West family diaries

George W. West and Lillian (Lily) West diary January 1895-July 1897 

Scope and content note

This diary was begun by George W. West. Lillian West took over the writing of the diary in January 1897. The section of the diary written by George West describes domestic as well as business issues. George’s narratives give a view of farm life in the late 19th century. West mentions buying items such as oats ($4.00), manure ($2.00), eggs by the crate ($5.70), and a "Sulkey Harrow" (plough $5.50). He worked his farm himself with some help, performing various tasks like “cutting wood and sorting potatoes all day.” George also recorded the weather daily , and he also kept track of sick family members and acquaintances, most notably during the winter. Frequent churchgoers, the family attended Episcopalian and Presbyterian events, and the children attended Sunday school.

Mary Jane (Mayme) diaries 1902-1919 

Scope and content note

Mary Jane (Mayme) J. West started her diaries in this collection when she was seventeen in 1902. Her last diary diary dates to 1919, and there is one undated diary attributed to her.

The first few diaries (Volumes 11-15) find her playing croquet, visiting with friends having pony cart rides, and keeping busy with other amusements, such as keeping track of weddings she attended. The family regualrly spent a month in August in Atlantic City, new Jersey. Various short news clippings indicate that they occasionally stayed at the resort's “fashionable” Hotel Rexford. A clipping in her 1902 diary (Volume 11) discusses her father's farm.

In 1906 (Volume 16), when Mayme was twenty-one years old, she made the first mention of her future husband, Thomas “TC” Cochrane, and he made regular appearances in her writing throughout. They married in April 1911, though there is no mention of the wedding in the volume that covers that year (Volume 18), from which a number of pages were torn out.

Mayme's diary writing became more mature as she grew older. She noted hobbies such as playing cards and quilted, and various outings, such as shopping "all day." She also attended lectures at the “Y" (esepcially noting one on Eugenics). In 1914 Mayme had a son, David, she describes the trials and tribulations of being a mother (Volume 18). She eventually had a second child named George.

The last of Mayme's dated diaries in the collection ends somberly. Throughout the diaries, especially the later ones, Mary complains of being very tired, often “dead tired.” In 1919 Mary’s complaints become more specifically about her “bowels” (Volume 21). She noted having a procedure, the details of which are vague, and subsequently learning that that she had cancer. In her final dated enter of April 22, 1919, she says she is feeling “better some," despite having felt "absolutely rotten” the day before.