1929 ORIGINAL HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT DIARY DETAILING HER YEAR AND LIFE AS THE WORTHY MATRON OF HER HIALEAH FLORIDA ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR CHAPTER

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On offer is an interesting, original 1929 manuscript diary handwritten by Evelyn M. Taylor of Hialeah Florida as stated in embossed gilt stamp then "Worthy Matron, 1929. Hialeah Ch apter No. 153, O. E. S." denoting her achievement to the highest position in her chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. Our Worthy Matron who was born about 1900 and was married to Henry Taylor uses a five year diary as a page-a-day book and does a super job as a diarist with less than a dozen days without entries and even a casual reader cannot fail to note that Evelyn's life revolves around the OES and her family. Here are some snippets: 1929 "January 1st - 3rd, My officers were appointed and our instillation is to be on my Birthday for which I am very proud. Anna to preside during instillation…. Sister Angie Jameson Mauk acting as Marshall. Sister Dora Reynolds as Chaplain and Sister Mabel Ramey as organist. I thank them all….I thank my chapter for the high honor they have given me and hope that I shall never prove myself unworthy of their trust…." "January 10th, My first blue day this year. Everything seemed to go wrong. Did nothing of any interest." "February 12th, Held chapter. Had a nice meeting with lots of visitors. Chapter gave me the first honor as their worthy matron by voting to bear my dinner exp. the night of Grand Matron's visit. All officers present except Ruth." "February 13th. Grand Matrons first visit to Naranja. Ruben, Mary, Erma, Henry, papa and I went to Naranja Chapter. G. M. official visit. Was introduced and received my first bouquet for which I am very proud…" "February 18th, Grand Matrons visit to Biscayne. Attended banquet given by Biscayne Chapter for G. M. at Alcazar Hotel. Had a very nice time then went to Temple for meeting and enjoyed everything." (Then on to the Coral Gables, Little River, and Miami Beach Chapters the next days for another visit by the Grand Matron.) "February 25th & 26th, Ft. Dallas Chap. had official visit of G. M. and G. P. had a very nice meeting. We were busy all day preparing to take G. M. to races tomorrow and have luncheon….Grand Matrons visit. Held Chap. and Official visit of G. M. and G. P. Had dinner over at airways with 48 present. Had a lovely meeting. My officers gave me a lovely necklace for which I think each and everyone. We initiated 5 candidates these being our first. Had luncheon at Sister Lucy's and went to races. Had a lovely time." "April 15th & 16th, Left home at 4:20. Had dinner with Dixon's. Bad weather set in, held over 3 hours. Arrived in Sanford about 5. Will spend the night. After supper saw Alfred and wife. Sis and family, Rena's family…Got up early, had breakfast with Aunt Emma. Went on to St. Augustine's for dinner with Aunt Francis and on to Jacksonville. No one home when we arrived. Visited Jacksonville Chapter #15 in evening." "April 24th, Up early and to armory for opening of Grand Chapter. Could not see anything on account of arrangement of seats. Just time enough to dress, eat and back for evening. Papa took us home about 1 o'clock. Radio cut off. Not much time to sleep." "May 13th, Ft. Dallas meeting. As we were dressing to go to Ft. Dallas we got word Whitfield's were in the hospital. Called on them and found Mr. in critical condition. Tended to all business we could and went to O.E.S. meeting. Did not stay for program. Brought Ella home with us." "June 25th, Chap. Meeting. Baked two pies for Mr. Madden. Verna and I went to get flowers for Sis Bichard. Had a lovely Chap. meeting. Sis Bichard was out and Arma gave a pretty presentation speech when presenting her with flowers. This was our last meeting until Sept. Sister Leny gave me some beautiful roses." "July 29th, Whaley and I went to hall and took some things to Whitfield. Saw Mr. Whitfield and he looks pretty good. Went to political meeting in eve. Got some ice cream, came back by Anna's and at cream. Received word my organist, Margaret Chalk, has married and will not be back. I wish her good luck." "September 27th, 28th, & 29th, Henry went to work today but came home at noon. The wind is blowing hard. We went to the beach this P.M. and caught fish in our hands out of the ocean. The water surely was ruff…..Day of Storm. Well today the storm came. It started blowing last night. We sat on our porch most of the day watching the storm. Tonight a tornado went through town tearing down several houses….We had breakfast and took Anna down to see how her people were at Homestead. Found everyone all right but lots of water everywhere. This afternoon Henry and I went to beach to see how his tools were. Found them all right." "October 11th, 12th & 13th, Still raining. Henry unable to work the water is rising. I guess we ill have a flood alright….Anna and I went for groceries. Water was all in the Label Supply. However we did not get wet. Went with Henry to Hackney's. They are all under water. Moving out tomorrow….Henry and I took boat over to Drummond's and moved them. The water was most in the house. Afterwards we rode over town…" "December 10th, Our Election. Chap. tonight. Had to vote 4 times for W. M. Eleanor went in Worth. I am so glad she got it. Erma had quite a rogue after meeting with several members. Star Points gave us lovely point chairs tonight." Many names are mentioned: Whitfield, Slieffert, Whaley, Callahan, Combs, Hammond, Freeman, Fountain, Slater, Norton, Brown, Turner, Reynolds and more. The cover has some light staining, the side closure is torn, but overall the 5 x 6½ inch book is G.; Manuscript; 16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, EVELYN M. TAYLOR, ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR, O.E.S., OES, HALF CENTURY MATRONS CLUB, PRINCE HALL AFFILIATION, GENDER STUDIES, SOCIAL STUDIES, WOMEN STUDIES, FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS, SOCIETIES, SISTERHOODS, RELIGION, SECRET PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES, HALF CENTURY MATRONS CLUB, HIALEAH FLORIDA, MASONS, MASONIC ORDER, WOMEN'S STUDIES, SORORITIES, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, CONDUCTRESS, WORTHY MATRON, WORTHY PATRON, AMERICANA,HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, AUTOGRAPHED, AUTHORS, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, KEEPSAKE, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, PERSONAL HISTORY, ARCHIVE, DIARY, DIARIES, JOURNAL, LOG, PRIMARY SOURCE, FIRST HAND ACCOUNT, SOCIAL HISTORY, PERSONAL STORIES, LIVING HISTORY, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, DOCUMENT, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, MANUSKRIPT, PAPIER OGGETTO D'ANTIQUARIATO, ATTO, VELINA, DOCUMENTO, MANOSCRITTO, CARTA ANTIGÜEDAD, HECHO, VITELA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITO, PAPEL,BIOGRAPHY BIOGRAPHICAL AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY PERSONAL NARRATIVES Show more