Includes Diaries of Lucille Edith Byarlay Abel: 1930, [1931], 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, and portions of 1937 and 1937 transcribed and edited by Arlene Luchsinger. This document includes an introduction, forward, clues to the names in the diaries and the name index, maps of various Kansas locations, family tree genealogy charts (Heinen, Byarlay, Abel, Wilson, copies of photographs, transcribed diaries with extensive footnotes by Luchsinger, selected autograph album entries, and an appendix. The appendix includes copies of the dues she paid to Rebekah Lodge, the certificate that verified that she had “Normal-Training” and could teach school in Kansas, yearly contracts, “transcript” from Kansas State Agricultural College, Orval Abel’s college transcript, Orval and Lucille’s marriage License, and newspaper clippings about the country school cleaning, old settler’s reunion and Lucille and Orval’s wedding, and a copy of George Heinen Interview conducted by Arlene Luchsinger). This document is approximately typed 150 pages.
These volumes provide an interesting and historical perspective of a young woman growing up in rural Kansas (1928-1936) that includes personal accounts of her life in the home, as a student (which includes time at Kansas State Agricultural College), and a period in the life of a woman in her early 20s. Collectively, the items have scholarly value to researchers interested in rural life, women’s history, family history, American culture, education and other historical topics.