Handwritten diaries (17) written in Old Farmer's Almanacs 1892-1912

Pricing & History

Sold for
Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
Sold Date
Source eBay

This auction is for a group of handwritten diaries contained within a group of 17 Old Farmer's Almanacs beginning in 1892. The years are: 1892,1893, 1894, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1908, 1909, 1910,1911, and 1912. In most of these booklets the diarist (Lucebia True - I believe) kept track of her family and their farm work. A little research reveals the family to consist of : Edward True (Capt.), Lucebia E. (Hoyt) True his wife, Beulah True their daughter, and Eddie True their son. Also mentioned (along with many neighbors and boarders and railroadmen) is someone called Parp or Parss - its hard to be sure. Other family members drift in and out on visits. After reviewing the photos, they are much easier to read than they appear here. Almost all are in pencil.The Centennial number (1892) contains a picture of a painting of Robert B. Thomas the originator of these almanacks. It appears the family moved to Hancock Maine in November 1892. They often mention going to Mt. Desert Ferry. All the diary notes are on the calendar month pages ( around the edges of the page ) making reading a trifle difficult, but it is still enjoyable to read. For instance the 1894 number is typical of most of these: She noted in Feb. That "Spain blew up the USS Gunboat Maine.", set hens in March, Planted potatoes and peas in April, in May her daughter - at school in New York City won a gold medal in advertising design, keeps track of the chickens as they hatch, which cows are in what pasture, Beulah's waist measurement, in Oct. Luzena Colby died, Nov. 27th it "Snowed & blew a gale a great many vessels wrecked." In December Edward W. True started for New York to work for Fall River Steamboat Co. The diarist went to Bangor to see Lucy Kimball - and a recipe for killing lice on hens is pinned into the back of the book. There is not a lot of information in any one book, but as you read them and become interested in the family's doings, a picture of their lives appears. A few nice old recipes are added here and there. Late in the series the family travels to W. Hoboken, NJ for the winters, and return to Maine each spring, and the final volumes do not have the amount of entries found in the earlier issues.In 1898 - the first Coca-Cola ad appears on the inside back cover. "The Brain & Nerve Drink". There are different Coke ads in the 1899, and 1900 issues. However, in 1901 the Coca-Cola ad moves to the inside front cover and is the last to appear.The most interesting aspect of the entire series is the dreadful accident that happened on September 20, 1901. The son, Eddie - 19 years old - is injured on the electric cars at Corinth - he has two operations on that day, then is moved to a hospital in Bangor where he hovers between life and death for the following 55 days when he can finally sit up in a chair. The saga of this boys next several years will be interesting to read, and will make you glad you live now. In March 1902 she mentions making a telephone call to Bangor - a big event, and bridges damaged by ice.Well, I could go on and on, but my historian's heart wants these diaries to be in the hands of someone familiar with the area and the families. How much more interesting to read under those circumstances.These 17 almanac/diaries form an interesting and rare look at life at the turn of the last century, and would enhance any historic collection of the area. read more

Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.

Flag item for content or copyright

If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review.

If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.