Betty Lou Anderson Diaries

Betty Lou Anderson Diaries, 1938-1949

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Anderson, Betty Lou, 1924-
Title: Betty Lou Anderson Diaries
Dates: 1938-1949 (inclusive)
19381949
Quantity: 1 box, (6 items)
Collection Number: Cage 722 (collection)
Summary: These are the diaries of a young woman, Betty Lou Anderson, living with her parents on a farm outside Hoquiam, WA. The diaries record matters of housekeeping, shopping, traveling, entertainment, medical appointments, family affairs, labor conditions on the family farm, along with reflections on World War II and its effect on Anderson's community.
Repository: Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions: This collection is open and available for research use.
Languages: English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Betty Lou Anderson was born on January 15, 1924 on a farm near Hoquiam and Aberdeen, Washington. The diaries in this collection were written by Anderson between the ages of 14 (1938) and 24 (1948). She began keeping the diaries while a high school student at Hoquiam, recording her everyday experiences. She lived at home with her parents for almost the entire duration of the diary entries, finally moving to her own apartment in Aberdeen in March of 1948. Her father held various jobs in the logging industry of western Washington, working both day and night shifts at paper pulp, railroad tie mills, and plants at the port of Aberdeen, and also as an independent logger who owned multiple parcels of land, including the family home (five acres) in the country, and also a ranch (forty acres) which was built later in the 1940s. Mr. Anderson also worked in a number of Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps during the 1930s and 1940s. He raised his own stock of trees, mostly fir and pine, harvesting them for wood production. The diaries reflect the Anderson family's rural existence, with a multitude of subsistence chores on the family lands that included the growing, harvesting, and marketing of the following staple crops: beets, peppers, carrots, beans, lettuce, cherries, pickles, cucumbers, peas, radishes, corn, potatoes, apples, tomatoes, and strawberries. Anderson's father also raised a number of farm animals both at the family home and their ranch: pigs, geese, cows, chickens, horses, and sheep. Betty Lou Anderson was also personally responsible for the raising and care of chinchillas in order to sell their fur, and the family owned a number of ponds on the properties, breeding and raising various stocks of fish to sell at the local farmers' market.

Anderson attended Hoquiam High School and graduated in 1942. She attempted to go to Aberdeen Junior College, but instead ended up working several jobs in the Hoquiam-Aberdeen area over the duration of the diary entries, and she provided income for her immediate family. She had enough extra spending money to attend movies, visit the local soda fountain, buy clothes, and to go on the many short and longer trips detailed in the diaries. Her jobs included working at the local variety store and soda fountain, Fairbairns, and several years at Espedal Photo in Hoquiam. Her hobby involving photography and home movies probably evolved from her job at Espedal's. Near the end of the chronological coverage of the diaries, she found a full-time clerical job at the Port of Aberdeen. She recorded her travel experiences, including several trips she took on the railroads during this period with her family to Seattle and Portland, as well as a lengthy vacation she took to Texas and Missouri in 1945 on a version of the famed "Twin Star Rocket" that ran from 1945-1964 and served the longest north-south train route in the U.S. She also recorded the local weather conditions on a daily basis in her diary.

Besides several entries noting the developments of World War II, Anderson also recorded her social interests and cultural observations about her community. She served as secretary for the local chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, a non-academic sorority organization devoted to the social, cultural, and civic enrichment of its members. It served as a valuable cultural organization in small towns such as Hoquiam, where women met on a monthly basis during the Great Depression and World War II.

One of Anderson's most avid interests was popular motion pictures, which she often watched on weekends at the Seventh Street Theatre in Hoquiam. This building is now a historic landmark, and one of the few remaining examples of an "Atmospheric Theatre," a historical type of movie palace that presented a fantasy world and relief from the economically difficult times of the 1930s and 1940s. It was the first theatre in Washington State to show "talkies" (films with sound). The films she saw included Gone With the Wind, We're in the Army Now, China Girl, Tom Sawyer, Blondie, Shadow of a Doubt, I Walked with a Zombie, Squadron Leader X, Dangerous Blondes, City That Stopped Hitler, In Old Chicago, With a Banjo On My Knee, Wild Women, Paris After Dark, Lassie Goes Home, Winged Victory, Sunday Dinner For a Soldier, Our Hearts Were Young, Dangerous Journey, To Have and Have Not, Meet Me in St.Louis, Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, National Velvet, Tarzan and the Amazons, Yellow Rose of Texas, Burma, China Sky, Back to Bataan, Heaven Can Wait, Ernie Pyle's Story, Rhapsody in Blue, State Fair, Take It Or Leave It, Road To Utopia, The Virginian, Jesse James, The Return of Frank James, Notorious, Crossfire, Grapes of Wrath, Tobacco Road, The Al Jolson Story, California, Love of Andy Hardy, and multiple films starring Abbott and Costello.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

These are the diaries of a young woman, Betty Lou Anderson, living with her parents on a farm outside Hoquiam, WA. The diaries record matters of housekeeping, shopping, traveling, entertainment, medical appointments, family affairs, labor conditions on the family farm, along with reflections on World War II and its effect on Anderson's community.

Anderson's diary entries reflect the experiences of a rural family in western Washington State, using subsistence farming and production to make ends meet during the years of the Great Depression in the 1930s, World War II, and the immediate postwar period of the 1940s. They also document how a young woman in her teens and young adulthood thought about her own life and the broader world during the Great Depression and World War II. Anderson's diary entries reflect the local mood and reaction to many events and social conditions, including the Japanese capture of Manila, the Pearl Harbor attack, the Allied nations declaring war on Japan after the attack, Congress declaring war, FDR's speech (students in school with Anderson listened to the speech in class and conducted air raid drills, worried about a possible Japanese attack on the Pacific Northwest coast), rumors of an attack on San Francisco, food rationing, and observations about local blackout procedures. Anderson also noted that her father, a veteran of World War I, was appointed as the region's official "Blackout Warden." Local people were worried for several weeks after the Pearl Harbor attack about the vulnerability of the Grays Harbor area; Anderson noted that the entire First Naval Division was patrolling the Pacific Coast as a precautionary measure during this tense period. Other entries mention planes, ships, etc. being mobilized in the local area. Anderson also has several entries about relatives and other men she knew who were serving during WWII in France, England, Peru, Chile, the Fiji Islands, the Solomon Islands, and Guadalcanal. She concludes with observations on Yalta, air raids on Tokyo, FDR's sudden death, Mussolini's execution, unconfirmed reports of Hitler being dead, the signing of peace treaties with Germany and Japan, various reports of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the local celebrations involving V-E and V-J Days with wild festivities and parties.

These diaries, six volumes in all, cover the years 1938-1949, with a few chronological gaps. There are no entries for the following periods: May to August 1939; all of 1940; most of 1941; December 6-31, 1942; all of 1944.

