May 16
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
May 16, 1997
Good day at school. Went home with Ashley. Mom came at 3:30. Watched story with Em. We ate Mac & Cheese. Came to softball game. Pitched some. We won! Me, Sandra, Becca, Ashy-Dash went to get ice cream. Took a shower. Talked to Karen till 11:00. Blow-dried hair. Hugged Chris today.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
May 16, 1960
No wash day but washed. Hung porch full. Some dried so hung more. Rained before we left cabin, stopped pretty much when we got in so Lo went to Piggley and to bed early. Rained hard in nite.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
May 16, 1944
Still hot. Flowers out in full bloom. Up early and read history before breakfast but still have about 250 pages to go. Mr. Berry and Mr. Carson both called off class on Thursday because so many of us are going to take those tests. Had interesting discussion of certain Christian doctrines in philosophy. Last Sr. class meeting at 2 in auditorium. Learned new song. Studied and practiced. Wore white dress and corsage — still pretty — to dinner. Afterwards Betty, Jacq, Mary Lou and I went for a walk. Mary Lou is a scream — she’s so cute and she doesn’t even know it! I just love her! Back about 7:30. Betty and I went to student theater to hear Mary Washburns’s voice recital — at request of Miss Blenko. Very good. Another girl played some beautiful piano numbers. Out about 9. Studied.
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
May 16, 1887
I came home this morning and began to pack up things. I crated the sewing machine this forenoon, ready to ship on the freight. Ma and Willie went over and called on Effie this afternoon, so as to have their last ride after Jimmie. I went over to father Queal’s with the double buggy to carry some things and Kate came back with me bringing along the baby of course. We began to pack up our fruit cans this afternoon; the baby has been real good this afternoon. Kate and baby are going to stay here tonight. I am feeling quite tired tonight someway.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
May 16, 1871
Yesterday I finished a shirt for Philip, and got dinner. Buffalo stake, radishes, bread, molasses, stewed peaches, and coffee. A greater variety than usual. At 3 p.m. I walked down the river a mile or more to see Mrs. Lane. I can cross the draw near the river, when the water is low, and there I saw three gars—a kind of fish, but not good to eat they say.
Coming home, Jake [Jacob A. Sohn] who had been working down the river, overtook me. He and Philip sleep in the dug out. The Lucky woman, who had been spending the nights with us, has company and dont come now.
Philip’s ankle has not healed yet, from the knife cut. I feel uneasy about it. I am so anxious to go to his cabin, I think it would be better for us both.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
May 16, 1862
Mail came but no news, only they are fighting still at Corinth. Our forces have evacuated Norfolk & Portsmouth & the yanks have landed there the 12th. We burnt the navy yard, blew up the dry dock & destroyed things generally. Also burnt the Merimac, all the efficient vessel we had. Such is war. I mended Mr. Henry’s socks & iron the children’s clothes this evening. It rained some this evening. Fannie washed a few more pieces. McKinnish banistered the back piazza today. Willie has staid at Tena’s house some today. Uncle Sam began to clip the sheep today. All are well. Atheline improving.
*(Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family, Eds. Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell, used with permission.)
Samuel P., age 36, London
May 16, 1669
(Lord’s day). My wife and I at church, our pew filled with Mrs. Backewell, and six more that she brought with her, which vexed me at her confidence. Dined at home and W. Batelier with us, and I all the afternoon drawing up a foul draught of my petition to the Duke of York, about my eyes, for leave to spend three or four months out of the Office, drawing it so as to give occasion to a voyage abroad which I did, to my pretty good liking; and then with my wife to Hyde Park, where a good deal of company, and good weather, and so home to supper and to bed.
*(The Diary of Samuel Pepys M.A. F.R.S., edited by Henry B. Wheatley F.S.A., London, George Bell & Sons York St. Covent Garden, Cambridge Deighton Bell & Co., 1893.)