Back in 2010, in honor of Women’s History Month, Lisa Alzo created a list of writing prompts for each day during the month of March.  I didn’t participate in 2010, so I’m going to take the opportunity to participate this year, since Lisa was kind enough to resurrect her prompts for 2012.

Did one of your female ancestors leave a diary, journal, or collection of letters? Share an entry or excerpt.


My grandmother, Marie (Rottman) Miller kept a Vacation Journal from 1959 to 1981.  She would record everything from places they stopped for gas, to what they did at their destination; she even included all expenses.  Below is an excerpt from a trip to Iowa to visit family.

July 4th & 5th 1960

Left Elmhurst at 5:50 AM – Mileage 497
Tollway 30¢ – Tollway 10¢
Stopped at Hinkley, Ill for Breakfast.  Very Good – 1.55 + 30 tip = 1.85.  Were on the road again at 7:20 AM.
Stopped at Rock Falls.  Gas – 5.20 – Mileage 603
Toll Bridge to cross Mississippi 20¢
Arrived in Lisbon Iowa 10:15 AM.
Aunt Mabel was down at Ethel’s in Ivanhoe.  Had lunch there.  Then went to farm & down to the timber.  Nobody home.  Came back & got hotel at Mt. Vernon, Iowa – $12 nice, modern, clean, T.V. radio tub & shower.  10¢ Coke.  Next morning had breakfast in Lisbon $2.29.  Came back to motel, bought 2 glasses 30¢ & packed up.  Left for Mississippi Palisades Kepler Park.  Saw the Lodge were we had our first reunion.  Took some pictures & then came back to Aunt Mabel’s.  Had our second breakfast there.  Looked [at] three old albums of Uncle John, Dad, & Cousins.  Left Lisbon, Iowa about 1:00 PM.  Stopped at Clinton, Iowa at The Green Basket.  3.16 + 30 tip = $3.46
Toll Bridge – 20¢

Tollway (East-West) 30¢ – 10¢
Missed York St. & had to go a round about way on another toll road 30¢ to get home.  Arrived home safe & sound 7:30 PM

I haven’t had the chance to actually read through or transcribe this journal.  But even though this particular entry is short, there is a lot of information contained, such as that both Mabel and Ethel were living in July 1960, and…the kicker…Mabel had three family photo albums…I wonder where those are now!

Read all of my Fearless Females posts.