1932 - 1936 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT 5-YEAR DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY A WEST COAST NAVY WIFE DUTIFULLY AND DELIGHTFULLY FOLLOWING HER HUSBAND FROM SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA TO BREMERTON WASHINGTON AND BACK

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On offer is a super, original 1932 through 1936 manuscript diary handwritten by an unidentified Southern California young newlywed Navy wife traveling for the most part up and down the West Coast of America following her husband Glen who is stationed mostly in San Diego and Long Beach but does go to Bremerton Washington and some trips to the East Coast. Written right in the heart of the Great Depression the diary begins with the couple married a year and this is the year he is stationed in Bremerton. They take a road trip in April to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon finally ending in Bremerton six weeks later. Not too long after it's back to southern California. We note many local references to events: in 1933, Long Beach experienced an earthquake which she mentions because the day before she drove from San Diego to Long Beach to attend the fights with Glen and sure enough the next night while at the fights the earthquake hit. She also writes of the California Pacific International Exposition that was held in San Diego starting in 1935 and also 1936. It was held at Balboa Park. Here are some snippets: 1932 "January 3rd, Glen and I drove to Hollywood and went to matinee at Grauman's Chinese. Saw Hell Divers. Dinner on Seventh St. at French place. Nice day…..January 23rd, Having a Santa Ana today. Cold too. Glen and I packed part of the things this afternoon. At night we went to Palace and saw "Frankenstein". Terrible….February 28th, Thelma, Beal and Hazel Cox came by to see me this A.M. In the afternoon I took car and we all went to waterfront and flying field. Saw Auto gyro there….April 4th, Glen and I left San Diego Cal. this A.M. Had lunch at Mexicali. Dinner and night at Gila Bend Arizona. Sure hot today. Went past farm….April 6th, Breakfast at Lordsburg N. M. Lunch at Juarez Mex. Dinner and night at Roswell N. M. All afternoon and night in wind and sandstorm. Drove 379 miles…..April 16th, Got car at noon and drove to Junction City. There we met paving and storm. Wind, cloudburst, etc. Spent night at Kansas Hotel Topeka….May 10th, Stopped at Anamosa. We had breakfast with the folks in Benton and left about 7 A.M. Lunch in Marshalltown Ia. Dinner and night in Omaha Nebraska at Rome Hotel. Saw show at night….May 15th, Breakfast in Rock Springs Wyoming. Lunch at Soda Springs. Dinner and night at Twin Falls Idaho. Went to Spokane Falls and high bridge over Snake River….May 17th, Breakfast in La Grande Oregon. Lunch at The Dalles. Beautiful scenery. We followed the Columbia River most all day. Spent the night in Chehalis Washington……June 20th, Glen had to go back to ship last night. Colorado came in today. He was home at one. At night we went to Tower and saw "No Greater Love." Rain….July 5th, I went to town after groceries. Almost got kidnapped. At night Glen and I went to Beal's. I beat them all playing rummy…..July 20th and 21st, Breakfast Eugene Oregon. Lunch at Grants Pass Oregon. Dinner and night at Redding California. Had car oil changed and gas at night. Sure hot and tired….Breakfast at Redding Cal. Caught the 12:30 ferry from Vallejo to San Francisco. Ate lunch on there. Dinner in apt. at 344 Fulton, Joe, Joan and I…August 14th, We went to L. A. Drove down by Olympic Stadium. Went to Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Saw "Strange Interlude." Glen had to go back to ship at ten tonight……" 1933 "January 11th, A terrible "Santa Ana" came up last night. Everything covered with dust today. Glen could not get back to ship. Was home all day….January 19th, Storm at sea. Glen could not get back to the ship. He tried morning and noon but no luck. It rained all day. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks called afternoon….January 22nd, Glen and I went down to see the U. S. S. Constitution, "Old Ironsides." Glen had to leave tonight. Sure hated to see him go. It rained all day and night…. February 10th, I was home day and night. Dad went to see Dr., mother went to beauty parlor. Tonight they both went to Depression Party. Wayne and I had dinner alone…..March 10th, Went to fights with Glen then to see Dr. Clark. Blanch Lyons, Johnny and Donny came. Then alas, the earthquake! The town in destruction. Terrible…..March 11th, Glen and I sat in car last night near Newport. I took him back to ship. He was home by nine and we left for San Diego. Went to Corona, Elsinore, Escondido….March 19th, Three quakes last night so I got up and took Glen down and drove to S. D. We checked out at Nakonnis Home in time to go with mother, Wayne and Goldies for dinner…..May 9th, Glen came home at one after Admirals inspection. We went down town. Tonight we went to North Park Theatre, saw "Private Jones"……June 25th, Afternoon we crossed on ferry to Coronado. Drove by the "Love Nest" then we had dinner at the Foreigner Club…..August 5th, Glen and I drove to L. A. today. Had dinner at Lucca's. At night we went to Grauman's Chinese, saw Gold Dinner of 1933. Stayed at hotel….August 13th, We went by after the folks all went back to Indian Reservation to where the rodeo was to be. Sure hot and dusty….." 