Call Number:

Ms. Codex 1777

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

15 volumes

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Jessie Louise Many Rice diaries, 1909-1930, Ms. Codex 1777, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1909-1930 (inclusive)

Creator:

Many, Emma J. and Rice, Jessie Louise Many

Form:

Manuscripts, American -- 20th century, Recipes, Diaries, and Codices (bound manuscripts)

Abstract:

This collection of diaries was kept by Jessie Louise Many Rice spanning the years from 1909 to 1930. Each volume was written in a preprinted pocket calendar comprising brief daily entries by Rice.

Rice was one of five children born to William V. (1850-1900) and Emma J. Many (1850-1930?). She lived with her mother in Washingtonville, Orange County, New York and earned a living as a steamstress. Jessie married Harry Rice probably in 1915. They had a daughter Helen Geraldine on December 3, 1915, who died three days later. Jessie's siblings are noted at the end of volume 1 as follows: Alice born 1875, William born 1878 and died in 1900, Emma born 1880, and Helen born 1873.

This collection of diaries was kept by Jessie Louise Many Rice spanning the years from 1909 to 1930. Each volume was written in a preprinted pocket calendar comprising brief daily entries by Rice. The first thirteen volumes span the years from 1909 to 1921. A gap of eight years precedes the last volume written by Rice dated June 1929 to December 1930. Rice recorded factual events throughout the diaries with scant indication of her feelings or emotions. Each daily entry begins with a brief observation of the weather followed by daily tasks and social interactions. Rice sewed nearly every day, baked bread with her mother, farmed a garden, tended to chickens, and cleaned the house. She traveled to Blooming Grove and took the train to Newburgh for shopping and selling wares. In addition, Rice delivered items she sold throughout Orange County. She noted when she attended church and who was preached. Aside from her mother, Jessie Rice had the consistent presence of her sister Alice and her Uncle C. (possibly Charlie) along with nieces, friends, and other visitors. She mentioned dinners and playing card games such as whist and rummy. In the winter she noted going on sleigh rides. Jessie attended meetings and dances at the local Grange, lectures, and movies and plays in Newburgh, and visiting the library and books she read. Jessie noted a local club named the "Bachelor girls" who gathered for dinners and games. Jessie and her mother Emma Many also worked as servers at the Athenia Club in Washingtonville. Jessie first mentioned her husband Harry Rice in 1914. She wrote of exchanging letters and seeing him occasionally. In February 1915 Jessie wrote Harry was there and "announcements came tonight." Following this entry Jessie wrote of looking at houses with Mother Rice, Harry's mother. In December 1915 Rice recorded the birth and death of their daughter Helen Geraldine. Harry Rice is rarely mentioned after December 1915, other than Jessie received letters or met him in Newburgh. Included at the end of each volume is account information, such as payments, items purchased, and monies received. A few medicinal recipes appear in some volumes. Lists of Christmas gifts received and given appear in each volume. Some of the volumes have items laid in such as, a photograph, clippings of quotations, notes, and three of her calling cards. Volume 15 was written by Emma J. Many. The volume is a 1916 pocket calendar containing sporadic entries, Christmas gift lists dated from 1916 to 1934 and lastly, a brief biography of Elias Gerow of Salisbury Mills, New York.