Thu 1. I went to Ft. Dodge today with Rev. & Mrs. Robinson. Went to the WSCS Convention. About 800 were there. Attended the sessions in the AM. Had dinner at the church & there went out to the hospital for a blood sugar & urine test. Mrs. Grooters went with me. I will get the report later. Tests cost me $2.25. I also bought some milk of Magnesia & some bay rum and glycerine for some hand lotion. It cost 15¢. I have been cracking nuts. Saw Miss Shroyer awhile. She is very pessimistic over the Foreign Missionary work. Mrs. Grooters asked a woman she did not know to take us out to the hospital. I nearly collapsed. Must to bed!!! Dad is asleep. Have been cracking nuts.
Fri 2. It was very foggy and looked like rain this AM but we decided to wash anyway. It cleared up and the clothes got dry. I fixed my green dress, did the cleaning & went to bed. This afternoon we went after tomatoes, cabbage, and pepper plants which I set out. Am pretty tired and my left eye is red and sore. Tomorrow is Bob’s last day at Curtis. It has been a long four years.
Here is a photo of the 1941 graduating class at Curtis. Robert is in the middle of the front row. The list of people in this picture reveals that one of his classmates was conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein (fourth from the left on the second row).
Sat 3. Have ironed today. Bess was in twice. Stopped when she came after her chickens & again this evening. We were surprised when Linnie & Gerrit drove in about five PM. Dad has decided to drive to Eldora tomorrow to see John. Think I shall not go. It will be too hard on me. Bess brought us some side pork tonight.
Sun 4. Dad drove to Eldora this morning while Gerrit is here to do the chores. I did not feel like going with him, nor did I feel like going to SS and church. I have done little but lie around & sleep. Wrote letters to the girls.
Mon 5. Dad got home about 8 PM. Started from Eldora about 4:30. Found John not so well. A letter from Ruth says that Bob got the reward of $100 as the most outstanding graduate of Curtis. They were so happy about it.
This would be about $2,000 in today’s money. A nice windfall for the young couple!
Tue 6. This was a busy day at our house. Both Mr. Summerfield & Mr. Alcox were here for dinner. Linnie & Gerrit were here also. The men were disking and dragging the field. Dad sold the calf at the Market Day Sale today. We got 16.64 for it. We are going to sell the hens that are not laying, and the two roosters. One hen is hatching today and I set another. That makes four more setting. One more wants to set. I’d like to raise 60 to 100 chickens with them. Some of our other chickens weigh 2¼ lbs. It rained some today. We did not hear from Gerald.
Wed 7. This is a cool day. We tried to pick out some hens that were not laying but all five that we dressed had eggs in them. The crayolas I ordered came but so far the shade is a fizzle. Linnie & Gerrit decided to stay till tomorrow. I cut out my pink voiledress today. Took the old hen off. She had eight chickens.
This history of Crayola crayons includes a list of colors that were produced over the years. I’m not sure what Emma was using them for—the most common packages at this time were 8 or 16 colors, but it sounds like she may have ordered a specific color for a project.
Thu 8. Linnie & Gerrit left for home this AM. We hated to have them go. Bess brought in a book for her & some pieplant for me. I baked enough to can three pints. Moved the bed out and cleaned up the house. Had Frank Alcox for dinner. He finished planting the corn today. This afternoon I sewed on my voile dress. Mrs. Brassfield & Joyce stopped to visit awhile. We got a card from Gerald today. He says he is working so hard—and gets very tired. Does not hear from Miriam.
Fri 9. It has been cold today. Frost was predicted for Iowa last night but we did not get any. Our beans are up. Hope nothing freezes tonight. Have been sewing on the voile dress. It looked so pretty in the piece but am disappointed in the way it looks now. My lamp is disappointing too. It looks like Heck. Dad & I went to town today. Bess asked me to go out to Thelma’s after supper, which I did. She must have 1000 chickens.
Sat 10. This has been a beautiful day. Did the Saturday’s work. Sewed awhile, and helped Dad plant some popcorn. It will be nice for Christmas presents. My pink dress that I have admired for a year in the piece is not proving so satisfactory when made up. It is too red—the dots are hard to sew through and the seams are not true, and the pattern I’m using seems plenty small—also the machine does not work very well and I think I’ll give it away. The mail consisted of a letter from Katharine, a card from Linnie, one from Chris & a paper. Later today I got a Mother’s Day greeting from Gerald.
Today I learned more about corn! In addition to sweet corn and field (or “dent”) corn, there are also flint corn (often dried and used for decoration) and popcorn (a type of flint corn that has a hard shell and a soft, moist center). This is the first time I’ve heard Emma mention planting popcorn—I discovered that with sugar becoming less available during WWII, popcorn consumption tripled.
Sun 11. I began taking Insulin Feb 7. Began the Protamine Zinc Insulin Feb. 11. This has been a cool-sunny day. We had our first fried chicken today. It weighed two & a half pounds. We went to church & SS today. I gave Mrs. Broz the dollar Bess gave me for the Pantry Sale. Not many at church or SS. Mrs. Brassfield was here awhile this PM. I have written—Katharine, Ruth, Gerald, Kate, Linnie and Don Williams. We planted the sweet corn & popcorn today. Hoover is speaking tonight.
