SEPTEMBER 16

1939 – Tonight E + I drove for an hr + half hour trying to find a pk. Place to see Carole Lombard in a movie. It was worth it.

1940 Monday – which lived up to its reputation. I thought I was going to go to sleep for sure in faculty meeting – agony – Dorothy’s sister was here who is going to Minn! Seemed nice to converse with a contemporary. MARG IS GETTING MARRIED! ELEANOR IS COMING!

1941 And the plane is over head… Does to me what wild geese do. Like to come home in it Some Day. – Didn’t accompli much today. I’d better step up production; If I’m to get any place – feel fat!

1942 WED WROTE TO HAAKENSON while LISTENING TO BASIN STREET… FINISHED DAMN’ OLE’ RADIO SCRIPTS… PHOOEY… NAUSEATE ME AFTER 3 of EM… GOT ‘EM MAILED… WE SAW Peggy OFF AT 5:20… SHE WASN’T PHASED… GAVE HER SOME CANDY and “NEW YORKER” – SAW MR. P, too.

1943 THURS MOTHER + ELEANOR + I WENT TO DINNER AT the TOWN CLUB… IT WAS NICE. I READ THEM SOME OF LEONARD’S SO BEAUTIFUL Letter. I WISH MOTHER NEW HIM BETTER, REALLY. SHIRLEY + BETTY HANSON, VIRGINIA, D.J. WERE OVER. IT WAS VERY NICE. I CLEANED THE HOUSE.

SEPTEMBER 15

1939 – I’ll always remember the crazy fun I’ve had to-night every time I see a watermelon – remember how we (Donna Jean + I) carried off a couple from the all-school watermelon bust and ended up (after walking all over town with them) eating one over at Broadlawn cemetery with Carp + Spence.

1940 11:00 Nuts, I’m going to bed – a week’s planning is only such a small dent in that junk… I must work all week… I went to church with Mrs. Reeves – she invited me to dinner (boiled, New England) um, it was good… studied a little – Anxious to see Eleanor hope she got home okay –

1941 Mon Even when I’m busy – like today – Art 1 – Art 33 – Art 21 – I can’t keep Leonard out of my mind… If I could only be sensible… But, I can’t. – Couldn’t concentrate on my History of Art for tomorrow.

1942 TUES WORE MY GREEN CORDUROY TO Jack T… IT WAS DREADFULLY hot… LEONARD WAS very QUIET… MAYBE BECAUSE STAN + CO WERE IN THE OUTFIT… WE DIDN’T TRADE A DANCE… THE MOOSIC WAS PERFECT… Even, THEY PLAYED “MY SWEET EMBRACEABLE YOU.”

1943 WED MOTHER + ELEANOR + I WENT TO QUIET PLEASE Murder at the Orpheum. (because Leonard liked it) We won .50 playing Screens! Such fun. I have no cavities. – Just must have them cleaned… We got ice cream cones on the way home.

SEPTEMBER 14

1939 I hope there won’t be many more days as unbearably hot as the last few. – Went to a tea to-day. – And saw “Pygmalion”.

1940 10:30 And I am only beginning to contemplate getting some work done! It’s always so hard to start… I had fun today cleaning up my room, washing my hair, clothes… I really enjoy Mrs. Reeves a lot. I really wonder what “Robert” is like –

1941 Sun Mother + I went to church – Clara + I went to Big-Little Sister tea – Listened to records that Mr. Lee played for us – saw Leonard. Went to Man Power with Marg + Sara + Eunice.

1942 MON SAW Sary – AT LAST… QUITE UNSATISFACTORY. KATHRINE G. WENT WITH US TO THE Pied Piper… (Leonard HAD spoiled IT FOR ME, BY TELLING ME THE ENDING) I WROTE SCRIPT today… I HOPE I GO TO Jack TEAGARDEN… MAYBE LIVING IN CHICAGO WOULD BE FUN FOR A WHILE…

1943 TUES JOHN TOOK ME TO THE TOWN CLUB TO PLAY BINGO… I ALMOST WON THE $75 BOND! – ATE DINNER AT D.J’S. – MARGE SCOTT CONGRATULATED ME… I SAID NOT QUITE. LEONARD HAD WRITTEN HER WHEN THEY WERE MARRIED. HE IS SWEETER. MORE THOUGHTFUL.

