Sun 1. We all went to church and Sunday School this AM. Had Rev. Rowley and his daughters for dinner. After dinner we went to the church for our first Easter Cantata practice. Have read some in Her Fathers Daughter by Jean Stratton Porter. We wrote to John & Chris—called on Gerald’s and then went to church at night.
Gene Stratton-Porter was “was an American author, amateur naturalist, wildlife photographer, and one of the earliest women to form a movie studio and production company. She wrote some of the best selling novels and well-received columns in magazines of the day.” This particular book, however, has been deeply criticized for overt racism and white-supremacist views against “Japs” and other people of color.
Mon 2. Have done the washing and put it out doors. It is a beautiful day. Just like summer. In the evening I made a valentine. It was a white heart with a red border. Had a little boy & girl on it who had on a shirt & dress alike. It said:
I think you are a little flirt To wear a dress just like my shirt But since our tastes are much the same How would you like to wear my name?
Tue 3. Did part of my ironing today. As it was Ladies’ Aid, I did not finish it. Went to Mrs. Walls—at GG Marshman’s—Mrs. Hall got my valentine. In the evening we went to the school house to hear a Legion program that Ruth was in. She & Geo. Moon sang nicely together. Did not get home until eleven.
Wed 4. Katharine’s box containing Ruth’s banquet dress, a bracelet, a dress for me and gifts for the kiddies came today. It was an exciting experience. Every thing is so lovely. Jerry is to have his tonsils out today. Gerald and Miriam have taken him to Iowa Falls. They got back with the boy about noon. He got along nicely. Am not feeling extra well so slept awhile this PM. Called a TB meeting for Sat. Went up to see Jerry tonight.
Between 1915 and the 1960s, childhood tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy was the most frequent surgical procedure in the United States, and often done as a preventive measure. Tonsils were seen as “portals of infection” that could spread disease throughout the body. Although the surgery is still fairly common, guidelines about when the potential complications outweigh the benefits are much stricter.1
Thu 5. Went to Mrs. Robertsons to a prayer meeting this morning. Have not been feeling very well. Am working on my quilt. Went to Whitney to the Study Club in the evening. Mrs. Nissen talked about her trip to Germany.
Fri 6. Did up most of the Sat work today so I can go to Iowa Falls tomorrow. Washed the kitchen woodwork and worked a long while on my quilt. Am tired tonight.
Sat 7. Minna, Ruth and I went to Iowa Falls today. We attended a TB [tuberculosis] County meeting—I was elected a delegate to the State meeting in Des Moines. Ruth & Dad went to the basket ball game at night. I had a short visit with Mrs. Johnson today.
Sun 8. Went to SS this AM but as there was no church, came home. Kept Jerry all PM, then kept him and the girls all night. Did not get to go to church or to practice. Wrote some missionary letters.
Mon 9. Have been addressing some letters. Sent in a name for the Mystery Dessert “Royal Life Time” Dessert. Did my washing this PM and then worked on my quilt.
Yet another interesting rabbit trail. According to this article, gelatin desserts were high-end cuisine until the early 20th century. The advent of quick-set gelatin around 1900 started changing things, with Jell-O as the dominant brand. Royal gelatin, established in 1925, started an advertising blitz and became a fierce competitor.2
Tue 10. Have ironed some. Worked all afternoon and evening on my quilt. Dad had the Implement Dealers here and Ruth went to Radcliffe to a Basketball game.
Wed 11. Went to a nine o’clock prayer meeting this AM at Robertson’s—the second one. In the evening Dad & I went to a basket ball game at the schoolhouse—Boone & the Hounds. Ruth stayed with Jerry’s kids.
Thu 12. Since the weather was so bright, I did a lot of cleaning. Washed my front room curtains—cleaned up generally—it nearly did me up. Dad was at home this evening.
I found a valentine letter Tell typed to Katharine on this date:
He says “Last night I took mother to a basket ball game between The Hounds and Boone. The score was 21 to 26 in our favor. One of the best games I have ever seen. No rough stuff of any kind and very few fouls.
A week from next Saturday we play the Union Giants. This is a bunch of colored folks that have never been beaten. We have no hope of winning against them but they will furnish a lot of entertainment for us.”
Fri 13. Worked on my quilt. Got it ready for the border. Dady went to Ames with Dr. Deardorf to see the game between Kansas Aggies & Iowa State. Mrs. Culver was down awhile. Ruth went to a game here. I am reading Leah Morton’s book “I Am a Woman and a Jew.”
