HANDWRITTEN DIARY OF ALFRED E. GUHR (OF VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON)
Handwritten: Handwritten Diary, Journal or Notebook, 1936 and 1937. Diary. “Feb. 20, 1938: “Sunday. I sure got a thrill this evening. Joyce W. and I held hands in church while they showed motion pictures. I didn’t think she would let me do it at all.”
Blue leather clasp "Five Year Diary" measuring 5 1/2 in. x 4 1/4 in.) with decorative gilt border and a brass, spring-loaded button clasp to front board, with a strap-and-twin hook catch affixed to rear pastedown. The diarist's name, one Alfred E. Guhr, is engraved in gilt to bottom of front board.
Alfred E. Guhr apparently lived in the Vancouver, Washington area, or just outside. The diary is dated through 1936 and 1937, with multiple entries filled in for the same date, on the same page, in one or both years. The year is usually specified, as is the day of the entry. Mr. Guhr was born in 1916 and was 20 and 21 when he kept this diary. He apparently lived at home, but only occasionally mentioned his parents, though it seemed he enjoyed a good relationship with both. There were relatives living near Tacoma -- The Henkes)
The many entries are usually 2 to 4 lines each in neat ink script. The family was probably middle-class. What may be gleaned from the entries about Alfred Guhr are these apparent facts: He REALLY wanted to save up for a car and could deprive himself of nearly every discretionary entertainment to save up for a car and the freedom it represented -- except movies, which he seemed to regularly attend, either in Vancouver at the Castle Theater, or else in Portland at the Mayfair or other theaters; He was quiet and had a few friends, but mostly liked just to take pictures, build his scrapbook of photos,etc., or write letters. He attended Church, sang in the Choir, and participated in something called "The Institute" which may have been church-related. He has a job working in a retail store and doesn't much like it, and really wants to get hired by the post office where he has applied and occasionally called in for work, Christmas Rush, etc. Alfred likes a few girls, but one named Evelyn, the best.
He appears to be a quiet, church-attending, movie-loving young man who has a strong sense of ethics, keeps apprised of (and comments upon in his diary about )world and current events -- one senses that the concept and reality of war really bother him. It turns out that when World War Ii began he was either drafted or enlisted, and just four years later -- in 1945 - Alfred E. Guhr was killed in a non-battle crisis while in the military.
Partial List of Movies Alfred E. Guhr Attended, and noted in his diary
Earthworm Tractor (twice)
The King and The Chorus Girl
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (Gary Cooper)
Artists and Models (Jack Benny)
Champagne Waltz” (Fred McMurray and Gladys Swarthout.)
Wings Over Honolulu
When Love Was Young
Lost Horizon
The Big Broadcast
The Case of The Stuttering Bishop
China Clipper (Pat O’Brian)
Madame X
Blonde Trouble (“It was so-so” wrote the diarist)
Pigskin Parade (“with no outstanding players”). Very Good. Item #88158
Several excerpts: Excerpts: 9/28/37 “President Roosevelt went thro Vancouver this afternoon. It sure was a thrilling sight.” 1937.
“I could cry! The place where I applied for a job is going to get a man who applied before I did. Woe is me!”
“Feb. 20, 1938: “Sunday. I sure got a thrill this evening. Joyce W. and I held hands in church while they showed motion pictures. I didn’t think she would let me do it at all.”
March 11, 1938. Chancellor Hitler of Germany, today made Austria a part of the German Empire. There was no bloodshed.”
March 11, 1937. It makes me mad to think that the folks object to Evelyn, just because she’s Catholic. She’s a nice girl and I like her. I’m not thro’ yet ! “
June 23. Bought a Safe Deposit Box in Bank. Heard some scandal about Mrs. Hills our chaperone at Institute last year. I sure was angry.
“October 19, 1936. Monday. “Had planned on going to Halloween Party on 31 of month, but changed my mind, as it is a masquerade.”
“Saturday, Halloween Day. Did not go to party; nor do any pranks because I don’t believe in playing pranks. Do not like masquerade parties.”.
Price: $125.00