November 11
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
November 11, 1997
No school. I was 1st up at 8:30! Typed up poems. Woke girls up at 10:00. Me and Ashley played pool, etc. She cracks me up. Em came at 2:45. Went 2 work from 3-5 with Brooke and John. :( Came home and did homework. Evan came 4 guitar lesson. He's cool. Ate. Did more homework and watched "Mad About You." Sleepy as hell.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
November 11, 1960
No mail and no school today. Mrs. B called me to say window man there so went over. She came in too. Quite a job but he managed.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
November 11, 1938
Twenty years ago today the World War came to an end. Didn’t seem like Armistice Day. Didn’t blow the 11:00 clock whistles as usual. Didn’t practice. Went to chapel. Warm day. Had pep meeting. Mary felt sick so I went to the restroom with her. By the time chapel was over she felt better. We got our books and went to Latin class. Then down to Home Ec. I got my blouse back and I made A-. I would have made A+ if it hadn’t been for the button holes. At 10:30 we all went to our rooms and then got off for the rest of the day. Talked to Mary awhile after school and invited her over this afternoon. Then home. Mother wanted me to take some meat back to the meat market because Mother Lane had asked us to dinner. I got Helen to go with me. We went to Daddy’s office to get the mail but it was locked and Miss Staples gone. Daddy has a holiday today. When we got back I went in and changed my skirt and put my new blouse on. Daddy had the radio on. I made the beds and then read in my bedroom. Listened to the Unknown Soldier program. They sang some war songs. About 12:00 I practiced some and at 12:30 we went up to M. Lane’s. Mildred Lane was there but not for dinner. We ate soon in the nice, sunny dining room. Colored girl waited on the table. Mildred Lane came back and had some pumpkin pie with us. After dinner I went home for a few minutes. Went back and Daddy sang. Went home again to get a song for Daddy but I couldn’t find it. Went back again and I played for them a bit. Stayed till about 3:00. Daddy and I went home because D. had to get the car and we were going to take Mother Lane and Mrs. Julian for a drive. Mother came a few mins. later. I went over and talked to George. Helen and Allan had gone to the skating-rink. Mother gave G. 5 cents for covering the rock garden with leaves. D. came with the car and we got in. Didn’t know M.’s foot was there and we put the seat down on it. Hurt awfully. Drove on and picked Mother Lane and Mrs. J. up. Went to library where I got out and got “Wallflowers” by Temple Bailey. Mrs. Goodwin said I was the first one who had come in all afternoon. Nearly everyone had gone to the ball game at Rockwood. [In upper margin: “Harriman won against Rockwood 19-14. Nice day. Warm.”] We went over to see if Mary could go with us and she could. We went over to Deer Lodge, past Oakdale. Saw lots of trains. Got back around 5:00. Left everyone at their homes and we went home. I read and practiced and after supper washed the dishes. At 7:00 till 8:00 heard George Burns and Gracie Allen. At 8:00 we heard Hollywood Hotel and there was a war play “Journey’s End.” Quite good. Then a bath and to bed. Mrs. McClure came and Daddy sang for her.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
November 11, 1887
I sawed wood this morning and then hitched up and drew some up to the house. Mr. Olson and his brother in law began to saw up some wood for me today. I had my dinner early and went to the store to allow Mr. Hopkins time to get his dinner. It has been a very pleasant day, but the wind seems quite chilly tonight. I have felt so tired that I have not studied any tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
November 11, 1871
This is a rainy Sunday. The stars were shining when I went to bed, but it is raining now. We expect to get to the land office this week. Friday eve the boys brought home two turkeys and a prairie chicken. Five turkeys in one week. P is a good marksman. Sent Lanes some turkey. Prairie chicken we had barbacued for dinner. It was better than turkey. Will have turkey and sweet potatoes for dinner.
It still smells skunky. The other day when the boys came from Jakes, they saw seven skunks along the branch—I am drying the skin of a large gray wolf. If it gets dry, I will take it home with me.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
November 11, 1862
The hogs got as far as E. Glenn’s. Mr. Henry came back tonight. I was glad to see him. He goes on again in the morning. Dr. Sam Love came here about 8 o’clock. He brought John back as he ran away last Sunday. Dr. Love is on his way to Raleigh as he is a member of the legislature. I finished Mr. Henry’s shirt soon after dinner & cut out some other work. Sam two shirts, Mr. Henry a pair drawers, myself two pair & two pair of pants I am going to give the soldiers. Poor fellows, a great many need clothes & shoes.
*(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 34, London
November 11, 1667
Up, and to Simpson at work in my office, and thence with Sir G. Carteret (who come to talk with me) to Broad Streete, where great crowding of people for money, at which he blamed himself. Thence with him and Lord Bruncker to Captain Cocke’s (he out of doors), and there drank their morning draught, and thence [Sir] G. Carteret and I toward the Temple in coach together; and there he did tell me how the King do all he can in the world to overthrow my Lord Chancellor, and that notice is taken of every man about the King that is not seen to promote the ruine of the Chancellor; and that this being another great day in his business, he dares not but be there. He tells me that as soon as Secretary Morrice brought the Great Seale from my Lord Chancellor, Bab. May fell upon his knees, and catched the King about the legs, and joyed him, and said that this was the first time that ever he could call him King of England, being freed from this great man: which was a most ridiculous saying. And he told me that, when first my Lord Gerard, a great while ago, come to the King, and told him that the Chancellor did say openly that the King was a lazy person and not fit to govern, which is now made one of the things in the people’s mouths against the Chancellor, “Why,” says the King, “that is no news, for he hath told me so twenty times, and but the other day he told me so;” and made matter of mirth at it: but yet this light discourse is likely to prove bad to him. I ’light at the Temple, and went to my tailor’s and mercer’s about a cloake, to choose the stuff, and so to my bookseller’s and bought some books, and so home to dinner, and Simpson my joyner with me, and after dinner, my wife, and I, and Willett, to the King’s play-house, and there saw “The Indian Emperour,” a good play, but not so good as people cry it up, I think, though above all things Nell’s ill speaking of a great part made me mad. Thence with great trouble and charge getting a coach (it being now and having been all this day a most cold and foggy, dark, thick day), we home, and there I to my office, and saw it made clean from top to bottom, till I feared I took cold in walking in a damp room while it is in washing, 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.)