Fri 1. We started for D.M. about 7 this AM. Stopped awhile and then went down to Mrs. Greenfields. Spent the afternoon with her & then went to church at the Open Bible church at night. Heard a cousin of Pres. Hoover talk. Stayed all night with Mrs. G.
Sat 2. Ruth & I shopped awhile this AM. Drove home with Robert. We could not stop as he had to get home to work by two PM. Found Dad just about to start to the funeral of Mrs. Whitney at Ft. Pleasant—he had to sing. I worked awhile & then rested. Bought me a nice bag for 88¢.
Here is a nice article on 1930s handbags from the Vintage Dancer site, which I find an invaluable resource in my research!
Sun 3. It is rainy & cloudy. We went to church & SS. Bob came after Ruth in the PM. Minna was here for an hour or so. Mrs. Swallum also called. Only 8 at church at night.
Mon 4. The day has been warm and sunny—a beautiful wash day! Dad has made me a triple candlestick of walnut. It is lovely. He has also put backs of walnut on Mother Boylan’s old Bible. Guess that is for Ruth.
Pictures of this walnut-bound Bible are in last month’s journal.
Tue 5. Another bad spell with my eyes. I do not understand what causes them to get so red & sore. Emma Andrews was a guest at dinner today. We got a letter from Harry Andrews asking Dad to help appraise the farm.
On this night in history, Prohibition ended. Emma and Tell fought for the temperance cause, but ultimately the 21st Amendment repealed the 18th and the liquor began to flow.
Wed 6. Ruth wants me to come up today to sew but my eyes are too bad. They have been so red & painful. Harry & Elizabeth Holk called a few minutes this AM on their way to Des Moines. I should like to have gone with them and had my eyes examined but had no money. Not enough in the house to buy very much. Couldn’t raise 40c for Dad’s hair cut & he surely needs it.
Thu 7. Have felt much better today. Have been able to sew some on Ruth’s green skirt and blouse. Mrs. Swallum called, also Mrs. Wardle. Dad & I went to Katie’s to prayer meeting last night. We both felt bad but no worse for going. Libbie brought me some dope that has helped my eyes. Dad got $1 from Raulins today. It got here in the nick of time. Mrs. Wardle brought me a pint of asparagus. We had it for supper. It was so good.
It looks like several companies were selling eye drops in the 1930s, including Murine (not the same as the solution being sold under that brand today.
Fri 8. I went home with Gerald and to Eldora, Iowa Falls, Eldora then home—a trip of 70 miles. We bro’t Ruth home. I bought a few things. Got a $5 bill from Katharine. Ruth is invited to a stork-shower for Helen B Smith.
According to this article, baby showers as we know them today were not celebrated until the 1930s. Etiquette maven Emily Post describes various types of showers (larder, kitchen, bridal, etc.) as friendly neighborhood gatherings, but doesn’t mention the “stork shower” until her 1937 edition. She says: "a stork shower is always given in the early afternoon and only intimate girl and women friends of the mother invited."
Sat 9. A pleasant day. Cloudy but not cold. Ruth dressed up the Christmas tree. My eyes are some better. Have been able to sew a bit. Ruth went to the shower & took the baby dress Katharine sent home.
Sun 10. Church & SS. Robert came down for dinner. He & Ruth drove to Ft. Dodge to hear the Messiah. They were to come back to Iowa Falls in the AM.
Although Handel’s Messiah was originally written as an Easter oratorio, the first third of the work is based on the birth of Christ, and it has become a Christmas tradition for this reason. Here is a magnificent 1987 performance by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Robert Shaw. (The index will let you skip to various tracks. If nothing else, listen to the Hallelujah Chorus!)
Mon 11. I washed by hand in the kitchen. Dad is working away at a picture frame. Gerald & Miriam came in for dinner. Stayed around till four. They had to send their corn contract back to Chicago. Dad worked & I ironed some in the evening.
Tues 12. We got a letter from Gertie yesterday. She offers to send us a puppet so we can make some. I have ironed and sewed today. Am feeling tired.
Wed 13. Dad & I called at Swallums last night. Blaine was there. He stayed in the kitchen. We are about ready to go to the prayer meeting at the church. Gerald has not got his corn money yet. Mr. Culver came to see Dad’s work today. He admired it.
In 1933, farm prices had fallen more than 50%. The Agricultural Adjustment Act, approved in May 1933, was designed to limit agricultural production; as an interim measure the government set up “nonrecourse” loans for cotton and corn (using the commodities as security for the loan). Corn loans were set at .45/bushel in October 1933. I’m guessing this is what Gerald was waiting for.
