Diary of Catherine Weber

Photos of Diary Pages

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Briefing Document

This briefing doc reviews the main themes and notable events from excerpts of Catherine Weber's diary spanning 1934 to 1938.

Main Themes:

• Rural Life in the 1930s: The diary offers a glimpse into everyday life on a South Dakota farm during the Great Depression. Entries frequently mention chores like washing, ironing, cooking, and gardening. The scarcity of resources is evident in entries like "Meat – meat – and more meat. And still more meat." (January 17, 1934) and the family's reliance on home-grown produce.

• Social Life and Relationships: Catherine's social life revolves around family gatherings, dances in nearby towns, and visits with friends. Her entries highlight the importance of these social connections and reveal complex relationships, including romantic interests, friendships, and family dynamics.

• Financial Struggles: The diary subtly reflects the financial hardships of the era. The family's move to Mitchell in 1935 seems driven by economic necessity, and Catherine takes on various jobs, showcasing the need to contribute financially.

• Personal Growth and Transformation: Catherine's journey from a young woman on a farm to working in Chicago demonstrates her adaptability and resilience. Her evolving relationships and experiences in new environments contribute to her personal growth.

Notable Events and Insights:

1934:

• Catherine's social life is active, with frequent dances and dates.

• The diary reveals her emotional vulnerability, particularly in romantic relationships. "At nite. Was Billie ever sore because I stepped out with Bus. It hurt so much I just walked out on him." (February 9, 1934)

• Entries showcase family dynamics, including potential tensions, like Bertha's jealousy towards Catherine. (January 20, 1934)

1935:

• The family moves to Mitchell, marking a significant shift in their lives.

• Catherine starts working for Marie in Ethan, highlighting the need for income.

• Her trip to Chicago with Martha exposes her to a different world and city life.

1936:

• Catherine finds employment in Chicago, showcasing her independence and resourcefulness.

• She experiences the challenges and triumphs of navigating a new city and work environment.

• Her social life in Chicago involves new friends, outings, and romantic interests.

1937-1938:

• Catherine continues working in Chicago, experiencing different jobs and living situations.

• She pursues beauty school, demonstrating a desire for personal and professional development.

• The diary entries become less frequent and detailed in these later years, but they still offer insights into her life and evolving priorities.

Overall, Catherine Weber's diary provides a captivating first-hand account of life during the 1930s, offering valuable insights into the social, economic, and personal experiences of a young woman during this era.

Table of Contents

Timeline

Timeline (1934-1938) 

Note: These years are included in the diary.

Timeline (1939-1942)

Note: these years are not included.  I gathered information for this timeline from other sources; including postcards sent and received by Catherine.

Transcript of Diary

I have added hyperlinks in this word document of my Mom's diary.  When you click on the hyperlink, it takes you to a webpage or an image for that person or place.  You can tell if it is a hyperlink if the word(s) are greyed out and underlined.  For example: the entry for January 1, 1934 has 4 hyperlinks: for Billie, Frank's, Pete Oster, and Pete Lauf. (abbr of Laufenberg)

(Note: In computing, a hyperlink, or simply a link, is a reference to data that the user can follow by clicking or tapping.)    

Excerpts from the Diary

Her motto seemed to be work hard and play hard

Life on the Farm

There were a lot of chores and hard work for the last daughter left on the farm.  For example, on February 24, 1934, Kathryn wrote in her diary: "Worked hard most of the day."  Inside the house, Kathryn cleaned rooms, washed and ironed clothes, sewed, baked and cooked, and washed dishes.  Se sewed rag rugs, dress, and quilts.  When the hogs and other farm animals were butchered, she helped cut up the meat.  she even helped with the gardening.

• Cleaning

  • (Mar 7, 1934) "Scrubbed the whole house downstairs."

  • (Apr 30, 1934) "cleaned the basement - an all day job."

• Washing and Ironing clothes

  • (Jan 4, 1934) "Washed today, started to snow just as we had everything on the line."  Then, on the next day (Jan 5): "Ironed all day..."

  • (Mar 8, 1934)  "... and only had 17 machines of wash."

• Sewing

  • (Jan 2, 1934) "...Finished sewing my brown plaid dress."  Later in the month (Jan 22), she "started to weave a rag rug."

