Diary Discoveries

In 1903, Mary Louise Edgar traveled from her home in Wisconsin to visit Scotland. She wrote very detailed and descriptive entries in over 200 pages of her diary. In this episode we share some of Sally's research methods to take you through the process of discovery for this diary given to her while in Oregon. The diary was written by an unknown author (no name in the diary), and has a tragic connection to a young man who went on to become one of America's most well known architects.

Bagpipe music heard in this episode from: www.freesoundslibrary.com

Please go to: https://diarydiscoveries.com to see episode photos and read our blog. Thank You.

Union soldier Gillis J. McBane is captured and taken prisoner during the brutally fought battle at Stones River in Tennessee.

We will take you to the battlefield and follow his ordeal as he is moved to the notorious Castle Thunder confederate prison in Richmond, Virginia.

Forced marches, sleepless nights, starvation, rail car trips in livestock cars, cold weather with little clothing, and all of which occurs before reaching the hell hole of Castle Thunder.

Gillis maintained a diary and wrote it all down and showed remarkable resilience throughout his captivity.

We would like to thank William Griffing and Dan Masters for their historical knowledge and help with this episode. A special thank you to Scott R Mckinley for his wonderful narration as the voice of Gillis McBane.

Please go to: https://diarydiscoveries.com to see episode photos and read our blog. Thank You.

In this episode we present some of our listeners and their responses to our invitation to share how and why they journal. We learned some fascinating things and were sincerely moved by what these individuals shared with us.
Artworks and music, conversations with God, giving women who had no voice a place in history, connections to and honoring those who lived before us, and sharing stories of resiliance to offer hope to others; you will hear it in this episode.
Thank You from the bottom of our hearts to: Linda, Cheryl, Lee, Marlena, and Erica.

Please go to: https://diarydiscoveries.com to see episode photos and read our blog. Thank You.

This is a wonderful Christmas story of a father's love. Go back to 1914 with us to Christmas Eve. A six year old boy is bedridden with illness, so his father, D.D. Sturgeon, a pioneer in the electrical trade, does something never seen before to cheer up his son.
Now in modern time, millions of people do what this man did that evening.

Christmas music: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Kenny G; internet archive.
Sleigh bells - www.soundeffectsplus.com

Please go to: https://diarydiscoveries.com to see episode photos and read our blog. Thank You.

In this episode, as a way to remember those who have served our country, we tell a story taken from a letter written by a pilot to his family back home. He had survived a tour of combat in the Pacific and was writing from Texas. Service can take on many different shapes and sacrifices are made by all who serve no matter where they may be serving. Family members also "serve" in a way and sometimes pay a heavy price. We should always remember them.

Please go to: https://diarydiscoveries.com to see episode photos and read our blog. Thank You.

In this episode we discuss diary and journal keeping and some common concerns an author may have. We read entries from two diaries; the first, from 1937, written by a woman losing her vision, and the second; by a very homesick college girl, where both women expressed their thoughts on what they had written and who may read it. Sally has read entries like these hundreds of times as diary keepers wrestle with these issues.
We also read a letter sent by one of our listeners where she describes how important her diary has become. Stick around to the end to see how Sally and Jeff first met in a coffee shop, all because someone wrote in a diary...

Please go to: https://diarydiscoveries.com to see episode photos and read our blog. Thank You.

A letter from 1848 describing a heartbreaking tragedy, presented Sally with questions she just had to get answers to. The deaths of three children in a week's time, even then, would indeed be "deep waters of affliction." Who were the three children and what was the relationship between them and the letter's author? Who was "Jane"?
Sally found some missing pieces of the puzzle on a website called "Spared and Shared", a site created by William Griffing (Griff).
In this episode we discuss the letter, solve the mystery, and introduce you to Griff. You will hear Sally and Griff talk about researching historical manuscripts and learn about this remarkable man and his efforts to preserve history.

Please go to: https://diarydiscoveries.com to see episode photos and read our blog. Thank You.

In 1953, a fifteen year old boy wrote of his great outdoor summer adventure that took place in the West and it has to be one of the best summers a kid could ever have! Mt Rushmore, Cheyenne Frontier Days, the Vagabond Ranch, girls, whitewater rafting down the "River of No Return", fishing, flying, and eating the best food around the campfire. What a fantastic experience! And oh yes, he did all of this and had a knife fight in a corn field just to start things off.

Music: Internet Archives. 1950's radio hour.

For More information go to: https://www.sallysdiaries.com/

Milford W. Howard, an attorney by trade and former United States Congressman, wrote a very interesting feature article for The Birmingham News in 1929. And yes, the article is the one we mentioned in the last episode about our favorite "beehive like structure" dwelling man--Henry Stuart. 
Milford sought Henry out to get his thoughts regarding the simple life and wrote an amazing article, including poems, personal letters, and of course his own commentary about the man Henry and the idea of the "simple life".  
We hope you will enjoy listening to our version of an "audible newspaper article" and perhaps it will provide you some "food for thought".

For More information go to: https://www.sallysdiaries.com/

This episode is additional to our episodes #8 and #9. Henry Stuart built a circular, beehive like, hut in Fairhope Alabama.  We completed a kind of circle by taking his diary first to De Lamar, Idaho (episode 8) where he began writing, and then recently stepping foot into his home in Fairhope with the diary. 
Henry was a very interesting man who had an impact on many people including author Sonny Brewer who wrote "The Poet Of Tolstoy Park", a novel inspired by Henry and his home. We met up with Sonny at Henry's home and enjoyed our visit and tour. In our episode #9 we go into much more detail about Henry and encourage new listeners to hear this man's story.

For More information go to: https://www.sallysdiaries.com/