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

Note about offensive language: Some of Anderson's entries include derogatory language reflecting racial stereotypes which were common during the World War II period in the United States. In particular, she often used the slang term "Japs" when referring to actions by the nation of Japan in developments involving World War II, and this term has been retained in quotations included in these diary entry summaries.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Preferred Citation

[Item description] Betty Lou Anderson Diaries, 1938-1949

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Volume 1, 1938 August 27 to December 31; 1939 January 1 to April 30

Volume 2, 1941 December 1-31; 1942 January 1 to December 1

Volume 3, 1943 January 1 to December 31

Volume 4, 1945 January 1 to December 31

Volume 5, 1946 January 8 to December 31; 1947 January 1-5

Volume 6, 1947 January 6 to December 31; 1948 January 1 to December 31; 1949 January 1-4

In the container list, below, Betty Lou Anderson is referred to by her initials, BLA.

Acquisition Information

The Betty Lou Anderson diaries were purchased by the WSU Libraries in 2007.

Processing Note

This collection was processed by Scott D. Stratton in 2008. The WSU Libraries received funding assistance for processing from the Washington Women's History Consortium.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Volume 1, Journal Entry Summaries, 1938 August 27 to December 31; 1939 January 1 to April 30Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		1938 September
Box	Volume
1	1	BLA's father drained the pools and dams at the house.	1938 September 2-3
1	1	BLA and Julia (sister) helped out with wood production: loaded up bark and moss at Miller's Ranch.	1938 September 5
1	1	The sisters picked 42 boxes of strawberries.	1938 September 6
1	1	BLA finished her school lessons and went to bed.	1938 September 8
1	1	BLA had to read in front of the class and got a lunchbox and milk bottle for school.	1938 September 9
1	1	BLA's family hauled in 5 loads of wood in the morning and 3 loads at night.	1938 September 10
1	1	BLA's family got in 4 loads of wood. Father worked on the house plumbing.	1938 September 11
1	1	BLA upset about not getting in the school's Glee Club.	1938 September 13
1	1	BLA's father went off on hunting trip. Her mother made candy.	1938 September 15
1	1	BLA and her sister Peggy hauled in 3 loads of wood. Family bought 5 pigs and cows.	1938 September 17
1	1	BLA's father brought back 2 bobcats from a hunting trip.	1938 September 18
1	1	BLA's father and mother had a loud argument. BLA dreamed about lions.	1938 September 19
1	1	BLA picked strawberries for 7 hours.	1938 September 21
1	1	The women in BLA's family went to town while father canned meat.	1938 September 24
		1938 October
Box	Volume
1	1	BLA got in a load of wood and had to write an English essay on fire prevention. Her father set animal traps.	1938 October 5
1	1	BLA's school had a candy sale.	1938 October 12
1	1	BLA got in 4 loads of wood and went after "shakes" (wood shakes for shingles, etc.).	1938 October 16
1	1	BLA and her sister went into Hoquiam to the Seventh Street Theatre and saw the films That Coster's Age and I From the City.	1938 October 22
1	1	BLA "gave my first experience in the woods today." This was with her father for the first time in the thick forests in the local area.	1938 October 27
1	1	BLA had a science test.	1938 October 28
1	1	BLA and her sister dressed up in Halloween costumes.	1938 October 31
		1938 November
Box	Volume
1	1	BLA's family went to Ray Wing's farm to haul hay.	1938 November 6
1	1	BLA notes the local, state, and national elections were held today (Tuesday).	1938 November 8
1	1	BLA's family heard a cougar making noise most of the night. Her father went out to hunt it and could not find the cat. BLA got Bs on both her English and History tests.	1938 November 10
1	1	The women in BLA's family went into Hoquiam and bought clothes: pants, galoshes, socks, shirts, and candy.	1938 November 12
1	1	BLA's family went into Hoquiam to see the film The Jones Family.	1938 November 13
1	1	BLA was part of a big two-school assembly in Hoquiam.	1938 November 23
1	1	BLA noted the Thanksgiving turkey dinner with extended family that included aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents at the Anderson home in Hoquiam.	1938 November 24
1	1	BLA went into town and bought some gloves. She also received 25 cents from parents to spend.	1938 November 29
1	1	BLA went to the local Thanksgiving Day game and saw Hoquiam beat Aberdeen 12-0. This would prove to be a huge cultural event for the only two sizeable towns in the immediate local area each year at this time. BLA indicated that there was a lot of local pr	1938 November 30
		1938 December
Box	Volume
1	1	BLA was given a little puppy dog and named it "Major."	1938 December 1
1	1	BLA's family went into Fairbairns Store. They would routinely go to this store in Hoquiam to socialize with the other local people over ice cream, coffee, food, etc.	1938 December 2
1	1	BLA and friends went to the beach near Grays Harbor to see the big ocean waves from a Pacific winter storm that was raging through the region.	1938 December 4
1	1	BLA's grandmother came early to stay with the Anderson's for the holiday season.	1938 December 12
1	1	BLA was part of a big school assembly and got out early for Christmas break.	1938 December 23
1	1	The extended Anderson family opened presents on Christmas Eve. BLA details what each family member received.	1938 December 24
1	1	BLA's family went into Hoquiam to see two films: Blondie and Artists in Paris.	1938 December 25
1	1	BLA's family went into Hoquiam to celebrate New Year's Eve with friends at Fairbairns.	1938 December 31
		1939 January
Box	Volume
1	1	BLA noted that she and her sister were extremely sick. A number of the diary entries throughout the years indicate that the Anderson family members were often sick. This was probably due to the difficulty of obtaining medical treatment in this small-town	1939 January 1
1	1	BLA's father removed stumps. Her family attended a social event in town.	1939 January 2
1	1	BLA went back to school and bought a second-hand radio in Hoquiam.	1939 January 3
1	1	BLA cleaned house, hauled hay, and made gingerbread with her mother.	1939 January 8
1	1	BLA sold bottle caps in Hoquiam for 35 cents. Her family bought a Davenport.	1939 January 9
1	1	BLA took a history exam in school. She received an A on the test.	1939 January 10
1	1	BLA attended a "big school assembly" and the local high school basketball game between Hoquiam and Aberdeen. BLA's high school, the Hoquiam Grizzlies, won the game and the 1939 State Basketball title.	1939 January 13
1	1	BLA's school term ended.	1939 January 20
1	1	BLA made the school honor roll.	1939 January 23
1	1	BLA's father had a neighbor, Jon Miller, arrested today (reason not given).	1939 January 28
		1939 February
Box	Volume
1	1	BLA went skiing (there are several entries in winter months detailing this each year).	1939 February 2
1	1	BLA went with her family up to Harry Slyes to haul wood and pick up beer bottles to return for deposit.	1939 February 18
1	1	BLA hauled hay and her father removed stumps.	1939 February 19
1	1	BLA's family went into Hoquiam for a holiday outing and BLA noted that they returned with their first set of electric lights for the house.	1939 February 22
1	1	BLA attended big school assembly with an instructional film.	1939 February 24
1	1	BLA went to Fairbairns store and later took dancing lessons.	1939 February 27
		1939 March
Box	Volume
1	1	BLA's father butchered livestock. BLA went into Hoquiam to see the film Jesse James.	1939 March 4
1	1	BLA is home sick from school. As was noted previously, BLA's family was sick a great deal of the time with one ailment or another. These entries appear on the average about four or five times per month throughout all of the diary years.	1939 March 20
1	1	BLA found a sick robin to care for.	1939 March 28
1	1	BLA's robin died. She also took an English exam.	1939 March 29
1	1	BLA learned to drive in the family car.	1939 March 30
		1939 April
Box	Volume
1	1	BLA's family spent Easter Sunday with other local families exchanging decorated Easter baskets.	1939 April 9
1	1	BLA helped her father plant seed.	1939 April 15
1	1	BLA helped her father plow.	1939 April 16
1	1	BLA noted that entire family is in bed by 9 p.m. every night and up at dusk every morning.	1939 April 22
1	1	BLA's family likes to play Chinese Checkers.	1939 April 24
1	1	BLA's family spent a number of days planting strawberry plants.	1939 April 27