  • (Feb 20, 1934) "helped fix rose's dark blue dress over."

• Baking and Cooking

  • (Feb 9, 1934) "Tried a new doughnut & corn bread  sic) receipt.  Good luck too."

  • (Apr 27, 1934) "Baked 5 pies, 1 cake...for Aunt rose."

  • (July 18, 1934) "Made 2 freezers of ice-cream."

• Washing dishes

  • (March 7, 1934) "Washed dishes till after 1 o'clock".  This was the day after the big party at the house.  Kathryn and Art had the party while their parents were vising in Wisconsin.

• Butchering meat

  • (Feb 6, 1934) "Butchered 4 piggies at our house.  3 for us & 1 for bill.  Bill & Liz, Mike & Jose & Frank here to help butcher."  (Feb 7) "Swimming in grease.  Marie & Frank out to help up." (Feb 8) "Still plenty meat around yet."

• Gardening

  • (April 24, 1934) "Spaded our flower garden and laid 2 paths of stone."

• Canning

  • (Oct 2, 1934): "Canned 2 big baskets of grapes.  got about 18 quarts of (sic) jell & jam."

In between the work, there were many times when life was boring on the farm.  Just 4 days into the diary on Jan 4, 1934, Kathryn wrote: "...Nothing exciting otherwise tho."  Two days later, on a Saturday night (Jan 6), was disappointed again: "Nuthin -atall.  Sat. nite, and not even to town."  She write a particularly vivid entry in her diary on March 24, 1934: "Just itching to go some place, but, well --- I just had to leave it itch" (emphasis hers)

• Family eventually moved off the farm and into the town of Ethan.

Social Life

While reading my Mom's diary, I was surprised to find that she liked to go to parties and have a good time.  Since Kathryn was the youngest of 7 children, she was probably left pretty much alone by her parents.

• Parties 

  • (Feb 9, 1934) "...Went to Math Endre's to a party at nite.  Folks along.... Pretty good time. laid out."  

• Movies 

  • Even when still living on the farm, she went to a movie every couple of weeks.

  • While living in Mitchell, spent a lot of time going to movies and hanging out with friends.

• Dances

  • (Jan 19, 1934) "...Went to Ethan to a dance.  Had a date with Bill Mohr.  Swell kid.  Stayed with Mary Lauf  overnight..  She got in trouble the next day (Jan 20): "Called up mom - "was she mad or was she mad."

• Drinking and smoking

  • (Jan 1, 1934) "...Harry & Delmar got me almost drunk at Frank's in the afternoon.  Also had a drink with Pete  Oster. (Jan 2) "The morning after the night before."

• Boy friends

  • Bad luck with boy friends - (April 9, 1934) "Bob Wenzel - 18K Boob".

• Friends (add entries about this)

• Would stay up all night

  • (Jan 30, 1934)  "Went to the Roosevelt Ball, at Ethan.  Went to Mitchell to the Honkey Dory after the dance, and did we celebrate....Home at 5:15. "  (Jan 31) "The morning after the night before.  Did I ever get a bawling out.  Wow!!!! Suspected me of being out with Jay.  Well I lived thru it alright."

Working

• Helped relatives -She was frequently "shopped out" to help out with relatives.  For example, on Sunday, Jan 7, 1934,"Stayed home until noon.  Mike and Jose came and got me then, to work at Schoenfelders ."  During that time, among other tasks, she "helped Lumina wash" and "...Did Josie's ironing."  From the entries in the diary, it seems she stayed at either relatives until January 15: "... Joe & Rose got me at night.  On the next day, January 16, the diary states: "Took care of meat all day.  Bill butchered 1 porky at Joe's.  Worked till 12 o'clock at night. ...Was I tired???"  This went on for 2 more days: "Meat - meat - and more meat.", etc.

• Cleaning houses

  • (May 31, 1935): "Started to work at Shelby's at 8:00 this morning.  (June 1): "Scrubbed to basement, cleaned the kitchen, & a few more things."

  • (June 14, 1935): "Mrs. Shelby brought me to Wedehase's this morning, to start workig.  Washing when I got here. (June 15): "Ironed all afternoon."