Thu 14. We had a sleet storm today. The WFMS met at Mrs. Mohlers in the evening. We had a nice time. I used the candlestick Tell made me for the first time.
Fri 15. I went to Iowa Falls to sew. Came as far as Geralds with Mr. Thalman. He brought me to town after supper. I did not get much done today. Mrs. Vic Clocksin died today. The baby died too. Ruth decided not to come home.
So sad…yet another story of a young woman dying in childbirth.
Sat 16. I spent the greater part of the day cleaning. Mr. Wardle called in the PM. Stayed several hours. Dad sent some knives (paper) to Katharine—made of mahogany. The kiddies came in to stay all night. Gerry got his corn check for $180 today.
Here’s a wooden paper knife/letter opener…but not the actual one Tell made. It sounds like he must have made a number of them—in another document, Ruth mentions getting a nice note from Mrs. Thalman about a paper knife she received for Christmas.
Sun 17. It has turned colder this PM. The children stayed until about four when Jerry & Miriam came after them. It has been a lovely day.
Mon 18. Dad still is busy in the kitchen workshop.
Tue 19. I helped sack the SS treats this evening. Wrote a few Christmas cards.
Wed 20. Mrs. Mohler was here in the afternoon. Dad & I went to Van Patters to prayer meeting at night.
Thu 21. Called on Mrs. Swallum in the afternoon. She feels so badly about Blaine. Wrote the family letter tonight.
Fri 22. Went to the school house with Mrs. Robertson & Wardles to hear a Christmas program. Called on Miss Berry. We—Tell & I—went to Wardles to listen to the broadcast from Waterloo. Too much interference.
Sat 23. This is Ruth’s birthday. She is twenty. Suppose she is working at Newberrys. Have not felt very well but have been cleaning & baking etc. Sent her a dollar bill.
Sun 24. I went to church & SS. Geralds’ were in for dinner. We had our program in the evening. Mr. & Mrs. Walthal came down & we had our gifts after the program. Miriam took Gerald home as he was not fit to stay. The children staid all night.
Given that Prohibition was repealed earlier in the month, Gerald may have been celebrating Christmas a little too vigorously.
Mon 25. Christmas day! Every year it means more and more to me. Gerald and his family, Robert and Ruth were here for dinner. How we wanted Katharine to be here. How anxious we are for Gerald and Miriam to start the Christian life. This last week has surely been a hard one for us. Gerald has certainly been earning the devils pay.
Last month Tell bound this Bible in walnut. Today he and Emma gave it to Ruth. Here’s his dedication page.
Tue 26. It has turned so cold. We were so happy to receive some money from Katharine so we could get coal. We had a little wood Gerald brought in. It turned pretty cold and we found it hard to keep warm. I had so many lovely gifts—a card table from Robert & Ruth, a handkerchief from Ruth, a dress and a diary & candy from Katharine, a candelabrum from Dad, also a picture frame. A dress from my Sunday school class. A pyrex dish from Gerald & Miriam. Robert is still here today.
I think it became a tradition for Katharine to give Emma the books she used for these journals. Pyrex borosilicate glass kitchenware was introduced in 1915. Based on newspaper ads I found, the price would have been about 75 cents.
Wed 27. Today is Wed. It has been & still is snowing. Bob made a slat-sled out of a barrel staves yesterday. Geo. Moon was down yesterday. He came back in the evening & staid all night.
Thu 28. Bob & George were here for breakfast. Bob hitchhiked home. We have some sewing to do for Ruth.
Fri 29. We did not get a lot done today as we got up later. Have planned a dress for Ruth out of some blue goods Mrs. Hughes sent.
Sat 30. Bob came back this PM so he could drive us to Roland. George Moon came down in the evening. We played Tuxedo and the boys sang. We finished Ruth’s green blouse and skirt and also her blue dress. She is glad to have them. We still have some sewing to do.
Tuxedo is a card-capturing game using a Rook card deck (you may recall that the Rook deck was introduced by Parker Brothers in 1906 for those with religious objections to the standard deck.)
Sun 31. The last day of 1933. We had such a hectic night. Dad was so sick—was up & down and we got very little sleep. Neither of us went to SS. I went to church. After church we drove to Roland. The Grooters family & Uncle Pete were there. We went to the church program in the evening and staid to see the New Year in. Robert was here & drove back for us. We have had a pretty good year. Good bye old 1933. Turned cold today.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for January 1934.