SEPTEMBER 13

1939 – gall + wormwood! – Ray had Holly at the dance last night + Leonard had Blossom! – What I need is a man! – I’m exhausted. – Big – Little S. too. We washed dishes to-night – Lime sherbet + gingerale + choc. cookies – I wore my blue B. shoes

1940 Friday 12:00 – Wrote 5 letters… hope I get some returns… Got a swell letter from Eleanor. She will probably be home Sun morning. Got to rationalizing – wanted to be there, but after I talked to Mother, my mind was changed… I’ll probably appreciate it more.

1941 Sat Oh Damn! – Every time I wear that formal I get a frustrated feeling afterward! – Formal Reception – Maybe its that I’m so tired I could spit.

1942 1:00 I WORE IT AGAIN today TO USHER AT PEGGYS RECITAL… SHES SO VERY WONDERFUL… SHE’LL SURELY MAKE THE GRADE! – WISH, IN A WAY, I WERE GOING with HER… WENT TO DINNER WITH BOB REIF… HE’S RILLY AN INTERESTING FELLA. WE SAW A BOB HOPE MOVIE AND HAD COKES IN THE KITCHEN…

1943 MON Oh God, like an amputation without anesthetic…I’m not all me when I’m not with Leonard. He called at 10:00. I cried. Mother said I mussn’t. We went down in the cab alone together. I tried to be good. He hated leaving, I know. I got my reservation. How can I leave?

SEPTEMBER 12

1939 Dammit! Every time the phone rings I think its Ray. – Saw him to-day out at school. – He came up behind me and practically bowled me over! – I thought he had left town. – I was quite nice to him; but apparently not nice enough?

1940 11:00 Not even a boring teachers institute could spoil the wonderful way I feel… Its completely inexplicable… Saw Wyman + Ansel – again I was literally shaking I was so happy to see someone I wish I could have talked to them more… I hope I feel this way all year – Dear Leonard Dear Bob Dear Emil!

1941 Fri Techniques wasn’t nearly as terrifying as I had expected. Its going to be a fun class. Leonard only missed on in the test.

1942 SAT OH ECSTASY! – I’M HAPPY; PHENOMENAL, AFTER BEING absolutely ABYSOMAL THIS MORNING… JOHN and I PICKED OUT BOB PRESINCK for PEGGY… HOPE SHE LIKES IT… WENT OVER TO SEE HER, THEN, later, BOB, LEONARD and BILL CAME OVER… LEONARD and I TALKED * BETTER.

1943 SUN We went to Worthington to see Jeannie. She is more beautiful than ever. Will have her baby in a few weeks. She thinks well of Leonard… John drove us up – back in the rain. Here, afterward, we had coffee, sandwiches, + cake… We had so little time alone together. Oh God.

SEPTEMBER 11

1939 MON – Helped 2 “little” sisters register out at school to-day. I only hope I do as well for myself! – Marie told me that Ray asked about me Sat. night (He was at the dance) – She really emphasized the fact that she’d seen me out at all the dances.

1940 11:30 Yes, thank God, they did come! – After I had given up all hope, they rallied in about 6:00… I was actually shaking I was so happy. It was so good to see them! – We didn’t really do anything. I took them to dinner, we rode around… showed them my room… we ate popcorn (sitting 4 across in C’s car) + etc… Glad!!

1941 Thur Convocation – I almost didn’t sit on the stage with the faculty! Emil played Bach for Bob + me after lunch – He’s a darling.

1942 FRI GEE, WHAT A mixed-up DAY… WE DIDN’T GET STARTED UNTIL 10:30 – my FAULT… MRS. C IS marvelous! – I’LL CERTAINLY LOOK HER UP IF I’M GOING TO BE IN Mlps! … LEONARD CALLED – WE and A PHONEY R. CORBER WENT TO SEE John K.

