by Hannah Elder, Associate Reference Librarian for Rights & Reproductions
Welcome back to the transcription of Clara E. Currier’s 1925 diary. Currier was a working-class woman who lived in or near Haverhill, MA. Her diary records her daily activities – from fiber arts to paid employment to observations of the natural world – providing insight into daily life a century ago. You can find entries for January, February, March, and April in past blog posts.
When we last heard from Clara, she was recovering from a bout of measles. In May, we continue to follow her path to recovery, as she ventures further out of the house, returns to work, and has a follow-up with her doctor. She also returns to work, resumes her sewing and crocheting, and socializes with family and friends. In the second half of the month, she begins to record a time, almost always 6 p.m., on the first line of her daily entry. I haven’t found explanation of it and it does not continue into May. Perhaps that is the time she wrote the entries, or the time she took the tonic from the doctor. If I ever find out, I will be sure to let the blog know.
May 1, Fri. Fair, Blanche called, Mary and Charles came down and done some things for me, went out of doors for a few min. Mr. + Mrs. SeeGro called with fruit from the Grange.
May 2, Sat. Fair, went out to Vigeant’s store Wrote my pledge card .50[¢] for current expenses and .35[¢] for benevolences. Sizzie went home.
May 3, Sun. Fair, Thomas came down and took me home.
May 4, Mon. Showers (thunder).
May 5, Tues. Dull, went out a little ways with Charles for a ride.
May 6, Wed. Fair, went out for a walk.
May 7, Thurs. Fair, went out to walk. sewed on dress,
May 8, Fri. Fair, went out for a walk, crocheted and worked on my dress.
May 9, Sat. Fair, went for a walk and a ride with Charles, sewed and crocheted, legs still weak.
May 10, Sun. Fair, Gertie came up with our dowry, rode back with them and called on Uncle Will, has been sick but better.
May 11, Mon. Rainy, started in to work after being out 3 ½ weeks, pretty tired.
May 12, Tues. Fair.
May 13, Wed. Fair, walked over to Blache’s.
May 14, Thurs. Dull and chilly, went over to the Dr’s and he gave me a tonic, paid $14.
May 15, Fri. Rainy, read.
May 16, Sat. Fair, Sizzie and I went to Haverhill with our checks, called on Aunt Frannie, did some mending.
May 17, Sun. Fair, went to church and S.S. went over to Blanche’s.
May 18, Mon. Fair.
May 19, Tues. Fair, went to Grange. 6 P.M.
May 20, Wed. 6 P.M. Fair, did some mending.
May 21, Thurs [$]18.62 Fair, Blanche and I went to ‘The Butlers’ at the church.
May 22, Fri. 6 P.M. Fair, went up town.
May 23, Sat. Dull, went up home, made Mary’s hat. Found a $.
May 24, Sun. Fair with some rain at night, William brought me back.
May 25, Mon. 6 P.M. Rainy and cleared at night, went to Corner Class.
May 26, Tues. 6 P.M. Fair, went up to Stephen’s after work.
May 27, Wed. 6 P.M. Fair, Blanche came over to cut out dress.
May 28, Thurs. [$]20.14 6 P.M. Fair, went up town at noon called on Mrs. Dennis for a few minutes.
May 29, Fri. 6 P.M. Fair, went out to store.
May 30, Sat. Dull with thunder showers P.M, went out to see parade and then went up home. Worked on Annah’s hat.
May 31, Sun. Fair, went to church and out in the woods, William brought me home.

If you are interested in viewing the diary in person in our library or have other questions about the collection, please visit the library or contact a member of the library staff.
*Please note that this diary transcription is a rough-and-ready version, not an authoritative transcript. Researchers wishing to use the diary in the course of their own work should verify the version found here with the manuscript original.
This line-a-day blog series is inspired by and in honor of MHS reference librarian Anna J. Clutterbuck-Cook (1981–2023), whose entertaining and enlightening line-a-day blog series ran from 2015 to 2019. Her generous, humane, and creative approach to both history and librarianship continues to influence the work of the MHS library.