By Lindsay Bina, Intern and Anna Clutterbuck-Cook, Reader Services
Today we return to the 1918 diary of Newton teenager Barbara Hillard Smith. You may read our introduction to the diary, and Barbara’s January and February entries, here:
January | February | March | April
May | June | July | August
September | October | November | December
We will be following Barbara throughout 1918 with monthly blog posts that present Barbara’s daily life — going to school, seeing friends, playing basketball, and caring for family members — in the words she wrote a century ago. Here is Barbara’s March, day by day.
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FRI. 1 MARCH
School. Dentist Cousin Bert came. Papa glad to see him, Sick
SAT. 2
Showed C. Booklet to K. Heard Galli Curci. She is wonderful. Seminary with Mother
SUN. 3
Helped Mother. Studied
MON. 4
School. Mrs. Reed’s. Papa died. Grandma very brave, Mother is wonderful. C. Burt came.
TUES. 5
Aunt Mabel gave Mother her car. She is very busy. People are very kind. Cousin Bert is the [back…]
WED. 6
Everything peaceful. Deluged with flowers. Funeral services very sweet + pretty. C. Bert went back.
THUR. 7
I must stand up for Mother. Worked. Flowers from […]. Waltham with Mrs. Pyrene. Hard to keep tears back
FRI. 8
Worked. Doctors with Mother. Things [go] a little easier. I feel like crying all the time.
SAT. 9
Helped Mother. Got Camp Fire Cocoa. Mrs Richmond came. Wood called up. At McDonalds
SUN. 10
Church. Sunday S. Cousin Mildred to dinner. Dr. Huntington.
MON. 11
School. Mrs. Reed
TUES. 12
School. Basket Ball
WED. 13
School. Gym dancing. Swimming
THURS. 14
School. Basketball. Got on class team
FRI. 15
School. Took care of the baby. Captain of the team
SAT. 16
Sewed at Mrs. Bucknams. Over to Lanes. Went swimming
SUN. 17
Shot Cat. Church and Sunday School. Moody’s for supper. Mr. Bailey out.
MON. 18
School. Took care of baby. Got [byce] out. Living Pictures.
TUES. 19
School. Played the Freshmen. 16-5 s. Juniors beat 30-0. Saw Dr. Ashland.
WED. 20
School. Rehearsed dancing. Swimming.
THUR. 21
School. Played the Juniors. They beat us. 25-10. Saw Dr. Ashland.
FRI. 22
School. Mrs. Reed’s. Newton-Erasmus game. We licked em up. War is awful
SAT. 23
Mrs. Reed’s all day.
SUN. 24
Church. Sunday School. Saw Dr. Ashland ([nude]). He seems much better. Dr. McClure.
MON. 25
School. In Town. Got suit. It seems funny without paper.
TUES. 26
School. Went to Mrs Reeds. Sick.
WED. 27
School. Dancing. In Town. Peg went with me.
THUR. 28
School. Mrs. Reed’s. Wrote Dr. Gordon
FRI. 29 GOOD FRIDAY
No School. Mrs. Reed’s all day. Surgical dressings
SAT. 30
Mrs. Reeds. In town. Got new hat
SUN. 31 EASTER
Church[,] Sunday School and Concert. [Fraulein] and Miss [Colin] to dinner.
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If you are interested in viewing the diary in person in our library or have other questions about the collection, please visit the library or contact a member of the library staff for further assistance.
*Please note that the diary transcription is a rough-and-ready version, not an authoritative transcript. Researchers wishing to use the diary in the course of their own work should verify the version found here with the manuscript original. The catalog record for the Barbara Hillard Smith collection may be found here.