Tuesday, November 30, 1920

Fair mild dry day. Some sunshine. Arose 7:20 A.M. Breakfast etc. To College 8 A.M. to 12:15 M. Chapel at noon. Dinner. Wrote in diary etc. Took nap. Studied. To Silliman Hall to supper of Student Volunteer delegates. Visited etc. To bed 9:45 P.M.

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The Student Volunteers were a group of missionaries. See my blog post of February 12, 1920 for more information about them.

Silliman Hall was built in 1900 to house the campus YMCA chapter. Here is more information about it on Union College's website: Silliman Hall. Note from the description that it also was the building where the Philomathean and Adelphic Societies were housed. Both were groups Stanford was affiliated with.

Monday, November 29, 1920

Jeff Ford came. Fair mild clear autumn day. Arose 8 A.M. Breakfast. To College 9 A.M. to 12:30 M. Johnny March bolted psychology. Read, Played etc. Dinner. Helped Father. Took nap. Down town. Bowled at Morse. Supper. To Barcli Theater with Russell. Good. To bed 11 P.M.

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There were many theaters in Schenectady at the time, apparently. Barcli's was one of them. Here is a snip from the Schenectady Gazette for December 15, 1920 showing all the theaters and their movies or plays:

Sunday, November 28, 1920

Overcast cool windy dark fall day. Arose 9 A.M. Breakfast. Took bath, shaved etc. To S.S.  Ruth, Marion, Tom, H.H. and I to Saratoga in S.S. on E.L. business. Fine ride. To Epworth League meeting 70 present. To Church Pageant "Pilgrim and the Book." Fine. Auditorium packed. Out to Reynolds. Gang out to Corners after me. Fine time. To bed 11:15 P.M.

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Saturday, November 27, 1920

Overcast mild damp autumn day. Arose 8:30 A.M. Breakfast. Helped father. Read paper etc. Candled eggs with H.H. Dinner. Took nap. Candled eggs. Bowled at Morse with Merlin. To church to concert. Criterion Male Quartette [sic]. To bed 12 P.M.

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The Criterion Male Quartet (known also as the Criterion Quartet) was a popular singing group of the early 20th century. They made numerous records and frequently toured the country.

Here is a picture of them on what looks like a flyer from after 1926. I copied it from the University of Iowa Library collection:

Click on this website to read a biography of the group: Criterion Male Quartet.

To hear some of their recordings, go to the really cool Library of Congress site, National Jukebox, or to YouTube.

Friday, November 26, 1920

Fair bright cool damp autumn day. Arose 9 A.M. Breakfast. Helped father. Talked. Read paper. Candled eggs. Dinner. Played piano. Wrote in diary. Candled eggs again. Supper. Home in evening. Read etc. To bed 8:30 P.M. Thankful for health, friends, education etc.

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Thursday, November 25, 1920

Overcast, mild, damp, fall day. Arose 6 A.M. To E.L. sunrise service 7:04 A.M. at Trinity Church. 200 present. Trinity 62; First M.E. 34 etc. Uncle John, Aunt Gertie, Ed and Leila here to Turkey dinner. Ate 3 pounds. Fine time. Bowled with Merlin, Russell & H.H. at Morse. Lunch. To Church to E.L. social. D.S.R. there with Ralph Shummer. Bowled with Merlin 170-179-191. To bed 1:30 A.M.

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Well, now. I wonder why Stanford mentioned Dorothea's presence at the church social with Ralph Shummer . . .  I didn't find any information about him, so can't say. Maybe he was a friend of the family? Anyway, it sounds like Stanford had a nice Thanksgiving. Incidentally, last year he went to the church social with Doris Smith.

A reminder of who Ed and Leila are: see my blog post on 2 August 1919. 

Wednesday, November 24, 1920

Cook, wet, misty, overcast day. Arose 7:15 A.M. Breakfast etc. Studied. Helped father. To college 9-12 M. Home. Dinner. Candled eggs. Took nap etc. Unloaded eggs. Read. Supper. Home in evening. Read. Wrote in diary etc. Shaved. Took bath. To bed 11 P.M.

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Tuesday, November 23, 1920

Very wet nasty day. Heavy rain and snow all day. Arose 6:45 A.M. Studied etc. To College 7:45 A.M. to 12 M. Home. Dinner. Candled eggs etc. Merlin, Russell & Lew Larkin here to supper. Over to Church to watch pageant. To Proctors with H.H. & Finch. Talked. To bed 12:30 P.M.

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Stanford doesn't describe any celebration for his 20th birthday, but hints at it with the drawings at the top of the entry and the mention of his friends coming to his house for supper. Perhaps that's when they gave him the birthday cake and the gifts depicted above (silk tie, 50 bucks, and $ from DSR).

Monday, November 22, 1920

Overcast mild day. Some rain. Arose 8 A.M. Breakfast. Helped father. Studied. To College 9 A.M. to 12:30 M. Dinner. Candled eggs etc. Down town. Bowled at Morse with H.H. To Library. To College gym to football smoker. Fine time. Yells, speeches, eats, music, entertainment etc. To bed 11 P.M.

