May 14
Laura M., age 16, North Carolina
May 14, 1998
SHITTY. Worried about cig-burn in my car all day. Albie came 2 see me after school. Sean’s still talking like we’re goin’ to the movies this weekend. We’ll see… Went 2 Ash’s 4 a few b-4 going 2 Eddie’s. Went 2 grocery store. Em came. We watched the last episode of Seinfeld and it sucked. Came home and hated myself.
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
May 14, 1997
Good day. Our gym classes were combined today — it was REAL fun. Had homeroom, too, and English. Eddie picked me and Zach up. His hair is so short! (Buzzed) SHIT — me and Karen talked and she said she thought Chris is a sophomore — what if he is? Gonna find out. Dad picked me up. Stopped by Courtney’s for clothes and saw Liam at Travis’s driveway. :) Good to see Courtney. Ate dinner. Went to softball game. It sucked MAJOR. Came home, showered.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
May 14, 1960
Mrs. B. going to Ruth’s. Washed the screens, a nice day, warmer. Cooked meal for eve. Doc stopped to look at car. Ole came in P.M. so glad Loie wasn’t hurt. Stayed until 9:30 at cabin. Doc wanted to see gun smoke. Misty had a colt (male). Guess “Anthony Armstrong Jones.”
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
May 14, 1944
Very hot but beautiful. Awoke about 10:30. Mary Jo came in and we told her all about the prom. To church at 12. Nearly melted. Good dinner. We all talked about the dance. Oh yes — as we were leaving the hall whom should we see coming up the walk but the 4 lieuts. Found out they had dates with some kids on 3rd floor — Julie had her original date, mine had [illegible] all corny people! And Betty’s had Sally Fair. Well, swell! Jacq’s had some other drip. After dinner Connie got her camera and took some pictures of us all in front of the hall. Betty and I had planned to study but decided to go to the show. Went to Hall and saw “See Here, Private Hargrove.” It was a scream! Back about 5. Studied. Then about 6 went up to Recital Hall and played my recital pieces. Was it ever hot! Valerie came up and I played the rest for her. She said Betty Postel and Connie were having a spread and wanted us to come up at 6:30. Went back to hall and up to their room. All our table and some other kids were there. Had sandwiches, ice cream, etc. but I wasn’t a bit hungry. Talked and had fun. Down to room about 8. Wrote letters. Val came down during evening and we talked. She has hooked me into being her accompanist after my recital. Tomorrow is the dreaded day!
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
May 14, 1941
Lovely, rather cloudy. Warm. Saw two pictures in chapel. Good Theme: America, Land of Opportunities. Had to type a letter at machine out of your head. Awful. Roberta just missed getting her sixty words. If only I could make fifty. Read some one-act plays in fifth study hall. Mary didn’t call. Mrs. Geasland locked the office door by mistake after she finished a private telephone conversation. After school I practiced. Helen is very sweet now. Then I got Barbie and we went for a short walk. Then came back and saw “Wakkins.” (Mom is house cleaning.) Went home with Barbie and stayed awhile. She’s so cute. Dad not home. After supper Mom heard my history questions. At 7:30 she went to the North Methodist Church to a revival service. I went over to George’s. His mother also went to church. Mr. Tomilson was there helping George with his arithmetic. I tried valiantly to study but gave up. Once while I was absorbed in my book, George said, “Ain’t she beautiful?” I looked up questioningly -- George said, “I think she is, too.” Mr. Tomilson had been looking at me, I guess. Goodness! Mr. Tomilson said, “If you treat her better she might help you with your arithmetic.”
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
May 14, 1888
It has been a cold day, and as it threatened to freeze tonight, we covered up our strawberry bed and some of the grapes. Willie and I went to the woods and cut some chunks for my small stove next winter. I drove down and got Lizzie Burnham tonight, she is going to sew for ma.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
May 14, 1887
I went over to see Kate a little while this morning and took a trunk of her things over. Willie took me to Delhi and I went to Ann Arbor on the cars. I took dinner with Ralph McAllister and had a good visit with him. Called on Will Price at the Bank, and had two drafts cashed there, also. I called at aunt Hannah’s to see her and Gertie. Bought a clock to give to Effie and George for a wedding present, I think it a nice one. Came up to Dexter on the cars tonight and Willie met me there as he took aunt Susan to the same train. I came home to stay tonight. Geo. and Effie called tonight on their way to Nilssen Club meeting.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
May 14, 1863
Harrie went to Asheville this morning. It rained a little but cleared off before dinner. I had the headache all day & was quite sick after dinner with it. Harrie came back about 5 o’clock. He got the papers which give a full account of the & Fredericksburg fight. Gen. Jackson is dead. Died from pneumonia & his wounds. He was wounded by our men through mistake. We have lost one of our best Generals. A nation now mourns his loss. Harrie complained of his lungs some after he came back. He says he can’t ride horseback.
*(Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family, Eds. Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell, used with permission.)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
May 14, 1862
George Jones’ wife spent the day here, came after some ploughs. I made some sleeve loops for Zona & Willie of brilliante. Wiley McKinnish & S. Jones put up the banisters to the front piazza today. The hop vine is growing finely. I wanted columns of plank put in but they have no plank suitable. It rained several showers today but cleared off in the evening.
*(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 36, London
May 14, 1669
Up, and to St. James’s to the Duke of York, and thence to White Hall, where we met about office business, and then at noon with Mr. Wren to Lambeth, to dinner with the Archbishop of Canterbury; the first time I was ever there and I have long longed for it; where a noble house, and well furnished with good pictures and furniture, and noble attendance in good order, and great deal of company, though an ordinary day; and exceeding great cheer, no where better, or so much, that ever I think I saw, for an ordinary table: and the Bishop mighty kind to me, particularly desiring my company another time, when less company there. Most of the company gone, and I going, I heard by a gentleman of a sermon that was to be there; and so I staid to hear it, thinking it serious, till by and by the gentleman told me it was a mockery, by one Cornet Bolton, a very gentleman-like man, that behind a chair did pray and preach like a Presbyter Scot that ever I heard in my life, with all the possible imitation in grimaces and voice. And his text about the hanging up their harps upon the willows: and a serious good sermon too, exclaiming against Bishops, and crying up of my good Lord Eglinton, a till it made us all burst; but I did wonder to have the Bishop at this time to make himself sport with things of this kind, but I perceive it was shewn him as a rarity; and he took care to have the room-door shut, but there were about twenty gentlemen there, and myself, infinitely pleased with the novelty. So over to White Hall, to a little Committee of Tangier; and thence walking in the Gallery, I met Sir Thomas Osborne, who, to my great content, did of his own accord fall into discourse with me, with so much professions of value and respect, placing the whole virtue of the Office of the Navy upon me, and that for the Comptroller’s place, no man in England was fit for it but me, when Sir J. Minnes, as he says it is necessary, is removed: but then he knows not what to do for a man in my place; and in discourse, though I have no mind to the other, I did bring in Tom Hater to be the fittest man in the world for it, which he took good notice of. But in the whole I was mightily pleased, reckoning myself now fifty per cent. Securer in my place than I did before think myself to be. Thence to Unthanke’s, and there find my wife, but not dressed, which vexed me, because going to the Park, it being a most pleasant day after yesterday’s rain, which lays all the dust, and most people going out thither, which vexed me. So home, sullen; but then my wife and I by water, with my brother, as high as Fulham, talking and singing, and playing the rogue with the Western barge-men, about the women of Woolwich, which mads them, and so back home to supper and 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.)