March 17
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
March 17, 1998
Felt like shit today—hated my outfit. Zach was high in Chem. and I didn’t even know! Fun in World Civ. Me and Née chilled in Mr. Blamey’s room till 3:00 when Malia came. Stayed at her house till 6:00. (We took a nap.) Met Eddie and went to Olive Garden. Got racquetball racquet. Home at 8:00. Homework and “Buffy” and “Dawson’s Creek.”
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
March 17, 1997
Today was a good day because I liked what I wore. :( That should say something. I want to like somebody! Went home with Renée. Em picked me up. Did homework. Me and Kathy had pizza for dinner. (Mom had to work till 9:00.) Talked to Ashley. Talked to Brittany. Trisha wrote me saying she likes Sean. What the FUCK!!! I don’t think I like him… Maybe.
Emily M., age 12, North Carolina
March 17, 1990
We had Laura’s 8th birthday party today at the Alpine Ice House. Dad and Sandra gave me this diary and I am determined to keep up with it! Trey, Tracy, Rick, and Nana Ball are here. I had confirmation class this morning. I can’t wait until next weekend! I get to go to the beach with Kristin! I have to go downstairs before my mom makes me! I don’t want to lock this. Gotta go.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
March 17, 1960
Wrote to Fla., Harry and Mary. Did my door curtain then cleaned off upper porch. Turned colder.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
March 17, 1944
Cold and rather cloudy. Rained at night. Good lunch. Read history for 3 hours straight in afternoon. Helped Betty deliver papers. Mary is mad at us again. Blast her anyway! Dinner in dining room. Had shrimp - nearly made me sick. Felt funny afterwards. Betty and I went to library at 7:15. I got Wuthering Heights. Betty stayed but I went back to hall and washed hair, studied, and then started book. Depressing. Bath and to bed in depressed mood - raining and cold. Betty and I on none too good terms.
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
March 17, 1941
(m) Bright, cold, windy. Wintry. Chapel. In English had oral reports. In history finished activities and then had part of test. In Latin I told Goody (upon request) that someone had said she was insincere. Didn’t mention names (it was Mother!). Terrible typing. I tried to work on short story last period. Cold and windy coming home. Junior play to be cast tomorrow. Saw Bunny quite a bit today. Am trying to get over love. Worked on short story all afternoon and most of evening. Mom helped. Finally finished. It is humorous. Dad away at night. No Mary.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
March 17, 1888
Did more packing up this forenoon, called at the court house and left a letter to be mailed. This is an awful lonesome house without Kate and Una. I went to a reception tonight given by Mr. and Mrs. Harvey at Mr. Thackers’. I had a very nice time. Mrs. Spencer exhibited her Turkish collections, which are great curiosities and very interesting. We had nice refreshments and each received a Turkish penwiper as a present.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
March 17, 1887
It was daylight when I awoke this morning and I thought I was late but it was but 5:30. Went up to the store and worked until noon invoicing. It began to snow this morning and has stormed all day, wind in the north blowing hard. I heard today that Kates cousin in Pleasanton is very sick and liable to die. I must write home about it as soon as I can. Helped at the store again after school. Came home about 6 o’clock, and cared for Freds colts. Fred came home this evening. I have been visiting, reading, and eating nuts and apples tonight, instead of working. I feel rather tired someway.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
March 17, 1862
I was nearly free from headache. I changed some feathers after dinner. Atheline helped. We filled up the new tick & emptied some pillows. I took a long walk with Mr. Henry in the evening, went over in the J. Green field to see the wheat. I had the headache badly when I got back. I think I eat too much dinner. Mr. Henry has three hands working on the mill dam today. Rather cool but bright & sunny.
*(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
March 17, 1668
Up betimes and to the office, where all the morning busy, and then at noon home to dinner, and so again to the office awhile, and then abroad to the Excize-Office, where I met Mr. Ball, and did receive the paper I went for; and there fell in talk with him, who, being an old cavalier, do swear and curse at the present state of things, that we should be brought to this, that we must be undone and cannot be saved; that the Parliament is sitting now, and will till midnight, to find how to raise this 300,000l., and he doubts they will not do it so as to be seasonable for the King: but do cry out against our great men at Court; how it is a fine thing for a Secretary of State to dance a jigg, and that it was not so heretofore; and, above all, do curse my Lord of Bristoll, saying the worst news that ever he heard in his life, or that the Devil could ever bring us, was this Lord’s coming to prayers the other day in the House of Lords, by which he is coming about again from being a Papist, which will undo this nation; and he says he ever did say, at the King’s first coming in, that this nation could not be safe while that man was alive. Having done there, I away towards Westminster, but seeing by the coaches the House to be up, I stopped at the ‘Change (where, I met Mrs. Turner, and did give her a pair of gloves), and there bought several things for my wife, and so to my bookseller’s, and there looked for Montaigne’s Essays,1 which I heard by my Lord Arlington and Lord Blaney so much commended, and intend to buy it, but did not now, but home, where at the office did some business, as much as my eyes would give leave, and so home to supper, Mercer with us talking and singing, and so to bed. The House, I hear, have this day concluded upon raising 100,000l. of the 300,000l. by wine, and the rest by a poll-[tax], and have resolved to excuse the Church, in expectation that they will do the more of themselves at this juncture; and I do hear that Sir W. Coventry did make a speech in behalf of the Clergy.
*(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.)