Emma #55: April 1932
Ruth's class play and senior banquet, undergarments, foreclosure, and an 1880s family diary
Fri 1. Ruth came home with the lead in the class play tonight. Did Miriam’s ironing. Am afraid I am overdoing.
In another document, I found a reference to the play as “Sweet Sixteen”—here’s a quick synopsis. I’m guessing Ruth must have had the part of Ruthie Goddard.
Sat 2. Ruth & I cleaned the two front rooms today. I washed the front room curtains. Dyed them and hung them up wet. They look better than when they are ironed. Washed the DR ones so they were ready to go up today. Harry brought the three kiddies in to stay all night. Am too sick and tired to bathe them tonight.
Sun 3. Did not go to church & SS this AM as I was sick. My eye has been very sore—red & swollen. Guess I have worked too hard. Went at night however and was the only one there to play. Mrs. Taber was down in the PM and the folks (Dad & Ruth) took the kiddies home while they went on to Eldora.
Tell’s older brother John and his wife Alice lived in Eldora. John wrote a family letter on this date that mentions the visit, and also includes excerpts from some old Boylan family journals (see special feature at the end of this month).
Mon 4. Daddy & I went to Radcliffe today in the interest of Miss Justice. We got stuck five times. Pulled out three times. She came over in the evening.
Tue 5. Mrs. Taber and I entertained Ladies’ Aid today. Mrs. Johnson came over. We are going to Eldora this evening.
Wed 6. Mrs. J & I are at John’s in Eldora. We plan to attend WFMS Convention here today. Did so. Had a nice time. Ruth came over for a permanent. Had a nice time. Went to prayermeeting at night.
Thu 7. Today is Margaret’s birthday. Sent her some beads.
Fri 8. Raked a bit in the yard today.
Sat 9. John & Alice came over for supper—were here over night.
Sun 10. John & Alice were here. Ate breakfast—went to church—stayed for dinner. Went home in the PM. We went to church at night.
Mon 11. Did my ironing and part of Miriams. She is washing here today. Jerry told me a horse tipped over “We saw one roll.“ Demonstrated it for me.
Tue 12. Went to choir practice, but they had none. Had a SS board meeting. Bogardus did not resign.
Wed 13. Mrs. Robertson, Mohler & Tabor came for a prayer meeting in the PM. I went to Mohler’s at night. Ruth went with me to a cottage prayer meeting.
Thu 14. Spent most all day at Geralds. Helped put up the kitchen curtains and get dinner for Gerry, Harold & Harry. They are putting in the oats. It is a nice day.
The Iowa State University Extension Service provides this guidance on planting oats and other crops, along with lots of other helpful information.
Fri 15. Cleaned up my house—from top to bottom.
Sat 16. I washed this AM then Dad & I went to Eldora in the truck. Stopped at the farm and brought the girls in with me. Invited Geralds’ in for dinner tomorrow. Got some new shoes & a corsetlet.
A corsetlet (more commonly called a corselet), was a form of shapewear that started to become popular in the early 1930s as fashions became more draped and form-fitting. Here’s an interesting article on the shifts that were taking place in this time period, and an advertisement for foundation garments marketed to “stout women.”
If you really want to go down the curiosity trail on this one, here’s a whole site dedicated to the art of the corsetiere (maker and fitter of corsets, bras, & girdles) and this era in fashion history.
Sun 17. Geralds were in for dinner. Took the girls home with them. Went to church & SS as usual.
Mon 18. Ironed. Miriam brought her washing in. I sent them a pie.
Tue 19. Sewed a bit today. Finished the baby dress for Mrs. Wardle’s daughter. Went to choir practice in the evening. We planted our potatoes. Put out the water lilies and filled the pool today. I got some fish from Mrs. Pierce for a Rose Arey lily.
Every year about this time, Emma would fill up her lily pond and stock it with fish and plants. Rose Arey is a water lily hibrid.
