Author: ELIZA J. WEBSTER MASON
Title: 1913 Wanamaker Diary of a Spunky Elderly Brooklyn Woman Who Travels Nyc, Loves to Read and Socializes Constantly
Description: Brooklyn, New York, 1913. Hardcover. On offer is an excellent example of a Wanamaker diary and detailed NYC map dating from pre-WWI America. The diary belonged to Eliza J. Webster Mason. Although our informal research was unable to find any biographical information about her, contextual clues tell us that she is married to George E. Mason. He is 73 and they celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary that year, suggesting that she is either in her late 60s or early 70s. Context also suggests that they have children and grandchildren. They live in Brooklyn, New York..Eliza Mason leads a comfortable middle class or upper middle class life. Her days are filled with activities with her family, light household tasks, sewing, etc. It is not uncommon for her to travel to different parts of the city. At no point is there ever a concern expressed about money or financial security. Some excerpts to give the flavour of the diary follow: “Pleasant and cold. Made over my coarse black straw hat today. Mrs. Scoville invited the boys up to 611 [ ] to lunch with her boys. Lucy did not call until 2 P. M. For them so they had their lunch home. Geo went to Bensonhurst to see a Mr. Jones. Mr. & Mrs Rausch came in for the evening. I read a “Sun” story to Florence The Revolt of Mother by M. E. Wilkins” [Mar 29]. “Cleared away, warm. Arose about 9 A. M. Read in “The Opening Door” and finished it. Suffragette story. Bessie went motoring with the [ ] & Rausch’s to Atlantic City. Gone all day. Back at 7 P. M. Brought candy for the children. Dress & went to moving pictures in evening” [Aug 23]. “...First thing finished my hat then my coat and am pleased with both. This afternoon Bess went downtown & met Ethel. I shortened her satin skirt, hemmed & pressed it. Geo did not come to dinner…” [Nov 20]. The diary itself is an interesting book. It was produced by the John Wanamaker Store. John Wanamaker Department Store was one of the first department stores in the United States. Founded by John Wanamaker in Philadelphia, it was influential in the development of the retail industry. The book is part diary and part trade journal. Considering that there are 2 days per page on the right-hand side only, the bulk of the book is comprised of pages of advertisements and illustrations as well as dozens of pages of information. There were seating plans for the major theatres – 36 in all. Pages of announcements of upcoming events, gardening an on and on. It was a veritable compendium general information. Of special interest as well is a large, fold-out detailed map of ‘Greater New York City’. The map shows the extensive development of the city at the turn of the last century. For a social historian, this diary is an excellent view of the manner of life of a well-to-do older American woman a century ago. With its additional sections, it also points to what ‘society’ at that time felt was the type of information that people should have at hand.. For a gender studies or women’s studies program, it offers not only a fine portrait of this lifestyle but a very sharp contrast to that lived by so many other women a century ago. For an urban geographer, the map is an excellent snapshot of how the central part of New York City was laid out before it entered a period of enormous change. This diary measures 7.0 inches by 5.5 inches and contains 446 pages. The diary section is 100% complete. The cover is in good condition. The binding is intact but the spine has cracked. All pages are intact and they are in good condition. The handwriting is legible.; Manuscripts; 12mo 7" - 7½" tall; 446 pages; Signed by Author. Good with no dust jacket .

Keywords: 1900