Volume 2, Journal Entry Summaries, 1941 December 1-31; 1942-01-1 to December 1.Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		1941 December
Box	Volume
1	2	BLA noted the events surrounding the Pearl Harbor attack: "Today there is much news." Japan attacked Honolulu. Other events included FDR meeting with cabinet members, all of the countries that were attacked besides U.S., which countries declared war on Ja	1941 December 7
1	2	BLA continued noting World War II developments: Congress declared war on Japan, local blackouts by 11 p.m. each night, cars had to drive without headlights, FDR's speech to the people (BLA noted how the entire school listened to the speech in their classr	1941 December 8
1	2	BLA continued coverage of the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack: There was another blackout with lights being turned off by 9 p.m., Pacific radio stations turned off for precautionary measures, and another FDR speech on the radio.	1941 December 9
1	2	BLA noted that the blackout tonight would begin at 1:30 a.m. and that two British battleships had been sunk: "Repulse" and "Prince of Wales."	1941 December 10
1	2	BLA recorded that local people were worried about how to properly blackout their homes. There was an air raid drill at her school.	1941 December 11
1	2	BLA's father was appointed as the local "blackout warden" from Humptulips to the Riverside sector covering sections of the Washington coast and Olympic Peninsula. BLA also noted that local officials were worried about a Japanese landing at Grays Harbor. B	1941 December 12
1	2	BLA recorded her hobby of photography. There are a number of diary entries after this point concerning photography. She worked at Espedal Photo in Hoquiam developing photographs for a brief time in the 1940s.	1941 December 13
1	2	BLA noted that an army officer came to see her father about how many heavy troop loads the local railroad network could handle.	1941 December 14
1	2	BLA recorded: "The Arizona was the battleship daddy took me on when I was little."	1941 December 15
1	2	BLA went into Hoquiam and learned that she needed to be hospitalized for an extended period for a major operation (illness not specified).	1941 December 16
1	2	BLA wrote that her operation would cost the family $165.	1941 December 19
1	2	BLA noted that "Churchill arrived in Washington today."	1941 December 22
1	2	BLA talked of a big family Christmas tempered by thoughts of World War II.	1941 December 25
1	2	BLA wrote about the Japanese: "Manila was declared an open city and those nasty Japs have been bombing it ever since."	1941 December 27
1	2	BLA noted that six army planes flew in formation over the Anderson home.	1941 December 28
1	2	BLA cut up her minks and the family was able to sell $2000 worth of fur on the open market.	1941 December 29
		1942 January
Box	Volume
1	2	BLA begins noted some developments involving World War II. Her language reflected the mood of the times: "The Japs have captured Manilathey captured it."	1942 January 2
1	2	BLA's father starting work at a new wood pulp mill in Aberdeen: "We went to see the mill and I got some pictures of it." Father built a garage for the family house.	1942 January 4
1	2	BLA received a formal dress from Aunt Esther for her first formal dance at Hoquiam High School.	1942 January 5
1	2	BLA had major surgery at hospital in Hoquiam. Several later entries talk of her receiving hypodermic injections, no food, and a lot of fluids over the next several weeks.	1942 January 6
1	2	BLA had many entries about working and hanging out at Fairbairns Store over the next few years.	1942 January 11
1	2	BLA listened to a Tale of Two Cities on the Lux Playhouse radio program while recuperating in the hospital.	1942 January 12
1	2	BLA moved into the general hospital ward from her private room.	1942 January 13
1	2	BLA noted that she has now spent 11 days in the hospital and has finally been released to go home.	1942 January 18
1	2	BLA's father had a trying time catching a big mountain beaver.	1942 January 23
1	2	BLA went over to her mink pens to care for them. She had chinchillas and other minks that she raised for their fur.	1942 January 28
1	2	BLA noted FDR's birthday.	1942 January 30
		1942 February
Box	Volume
1	2	BLA wrote of how she routinely went out and helped her father set animal traps around the family's property.	1942 February 1
1	2	BLA noted how she studied at Fairbairns today and how this was an ongoing occurrence as she worked, studied, and spent time with friends at the town drug store and soda fountain.	1942 February 8
1	2	BLA excited about being selected to participate in the Girl's League the rest of the year.	1942 February 11
1	2	BLA noted that a letter she had received from Aunt Marion had been opened and censored in Honolulu.	1942 February 18
1	2	BLA noted that both she and her sister suffered from bad asthma that plagued them periodically.	1942 February 21
1	2	BLA recorded how the entire family sat around and listened to Bob Hope on the radio.	1942 February 24
1	2	BLA wrote that a family friend, Tom, had been sent to Missouri for basic training.	1942 February 27
		1942 March
Box	Volume
1	2	BLA recorded that "The Japs are about to take Java. They took Shanghai quite awhile ago."	1942 March 5
1	2	BLA planted sweet peas, potatoes, and trees.	1942 March 7
1	2	BLA's family planted more peas, carrots, potatoes, and strawberries.	1942 March 10
1	2	BLA noted that the Hoquiam basketball team beat Yakima in the state tournament 41-19.	1942 March 11
1	2	BLA wrote that Hoquiam beat Linden at state 46-31.	1942 March 12
1	2	BLA noted that Hoquiam had a close game against Everett but won 32-28. Friend Judy rode the rooter bus up to Seattle to see the big game.	1942 March 13
1	2	BLA recorded that Hoquiam had another tough game but won again against Bremerton 39-36 to win the state championship.	1942 March 14
1	2	BLA noted that her father got a job guarding bridges for the war effort.	1942 March 16
1	2	BLA's father bought an expensive new suit. She also wrote that: "General McArthur is head of the forces in Australia."	1942 March 18
1	2	BLA noted that she took part in the school's annual speech contest: "The Destiny of America." One of the kids fainted while giving his speech.	1942 March 20
1	2	BLA wrote that all of the men (including her father) who were guarding the bridges were laid off.	1942 March 31
		1942 April
Box	Volume
1	2	BLA's family spent the day planting many different types of foods.	1942 April 1
1	2	BLA noted that on Easter Sunday she went into town for dinner and then saw two films: Song of the Islands and Young Americans.	1942 April 5
1	2	BLA noted that: "Mussolini has gone 'bugs,' I always thought he was."	1942 April 13
1	2	BLA recorded that some Boeing bombers flew 4000 miles from Australia to the Philippines.	1942 April 15
1	2	BLA noted that she got her hair done for $2 in Hoquiam and then saw two films: Martin Eden and Sullivan's Travels.	1942 April 18
1	2	BLA pulled bark for part of the day and then went into Hoquiam and developed photographs at Espedal's.	1942 April 29
		1942 May
Box	Volume
1	2	BLA noted some World War II developments: England took over Madagascar and the Japanese have almost captured Burma.	1942 May 4
1	2	BLA gets to be on the Decoration Committee for the Mother's Day Tea.	1942 May 6
1	2	BLA noted that her father went into Hoquiam and registered for sugar rationing cards. She also wrote of the "Jap battle going on in the Coral Sea. The Americans sunk 11 ships and damaged 6."	1942 May 7
