Ada May (Grimshaw) Illingworth

The diary was written by my husband's grandmother who died in the early 1950s, a few years before he was born. Her daughter had kept it but never read it (she did tell me she always meant to). My brother-in-law found it in her barn and brought it up to me knowing how interested I would be. I first read it about ten years ago, re-read it about five years ago and am now transcribing it on the blog I mentioned.
It is a small black leather five year diary, 1915 - 1919, her writing is generally legible and she has recorded a few lines almost every day.
It is very repetitive but if you stay with it an amazing picture of her life, the life of an ordinary woman in small town pre-1920, Vermont, USA emerges.
If you look in my Grimshaw set you can see what Ada May looked like. Technically, she was Ada May Illingworth when the diary was written - I kept her maiden name.

Thank you, Laura! I became a little obsessed with Ada when I did the blog of her diary. My husband and brother were interested but couldn't believe I was that drawn to it, as it was very often a list of her housework. A vivid reflection of her reality.
As a five year diary I found it compelling - such a fascinating look at her dally life . When she did break sometimes out of her rather repetitive list of tasks it was startling to read. Also, historically, there's her reaction to the beginning and end of WW1, the impact of the "Spanish" flu, voting rights for women, etc.
I feel very grateful to have these images in addition to her writing.
Thanks for viewing!
And...I actually love grouping!! I've just created a bunch of individual pics of my brother and I, my kids and my grandkids in the tub!
(All modest and approved by each of them : ) )
It took me ages to put together because I was buying 2nd hand frames, gathering the pics and printing them, etc.
But it's SO fun and satisfying to walk in and see them all.
Try it!