Folder 5: Oliver's Diaries 1952-1955, 1952 - 1955

1952: A small brown diary with a mallet added to the front. Oliver tracked money on the first pages of the diary. The entries in this diary are shorter than in others, and fewer newspaper clippings were added. Additionally, Oliver wrote about how he gave up cigarettes for his New Year’s resolution.

1953: A small blue diary. Many of the entries are focused on the weather and on Oliver’s job. The entries are consistently full, and only one clipping is included. Oliver changed pens fairly often, so the shapes vary. There are some of the Masonic Lodge symbols in here as well.

1954: A small brown diary. Highlights from this diary include: the cash accounts and money tracking in the front pages, a recipe of how to cook tongue, Oliver’s sickness with a fistula, Ester’s (his wife) major decline in energy, drawings of possible Masonic symbols, Oliver’s relapse into smoking. There are newspaper clippings included in this diary as well, which are mainly focused on death and other community members. Certain holidays were left out of this year’s account, notably Halloween.

1955: A small green diary. Notable entries include: notes about Oliver’s diabetes, the inclusion of how many hours worked per day and hours of overtime worked, a daily weather report, and notes on Church each Sunday, information about Winston Churchill. Additionally, newspaper clippings are included.