1943 SAT We are right + perfect for one another, I know… We went to the dance for just a little while… Magic on the porch… Alone together (He could have me any time he wished)… Met Marie this noon for lunch. Then Leonard. We washed our hair. – such intimate pleasure. His back is so beautiful, so brown, so smooth.

SEPTEMBER 10

1939 SUN I went to church this morning (I’m going to go all the time) – Sari + I went bike riding I wore my new slacks – Saw Leonard. – Was over to Marjorie’s to-night.

1940 11:30 B-R-R-R – really turning cold – Gee, no “in between” weather at all… It seems like every minute in the day is filled for me – at school by 8:00 – till 6:00 – study from 8:30 – 11:30 – I bet I’ll get sick of this grind… I wonder if Jo + Bob + L will come tomorrow?

1941 Wed Registration… Emil’s here. Met Wilbur Haare…

1942 THURS (WHO’S AT THE HEAD of HIS CLASS IN MB. CORPS) WELL, I CAN WRITE radio SCRIPT IF I PLEASE MR. Witmer WITH SOME SAMPLE STUFF; (MIGOSH… COULD I TURN OUT one A DAY?) … HE HAD ME RE-WRITE ONE of HIS! – IT WAS A STRAIN… MISSED MY BUS… WILL RIDE HOME WITH A Ms. C… WAS IN A BLACKOUT… LONESOME

1943 FRI Spitznagels took us to dinner… a very fine meal. Then we saw Ren + family. The Eides… it was good. We drove out to Elmwood. There was music in the night… Time did not exist for us. We know one another well.

SEPTEMBER 9

1939 SAT Went out to school – supposedly to work. – ha. – Bob + L both admired my slacks! – Showed Eide the sketchy dummy. –

1940 Mon 11:00 Launched on 2nd week of teaching career – (ugh) But really not so bad. By 7th period today I thought I even might be sort of a good teacher! – I almost got interested in what I was saying… - London is being racked with Bombers. It is hard to believe that those calm British people are living every day in terror of losing their lives.

1941 Tues Saw Mr. Eide for a moment this morning. I respect him infinitely… Still more registration –

1942 WED GOT UP here ABOUT 5:30 (TRIP WASN’T too BAD!)… TOOK HEART AND DECIDED TO GO DOWN TO DINNER and SEE THE STYLE SHOW… DRESSED UP AND PRETENDED I WAS SOMEONE… ha … IT was FUN… GEE, tomorrow?

1943 THURS We lay out in the backyard in the sunshine, and talked. I adore Leonard. There can never be anyone else for me. We went over + looked after Jeannie + Kay for a while. Inga + Stephen came over in their dungarees. We went, for a while, to the dance. To Sherman Hill I think.

SEPTEMBER 8

1939 Went down town – left “Molly” in S’s office. – No sweaters – bought slacks – ($5.95) - + spent $’s – Met Rose Doyle – went to a horrible movie.

1940 Sun I am not going to bed until I get fairly well organized for next week… Today was awful I guess I can blame Leonard for that. I’m sorry I couldn’t act more decent at home. Wilmer + Olga brought me back at about 6:00… I must accomplish.

1941 9:31 If I let Leonard down a week or 2 ago, he certainly let me down tonight. Gee, I needed somebody’s shoulder tonight. Bob + L + I were over to say G’bye. – It hit me a little hard.

1942 TUES Yeah, REPEAT PERFORMANCE… BUT I DIDN’T TELL HIM I WAS GOING TO MLPS TOMORROW, SO I GUESS I COULDN’T EXPECT HIM TO SAY G’BYE tonight… BOB H. IS IN PIERRE on A “CONSTRUCTION” JOB… HE SAID B’BYE TO us – ONE, too… NUTS, I DON’T CRAVE GOING…

1943 WED Another beautiful day. Gee, I could not love him any more. I don’t care if I do anything. I just must be with him.