1	2	BLA recorded that she went into town and saw two films: To the Shores of Tripoli and The Perfect Snob. She also wrote that "The Japs are on the run. The Americans sunk and damaged 22 Jap ships."	1942 May 9
1	2	BLA noted that she was selected to usher at Baccalaureate and Class Day at school.	1942 May 21
1	2	BLA's family planted 24 heads of lettuce.	1942 May 26
1	2	BLA rode into commencement with Mr. Anderson (no relation) and ushered the event, wearing her new white dress for the first time.	1942 May 28
1	2	BLA wrote that her friend Andy brought his row boat out and the kids spent the day rowing around one of the large ponds on the family property.	1942 May 31
		1942 June
Box	Volume
1	2	BLA noted more World War II developments: The Japanese attacked Dutch Harbor and all of the local radio stations temporarily went off the air creating a scare that was unfounded.	1942 June 3
1	2	BLA recorded events surrounding her father's birthday.	1942 June 4
1	2	BLA noted more World War II developments: Cecil Brown gave a talk on the radio about the sinking of his ship Repulse.	1942 June 7
1	2	BLA recorded that the entire family went up to a CCC camp in Monte, WA.	1942 June 13
1	2	BLA's family took on a new boarder at their house, Charlie Davies.	1942 June 15
1	2	BLA worked five hours at Espedal's for 75 cents.	1942 June 16
1	2	BLA set out 20 cabbage plants, weeded celery and lettuce, tied up some peas, and hauled hay.	1942 June 19
1	2	BLA received a card from U.S. Camera and also began setting up her photography equipment at home to develop photographs.	1942 June 26
1	2	BLA's father cleared off the Victrola so BLA could set up photography studio. Photography was a major interest of hers from this point forward.	1942 June 27
		1942 July
Box	Volume
1	2	BLA and friend Judy learned to ride a bicycle for the first time.	1942 July 1
1	2	BLA went into town to two films: A Wife Takes a Flyer and Henry and Dizzy.	1942 July 3
1	2	BLA has a big family Fourth of July. A big meal with extended family that included roasted chicken, peas, potatoes, dressing, bread and watermelon. BLA also went down to the Seventh Street Theatre and sold $1.60 worth of U.S. War Bonds and later with her	1942 July 4
1	2	BLA went into town and bought a pair of "Tom Boy" shoes.	1942 July 7
1	2	BLA's family went up to Mount Rainier to the Sunrise side of the mountain. They visited and had lunch at the hotel situated at 6400 feet. BLA used her new camera to take a number of photographs. They also took a three mile hike around a frozen lake.	1942 July 12
1	2	BLA had a big day in Hoquiam: she got a new dress and necklace and had dinner at Ben Paris's that included broiled halibut, potatoes, vegetables, and soft ice cream.	1942 July 16
1	2	BLA went to Kent to go skating. She met a guy (unnamed), skated and went to the 7 Gables afterward for a soda.	1942 July 22
1	2	BLA and friends went into the Seventh Street Theatre and saw two films: Take a Letter Darling and Meet the Stewarts.	1942 July 26
		1942 August
Box	Volume
1	2	BLA noted some World War II developments: the battle in the Solomon Islands is going in favor of the Allies. Russia has been retreating.	1942 August 10
1	2	BLA worked at the photo lab both during the day and some night shifts: Tonight she noted that she did not get home until 2 a.m.	1942 August 15
1	2	BLA's father spent time today working on the "Army Road" nearby. A number of roads were built to be able to move troops quickly up and down the coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest.	1942 August 24
1	2	BLA noted some World War II developments: The Russians pushed the Germans back from Stalingrad. The battle in the Solomon Islands is now going even more in the favor of the U.S.	1942 August 27
		1942 September
Box	Volume
1	2	BLA's family went down to Harry Slye's to purchase an electric fence.	1942 September 4
1	2	School began today for BLA. She noted that she finally got all of the teachers she wanted.	1942 September 8
1	2	BLA recorded that they were experiencing an "Indian Summer."	1942 September 18
1	2	BLA and friend attended an S.D.C. initiation (S.D.C. not described).	1942 September 21
1	2	BLA received a letter from Tom who was stationed in Northern Ireland.	1942 September 22
1	2	BLA noted that there was a big brawl at the tie mill between workers. Her friend Harry got into a fight with a man named Porter resulting in broken bones and other injuries.	1942 September 23
		1942 October
Box	Volume
1	2	BLA noted that there was a big school assembly on wartime safety involving representatives from the local police, Army, and other safety-oriented organizations.	1942 October 6
1	2	BLA recorded that she was able to type 58 words a minute with only one mistake.	1942 October 8
1	2	BLA went into town to see some films: Wake Island and Priorities on Parade.	1942 October 16
1	2	BLA had her senior picture taken for the school yearbook.	1942 October 22
1	2	BLA and family went to visit two beaches: Copalis Beach and Pacific Beach on the Washington coast. BLA noted that Pacific Beach was locked down due to World War II, but that Copalis Beach was open.	1942 October 25
		1942 November
Box	Volume
1	2	BLA noted some World War II developments: "The Germans are running in Africa so fast that the Italians can't keep up."	1942 November 6
1	2	BLA commented on some more World War II developments: British and American forces landed on the coast of Africa: "Some of the men are supposed to be from Ireland. I wonder if Tom is with them. This may be the opening of the second front."	1942 November 7
1	2	BLA noted even more World War II developments: the second front began with the surrender of Algiers. She recorded that the Vichy Government broke off diplomatic relations with the U.S. and that most of the people in Africa seemed to be in support of the A	1942 November 8
1	2	BLA had a big school assembly on the evils of tuberculosis as well as a first aid lesson.	1942 November 9
1	2	BLA noted more World War II developments: she posed the question as to whether the Allied invasion of Italy would originate from the new second front in Africa and also from English bases.	1942 November 10
1	2	BLA reported on Armistice Day: The Germans landed at Tunisia making the situation look as if another battle was looming.	1942 November 11
1	2	BLA noted that there was a "corny school assembly" and that a friend, Verna Larson, had to have her leg amputated.	1942 November 20
1	2	BLA went to the Seventh Street Theatre to see two films: Thunderbirds and Lucky Legs.	1942 November 21
1	2	BLA wrote that everyone in town is excited about the annual high school football game between Hoquiam and Aberdeen held on Thanksgiving.	1942 November 23
1	2	BLA noted that Hoquiam held its annual "Shutter Broadcast" with Aberdeen as part of the build-up to the big football game.	1942 November 25
1	2	BLA wrote of more World War II developments: the French had to scuttle their fleet in the harbor at Tulon in the face of a superior German fleet.	1942 November 27
1	2	BLA went into town and saw the movie: Springtime in the Rockies.	1942 November 28
1	2	BLA received a letter from Tom in North Africa and Uncle Clyde in Australia (both in World War II).	1942 November 30
		1942 December
Box	Volume
1	2	BLA recorded what she received for her seventeenth birthday.	1942 December 1
1	2	BLA has been sick for several days with asthma.	1942 December 5

