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UNKNOWN : 1940 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT HANDWRITTEN WORLD WAR II HOMEFRONT DIARY

24mo - over 5" - 5¾" tall. On offer is a super World War II homefront manuscript handwritten diary dated through the 1940's. It's so interesting reading about how people here in the U.S. were reacting to the news about Hitler, the US President and the war in general. The diary has about 118 handwritten pages and the diary entries start out on April 1st, 1940 and go though December 31st. The diary portion of the journal consists of 52 pages and then there are 66 pages more that have handwritten notes with poetry, religious views, lists of books read, a long list of women's names from A-Z and other miscellaneous notes. We believe our author lives in or around Glenside Pennsylvania as they mentions several trips taken, one in particular was to Kutztown Pennsylvania via Glenside. But they also mention DuPont Gardens and Newburyport. A small piece of paper with a typed name and a handwritten note says "Mrs. L. B. Prewell 314 Howard Ave. Altoona Pa. Levi's widow Lois Winifred". Besides the war entries there are also some great ones about a trip to Plymouth. During that trip our author is sadden to see so many liquor establishments in the town. Then, one sentence about the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, and one realizes they had attended the very historical event 47 years earlier. Here are some snippets: 1940 "April 8th, Fair but cold. War news alarming. Scandinavia invaded. What next?" "April 14th, Snow squalls nearly all day, freezing cold. A great date in our history is April 14th. Some trying experiences have been mine today but no note of them shall clutter this page. Memories that hurt must be suppressed. Went with Ed and Erma in the Plymouth far as the DuPont Gardens in the afternoon." "April 16th, Cloudy and chilly. War raging in Scandinavia. Hitler seems to be gaining ground though losing at sea. Only god knows the out come." "May 2nd, Fair. Found Pat's commencement speech Virginia asked for. Had long hunt for it. Norway falls under Hitler "Juggernaut" God deliver Norway's great people and noble King Haakon VII" "May 10th, Fair. Cleaned my room and put up sash curtains. Hitler invades the low countries. Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg. Queen Wilhelmina speaks to her people. Dark day in history for us all. Card from Chester." "May 20th, Cloudy in part but warm. Letter from the Rhode Islanders. War situation grave indeed. From such distress good Lord deliver us!" "May 30th, Fair but cold. Leave for Plymouth Mass about noon. Stop on at a herring run to see the fish go up stream. Lunch in a fair wood land this side Plymouth. How different from thirty years ago!. Modern spirit now pervades the crowd. The old spirit lacking. Seems too bad to see so many liquor places open. Had to dine at one of them I am ashamed to say. If there were "dry" places we did not find any. Everybody seemed to be chasing some phantom or other. The bay was just the same and full of small boats sailing or at anchor. Plymouth is under canopy now to protect it from vandals I guess. Returned by another route. Chester and I would have liked to visit "Burial Hill" where sleep many of the first settlers but not the Pilgrim who rest at Duxbury in unmarked graves." "June 8th, Clear. We leave about noon and stop at Highspire for Fireman's Parade then on to Goldsboro and Roy's to meet Chester's folks there." "June 13th, Chester comes to take me to New Cumb and stop on way at Billy Fishers and Salem cemetery. Chester sees for first time grave of his great paternal grandmother Julian Wilt who died in 1876. This was the only time during his visit that we had the opportunity to talk together alone. Sleep at Timi Dugan's that night." "The pages now following will be largely recollections until I start another diary as Irene could not find the one I left behind and it is too much of an effort to start another at present. A very cool summer with the exception of about three weeks in early summer was this most unusual year 1940. The presidential campaign was in some respects the hottest of all times. The suddenness of the Philadelphia Rep Convention in putting up Wendell Willkie as its candidate was a prominent feature of that body. His defeat was to have been expected in spite of his valiant fight against third term antics and other non-conservative measures. To deserve victory is just as good as to win victory and time often proves it to be true. The Chicago convention the strangest in history, needs but a small comment as it was little credit to those most concerned. There are many great firsts on record but that of being first to break so sacred a tradition as a third term for any man ought not be recorded in the Temple of Fame. The fall of the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, France and other small nations at the will of the aggressor was enough to bring a new dark age upon the earth even though Britain managed some how. Long live Winston Churchill Geo. VI, and other brave hearts! Many refugees flee for safety to our shores, some lost at sea mostly orphaned children. Royal refugees some of them, Juliana of Netherlands and children to Canada. Crown Princess Martha of Norway and children to Maryland, Queen Elizabeth's nieces to Virginia and others also………" ""I often stroll about alone not to kill time but just to get a little better acquainted with myself and God too." "Called three times to see Blanch Hutton Hoy but until the third did not find her at home. Chastina was with me and both had a fine time with this old friend of World's Fair Days, 1893. The ranks are thinning out now making the friends all the more dear to me." December 29th, At 9:30 p.m. listened to President's war message over the air. This time I agreed with him all the way but of course he had to spoil it a little in the beginning by going back to that old Chestnut of "1933" now too thread bare for recognition especially at such a time as this. I hope Hitler is mad today and Mussolini too." "December 31st, Last day of the old year. Fair and modest. Erna begins her green dress. Spend the day in a quiet way until near the end with others watched the old year go. Big Ben did not sound from London. I wonder whether it ever will ring out a New Year message again and what such message might be? Time only knows. Garnet stayed until after the midnight hour. Here this strange sort of diary ends and tomorrow shall begin another volume on a "Five year plan" form given me as a Christmas gift from Clarence who must assume that I am going to mark my pilgrimage by five more mile stones. Be that as God's will." There is also an entry in the back of the diary from an Epitaph, it reads; "1855 In Yocumtown Church yard in lonely corner down the hill on full size sandstone marker is this rather uncommon inscription; Eleanor daughter of Henry and Hannah Spencer. Died Dec. 31, 1855 aged 6 days. Lasting only and divine is all innocence like thine. Born on Christmas Day." The entries are housed in a tablet style journal that measures about 3 ½" x 6". Two of the pages are loose but one is glued to the back of the diary at the top edge and one pinned to another page. Cover is a bit loose from the binding but pages still in tact. Overall G.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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