Former president Herbert Hoover’s speech in New York on this date took a strong stand that the US should not enter WWII. Here’s an excerpt—the full text is included in this document.
Mon 12. Have washed this morning. It is a lovely wash day. Got a lovely gift from Ruth—a large round cromium tray, hand made. It is so nice. Got a hat and some paints from Linnie. Dad got the coveralls from Chris. I went out to Bess’ with Mrs. Brassfield after some potatoes. Got some rayon pieces for my rug. I am tired. Bess was in awhile this evening. She had had a permanent. I weighed 166½ today at Bess’. Too much!!!
Chromium/chrome plating was common for serving utensils and decorative items at this time. I wasn’t able to find a listing for a hand-made one of this era.
Tue 13. Thought Summerfield would be here for dinner but he did not come till afternoon to roll the ground. He got rid of a lot of clods. The corn is not yet up. Ed W’s is. I did the ironing and a lot of mending. It has been blowing a lot of dirt into the house. Felt too tired to go to the class play. We got a nice letter from Ruth & Bobbie! They have bought a Chevrolet coach ($375). I worked on my rug awhile.
A new Chevrolet coach in 1941 would have been close to $700, so I am guessing that the one they bought was a few years old. Here’s a 1938 model.
Wed 14. It is blowing again this morning. Has sprinkled a little. We sure need rain on the strawberries. The world is astounded at the mystery of Hess who has been Hitler’s right hand man—leaving Germany & flying to Scotland, into the hands of Britain whom Germany is trying to conquer.
Nazi Deputy Führer Rudolf Hess, whose life was unusual in many ways, flew from Augsburg to Scotland on May 10, 1941, apparently on a free-lance diplomatic mission. He was captured and spent the rest of his life in prison. According to this story, the truth behind his flight—one of the war’s strangest incidents—is still unknown.
Thu 15. This has been a very warm day. I went out to Brassfield after some slips she promised me. When I got home I planted the porch box that Dad made for me. Dad got some more feed today. Mr. Grooters was here. Am going to try in the Murphy Contest again. Last year Henry Jensen made $125 on 500. We hope to make $300 on 800. I hope more if we can sell the pullets for $1.00 apiece. Did not get the oil today.
Although the Murphy Products Company ran a prize contest in which contestants told in 25-50 words why they liked Murphy feeds, and Emma loved to enter these contests, I think—based on a later entry—that this may have been a different one related to the raising of healthy chickens.
Fri 16. This has been a backward day. Fooled with the paints Linnie sent so long this forenoon I did not get my sweeping done till afternoon. A letter from Chris asking for “The Call of the Carpenter” occasioned a letter to Ruth where we must have left it. No oil check in Katharine’s letter! Wrote her! Canned the pieplant Mrs. Brassfield gave me. I now have 2 qts & 4 pints. It is very good this year.
The Call of the Carpenter (free online here) was a 1911 novel by minister, socialist, and eccentric Bouck White in which he portrayed Jesus as a workingman, agitator, and social revolutionist. It was controversial enough that he got kicked out of his job at an Episcopal church in NY and started his own “Church of the Social Revolution.” Tell’s brother Chris was apparently a socialist himself, and periodically shared his thoughts and literature with the family.
Sat 17. This has been a very nice day—not too hot nor too cold. We are needing rain badly. The corn is coming up. I washed the window on the out side today. Finished my pink dress. Took Betty a book for a commencement gift. Got the check from Katharine for Oil. I did not get to see it. Don’t know whether there was one or two. Must have been two as she sent an extra ten as the oil check was so small. Bess was here tonight. She stayed till after 9:30.
The “oil check” was a payment from a share of an oil lease that members of the Boylan family had invested in years ago. It continued to be a small but meaningful financial lifeline for the family over the years.
Sun 18. A dry, hot windy day. We need rain badly. Our strawberry bed is promising but will do little without rain. Dad acted as SS Supt this AM & I taught my class as usual. Read, slept, wrote some letters, cracked nuts etc today. Went to the Community building to the Baccalaureate Service tonight. Fine Glee club.
Mon 19. Had a bunch of chicks hatch today. Two hens are hatching. Also set some turkey eggs Bess gave me. Went to Mrs. Gartrels to the Monday Club. They are planning to entertain the Shakespeare Club soon. Will cost each one $1. I am planning to take some pictures of the chickens in the morning so I can enter the Murphy Contest. No letters today! Dad is sleeping on the porch tonight.
Tue 20. It has been somewhat cloudy but we did not get a rain. Have been sewing this afternoon. Went to Ft. Dodge about 4 PM for a SS meeting. Rev. & Mrs. Robinson, Mrs. Green, Mrs. Pierce & I went. Saw the Johnsons & Muhlemans. Got home about 11 PM.
Wed 21. Got up early and took a picture of the chickens. Dad took the picture with me in it. I hope it is good. Dad says he’s afraid it isn’t but we’ll see. I want to send it in with my 50 word to the Murphy Contest. We sent the Kodak home with Mr. B when he stopped. I did not go to the Guest Day luncheon. Was too tired. Bess was here tonight. She is going to bring me a setting of eggs soon. I have 26 chickens now—small ones—and another hen is hatching.
