Below is a transcript of both diaries with my annotations along the side. I always kept the spelling that she used. Some of the people are explained on Margaret’s The People page, but many of them were difficult to find.
Diary 1
1942
May 30
Saw the Memorial Day Parade with the Barrattes. Mom + Dad started to paper the hall. Also had lunch at the twins house and afterwards played games.
May 31
Went to S.S. Took care of Pat while Mrs. Hanson went to Greeley. I earned 25c. Finished “The Adventure City,” a story of a Czeck boy in America.
June 1
Nothing of importance happened today. Studying for Semester tests took most of the day.
June 2
Grandma came over this morning. She is staying over night. Mr Enderwisen’s rosary is tonight.
June 3
Grandma left this morning to go to Mr Enderwisen’s funeral. He is buried in Mt. Olivet. We had our first part of the Algebra Test. I got 90%.
June 4 $1 pay
We took our gym clothes home today. Last day we dress in gym in Skiner. I have a bad spring cold. I start taking care of Mrs Days lawn while she is away.
June 5
The boys speech contest was the assembly for today. I rode Irene’s bike during lunch hour. The 9a class party was held tonight from 8 to 10. Rainy.
June 6
I dug planten most of the day. It was a nice day.
June 7
Went to Sunday School. It rained most of the day. Daddy started putting light switches in our house.
June 8
Mother and I went to town after school to get my graduation things. I got brown + white pumps. My dress is white with brown + blue stripes.
June 9
We started to practice our continuation exercises today. I had my hair washed and curled after school.
June 10 *procession today
Alice + Anne gave me a birthstone ring for my continuation exercise. Aunt Laura + Uncle Marshell came over in the evening. We practice for our graduation.
June 11
Today was report cards. I got all Highs. Tonight I graduated from Skinner. E.D. and T.L. crashed the gates. They gave me a beautiful gold bracelet. I now go to North High School.
June 12
It rained all day. I listened to all the radio serial programs today to make my list to listen to this summer.
June 13
I started to pick gooseberries today. Aunt Laura wants 3 gal. This afternoon I visited the twins. We played bat + ball in the vacant lot on Shoshone St. I had a good time.
June 14
I went to S.S. The Meldaus are back. Aunt Laura came over to get her gooseberries. She payed me $2.
June 15
The twins + I went up to Woodbury Library today. I checked out “Forrest Runners.” We washed today. We bought our kitchen linoleum.
June 16
The Barrattes had lunch with us. We played Big Business and my target game after lunch. We had a nice time.
June 17
Grandma was over. I went to the Bakery, cleaned my bookcase + watered. About 5:45pm we went to town and went to the new Telenews Theater.
June 18
Thursday, Mother + I went over to the twins for lunch. We played games afterwards.
June 19
We received our linoleum this morning. I worked on a jig saw puzzle today on Abe Lincoln.
June 20
Today I was very lazy because it was raining.
June 21
I went to S.S. Daddy laid our inlaid today. Today is Father’s Day. Pauline visited us in the evening.
June 22
Denver war heros were honored today. There was a parade and everything. I picked some gooseberries. The twins were over.
June 23
We cleaned the pantry. A. Laura + U. Marshall were over this evening.
June 24
Aunt Laura wants some more gooseberries so I picked a gal for her today.
June 25
I finished picking gooseberries today. She gave me 50c a gal.
June 26
Nothing unusual happened today.
June 27
I listened to the Saturday programs.
June 28
Mother’s + Daddy’s wedding anniversary. They have been married 16 yrs. Daddy bought a spice cabinet for mamma.
June 29
Tuesday, Daddy laid our inlaid in the pantry. He also put
June 30
Aunt + Uncle took us for a ride today. Mother got sick. Aunt Laura bought a crate of strawberries. We put some over ice cream.
July 1
Catherine, the twins, + mom and I went to Jefferson Park for a picnic. We had a nice time.
July 2
Pauline, Otto, Min, Billy, Mom, + I went to the ordnance plant with Shirley. We waited most of the afternoon. 5 hours, in fact.
July 7
Daddy is home today. He helped mother do the washing.
July 9
The Gilmores were over this afternoon. Dairy, I think there slightly rushing things after just meeting them Sunday.