Volume 3, Journal Entry Summaries, 1943.Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		1943 January
Box	Volume
1	3	BLA noted that she went to her first big school dance and listed the names of the boys who attended.	1943 January 2
1	3	BLA learned first aid at Hoquiam High School.	1943 January 4
1	3	BLA received a puppy named "Major" from her grandmother.	1943 January 12
1	3	BLA went with Peter to her first big high school formal dance at Hoquiam HS.	1943 January 23
1	3	BLA noted some World War II developments: reports of the U.S. will demand unconditional surrender from the Axis powers.	1943 January 26
1	3	BLA had her senior pictures taken.	1943 January 29
1	3	BLA noted some World War II developments: FDR went to Africa to review the war effort.	1943 January 30
1	3	BLA recorded some more World War II developments and made an insightful comment: The British bombed Berlin: "Hitler is supposed to be at the battlefront, but he was probably hiding in an air raid shelter."	1943 January 31
		1943 February
Box	Volume
1	3	BLA disgusted that Aberdeen beat Hoquiam 39-26 in high school basketball.	1943 February 2
1	3	BLA received another letter and souvenir from Tom in France.	1943 February 10
1	3	BLA recorded that the local area was experiencing fuel oil rationing.	1943 February 15
1	3	BLA went and saw the school play Is That So?	1943 February 18
1	3	BLA noted some World War II developments: Allied troops in Africa were facing severe setbacks by the Germans.	1943 February 22
1	3	BLA noted that she took the Civil Service Exam and that food rationing was implemented in the local area.	1943 February 23
		1943 March
Box	Volume
1	3	BLA noted that the U.S. Navy had destroyed about 90,000 tons of Japanese ships.	1943 March 3
		1943 April
Box	Volume
1	3	BLA noted that her Uncle Clyde related to them a number of stories about his adventures in World War II as a member of the U.S. Navy.	1943 April 8
1	3	BLA went to a mother's day tea with her mother.	1943 April 27
		1943 May
Box	Volume
1	3	BLA's Senior Party for high school went into Hoquiam to see movies (films not specified).	1943 May 3
1	3	BLA noted some World War II developments: "Over in Tunisia the Germans are mopping up."	1943 May 9
1	3	BLA received her graduation robe.	1943 May 18
1	3	BLA's Baccalaureate was held with a church service in the Hoquiam High School gym. BLA noted nervously: "Boy, were my knees knocking together."	1943 May 23
1	3	BLA's graduation was held and she also learned of receiving an academic scholarship to Aberdeen Junior College.	1943 May 28
1	3	BLA noted that she had peeled 50 pounds of bark, and also that the U.S. had by that point produced over 100,000 airplanes for the war effort.	1943 May 31
		1943 June
Box	Volume
1	3	BLA noted that FDR had ordered striking miners back to work.	1943 June 3
1	3	BLA used her savings to buy a U.S. War Bond.	1943 June 4
1	3	BLA received a letter from Tom who talked of being in battle (battle not specified).	1943 June 11
1	3	BLA noted that there was talk of a local strike involving men wanting to join the union.	1943 June 25
1	3	BLA noted that an anti-strike bill had passed over FDR's veto.	1943 June 26
1	3	BLA noted that the family hauled in a lot of hay.	1943 June 29
		1943 July
Box	Volume
1	3	BLA noted that the local area was rationing soap for the war effort.	1943 July 1
1	3	BLA went to Seattle for the Fourth of July and noted how soldiers had hitched a ride on the running board of the car she was riding in.	1943 July 3
1	3	BLA wrote of a busy day of holiday festivities and parades in Seattle and that they ate at the Seven Gables restaurant.	1943 July 4
1	3	BLA went to Kent and Des Moines and then later drove home.	1943 July 5
1	3	BLA noted that Allied forces were attacking Sicily.	1943 July 10
1	3	BLA and family ate dinner at the Siberian restaurant.	1943 July 26
1	3	BLA noted that "Mussolini had resigned in Italy."	1943 July 28
		1943 August
Box	Volume
1	3	BLA noted with anxiety that her parents were trying to get their bills paid up.	1943 August 11
		1943 September
Box	Volume
1	3	BLA went with her family to Seattle and along the way picked up a soldier in Puyallup and gave him a ride.	1943 September 3
1	3	BLA went to downtown Seattle and noted that there were a lot of English sailors "acting drunk, singing, dancing."	1943 September 4
1	3	BLA's family saw Boeing's new airfield in Seattle. She noted that over 1000 acres of the factory had been camouflaged.	1943 September 5
1	3	BLA ate dinner at Wellington's Bakery in Aberdeen.	1943 September 7
1	3	BLA noted that Italy had surrendered.	1943 September 8
1	3	BLA went to the movies and saw City That Stopped Hitler.	1943 September 12
1	3	BLA bought a U.S. War Bond.	1943 September 16
		1943 October
Box	Volume
1	3	BLA went to the movies with a friend and saw With A Banjo on My Knee.	1943 October 1
1	3	BLA went to Seattle and ate lunch with a friend in the U-District (University of Washington).	1943 October 10
		1943 November
Box	Volume
1	3	BLA went to the movies and saw Wild Women and The West Side Kid.	1943 November 20
1	3	BLA went to the annual Thanksgiving Day football game: Hoquiam 6-Aberdeen 0.	1943 November 25
1	3	BLA spent long hours at Espedal's developing photographs.	1943 November 26
1	3	BLA went with a friend and had lunch at the Evergreen restaurant.	1943 November 27
		1943 December
Box	Volume
1	3	BLA went to the movies and saw Women at Work.	1943 December 3
1	3	BLA went to the movies and saw Lassie Come Home.	1943 December 10
1	3	BLA's family went to Seattle to spend the Christmas holiday.	1943 December 24
1	3	BLA's father installed the family's first indoor bathroom.	1943 December 27
1	3	BLA went to the movies and saw Paris After Dark.	1943 December 30