Leah Morton was the pen name of Elizabeth Gertrude Stern. I am a Woman and a Jew was written in 1926, shortly after the women’s movement and the birth of feminism, and considers questions of identity and equality.3
And then there was the basketball game.
Sat 14. Gerald & Miriam went to Waterloo today. Left Betty, Margaret and Jerry and the dog here all day. Dinner & Supper. We made ice cream and popcorn balls. In the evening Dad went to the basket ball game. Hounds with Union. Miss Justice & her friend Miss Lucie were here in the PM to practice with Ruth.
Sun 15. A lovely sunny morning. The Gideons were here for the AM sermon from Marshalltown, Cedar Falls & Waterloo. We went for a short walk in the PM then to the Easter practice & then to Geralds. Today was their Eighth wedding anniversary.
Mon 16. It is just like spring out—a wonderful wash day tho’ I did not wash. I have been cleaning up the house.
Tue 17. I did the washing today but it was too bad a day to hang out the clothes. In the afternoon I went over to quilt with Lottie. I feel sorry for her—she seems lonely. Dad went to the Cemetery meeting in the evening. We got a letter from Katharine today saying she had been sick with tonsilitis but was back in school again.
Wed 18. It is Dad’s Tractor School day. I hurried up with my work to get to the shop to serve the men with a lunch. Coffee, buns, weiners & pickles. There was a good crowd and the day was enjoyed by all present especially the family that came “en-masse.” They must have eaten 40 to 50 buns.
Here’s a newspaper account of a similar tractor school held later in the month in another town in Iowa.
Thu 19. This evening I will have the missionary society. I am too tired to get ready. Stopped in at the shop on my way from Swallums. It seemed that it had been timed by a Higher Power. I was told to keep still & so I came home. I do not understand. My heart is broken.
I have no idea!! Based on the next entries it’s clear that something disturbing happened, though.
Fri 20. Was not able to sleep tonight so got up and read. Have been reading The Lion’s Den by Janet Ayer Fairbank. It is a 1930 book. Have done a lot of thinking. It seemed like the bottom has dropped out of my life. I am tempted to give up my belief in every thing. It seems if one has lost confidence in another’s integrity all the doubt of earlier years come back in full force.
Plot summary: The Lions' Den (1930), a political novel, has as its protagonist an idealistic young Wisconsin congressman. His disillusionment, partial corruption, and eventual courageous behavior when tested make up the substance of the novel.
Sat 21. Another week gone! Another night I could not sleep. Got up and read awhile. We all went to the Basket Ball game. A colored team played against ours. It was rather interesting but not worth what it cost us. We went to Eldora this PM. I bought a pair of shoes that I do not like. Am going to return them. They look like row boats. When I think about them they seem about twice as big.
Sun 22. We all went to church and SS today. Took a short ride in PM. Tell & I called on John Hornung. Finished my book after dinner.
Mon 23. Wed did several interesting things today. After washing and doing part of the ironing, we drove to the Falls. Had a little time to shop and then we went to the library. Got 5 books & while Ruth took her lesson Tell & I saw a movie Follow Through. It was supposed to be very funny but it was lewd in some places.
Tell hasn’t said a word in explanation. Still a mystery.
Follow Thru is a 1930 musical romantic comedy produced in Technicolor. You can find it on YouTube here (the sound isn’t very good).
Tue 24. Finished the ironing. Read some.
Wed 25. Got ready to go to Des Moines. Went to prayer meeting in the AM & to Union with Tell in PM.
Thu 26. Drove down with Miss Glomsett today. Attended the State TB meeting. Disgusted!
Fri 27. Will be glad to go home this evening. The meeting today was much more interesting and worth while than yesterday. We drove out to the TB Hospital to a Tea. Saw a number of patients who had been there a long while. I feel sorry for them. Got home about 10:30 without accident. Ruth had gone to Alden to a basket ball game.
Here’s an image of Broadlawns Medical Center, which housed the TB Hospital in Des Moines.
And here’s Emma’s account of expenses from the trip.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for March 1931.
Just for fun, here’s a video of someone comparing old and new boxes of Royal Gelatin for taste, ingredients, and design.
Here is an excerpt from a dissertation that describes more about this book and its themes.