SEPTEMBER 7

1939 Thurs Well, Kenny G. is going to business manage the year book. I think he’ll be swell. – I’m really relieved. –

1940 11:00 Well, not much different than any other Saturday at home – Washed my hair, clothes, cleaned up the house. Feel awful about Mother not being able to get around better… V. told me she saw L. out with someone. I saw him this aft.

1941 11:00 I have red polish on my toenails + I’m going to start registering freshmen tomorrow. I must be dignified! Mother + I went to church this morning. D.J. went for a ride + had some crazy h.s. kids following us

1942 MON FOOLED AGAIN, DAMMIT. MISTER Payne DIDN’T SAY BOO ABOUT FRANKIE MASTERS AT NEPTUNE… WE-ALL WENT TO the PARADE THIS MORNING… WROTE A FEW LETTERS. D.J. + SHIRLEE AND I WENT FOR A RIDE… ATE POPCORN, WHISTLED AT SOLDIERS… AND WERE FOLLOWED!

1943 TUES I fed my love with tomato + bacon sandwiches + apple pie… We are desperately in love… withall… Played nursemaid to Jeannie + Kay. Asked L. for dinner. I was glad (the orchestra plays Shostakovich + now I can’t remember) – Just beauty – longing – happiness + sadness

SEPTEMBER 6

1939 11:30 Worked on “Molly” – ( I certainly hope she turns out okay) Leonard + friend were out at school – I couldn’t concentrate any too well – Margie + Ness + Marie + I went for a ride + ran out of gas on Phyllis Ave. – (My head aches!)

1940 3:00 Bob + I talked until 1:45… Maybe I said too much; I hope not… He is the best friend I have I think. He thinks as much of L. as I do. We were over to Eides and I met Don Gregory. One good reason I wish I could be at school next year! Seems good to be home…

1941 Sat Went to my first faculty meeting! – I’d do anything for Kranskow… Bob + L + I worked out at school this aft. Ness, Chils + Marie + I went on a picnic… Moonlight –

1942 SUN VIRGINIA + I WENT TO Holiday Inn. – MEDIOCRE IT WAS GREY and RAINY ALL DAY… BUT A BEAUTIFUL, MISTY NIGHT, withall… I READ Cheney, LISTENED TO TSYCHOWSKYS 6th THIS AFTERNOON and GOT MY HAIR WASHED. Gee. I WISH MY FUTURE WERE SETTLED. FOO to LIMBOS.

1943 MON Leonard came over soon after lunch… We went out to school. Oh God, it smells so CLEAN, so GOOD… Mr. Eide is the same, thank goodness… Bob + Shirley went to the dance with us. Leonard said should I stay? – Yes of course!

SEPTEMBER 5

1939 – Well, I wasn’t so lazy to-day. – Collected pay at Fantle’s (spent most of it on mannequin materials!) - + tried to do the same at K.S.O.O. – But “George” is out of town! – I guess Eleanor + Ed have definitely broken up. – He sent her some flowers to-night.

1940 10:55 I just finished re-reading Silas Marner. That I should require these Sophomores to read something that bored even me… Wow, am I tired!… Tomorrow it’s back in my old bed I’ll be…. I wonder if I’ll see L. this week-end… I hope so.

1941 We were over at Eide’s for a spaghetti farewell. It was simply perfect. – We got supplies ordered + stuff a little more organized

1942 SAT ELEANOR and PHILIP and I WENT TO Talk of the Town (POOR TITLE FOR A GOOD MOVIE)… I FINISHED THE Hanson JOB THIS MORNING… FELT ABSOLUTELY BOOSHED ALL AFTERNOON, SO ACCOMPLISHED nil…

1943 SUN I’m complete once more! I live again! Leonard came in at 6:00 this morning. Came over. We had breakfast. Went with Eleanor… saw Eides. It was such a fine beautiful day. I “received” in slacks. The nice people stayed too long. All of them. It was ages till we could be alone. Leonard talked of marriage.