Volume 4, Journal Entry Summaries, 1945.Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		1945 January
Box	Volume
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo.	1945 January 6
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw Winged Victory.	1945 January 13
1	4	BLA attended the big basketball game and saw Hoquiam defeat Aberdeen 42-28.	1945 January 19
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw Sunday Dinner for a Soldier.	1945 January 26
		1945 February
Box	Volume
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw The Fighting Lady.	1945 February 3
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw Our Hearts Were Young.	1945 February 4
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw Meet Me in St.Louis.	1945 February 11
1	4	BLA noted some World War II developments: FDR, Churchill, and Stalin met at Yalta.	1945 February 13
1	4	BLA noted more World War II developments: U.S. airplanes bombed Tokyo.	1945 February 15
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw Dangerous Journey.	1945 February 17
		1945 March
Box	Volume
1	4	BLA noted that her family listened to FDR's speech on the radio.	1945 March 2
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw Abbott and Costello.	1945 March 10
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw The Princess and the Pirate.	1945 March 16
1	4	BLA noted that the Hoquiam basketball team won fourth place in the state tournament.	1945 March 17
		1945 April
Box	Volume
1	4	Easter Sunday: BLA went to the movies and saw Thunderhead.	1945 April 1
1	4	A number of entries during this period record that BLA was spending long hours working at Espedal's in Hoquiam developing photographs.	1945 April 2
1	4	BLA's family had lunch on the ship "Watson."	1945 April 7
1	4	BLA's family went to Fairbairns for dinner and to play cards.	1945 April 8
1	4	BLA noted with sorrow reports of FDR's death and Truman as the new President and the impact it had in the local area. BLA also began a trip to Texas to see relatives, taking a train from Portland.	1945 April 12
1	4	BLA's trip continued with her arrival at Boise, Sun Valley and Pocatello.	1945 April 14
1	4	BLA's trip continued through Cheyenne, WY. BLA noted that as the train moved through the Rockies they encountered a huge blizzard, from Greeley to Denver and southern Colorado.	1945 April 15
1	4	BLA noted that on this day of her trip, she rode in the coach section of the train, had breakfast in Amarillo, and moved through Amarillo, Ft. Worth, and Houston.	1945 April 16
1	4	BLA met relatives in Houston and then drove 70 miles to Freeport, Texas.	1945 April 17
1	4	BLA went to a C.A.P.C. meeting (organization's full name not given).	1945 April 19
1	4	BLA noted spending the day with bike riding and fishing in the Gulf of Mexico.	1945 April 24
1	4	BLA attended another C.A.P.C. meeting.	1945 April 26
1	4	BLA noted that Mussolini had been shot and hanged in public on an Italian beach by angry citizens.	1945 April 28
		1945 May
Box	Volume
1	4	BLA noted with excitement that there were unconfirmed reports of Hitler being dead.	1945 May 2
1	4	BLA went back to Houston to catch the train to go back home. She purchased tickets to Missouri.	1945 May 4
1	4	BLA noted that the German Army had surrendered.	1945 May 5
1	4	BLA recorded that an unconditional peace treaty had been signed with Germany.	1945 May 6
1	4	BLA took a boat ride to Bird Island and recorded seeing a 16-foot shark.	1945 May 7
1	4	BLA noted that Truman's speech involved talk of how Germany was totally defeated.	1945 May 8
1	4	BLA left Houston on the famed Twin Star Rocket. This train was historic in that it was the only train permitted to enter service in World War II by the U.S. government. It had the longest north-south train route in the U.S. at the time. BLA arrived in Dal	1945 May 10
1	4	BLA made it to Kansas City on the train.	1945 May 11
1	4	BLA noted that she had been gone one month on her trip. She stopped in Missouri and saw where Jesse James had robbed a bank in the 19th century.	1945 May 13
1	4	BLA left on the dinner train from Kansas City.	1945 May 22
1	4	BLA arrived in Hayes, KS and arrived in Cheyenne, WY.	1945 May 23
1	4	BLA continued her trip home through Pocatello, Boise, and American Falls, ID.	1945 May 24
1	4	BLA neared the end of her long journey as she arrived in Portland and made it home to Hoquiam. She noted that the trip had covered over 7000 miles.	1945 May 25
1	4	BLA's family ate dinner at the Seven Gables restaurant.	1945 May 26
1	4	Another dinner at the same restaurant.	1945 May 28
1	4	Another dinner at the same restaurant.	1945 May 30
		1945 June
Box	Volume
1	4	BLA had dinner at the Beehive restaurant.	1945 June 2
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw National Velvet and A Sporting Chance.	1945 June 4
1	4	BLA noted that she was seeing a chiropractor in Hoquiam.	1945 June 5
1	4	BLA's parents looking for land in the surrounding countryside to have more room to farm.	1945 June 9
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw It's A Pleasure.	1945 June 10
1	4	More work for BLA at Espedal's Photo in Hoquiam.	1945 June 11
1	4	BLA noted that when she went to the movies that she saw Salome, the first film she had seen in the new Technicolor format.	1945 June 16
1	4	BLA and friends went out to Copalis Beach.	1945 June 17
1	4	BLA noted that she went into Aberdeen and bought her first pair of "bell-bottom trousers."	1945 June 21
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw Escape in the Desert and Tarzan and the Amazons.	1945 June 22
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw The Body Snatchers and Gruesome.	1945 June 26
1	4	BLA noted that she felt ill: "I sure felt punk again this afternoon."	1945 June 29
		1945 July
Box	Volume
1	4	BLA's family went to the movies and saw The Yellow Rose of Texas.	1945 July 4
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw Forever Yours and Where Do We Go From Here?	1945 July 6
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw Without Love.	1945 July 7
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw Carnival.	1945 July 10
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw Burma and Buffalo Bill.	1945 July 12
1	4	BLA started a new job (not specified).	1945 July 16
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw China Sky.	1945 July 19
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw The Clock.	1945 July 21
		1945 August
Box	Volume
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw Back to Bataan.	1945 August 5
1	4	BLA noted of hearing reports on the radio of a new weapon, the "Atomic Bomb."	1945 August 6
1	4	BLA noted that Russia declared war on Japan.	1945 August 7
1	4	BLA noted that another atomic bomb had been dropped on Japan. She also saw a movie in Hoquiam: Heaven Can Wait.	1945 August 9
1	4	BLA noted some more World War II developments: Unconfirmed rumors of Japan negotiating for peace. BLA stated that "The news looks good and I hope the boys out on the islands are celebrating."	1945 August 10
1	4	BLA noted with excitement: "The Japs have cancelled all military orders at it looks like it will soon be over."	1945 August 11
1	4	BLA's family bought a new flatbed pickup truck to haul large amounts of canned goods to market.	1945 August 12
1	4	BLA noted that "The Japs are still stalling."	1945 August 13
1	4	BLA noted all of the excitement brought about by the official end of World War II: "Victory." "Today was the day we were waiting for. The celebration began at 4 p.m." She recorded how there was a lot of noise and commotion: "Whistles, bells, hornseveryon	1945 August 14
1	4	BLA noted the postwar celebration again: "There was no workwe went on a picnicI do not think that General McArthur will be very good."	1945 August 15
1	4	BLA noted that there was still some fighting between Russia and Japan.	1945 August 16
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw The Thrill of Romance.	1945 August 24
		1945 September
Box	Volume
1	4	BLA noted that her family listened to the radio live at 6:30 p.m. about the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri.	1945 September 1
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw Valley of Decision.	1945 September 15
1	4	BLA's father bought 60 acres of land for $400, farther out in the country than their home, in order to grow more crops for market.	1945 September 20
		1945 October
Box	Volume
1	4	BLA noted with sorrow that Fairbairns had sold their store in Hoquiam.	1945 October 5
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw Ernie Pyle's Story.	1945 October 13
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw Rhapsody in Blue.	1945 October 26
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw State Fair.	1945 October 27
1	4	BLA was installed as the new Secretary of Beta Sigma Phi.	1945 October 30
		1945 November
Box	Volume
1	4	BLA attended the annual Thanksgiving Day football game and saw Hoquiam defeat Aberdeen 25-0.	1945 November 22
		1945 December
Box	Volume
1	4	BLA celebrated her 21st birthday with family and friends.	1945 December 1
1	4	BLA wrote of a nice Christmas dinner that was shared by her extended family.	1945 December 25
1	4	BLA noted that she was taking dancing lessons in Hoquiam.	1945 December 28
1	4	BLA went to the movies and saw Kiss and Tell.	1945 December 29
1	4	BLA noted that there were more people in Hoquiam than usual for the New Year's Eve festivities.	1945 December 31