I have some old negatives that were taken in this time frame, probably with this Kodak camera. I couldn’t find one of Emma with chickens, but here’s one of Emma and Tell.
Thu 22. We had a nice rain today which we needed badly. I am afraid the strawberries are not likely to have so many tho’ I hope they will have enough. I have been sewing today. It has turned cool tonight. We heard from Ruth, Gerald, & Florence S. today. It has been about 4½ weeks since we had rain—Apr. 19.
Fri 23. Dad fixed up the little chicken house this AM & I put the 28 baby chickens in it. Later they seemed cold so I put the old hen in with them. I planted the glad bulbs I got from Shenandoah today, also some lettuce & radishes. Mrs. Brassfield was here awhile after dinner. Phoned Glidden about having some roosters caponized. I wrote Linnie & Gerald. Finished my chambray dress. Dad found a ten dollar bill in the PO when he mailed my letters. He said the old hen was still picketing around the chicken house since I took her chickens away.
Sat 24. It has been pretty cold today. I sewed awhile. Cut out two aprons and a dress. Did a little washing & cleaning. Bess was in awhile this afternoon. She wants to make my dessert for WFMS Tues. night. All I’ll have to do is make coffee and get the house ready. Mr. & Mrs. Grooters were here this evening. They think our chickens are fine. Mrs. Grooters is going to sell some walnuts for me. Dad told Miss Crane about finding the money. She said if anyone asked she would send him here but so far no one has inquired. I hope we can keep it. Florence got some today.
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Sun 25. We went to SS & I taught my class. Dad came home to sleep. I staid for church. Slept so long in the afternoon that I could not sleep last night. We got the family letter Sat. I wrote for Dad. Mr. Gordon promised to make the missionary talk next Sunday. We had Florence in for dinner. Had a fried chicken.
Mon 26. Did not take my insulin till after 7 AM. I got up so late. I did not know where Dad was so took it myself. Have been sewing today. It is so windy it would do little good to clean up my house yet. Am having the missionary group tomorrow evening. We were surprised to have Fay Granner and her mother Mrs. Herman Granner drive in at noon. They saw our name on the mail box. Were here till nearly 2 PM. Since Mr. Dunlap was here I had a good dinner ready. Meat loaf, upside down cake etc.
Tue 27. Bess came in the morning to bring trays, dishes, and vacuum cleaner. We had a nice shower so it seemed of some use to clean the rugs. Dad helped me and we got ready for evening. Mrs. Cleaveland brought some things for the Mission Truck. Had 17 here for WFMS!! Bess made the dessert. It was good. I served crackers & coffee with it. Used my new tray and napkins. Used Florence’s radio & listened to the President’s speech. Glad it turned cooler.
Franklin Roosevelt predicts Nazi intentions to gain control of the Western Hemisphere. As evidence, the President cites Adolf Hitler’s broken promises of ceased aggression and his subsequent invasions of European lands. Roosevelt also argues that “freedom of the seas” is essential to preventing Nazi control in the Western Hemisphere and that support of Britain in their fight against Germany plays a pivotal role in preserving this freedom.
Wed 28. Spent a good share of the forenoon in bed. Had a touch of bladder trouble. Had to get dinner for Charlie Dunlap as he is still cultivating. He is “slow but sure.” Cracked nuts in afternoon. Bess was in awhile in the evening. Charlie D was talking about fellows who made a “corn-bread living.”
I found this definition of cornbread living: “a lifestyle or approach to life that emphasizes simplicity, self-sufficiency, and a connection to traditional, often rural, vallues.”
Thu 29. We will have the cultivating done today—for the first time. Will cost us $10.50—3.00 per day. I picked about ¾ qt of strawberries today. Gerald planned to go to Aunt Kates today, to stay for the weekend. Bess brought me a feed sack. It is nice enough for a table cloth. She also brought a little meat.
According to this article, feed sacks became enormously popular in the 1930s as a source of material for clothing, quilts, and more, and were often printed with beautiful designs. They reached a new height of popularity in the 1940s, and could even be purchased through department stores and catalogues.
Fri 30. We thought we would go to the speech but gave it up—too hot & too much work. Radio reports England has been beaten in Crete. Lindberg says it is Roosevelt not Hitler that wants to rule the world. My bladder trouble seems over with. Bess phoned to see how I was.
Aviator Charles Lindbergh was vocally opposed to the US entering World War II. There’s a lot more that could be said about him, but we’ll save that for future entries as the war continues to unfold.
Sat 31. Thought possibly Mrs. Johnson might come by this way today on her way to the flower show at Shenendoah but she didn’t. Have spent the day cleaning, sewing, washing, a little ironing, gardening, going to the Beauty Parlor for a few test curls, etc etc. Bess was in awhile. Brought some ice cream. I worked awhile on my rug. We got a card from Katharine. She has one more week of school. We are so thankful for the rain yesterday. Gerald is at Waldheim fishing this week end.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for June 1941.