Wed 20. Yesterday it looked as tho’ our business career would be over today. Went to the last Seth Parker Githering at Mrs. Marshmans tonight. There were fifteen there. We had a nice time.
There’s more information about this radio show in last month’s post.
Thu 21. Have been in Eldora today. Signed my name to Quit-Claim deeds to the farm, business, & hill. It is too bad. Hope they pay out. Missionary met with Mrs. E. Van Patter in the evening. Eight were there. Mrs. Hoff had the lesson.
This suggests that the bank foreclosed on these properties—pretty much everything but their house in town. I believe “the hill” was additional land near their house—it’s where they had set up the miniature golf course a while back.
Fri 22. I made Ruth a slip out of the dress Mrs. Bromley sent. It took me all day. She has the “Will” at the banquet tonite.
Ruth graduates next month from High School. Here are a souvenir from the banquet and a brief overview of the program.
The Senior Class Will is delightful—here is one of my favorite excerpts. If you want to read the whole thing, you can find it here.
Sat 23. Did my washing this forenoon. A good thing for it rained this PM. Dad has been looking for a team for Gerry. Uncle John is buying them. He got one from Fred Reiks.
Sun 24. Taught my SS class this AM. Did not go to church at night as the children were in & it was rainy. Gerald & Miriam took their bath here in the evening. They brought me some sour cream which I will churn tomorrow.
I had to educate myself on the difference between churning “regular” (or sweet) cream and “sour” cream (also called cultured cream). Here’s a little more information if you’re interested.
Mon 25. Mrs. E. Albery was buried here today. Rev & Mrs. Wardle, Dad & I sang. Ruth played. Miriam washed here. The whole family stayed for dinner. Betty & Margaret came in Sat. Went home today.
Tue 26. Have been trying to get things done before going away. Went to a prayer meeting this afternoon at Mrs. Tabers. We had such a nice time. Went to a SS Board meeting at Wardles in the evening.
Wed 27. Have been so busy getting ready to go away. Went to Iowa Falls this PM. Stayed with Mrs. Johnson. Slept with Mrs. Townsend. Sent Kath 250.
Katharine’s school district had just had a round of layoffs, and there were delays in paying teacher salaries. See more details in the special feature below.
Thu 28. We are having our Dist. Convention today. A wonderful meeting.
Fri 29. We left Ft. Dodge about 10:30. Stayed at Mrs. Johnson’s for dinner then the doctor took me to Iowa Falls. Came home on bus. John and Alice were here for supper & over night. Ruth’s class play is on tonight. She did so well.
Sat 30. Gerald brought the three kiddies in for over night and Sunday. They came in before dinner today. Set out a few plants that Mrs. Smith gave me & some Mrs. Johnson gave me. It has turned so cold. Ruth has gone down to stay all night with Ona.
Special Feature
Among the family files, I found two carbon-copy typed letters from John T. Boylan to the family on April 3 and 17, 1932. Of particular interest were excerpts he had included from an old Boylan family diary. I have that diary, which was a daybook the family kept consistently from 1880 to about 1884, with a few additional entries through 1904. Here’s a picture of one of the parts of this diary, written in an old ledger book.
John ends the April 3 letter:
In memory of the past at random the foregoing is copied from the old diary. Perhaps the few items will stir memories. Tell and Ruth were over for about an hour this PM.
On the back of the letter is a handwritten note from Tell and John’s brother Chris, in Wewoka OK, to his daughter Elaine (a single 30-something librarian in Oklahoma City):
Here are some items taken from the old Boylan diary of more than 50 years ago. We kept a big diary for several years, but one vol. was destroyed in a fire when sister Maloa’s house burned.
In the April 17 letter, John writes:
Tell and Emma were over for a short time yesterday. They reported letter from Katherine, that the treasurer of the county in which Cleveland is located short $600,000—teachers may not get pay for several months.Helped start the garden yesterday—potatoes, onions, and other seasonable truck. Will have plenty to eat IF ALICE DOES NOT FORGET TO DO THE TENDING.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for May 1932.