• Waitress

  • Le Petit Gourmet

  • Palmer House - Jan-June 1937

Relatives / Community

• While Kathryn was living in South Dakota, first on the farm and then in the neighboring town of Mitchell, she lived near a lot of relatives.  It was a common occurrence to visit relatives and, in turn, to have relatives come to visit.

  • (Feb 1, 1934): Aunt Mary, Theresa & Al were here for dinner." (Feb 6): "Mike & Jose here before we had breakfast. (Feb 11): "Went.. to Bill's for dinner.  Met Mr. & Mrs. George Unger". (Feb 18) "...Went with Joe & rose.  Stayed at John G. Weber's for dinner & supper."

• Kathryn recorded in her diary the births, marriages, deaths, and illnesses of people she knew

  • The first two events were recorded on the same day (Jan 9, 1934): "...Adam Weber died at 3:30 A.M.  Pete went to Emery to a wedding.  Lumina was bridesmaid..."  Later in the month (Jan 24) there was a wedding:  "Henry Kur & Bera. Junke married....". Another death took place on January 29: "John Mick died at 5:30 this morning.

  • (Apr 21, 1934): "Mrs. Will Wermers & Mrs. Fred L. Weber in the hospital.  Harrold Tormey in bed with (sic) pnemonia".

• Life in a small town.  Expected (assumed) you participated in the life of the community.

  • (Apr 28, 1934): "John Hohn buried at Dimock, Mom & I helped cook.  Had about 80 there for dinner.  Served dinner from 11 until after 2.  Was I ever tired."  

Travel

• Chicago

  • Visited Chicago for the first time (Oct 6-15), where she stayed with her sister Martha.  On Oct 8, went to see the World's Fair.   : "Martha & I went to the Fair."  (Oct 15) : "Left Chicago on the train No. 3 at 10 oclock at nite.  Gee, how I hated to leave."

• Trip to California

• Wanted independence and freedom

• Work and travel went hand in hand for Kathryn.

• She didn't travel alone, but went with family or friends.  For example, on her trip to California by automobile, she went with her brother Art, his wife Margaret, and a friend.

Life in the 1930's

• She wasn't aware of the significant social trends taking place around her; i.e.., the Great Depression, and the Dust Bowl.  As you are grow up, you just take events as they come, and assume they are normal.  But entries in her diary show how she was impacted by these trends.

• The Dust Bowl

  • (Feb 3, 1934): "Awful dust storm."

  • (April 10, 1934): "Washed today. Got about half of it hung out when it began to dust again."

  • (April 14, 1934): "Dust storm all day again."

  • (June 19, 1934): "Planned to go to Emsley at nite but had the worst dust storm I ever saw.  couldn't see an inch before your eyes.  No damage done here, some at Un. Fred's, also Mat. 

• Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

  • (Apr 3, 1934): "Dom left for the CCC.

  • (July 2, 1934) "Started for the Hills from Ethan... Made a hit with the C.C.C. Captain." 

• Great Depression

  • (Apr 9, 1934): "Stranger asked for food."

  • (March 6, 1934): "Bought a waterless cooker from an agent for 7 hens."

• The automobile

  • Made for a sense of independence for the young people in the farming community.  They could drive in cars to dances, local hangouts, and bars.  They could drink and smoke, and stay up all night - all out of sight of their hard working parents. 

  • (March 15, 1934) "Going to put a note in Smith’s car when Jay came out.  Went for a ride with him..."

  • (February 1, 1935 "Went for a ride with Ray Holmberg, & Marie W & Ralph Ware.  Pretty good time if you don’t care what you like.  Home at 4 bells."

• Migration to the city

  • For a young woman not intent upon an early marriage, job opportunities were limited in a small town.  This is evident by the kinds of work that Kathryn did while still living in rural  South Dakota. 

  • She did housework for multiple families in Mitchell.

    • (March 26, 1935) "Started to work at Coughlins."  

      • She did: "Cleaned the whole house, went to the grocery store", "washed dishes", "Washed today", "Ironed today" 

• Farms foreclosed and auctions held. 

  • (March 7, 1935)  "Gradys sale today – Poor sale tho" 

    • Note: Husband James Grady had died the previous year. (March 22, 1934).