SEPTEMBER 4

1939 9:45 – Sometimes I know I’m just plain lazy – no excuses! – Maybe its too much * fried chicken, I don’t know - *(yesterday + to-day, both - )

1940 10:30 I hope tomorrow goes better than today. Honestly, I couldn’t have lived through one more class. That Spelling + Penmanship with 85 kids is just a little too much… I haven’t anything to wear but fall clothes and the weather is so warm…

1941 Will we ever get stuff going? It seems hopeless. It’s such a mess! I finished my dirndl tonight. I like it, anyhow.

1942 SAT SHIRLEE had US OVER FOR DINNER; I FELT STRANGELY DETACHED… CONFUSED… Leonard’s ANSWER TO IT IS NITCHEVO, WHICH IS NO ANSWER, AT ALL… HE ACTED QUITE AWFUL ALL EVENING…

1943 SAT Finally it has come! – (I thought it never, ever would) Everyone looked so fine… Eleanor + I talked till late, of course. Oh Leonard must come soon! – I’m tired but so very happy.

SEPTEMBER 3

1939 11:00 Sunday Tonight I squashed a centipede on the wall… I wish I had the opportunity to squash Hitler in the same decisive manner. – An English passenger boat was torpedoed off the coast of Ireland tonight. 1400 passengers… The president spoke tonight assuring the people of our neutrality. God grant we may keep it.

1940 I’m afraid there will be nothing very sensational to record these next 9 months… Every thing seems like it will evolve itself into sort of a pleasant, but busy rut… Tonight I went to Ladies’ Auxiliary with Mrs. Reeves –

1941 Leonard came out this aft. – We self-consciously avoided each other. – He is too much in my thoughts –

1942 THURS WE WENT TO "The Kid Grove Killer” – WITH SHIRLEE and BILL… [MIGOSH IF LEONARD TOLD BILL about THAT NOTE S. WROTE I MIGHT AS WELL LEAVE TOWN!]… I WORKED QUITE HARD today. ELEANOR and PHILIP WERE HERE WHEN I GOT home

1943 FRI

SEPTEMBER 2

1939 11:00 Pasted papier mache all morning + worked this afternoon + tonight at Gloria’s. – When I collect what I have coming (Fantle’s + Seven) I’ll have $17 to spend for clothes. – Mentally it’s already spent!! E. went to the dance with Julian

1940 10:30 Surprise! I lived through that awful first day. I think I’m going to get along okay. Every one has been very swell to me. I hope I can make them like me – I’m going to bed sans lesson planning!

1941 Tue Bob is back – he is thin + serious; I think he has grown up more, too. He was over tonight + seemed absolutely dead!

1942 WED 5 FELLAS WERE OVER TONIGHT… RATHER A STRAIN… Mother WAS OWLY… BUT WE GOT THROUGH THE EVENING SANS mishap. MISTER PAYNE, however, LEFT QUITE EARLY. I DON’T KNOW WHY; BUT I HOPE HE WAS ANNOYED.

1943 THURS

SEPTEMBER 1

1939 10:00 To-day there were air-raids over Polish cities. – Hitler seems to be determined to carry out his plans. – Thank God I live in America! – It doesn’t seem like anything can prevent a general European war now- I hope we can stay out of it!

1940 10:35 I hope I live through tomorrow – I feel so ignorant. But I’ve got to build up the ego + grit the teeth and live till the weekend

1941 Mon It was good to be with Marie + Chils – More than ever I want to be clean and wholesome + vital… It is certainly their greatest asset. I am much too self-centered and melancholy. There is no sense to it.

1942 TUES DAVID STOPPED BY TONIGHT TO APOLOGIZE FOR LAST NIGHT… I TOLD him IT WAS QUITE UNNECESSARY… HE WANTED TO FIND OUT IF I REALLY MEANT WHAT I SAID… and WAS SURPRISED WHEN HE FOUND I DID.

1943 WED

AUGUST 31

1939 11:30 Worked on Molly to-day – very slow stuff. – Marguerite + Sara + I went to “On Borrowed Time” – I wrote a follow up ad for Sylvia’s –

1940 10:45 It’s real and yet it isn’t… Here I am a School Teacher – I felt so very young in faculty meeting… Like I was one of the kids that got in by mistake… If anyone had said “boo” – I would have burst into tears… Silly, adolescent. But they are all very nice to me.

