tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-223640012024-03-13T17:51:49.264-04:00Ruth Campbell Smith 1925-27 DiariesMy grandmother, Ruth Campbell Smith (1892 - 1972) kept a diary for many years. I am posting her entries from 1925 - 1927 in this blog. Her family included sons Dale (1916 - 2004), Dick (1918 - 1971), Albert (1920 - 1979), and Ned (1923 - 1976), and later daughters Marjorie (1925 - 2010) and Eleanor (1929 - 2011). Her husband was Gilbert (1889 - 1937) and they lived in Indianapolis. I hope you enjoy this glimpse of what it was like to be a housewife and mother in the 1920's.Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.comBlogger1035125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-5839598774617317792022-12-18T11:38:00.002-05:002022-12-18T11:38:44.783-05:00A Botany Homework Assignment from 1908-1909<p>I just wanted to share that on my own website, I've shared some information about <a href="https://caroljmichel.com/a-botanical-study-from-1908-09/" target="_blank">a botany assignment</a> that Ruth Campbell Smith completed in high school in 1908-1909.</p>Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-63051393416815087042012-06-07T21:56:00.003-04:002012-06-07T21:58:41.216-04:00EleanorEleanor, the youngest daughter of Ruth and Gilbert Smith passed away on October 26, 2011. She was the last surviving sibling. <br />
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Ruth's story continues though, through her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. <br />
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We are forever grateful that Grandma wrote her Books of Remembrance for several years in the 1920's, giving us a glimpse into her life and the lives of her children, my aunts and uncles.<br />
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<br />Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-80284420840270636122010-11-06T23:03:00.000-04:002010-11-06T23:03:58.549-04:00MarjorieI am sad to report that Marjorie passed away last evening, November 5, 2010, at the age of 85.<br />
She was born on <a href="http://ruthcampbellsmith.blogspot.com/2006/10/monday-october-5-1925.html">October 5, 1925</a>. Grandma wrote in her diary that day,<br />
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<i>"My darling baby girl’s birthday. Had pains from 2 o’clock on, all morning but not strong enough to do any good till after 1 o’ clock. Had trouble getting Papa and held off as long as I could. He hadn’t been in the house two minutes till she came at 1:55. Gilbert had the company auto bring him in a jiffy and he was here perhaps 10 minutes. The boys are wild with joy. Such excitement and Collins, Papa and Winifred here after supper."</i> <br />
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I am grateful to Aunt Marjorie who provided me with many comments on the entries in grandma's diary, adding tidbits of family history that none of us knew before.Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-37835416809753011832010-09-02T00:01:00.015-04:002010-09-02T06:31:28.971-04:00On the Occasion of Eleanor's 81st BirthdayMy mom, Eleanor, is 81 today. Happy Birthday, Mom! <br />
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I still think often of my grandmother's diaries, of what it must have been like to live in the 1920's, how hard life was, and how very different it was from the lives we live today.<br />
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If you find these diaries, even long after I posted them on this blog one day at a time for three years, I hope you, too, enjoy them and are reminded of how hard our ancestors worked for so little and how blessed we are with what we have today.Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-86486429733506080212009-09-02T05:57:00.001-04:002009-09-02T05:58:41.119-04:00Eleanor Turns 80Happy Birthday to the youngest daughter of Ruth who turned 80 today, Sept. 2, 2009!Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-25628613736754870912009-01-05T19:30:00.002-05:002009-01-05T19:39:13.014-05:00Thank YouThank you to all the many readers who read through these diary entries one day at a time through the past nearly three years.<br /><br />As you've surmised, I do not have any more of Grandma's diaries beyond 1927. My aunt has made some attempts to find out if any remaining diaries are buried in boxes somewhere amongst far-flung relatives, but has come up with nothing. <br /><br />In the next few days, I'll post some additional information on Grandma, Gilbert, Dale, Dick, Albert, Ned, and Marjorie, along with my mom, Eleanor, born in 1929. <br /><br />If you have any specific questions, please leave me a comment. <br /><br />A very special thank you to <a href="http://www.annieinaustin.blogspot.com/">Annie in Austin</a>, who did many kind, random acts of geneaology, sending me emails with additional information on some of the distant relatives and grandma's neighbors.Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-16233380564195345512009-01-01T05:00:00.000-05:002009-01-01T05:00:00.308-05:00Sunday, January 1, 1928Sunday, January 1, 1928<br /> New Years Day. Zero. Too cold to go to Sunday school. Papa didn’t come out as he was nursing frozen pipesCarol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-90550366659562054202008-12-31T05:00:00.000-05:002008-12-31T05:00:00.659-05:00Saturday, December 31, 1927Saturday, December 31, 1927<br />Cold<br /><br />Getting colder and snowing. Cleaned up the house and got ready for dinner tomorrow.Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-60599841450479135532008-12-30T05:00:00.001-05:002008-12-30T05:00:01.034-05:00Friday, December 30, 1927Friday, December 30, 1927<br />Rain, warm<br /><br />Went down town to order the cleaner man and get materials for waists. It was a bad day to shop but lots were doing it.Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-25491016641148918202008-12-29T05:00:00.000-05:002008-12-29T05:00:00.197-05:00Thursday, December 29, 1927Thursday, December 29, 1927<br />Rainy<br /><br />The house is just so dirty I can’t get the dirt out of carpets without raising dust everywhere. I’ll be glad when I get my cleaner fixed. The babies get black playing around.Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-21998440207717844892008-12-28T05:00:00.000-05:002008-12-28T05:00:00.820-05:00Wednesday, December 28, 1927Wednesday, December 28, 1927<br /><br />Well the bookcase came. Mama was here but she didn’t get to see it up as we saved that pleasure for Gilbert who was as anxious as a kid about it. We spent the evening putting it up and rearranging books.Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-58714869810347070402008-12-27T05:00:00.001-05:002008-12-27T05:00:00.106-05:00Tuesday, December 27, 1927Tuesday, December 27, 1927<br />Fair and warmer<br /><br />Washed in morning and went to Missionary at Mrs. Craigs in afternoon. Was expecting book case which arrived in town Saturday but too late to get out. Left Albert to sign for it, but through mistake they asked for money and he didn’t have any so they didn’t leave it.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "It was a sectional bookcase, and you could add more shelves. I believe we had four shelves, with glass fronts to raise on each shelf. I remember a lot of the books - Elbert Hubbard's "Little Journeys", a set of Edgar Allen Poe books, etc.")</span>Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-19365122676539816552008-12-26T05:00:00.001-05:002008-12-26T05:00:00.168-05:00Monday, December 26, 1927Monday, December 26, 1927<br />Fair<br /><br />Gilbert was home and we enjoyed a chance to rest. Didn’t get up until about eight. Had dinner about 4. Mac came and stayed a couple of hours and when boys went to show asked us to come over and hear their radio. We went and enjoyed the visit but the radio all static much to Mac’s disgust.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "We didn't have a radio until Daddy had to retire because of Parkinson's disease when I was about 10 years old. The radio was a gift from Daddy's boss. I think the radio was more educational as one had to use their imagination whereas on TV you can stupidly just sit and watch, no need to imagine the events. I remember wonderful radio programs. My oldest son still has this radio in his home.")</span>Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-64964551068899241742008-12-25T05:00:00.001-05:002008-12-25T05:00:01.110-05:00Sunday, December 25, 1927Sunday, December 25, 1927<br />Fair – cold<br /><br />A lovely winter day but no snow. Last night the boys woke up and dressed thinking it was morning. Then called us and it was only 1:15. I had only slept one hour. I made them go back to bed till 5:45. Went to Sunday school. Folks came for dinner.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I heard about this Christmas when they got up so early! The rule was always that kids must be dressed before coming downstairs, so they wouldn't catch cold. The boys were mad they had to go back to bed, so they didn't get back into their pajamas. They even went back to bed with their high top shoes on. From then on the rule was we couldn't get up until 6 am on Christmas morning.")</span>Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-50956195904363082582008-12-24T05:00:00.001-05:002008-12-24T05:00:00.371-05:00Saturday, December 24, 1927Saturday, December 24, 1927<br />Cold – fair<br /><br />Dale and George cycled to see their teachers and had a wreck. I did everything that a mother of 5 would do the day before Christmas. Boys also excited they declared they couldn’t sleep but they went to bed early.