July 17
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
July 17, 1997
Up at 6:30. Went to work from 7-9. It was nice and short. Mom picked me up. Went to writing workshop. Black poet. Really cool. Best day yet. Eddie picked me up. Went to Curious Goods and got the cutest dress. My favorite ever. It’s yellow. Me and Eddie went to grocery store. Made key lime pie and had take-out “Jasper’s.” Came home and watched the story.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 17, 1960
Took Carrie to Sunday school then to cemetery. Then Loie mowed. Carrie came after church. Same old story if it wasn’t Mrs. A she raved about it was something else. One contradiction after another until I told her off. We both were madder than hatters so she went home when Lo was thru mowing front yard.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
July 17, 1944
Bright, gorgeous morn with heavenly breeze. Promises of a hot day, though! To work at 8:30. About 9 Mr. H. and I left for Kingston to copy some records. Picked Mrs. H. up and left her off at their house between here and Shelley’s. They’re trying to get moved and it’s quite a job. We drove on over and talked about wrecks! I spent the next 2 hours in the tiny, windowless and hot room containing huge deed books. I copied 4 records and about 11:30 we left. Really hot then. Stopped at “the place” again and I went in to look it over. It will be very pretty when they get it all fixed up. Mr. H. drove me home. Pop brought a letter from Val. She really had a time at Anne Bromfield’s. Mr. Rosseter (?) who lives at Cummins’ now picked me up. Clure was in the car, too. So I didn’t have that hot walk down. I was busy all afternoon typing the notes. Mr. H. left about 4:30 and I finished around 5. Saw Margaret and Mary Lou and another girl (married). M.L. showed me a picture of her little man — Tom — wounded and in England now — he’s really cute!! Awfully hot but dark clouds in the west. Worthington called at noon and wants me to play at the Business Men’s Club on Friday. Might have known that was coming. Took a bath and we had supper. Pop left to go on a fire. The country’s burning up again. I left about 7:30 and went down to Kimmie’s. Kay was there and we walked down to Red Cross rooms. I took my umbershoot in case of rain. We kidded and had more fun. I was right on the beam! We were the first ones there and couldn’t find the key. Then Betsy came and Miss Roberts and Mrs. Milburn. I unlocked the office and Kay called Mrs. Davis about the key. Then the Rockwells came. Kay went after said (good old law term!) key and we got started about 8:10. Kim. and I made 78 by 9:30 and Kay and Betsy 82. Pan came down after band practice. We all went down to the bowling alley. Kim. and I left before the others. Met George and 2 other boys. It’s silly but I wonder if Ashley has ever said anything about me to George — and vice versa. Kim and I sat out on her porch and drank pineapple juice. Kay and Pan came soon and joined us. I aimed an ice cube at a bush between Kay and Pan and it hit the latter in the eye — a beautiful shot! Then Kimmie and I tried putting ice down each other’s back and just about disrupted the neighborhood. Pan thought it was disgraceful ’cause we were older. Just as we started to go in Jimmie Carroll appeared. We all went in and Pan put on a record. She and Jim jitterbugged. He was so friendly. I can see how he’s a woman killer! I put an ice cube in his cap and Kim. and I nearly died laughing. She, Kay and I left a few minutes later before Jim discovered it. They walked home with me. A beautiful night. Mr. Young said it would have rained if I hadn’t brought my umbershoot. Mum and I went to bed. Pop was out all night. Lovely breeze. Didn’t see Ashley today. At the supper table we got in a big argument about women in politics. Daddy is encouraging but Mum thinks that what little I could do to clean up some small part of our rotten (largely) political system wouldn’t be worth the effort. Now, as I told Mum, that is not the right attitude. Pop thinks all our neighborhood will amount to something.
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
July 17, 1887
Managed to sleep last night. One of my eyes somewhat inflamed today. I went over to Fred’s and got a chunk of ice this forenoon, then he and I went to the lake and took a good wash off. I felt too sleepy to go to church. I picked red and black raspberries enough for our supper and for Kate’s dinner tomorrow. I am going to the store in the morning to work. Wrote a letter to pa this afternoon.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
July 17, 1871
Washed, hung the clothes on the bushes to dry. Will borrow Mrs. Roses irons to iron a few pieces. Do not iron often. Glad when the clothes are clean and smell good. Nearly out of writing paper— Home folks keep us in stamps— Mother send hops—and I make hop yeast— that is why the bread is so good and sweet.
Jake rode down on a mule this eve. He is going to town to morrow. Phillip is sending along for some things. I asked him to bring me a pennys worth from town. When he left— I said “dont forget the pennys worth,” and as P- was walking up the path with him, I called, “I must remind you of that pennys worth.” He just hawhawed and laughed.
Some of these young men are nice, and we do have merry times, but it could not be, if my brother was not here. He is so quiet and particular, and would soon rebuke me if I should be indiscrete. He is a good brother. The Roses Jake and others think so much of him. Jake deserves a good wife, and I think there is one waiting for him in Ohio.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
July 17, 1862
Mr. Henry took the children to Asheville today to see the battallion leave. They took Harrie a basket of June apples & his coffee. The apples are ripening very fast. Mr. Henry got Zona a long comb & Pinck a pair boots. They are very proud of their things. I made Charlie’s & Hanes’ pants & sewed a little on Lonzo’s. Atheline helped after dinner. Ham Cannon started yesterday to see his son Watson. J. Snelson staid here last Tuesday night. He is a deserter from the 16th Regiment.
*(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 34, London
July 17, 1667
Up, and fitted myself to discourse before the Council about business of tickets. So to White Hall, where waited on the Duke of York, and then the Council about that business; and I did discourse to their liking, only was too high to assert that nothing could be invented to secure the King more in the business of tickets than there is; which the Duke of Buckingham did except against, and I could have answered, but forbore; but all liked very well. Thence home, and with my wife and Deb. to the King’s House to see a play revived called The ———, a sorry mean play, that vexed us to sit in so much heat of the weather to hear it. Thence to see Betty Michell newly lain in, and after a little stay we took water and to Spring Garden, and there walked, and supped, and staid late, and with much pleasure, and to bed. The weather excessive hot, so as we were forced to lie in two beds, and I only with a sheet and rug, which is colder than ever I remember I could bear.
*(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.)