1941 Sun I sewed on my dirndl all day. It isn’t done yet… I shouldn’t do things quite so intensely I guess. Marie + Chils + I went to a marvelous Melwyn Douglas movie – Out to the airport + had hamburgers. They are swell. They can’t quite figure me out, I’m sure!

1942 MON FOR THE LAST TIME FROM YOU, MR. L! WE REALLY HAD A PRETTY NICE EVENING; BUT I DON’T LIKE THE WAS YOU’RE ALWAYS RAGGING ME… WHEN I SAID I WOULDN’T GO OUT WITH HIM AGAIN IF HE DIDN’T TELL ME WHAT HE STARTED to, I really MEANT IT!

1943 TUES.

AUGUST 30

1939 Wed. 10:00 I guess I’ll live – I don’t know about my feet, however – Wow - $1 day. Clerking at Fantle’s – I could have worked at the new “Sylvia’s”, too. For the opening – I wrote a news story for to-night’s Argus – I am to do another “ad” for Friday –

1940 2:30 – Dull Blue Haze – Trying to get ready – Not being able to concentrate… Grey tweed jacket… dark eyes brown, strong hands, sweet mouth… I saw him for a moment tonight - … He must care a little –

1941 12:15 Sat (Wonder what happened to the plane – And there she flies – Somehow it symbolizes something exciting + beautiful to me. Hope I’ll be able to come in on one of ‘em someday…) Well, I have a bit more self-respect. Cleaned house, played tennis, went down town + started sewing a blue dirndl.

1942 SUN WAS FRUSTRATED acutely… LAY OUT IN B. YARD AND READ CHENEY A WHILE… DREW SOME MORE FIGURES FOR REC. ROOM and READ LOUSEE MAG. STORIES. *

1943 MON

AUGUST 29

1939 Tues. 11:30 Started on the clay model this aft. – Wasted most of the morning getting started + talking to people down in the “Huddle” – Carlson is working on me for an oration – he’s flattering me outrageously – He says he wants to be my manager when I take the boards!!!

1940 At long last – Leonard. I’ve waited so long for this… It’s almost worth going away for – I adore him. I doubt if anything serious will come of it – But we both meant every bit of what happened + I can’t let him down, I mustn’t + won’t!

1941 Well, chum, you’re a year older + should be a year wiser. I find I can still feel – finished For Whom the Bell Tolls. I am a woman

1942 SAT LEONARD took ME TO THE DANCE. WE WERE BOTH too TIRED TO GO, I guess. BILL WAS THERE WITH SOME Babe FROM MADISON. NUTS, SHIRLEE WILL NAIL ME ON IT, too. I WAS HALFWAY MAD AT LEONARD all EVENING…

1943 SUN

AUGUST 28

1939 Monday 2:00 Everything turned out marvelously After talking with Jean I was convinced everything was swell and convinced Eleanor of same – He was about 6 ft – around 200 pounds. – I felt very “protected” – And I enjoyed dancing with him a great deal – His name is “Fritz” It was very warm – I wore my pinkish flannel –

1940 Wed Clara + I went up to LeMars today + I have my room at Dr. Reeves’ – It is really quite nice. I hope I’ll get along with them. I’m really terrified about my job. I’m so slow at catching on + stuff. And there is so much I don’t know about.

1941 – Charleen Farnsworth came over this afternoon to discuss dress design. I was probably as narrow minded as she. It is sad.

1942 FRI THE WANDERING souls CAME BACK FROM Big Stone… I CUT BOB’S HAIR FOR HIM… I ENLARGED SOME SKETCHES, BILL, BOB, LEONARD AND Betty Boe TOOK ME OVER TO HANSONS… WE ALL TOOK HER DOWN TO THE Bus… ha.. BOB DANCED WITH ME this AFT.

1943 SAT