July 10
Today is Thelma Louise’s 12th birthday. We didn’t see anything of them.
July 11
Saturday, nothing unusual happened today.
July 12
I went to S.S. + church morning + night. I wore my new blue + pink plaid skirt for the first time. I bought some pop.
July 13
Mother is making me a new dress out of the material Mrs. Hansen gave me. I took a 2 hr. nap this afternoon.
(All the way at the back of the diary…)
Birthdays and Anniversaries
Date Name
April 26, 1905 Jeannette E. Richardson- Mom
Feb. 2, 1902 S.V. Richardson- Daddy
July 10, 1930 Thelma Louise- Cousin
Feb. 8, 1885 Margaret Robart- Grandma
Jan. 8, 1935 Boots my dog
Birthdays and Anniversaries
Date Name
June 28, 1926 Wedding Mother + Dad
Diary 2
1942
July 15
Wednesday, I attended my first wedding today at 5:30 P.M. in the North Presbyterian Church. It was Mary Jane’s (Mrs. Hansen’s Friend) marriage to an officer in the army.
July 21
I saw “Gone With the Wind” today with Mrs Hansen at the Broadway theater. It was the grandest picture I ever saw.
July 23
Today I received you Diary from Mrs Hansen. She took her nephew to Colo. Spgs. yesterday. Eva let mama have her sweeper today.
July 28
We went to Aunt Laura’s today to see Agnes and baby David Delos. We had a nice time. It started to rain when we left and when in town it was pouring.
July 29
It was raining all day. Mother sewed and I took a 4½ hr. nap.
July 30
Mother washed today. I did a little bit of everything.
July 31
Today I ironed the flatwork, two blouses, underwear, and several dresses.
August 1
We went to the store this afternoon. Georgia bought a cone. The Sandefurs moved to 2829 W 29th Ave. We aided them tonight by washing windows and etc.
August 2
I went to S.S. and church. Grandma was over for the day. We had our first stuffed peppers of the season. Dad fixed a new gate between our houses. It rained.
August 3
It was rainy. I took care of Pat today.
August 4
Aunt Laura, Agnes, and Dee were over. Agnes had her hair fix today.
August 5
Shirley and Marion came after a mattress today.
August 6
Agnes left today on the Eagle.
August 8
We went to the store this morning.
August 9
I went to S.S. and church
August 10
Mommie and I washed today.
August 11
Elva, Thelma Louise, and I walked to Washington Park. We had a picnic and then played on the playground.
August 12
Thelma Louise and I played ping pong most of the day. I came home too this evening about 7 o’clock.
August 13
Mamma and I went to Shirley’s house. We saw jane Kay for the first time.
August 14
Mamma and I were sick today. It is cloudy and rainy all day.
August 15
We stayed home today. Gram came over today. I went to Mrs. Hansen’s house + had some candy, cake called victory cake, and ice cream.
September 9
Today I am a North High School Sophomore. I went with Gene, Mabel, Peggy, and Jean.
September 10
I have first lunch and the lunchroom is really crowded. I think I’ll like my teachers. Mother, Walter, and Mrs Day went to the mountains.
September 11
Just a school day. Mother came home. She brought me a bookmark from Estes Park.
September 12
It was a relief to not have to go to school today.
September 13
Aunt Laura, Uncle Marshall, and Rosanna was over this evening. They had been looking for apples.
September 14
We listened to Lux Radio Theater. Tyrone Power played in the picture.
September 15
Boot’s got a bath today. Daddy was home today.
September 16
Wednesday, we listened to Dr. Christian. It was about love insurance.
September 17
Mrs Hansen gave mother some plants from her yard. Just a regular school day.
September 18
It rained all day and was sure cold. I caught a cold coming home.
September 19
I listened to the radio. Ray Milland was on Armstrong Theater of Today and Gail Page on Stars Over Hollywood. I was warmer.
September 20
Gram, Elva, Don, + T.L. were over around 4:30. I doctored my cold.
September 21
No homework tonight. We listened to “How Green Was My Valley” over Lux Radio Theater. Daddy looked for a job today.
(On last page…)
Memorandum
Ruth Frazier’s address
2368 W 20th
Long Beach, California
The two diaries are continuous in time during the summer of 1942.