Volume 5, Journal Entry Summaries, 1946 January 8 to December 31; 1947 January 1-5.Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		1946 January
Box	Volume
1	5	BLA noted that for New Year's Day she heard a number of whistles blowing at the factories.	1946 January 1
1	5	BLA received a new job and attended the Commissioner's meeting at the Port of Aberdeen.	1946 January 8
1	5	BLA recorded that she attended the American Legion formal dance with David.	1946 January 12
1	5	BLA went to the movies and saw Souls at Sea and Take It or Leave It.	1946 January 17
		1946 February
Box	Volume
1	5	BLA received a raise to $165 per month.	1946 February 1
1	5	BLA's mother received a job with Dr. Curtis.	1946 February 11
1	5	BLA went to the movies and saw This Love of Ours.	1946 February 16
1	5	BLA's father had an operation (illness unspecified).	1946 February 27
		1946 March
Box	Volume
1	5	BLA noted that she witnessed a big fight between pulp mill workers on the way home from work in Aberdeen.	1946 March 4
1	5	BLA noted that the Hoquiam High School basketball team advanced into the state tournament.	1946 March 5
1	5	BLA noted that she was working on a committee report for "Westhaven Base" (now Westhaven State Park, located in Westport, Washington).	1946 March 6
1	5	BLA noted all of the details of her job.	1946 March 12
		1946 April
Box	Volume
1	5	BLA went to the movies and saw Whistle Stop.	1946 April 14
1	5	BLA spent Easter Sunday at the movies: Life With Blondie and Road to Utopia.	1946 April 21
1	5	BLA's father was in a serious accident (not specified) and returned to work. BLA noted that his fellow workers raised $55 for him and also paid his union dues.	1946 April 26
1	5	BLA noted that the family was busy fixing up the new ranch and surrounding land on the 40 acres that they previously bought.	1946 April 28
		1946 May
Box	Volume
1	5	BLA went to the movies and saw Johnny Comes Flying Home and Dragonwyck.	1946 May 3
1	5	BLA noted that her father was still putting in long hours at his job at the Port of Aberdeen.	1946 May 16
1	5	BLA noted that her sister Peg graduated from high school.	1946 May 28
		1946 June
Box	Volume
1	5	BLA's family spent her father's birthday at the movies and saw The Virginian.	1946 June 1
1	5	BLA's father laid the foundation for a new cabin at the new 40-acre site out in the country.	1946 June 2
1	5	BLA refers to the new property as the "Ranch."	1946 June 3
1	5	BLA noted that her father was putting up a number of new shacks out at the ranch.	1946 June 17
1	5	BLA noted that the U.S. government "Set off the 4th atomic bomb in Bikini Bay today."	1946 June 30
		1946 July
Box	Volume
1	5	BLA received another bump up in her pay as it was raised to $175.00 per month.	1946 July 1
1	5	BLA's family spent the Fourth of July at the movies where they saw Jesse James and The Return of Frank James.	1946 July 4
1	5	BLA reported that her father quit his job at the P.U.D. (Public Utility District).	1946 July 12
1	5	BLA took a trip to Canada for a week and traveled to Kamloops, Victoria, Vancouver, Blaine, Birch Bay, and back to Seattle for the ride home.	1946 July 20-26
1	5	BLA's family went up to Mount Rainier and spent the day at Paradise Inn and Longmire Park.	1946 July 27
		1946 August
Box	Volume
1	5	BLA noted that her father hurt his back again working at the pulp mill.	1946 August 13
		1946 October
Box	Volume
1	5	BLA noted that she was busy working at the Port of Aberdeen typing reports and correspondence. She also reported that there was a local Longshoreman strike.	1946 October 1
1	5	BLA went to the movies and saw Cloak and Dagger.	1946 October 20
		1946 November
Box	Volume
1	5	BLA went to the movies and saw Holiday in Mexico.	1946 November 2
1	5	BLA attended the Thanksgiving Day football game and saw Hoquiam lose to Aberdeen 13-6.	1946 November 28
1	5	The family celebrated BLA's grandfather's 93rd birthday.	1946 November 29
		1946 December
Box	Volume
1	5	BLA attended a formal dinner sponsored by the Socialist Labor Party.	1946 December 8
1	5	BLA went to the movies and saw Magic.	1947 December 14

