys of our house playing croquet and had a game with six. On the prevailing side. My first game in 6 mos. At Marlers room with Armfield and Bryan discussing usury. [In left margin] Met Mr. Alston of Warren.
*(Worthy of Record: The Civil War and Reconstruction Diaries of Columbus Lafayette Turner, Ed. Kenrick N. Simpson, courtesy of the State Archives of North Carolina.)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
February 5, 1862
Jim laid this hearth today & the kitchen hearth also & fixed the floor in kitchen. A beautiful day. Three men stay here tonight hunting volunteers to form the 1st Regiment again. I sewed some on Mr. Henry’s coat, it is very tough sewing. Willie is very fretful, pure crossness I think.
*(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
February 5, 1668
Up, and to the office, where a full Board sat all the morning, busy among other things concerning a solemn letter we intend to write to the Duke of York about the state of the things of the Navy, for want of money, though I doubt it will be to little purpose. After dinner I abroad by coach to Kate Joyce’s, where the jury did sit where they did before, about her husband’s death, and their verdict put off for fourteen days longer, at the suit of somebody, under pretence of the King; but it is only to get money out of her to compound the matter. But the truth is, something they will make out of Stillingfleete’s sermon, which may trouble us, he declaring, like a fool, in his pulpit, that he did confess that his losses in the world did make him do what he did. This do vex me to see how foolish our Protestant Divines are, while the Papists do make it the duty of Confessor to be secret, or else nobody would confess their sins to them. All being put off for to-day, I took my leave of Kate, who is mightily troubled at it for her estate sake, not for her husband; for her sorrow for that, I perceive, is all over. I home, and, there to my office busy till the evening, and then home, and there my wife and Deb. and I and Betty Turner, I employed in the putting new titles to my books, which we proceeded on till midnight, and then being weary and late to bed.
*(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.)