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "George must have been a friend of Dale's. I don't remember hearing about a wreck -- a bicycle wreck?" </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">I wonder if "had a wreck" was an expression of speech meaning "had a good time"?)</span>Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-88992232051691475002008-12-23T05:00:00.000-05:002008-12-23T05:00:01.137-05:00Friday, December 23, 1927Friday, December 23, 1927<br />Cold<br /><br />Dale went and got Marjorie’s chair from Grandmothers. Got the tree and put it up. Dale and the boys did it all as I was busy cleaning and dressing Marjorie’s doll. Fixed up old body with a new head and dressed real cut. Boys went to fire station party in the evening.Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-4593732325742936922008-12-22T05:00:00.000-05:002008-12-22T05:00:01.157-05:00Thursday, December 22, 1927Thursday, December 22, 1927<br />Warmer<br /><br />Boys went to news boys' show – Albert’s first, Robison Crusoe at the Circle. I finally got my packages off and cards, too.Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-17507323015549065272008-12-21T05:00:00.000-05:002008-12-21T05:00:00.776-05:00Wednesday, December 21, 1927Wednesday, December 21, 1927<br />Cold<br /><br />Went to town in the morning and finished up my shopping. Came home and cleaned the house. Tried to sew and make candy, etc. Why didn’t I begin on things sooner. Hope I can next year.Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-59575244273561044222008-12-20T05:00:00.000-05:002008-12-20T05:00:01.078-05:00Tuesday, December 20, 1927Tuesday, December 20, 1927<br />Cold<br /><br />Sewed on twins’ dresses, Mama came over. My cleaner is out of whack and the house is so hard to keep. Boys everywhere and so many secrets! They go on a dozen trips a day shopping on 10th St. Dale and Dick help make candy in evenings.Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-70072185680603442452008-12-19T05:00:00.001-05:002008-12-19T05:00:00.784-05:00Monday, December 19, 1927Monday, December 19, 1927<br />Clear and cold<br /><br />Boys at home for the week. Washed but don’t know when I will iron. Cut out two dresses for the twins. Started on the candy making by having boys crack and pick out nuts. Went to Collins in evening.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "It used to take more time cracking and picking out nuts than it did to make the candy.")</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Some of Grandma's candy recipes included <a href="http://ruthcampbellsmith.blogspot.com/2007/12/christmas-candy.html">Grandpa Campbell's Cinnamon Roll</a></span>Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-18736339681374289342008-12-18T05:00:00.001-05:002008-12-18T05:00:01.300-05:00Sunday, December 18, 1927Sunday, December 18, 1927<br />Cold, snow flurries<br /><br />Mama’s big day. She has talked of nothing else except Eastern Star for months. Uncle Jess sent us 2 turkeys. Plenty! Everybody seemed to enjoy themselves though I had rather dreaded it, the kids usually make Mama so nervous.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">(Grandma didn't note in her diary that this was her birthday. She turned 35 on this day.)</span>Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-36102008250613965332008-12-17T05:00:00.000-05:002008-12-17T05:00:03.022-05:00Saturday, December 17, 1927Saturday, December 17, 1927<br />Cold<br /><br />Finally got all the things together for the Campbell crowd and sent them over by Gilbert. Mama doesn’t like the idea of giving up her dinner on Christmas day but Guys arranged not to come that day so she has to have it tomorrow.Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-43125383906184138212008-12-16T05:00:00.000-05:002008-12-16T05:00:00.689-05:00Friday, December 16, 1927Friday, December 16, 1927<br />Cold<br /><br /> A big day with so much to do. Mama having her dinner Sunday instead of Christmas shoves it a week ahead so less time.Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-14252475797178337162008-12-15T05:00:00.000-05:002008-12-15T05:00:00.113-05:00Thursday, December 15, 1927Thursday, December 15, 1927<br />Cold<br /><br />Dick was in a play but I was too busy to go. It is pretty raw out anyway to take the babies. Made the 3 teachers each an apron. Also helping Albert out on his yarn flowers he started for his Aunts’ Christmas gifts.Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22364001.post-73394330905230853632008-12-13T05:00:00.000-05:002008-12-13T05:00:00.799-05:00Tuesday, December 13, 1927Tuesday, December 13, 1927<br />Clear and cold<br /><br />Sewed all day. Christmas presents and Marjorie’s dress, too. In the evening the new auditorium at the school was dedicated and G & I went leaving the boys to care for Marjorie and put her to bed. Some boys according to their teachers!Carol Michelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com1