Volume 6, Journal Entry Summaries, 1947 January 6 to December 31; 1948; 1949 January 1-4.Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		1947 January
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA went to the movies and saw Notorious.	1947 January 12
		1947 February
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA went to the movies and saw The Al Jolson Story.	1947 February 15
		1947 March
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA went to the movies and saw Blue Skies.	1947 March 1
1	6	BLA went to the movies and saw California.	1947 March 9
1	6	BLA took a trip to Tacoma and ate lunch with her friend at the Oyster House.	1947 March 15
1	6	BLA noted that her father was working another job logging for Mr. Madison.	1947 March 24
		1947 April
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA received another pay raise to $175 per month.	1947 April 1
1	6	BLA noted that there was a big telephone strike in the local area.	1947 April 8
1	6	BLA noted that she was quite pleased with the feedback received for her report on Westport.	1947 April 22
1	6	BLA attended the Greek Society Founder's Day Banquet.	1947 April 29
		1947 June
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA noted that the sugar rationing due to World War II officially ended today.	1947 June 12
1	6	BLA and her mother attended the "Rose show."	1947 June 17
1	6	BLA's new boyfriend, John, put in an application to work at the pulp mill.	1947 June 25
		1947 July
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA's family spent the Fourth of July at the ranch with relatives.	1947 July 4
1	6	BLA met with the State Examiner and also attended a Commissioner's meeting at the Port of Aberdeen.	1947 July 8
1	6	BLA went to the movies with her boyfriend, John, and saw: Along Came Jones.	1947 July 10
1	6	BLA went again with John to the movies to see The Yearling.	1947 July 12
1	6	BLA showed off her new "motion picture" camera and took family films of all of her relatives at the house.	1947 July 16
		1947 August
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA felt ill again.	1947 August 3
1	6	BLA went to Tacoma and met John's parents. They spent the day at Mount Rainier: having lunch at Paradise Inn and hiking one of the trails up the mountain.	1947 August 9
		1947 September
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA's parent's 25th wedding anniversary.	1947 September 9
1	6	BLA's family borrows a neighbor's car and went out to the ranch where BLA shot a roll of film.	1947 September 21
1	6	BLA went to a Beta Sigma Phi meeting in Hoquiam.	1947 September 24
1	6	BLA went to the movies and saw Life on Fifth Avenue.	1947 September 27
		1947 October
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA went to Olympia on the bus. Met a friend and went bowling and shopping.	1947 October 4
1	6	BLA went to the Capitol and caught the bus back home to Hoquiam.	1947 October 5
1	6	BLA wrote about working another day of long hours at Espedal's developing film.	1947 October 24
		1947 November
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA joined a book-of-the-month club and read Three Came Home.	1947 November 12
1	6	BLA's parents bought a 1940 Plymouth. She noted that the design and black color made it look quite sleek.	1947 November 19
1	6	BLA's parents sold the 1927 Chevrolet to a neighboring family.	1947 November 23
1	6	BLA gave a formal reading of the "Ritual of Jewels" as part of her Beta Sigma Phi duties at the monthly meeting.	1947 November 25
1	6	BLA attended the Thanksgiving Day game and saw Hoquiam defeat Aberdeen 22-7.	1947 November 27
1	6	BLA went with a friend to the movies and saw The Bachelor and The Bobbysoxer.	1947 November 28
1	6	BLA went to Seattle after work at Espedal's to see her grandmother.	1947 November 29
1	6	BLA came home from Seattle.	1947 November 30
		1947 December
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA's 23rd birthday, but had to work at Espedal's most of the day.	1947 December 1
1	6	BLA noted that a huge windstorm blew through the local area with winds up to 65 miles per hour. It blew down several trees.	1947 December 13
1	6	BLA and other members of Beta Sigma Phi went out around the local area and delivered food to needy families for Christmas.	1947 December 23
1	6	BLA's family opened Christmas gifts after dinner and good times with a neighboring family.	1947 December 24
		1948 January
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA noted her father's multiple jobs and their impact on the family: "Daddy is working the 4 to 12 shift." BLA's father worked a lot of odd hours that included day, night, and weekend shifts	1948 January 6
1	6	BLA received a $15 a month raise at Espedal's.	1948 January 8
1	6	BLA worked at the Port of Aberdeen on an annual report in conjunction with the Washington State Ratings Board (WSRB).	1948 January 16
1	6	BLA and friend saw the ship "Skookum Chief" in Olympia.	1948 January 18
1	6	BLA noted with sorrow how Grandpa Wilson died.	1948 January 26
1	6	BLA noted that her sister Peggy eloped to Olympia with Eddie.	1948 January 31
		1948 February
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA went to the movies and saw Crossfire.	1948 February 7
1	6	BLA noted that sister Peggy began her new job as a telephone operator in Aberdeen.	1948 February 9
1	6	BLA and friends went to the movies and saw two films: Grapes of Wrath and Tobacco Road.	1948 February 28
		1948 March
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA is elected as the Beta Sigma Phi delegate to the Hoquiam City Council.	1948 March 1
1	6	BLA moved into her first apartment away from home in Hoquiam.	1948 March 11
1	6	BLA went to the movies and saw Gone With the Wind.	1948 March 22
		1948 April
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA went to a formal dance.	1948 April 16
1	6	BLA's best friend "Di" got married in Aberdeen.	1948 April 17
1	6	BLA attended the Founder Day's Banquet in Hoquiam.	1948 April 29
		1948 May
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA went into Hoquiam and saw a movie: The Love of Andy Hardy.	1948 May 4
		1948 June
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA played music with a fiddler group.	1948 June 23
		1948 July
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA went into Hoquiam with her family for the town's Fourth of July celebration and parade.	1948 July 4
1	6	BLA went to the doctor and found out she had pinkeye.	1948 July 10
1	6	BLA's dog Major died from a kidney infection. She noted that his death "sure made us feel bad."	1948 July 13
1	6	BLA's family went to Olympia and visited the grounds and saw the "Eagles Parade."	1948 July 17
1	6	BLA's family went to Centralia for a picnic. BLA noted that she took a short ride in an airplane for the first time.	1948 July 25
		1948 August
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA's father quit his job at Woodlawn Plywood because they refused to fix his saws.	1948 August 11
		1948 September
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA's family drove up the Columbia River highway and saw Multnomah Falls and the Bonneville Dam. They ate dinner in Vancouver.	1948 September 12
1	6	BLA went with her mother to Chehalis and then onto Seattle. BLA met her friend Lilly for lunch the next day.	1948 September 14
1	6	BLA and Lilly ate lunch in Seattle at Clark's restaurant and then went to see a movie: On An Island With You.	1948 September 15
1	6	BLA spent part of the day in Seattle splicing home movie film and then met her Aunt Marion and went to a "Chinchilla Meeting" at Lake Sammamish.	1948 September 17
1	6	BLA's family went to the State Fair.	1948 September 18
1	6	BLA and a friend went to Des Moines, WA.	1948 September 19
1	6	BLA and her grandma went to Kent for some clothing materials.	1948 September 21
1	6	BLA paid $100 for more chinchillas.	1948 September 22
1	6	BLA went to a Beta Sigma Phi meeting in Hoquiam.	1948 September 29
		1948 October
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA and her father filled up the pens at the ranch with chinchillas.	1948 October 5
1	6	BLA showed movies to her Beta Sigma Phi group.	1948 October 13
		1948 November
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA attended a city council meeting in Hoquiam.	1948 November 1
1	6	BLA noted that she had the day off from work due to the Presidential election and stated: "Truman and Dewey and Wallace are the candidates. Truman seems to be holding his own."	1948 November 2
1	6	BLA spent the day developing film at Espedal's and then went to the movies and saw When My Baby Smiles at Me.	1948 November 13
1	6	BLA attended a ceramics class in Hoquiam.	1948 November 16
1	6	BLA and her mother went to the movies and saw Jap Roots and Byrd's Expedition to the South Pole.	1948 November 22
1	6	BLA attended the big Thanksgiving Day football game and saw Hoquiam defeat Aberdeen 28-23.	1948 November 25
		1948 December
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA celebrated her 24th birthday with the family. She noted that there was a high tide coming into the local coastal area and people in Hoquiam and Aberdeen were preparing for a possible flood.	1948 December 1
1	6	BLA's father returned to his old job at Woodlawn Plywood. BLA attended a city council meeting in Hoquiam.	1948 December 6
1	6	BLA noted that there was a lot of confusion down at her work at the Port of Aberdeen as an unregistered ship, the Santa Lenox, arrived and docked there.	1948 December 10
1	6	BLA's grandfather (Anderson) died.	1948 December 12
1	6	BLA's family attended Grandpa Anderson's funeral and burial in Olympia.	1948 December 13
1	6	BLA went to a Beta Sigma Phi meeting in Hoquiam.	1948 December 15
1	6	BLA's father bought her mother the family's first sewing machine and a Christmas turkey.	1948 December 22
1	6	BLA's family traveled to Seattle for the holiday season to visit relatives.	1948 December 24
1	6	BLA's family went to Grandma Anderson's and opened Christmas presents as BLA took home movies.	1948 December 25
1	6	BLA's family went to Seattle and looked at some more chinchillas and then made the return trip back to Hoquiam.	1948 December 26
1	6	BLA went to a Beta Sigma Phi meeting in Hoquiam.	1948 December 27
		1949 January
Box	Volume
1	6	BLA worked on income tax documents at work.	1949 January 1
1	6	BLA's sister Peggy celebrated her 21st birthday.	1949 January 3

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