1934 "January 19th, Left San Diego at one. Long Beach at 5 on the S. S. Yale. Met Leona Stout. We danced at night and had a big time. Was quite late when we retired…..January 20th, Glen met me at ferry. Ted met Leona. We walked all over town looking for place to live. We located at 448 Wilson. Leona and I were about dead….January 21st, No gas or lights on yet. We spent day unpacking. Used candles for light at night and cooked breakfast with wood….February 3rd, Glen and I went to Frisco on 3:20 ferry. Joe got off work at 8 o'clock. We went to see Barbary Coast. Went to Purcell's, Spider Kelly's, then to the Cane…..February 10th, U. S. S. San Francisco put into commission today at Mere Island. Leona and I went over. Dinty met us and Ted took us over new ship. Glen washed afternoon…..February 17th, I left 448 Wilson and caught 12:30 ferry from Vallejo. Went downtown in Frisco. Left there at 5 P.M. Met Mr. Hammer and Miller, Mrs. Calley. We watched them dance….. February 18th, I met Mrs. Mills and Dona before we got to L. A. harbor at 11. Left there at 3 P.M. The folks met me at ship in San Diego at 8. Had message from Glen….March 13th, Nellie and I went to Aqua Caliente to the horse races. She had pass to the Club House. Glen went to attend to tax exemption this afternoon…..April 1st, Glen and I went for a drive afternoon. We picked up a couple of cadets off the German warship Karlsruhe. All went to Caliente…..April 8th, My sweetheart left this A.M. I took him down to the docks, said goodbye among tears. Afternoon wrote to Glen and drove the folks down to water front…..June 15th, Air male from Glen telling me I could come east. Went down to see about S. S. ticket. Looked for clothes. Wrote Glen tonight….June 21st, Breakfast at Seligman Arizona, time up 1 hour. Lunch at Winslow. First felt heat then dinner at Albuquerque. Only a couple of hours of heat today. Cooler tonight….June 23rd, Breakfast on diner with Hulda Suter. We arrived Chicago 7:50. I left there on G. I. Lehigh Valley. Lovely air conditioned cars. Went thru Canada, Niagara Falls about 12 A.M…..June 24th, Breakfast in diner. Arrived N. Y. thru tunnel under E. River. Checked bags and took subway up town. Went sight seeing. Went to ship about 2. Left at 5:30…..July 13th, Big Navy parade afternoon and dance at night. Glen has the duty! I had dinner out. I washed blouse and hose A.M……September 3rd, Glen home all day. Labor Day. We packed and he took trunk down and checked it. We had lunch and dinner at Broadway. I left Newport on boat 10 P.M. Raining….." 1935 "February 27th, Nice day. Glen got transferred to the Koka today after so long a time. Tonight we went to Coronado to see the Beal's. Both ways via ferry…..March 3rd, Glen had his first duty on the Koka. I went with McBride's to look for friends. Didn't find them. They left for Long Beach about four…..May 22nd, Glen took us all up to get our pictures taken for our Expo ticket. Sure a crowd there. Pictures are funny looking….June 1st, I came home this A.M. Glen got home from Chauffer duty about two. We went to park late afternoon. Went thru Federal Building tonight (Expo)….August 15th, Glen called. They are going to San Maguel Islands this afternoon. Mother, dad and I went to Expo. Saw Fanchon and Marco Show….." 1936 "February 9th, Glen came home early A.M. Afternoon we went with Blanch and Leroy to Naval Training station but they could not see the boy. We all went to T. J. (Tijuana) tonight and danced….April 19th, Honeymoon not over. Glen came home this A.M. So did I. We went to Expo afternoon. Took in the Medical Building. Home tonight….May 29th, Glen had to go early. Ship went to Island. I went to Dr. afternoon. I had dinner with father. Came home later. Glen home at 11 P.M….June 19th, The ship went to San Clemente Island. So Glen is gone again today. I went to see Dr. Got my watch and wedding ring with new stone added….." The book proper has a lovely though worn gold cover. The lock was cut off and absent. The pages are secure together with the binding but the cover is slightly pulling away. It measures about 4" x 5". 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