I think these portraits of Emma and Tell must have been taken about this time. Emma’s hairstyle is consistent with the “marcelling” she describes in February, 1929.
Fri 1. Another snow storm last night.
Sat 2. Ruth went to Iowa Falls for her lesson today.
Sun 3. Church—Sunday school. Ruth Bogardus for dinner guest. Easter choir practice in PM. Call at Gerald’s. A call from Mrs. Newcomer who was waiting for the bus. A two hour—nearly—wait at the Cafe made up a busy day.
Mon 4. Washed in the AM. Then went to Mrs. Walkers to hear the Inaugural ceremonies. Heard Curtis & Hoover take the Oath of office. Went to a Steward Board meeting in the PM and got home about 4. After supper we were invited to Swallum’s to hear the radio.
Until 1933, presidential inaugurations were usually held March 4; in 1937 the date moved to Jan 20.
Tue 5. Have been making a dress for Ruth for Glee Club. Also went to Aid at Mrs. Manning’s. Such a spread—mashed potatoes, chicken, cabbage salad, pickle sandwiches, coffee, layer cake & fruit salad with cream. Daddy has gone to the Telephone meeting and Ruth to a contest.
A Glee Club is a choral group that specializes in the singing of short pieces by trios or quartets.
Wed 6. I ironed awhile today. Finished Ruth’s Glee Club dress.
Thu 7. Finished the ironing. Went down town in the PM. We are having Mr. Swibold tune the piano today.
I found an ad from the piano tuner!
Fri 8. Mr. Swibold worked till noon today on the piano. Cost us $22.00. I went to the Beauty parlor today. Had my hair washed & curled. Afterwards, I went to Mrs. Bogardus to quilt for Mrs. Walker.
Interesting that the piano tuning cost about the same as the used piano listed in the ad above. $22 in 1929 is about $335 in today’s dollars.
Sat 9. Daddy & Ruth went to Story City today to the school music contest. I stayed alone. Got my talk finished for tomorrow. Margaret Sater took first in Sop. Solo.
Sun 10. I was so happy to get through my T.O. address today at Eldora. It was my first one all alone. Offering was $139.75 with more to come in. We all ate dinner together. I got many words of praise.
I think this would have been the “tithe offering.” About $2128 in today’s dollars.
Mon 11. Yesterday was my day. Today is Daddy’s. He is running for school director. Well, Simon Baske got 168, Daddy 128, and Horica 98. So Daddy goes on the Board for three years. A long letter from Gertie today. Johnnie & Tubby have had the measles.
Gertie was Emma’s sister Gertrude (Schieferstein). According to my records she had 5 children.
Tue 12. Am keeping Gerald’s three children today while he & Miriam are in Cedar Falls.
Wed 13. Did my washing today. Went down town. Got some goods for an apron—or rather house dress.
Thu 14. This is the first nice warm day we have had. The snow is nearly gone. I washed windows, put out my curtains and cleaned up a bit. Daddy took his first treatment of the chiropractor. Sherrow called on Tell.
In the next few entries, Emma mentions 5 treatments, which I imagine were from this chiropractor as well. I was interested to learn that the practice of chiropractic, an approach to healing focused on spinal manipulation, was started in Davenport, Iowa in 1895 by a “magnetic healer” named Daniel David Palmer, and the Palmer College of Chiropractic is still in operation. This is a photo of the 1929 Iowa Chiropractic Association, and here’s an interesting history of the early days of the profession.
Fri 15. Am making some house dresses today. Had a call from Miss Berry & one from Miss Reese this week. I took my first treatment today.
Sat 16. Took my second treatment today. We went after John & Alice this evening. They will spend Sunday with us.
Sun 17. We went to church & SS in the A.M. Went to Easter choir practice and for a ride in the PM. Took Alice & John, Betty & Margaret. Poor Penny got run over while we were gone.
Mon 18. Tell took John & Alice home this AM & took me to Eldora to get a “Permanent.” We ate supper at John’s. Got home in time to attend PTA. Brought Mrs. Graf with us.
The first permanent wave was done in 1906. At the time Emma wrote this journal entry, permanents were done using an electric apparatus; it wasn’t until the mid-1930s that the pipes were disconnected from electricity.
Tue 19. SS Convention on today. Had a lovely dinner. Three course—tomato soup, toasted cheese, roast beef, riced potatoes, gravy, green beans, jelly, pickles, coffee, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream, home made rolls. Took my third treatment today.
Wed 20. WFMS at Mrs. Leibenstein’s today. We are having a lovely week of weather. Katharine comes tomorrow.
Thu 21. Took my fourth treatment today. Katharine came home today. Missed her at Iowa Falls as I had to leave earlier than when she would arrive. Mrs. Johnson and I went to Eagle Grove to a Founder’s Day meeting. I spoke on “Memorials”. Got home about midnight.
Fri 22. We have been busy today—visiting mostly—Ruth went to a class play.
Sat 23. Took my fifth treatment this A.M. Have kept busy with sewing, cleaning, etc. today. Went to the class play “A Bunch of Fun” this evening. Ruth played in the Orchestra.
Sun 24. We celebrated Founder’s day at the church. Our offering was between $7.00 and $8.00. We had a fine service. Offering amounted to $8.92 today.
I’m keeping these entries as written—am guessing this second number was added later, after the actual total was counted.
Mon 25. An interesting day. The event was the school board meeting. If Daddy had not stood out Miss Reese would not have been re-elected. We went at 7:30 and did not get home until 1 A.M.
Tue 26. We have made a date for a permanent for 1 P.M. today. The sun is shining this morning. Katharine went to a farewell party for Helen Granner.
Wed 27. Have not felt extra today. Went to the shop and worked awhile. Went to a com. meeting at the church in PM to see about a new carpet. Called on Mrs. Robertson in the A.M & Mrs. Van Patter in P.M.
I thought “extra” used in this way (as a stand-alone word, not a modifier for something else) was modern slang. Apparently it’s been around longer than I thought!
Thu 28. Did a two weeks washing to-day. Went down town in PM. Daddy has gone to a school board meeting. Miss Nelson & Miss Neal called this evening. Gerald went to Cedar Falls today.
Fri 29. Daddy & Katharine went to Eldora this P.M. I stayed at the shop.
Sat 30. Ruth went to Iowa Falls to take her lesson. Katharine is going back to Chicago so we will take her tonight.
Sun 31. Easter Sunday and it is storming. The ground is covered with snow. It is a good thing we took Katharine last night. We brought home a plant—Hardy Spirea and an Easter Lily last night. The spirea was for the Philathea class.
Philathea was an ecumenical Bible study movement for young women in the early twentieth century.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals! See you next week for April, 1929.