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Sunday, November 21, 1920

Cloudy, dark, damp, misty day. Some snow. Very slippery. Arose 8:30 A.M. Breakfast etc. To Kingsburys after D.S.R. To Church & S.S. Dinner. Girls here from Saratoga over night with Ruth. Walked out to Reynolds with Merlin Finch. Nice visit. Walked & road [sic] back. To bed 10:30 P.M.

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Saturday, November 20, 1920

Overcast. Mild in A.M. Cool in P.M. Arose 7:30 A.M. Studied. Helped father etc. To College 9-11:15 A.M. Worked on auto. Dinner. Out after Dorothea. To Phi Nu Theta house party 2-12 P.M. Union-Hamilton football game. Score 7-3. Dinner at Hotel Mohawk. To plays. Out riding etc. To bed 3 A.M.

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I'm confused. How did Stanford do all the things he mentions above in the amount of time he had?

Friday, November 19, 1920

Overcast cool autumn day. Up 7 A.M. To College 7:45 to 12 M. Dinner. Home in P.M. Wrote in diary, read paper, played piano etc. Candled eggs etc. In Evening to Scotia to bowl with Church league 122-160-163. Lost 2 games to First Baptist. Took bath etc. To bed 12 P.M.

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Thursday, November 18, 1920

Fair cool damp autumn weather. Arose 6 A.M. Studied. Breakfast. To College 8-11 A.M. To Library. Home. Dinner. Studied. Down town. To College to watch team practise [sic]. Bowled at Morse. Supper. To Phi Nu Theta meeting. Talked. To bed 11 P.M.

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Here is how the football team looked in 1919. Some of these fellows were still there, perhaps, when Stanford watched them practice a year later.

Union College Football Team, 1919. Taken from the 1921 yearbook, the Garnet, 

Wednesday, November 17, 1920

Wet, nasty, slushy day. Rain off and on all day. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast. Helped father. To College 8-11:45 A.M. Dinner. Uncle John and Aunt Gertie here. Candled eggs. Down street. Bought shoes, hat, rubbers etc. Lights off etc. To bed 9:30 P.M.

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I'm not sure what "lights off" means here, other than that Stanford made sure to turn the lights off before bed. Or perhaps he meant the lights were off down town. Hard to say.

Tuesday, November 16, 1920

Cloudy cold autumn day. Arose 7:15 A.M. Breakfast. To College 8-11 A.M. Home. Wrote in diary etc. Studied. Helped father etc. Candled eggs. Supper. Father up after Uncle John and Aunt Gertie in afternoon. Bowled. To Church to joint meeting of Kappa Epsilon Pi and Theta Beta Pi. Bowled. Talked with Merlin. To bed 12 P.M.

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I'm glad to see Stanford and Merlin are still friends.

Monday, November 15, 1920

Overcast cool fall day. Arose 7:15 A.M. Breakfast etc. Took papers to Kirchenbaum. To College 9-11 A.M. Home. To Chapel 12-12:45 M. Dinner. Eggs in 39 cases. Helped candle. Down town. Studied etc. To bed 8:30 P.M. Thankful.

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I wasn't sure who Kirchenbaum might be, so after ruling out fellow students and professors, I looked him up in the census. There was a Lester Kirchenbaum who was a junk dealer in 1930 in Schenectady, but in 1920, I found the entire family living in Schenectady. The father was a junk dealer and the son, Lishka at that time, was also a junk dealer with his father. They were all born in Russia and had been citizens since 1902. It makes sense that Stanford would be bringing papers--probably newspapers--to either the father or the son and perhaps getting money back for them.

An interesting side note: in 1945, Lester was accused of overcharging paper mills for waste paper he sold them. This was against the rules of the OPA, or the Office of Price Administration, which governed rationing and price controls during WWII. Here is the article about it that appeared in the January 6, 1945 Schenectady Gazette.

Sunday, November 14, 1920

Very nice cool clear autumn day. Arose 9 A.M. Breakfast. Made toilet. To Church & S.S. Good Congregation. Dinner. Ruth, Mark Sawyer, Dodo & I out riding. To Swaggertown etc. Lunch. To E.L. 66 present. To Church. Armistice Day service. To Parker's Corners. Fine time. To bed 12 P.M.

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So, Mr. Sawyer appears on the scene at last. I wonder how long he lived in Schenectady? He is shown in the January, 1920 census as living in California and not having a job. He must have still been in school at that time, and then acquired his job with General Electric later that year. He and Ruth married two years later and moved to California where he worked for Pacific Telegraph & Telephone.

This is also the first time I've heard Stanford refer to Dorothy as "Dodo." Interesting . . . 

Saturday, November 13, 1920

Beautiful bright cool clear day. Some flakes of snow. Arose 6 A.M. Studied. To College 7:45 to 11 A.M. Out on errands. Dinner. Cleaned up. To Football game. Union 20-Hobart 7. Out to collect papers with Ford for Epworth League Christmas fund. Down town. Bowled at Morse. To Church to Entertainment. To bed 10:30 P.M.

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Wow! A win for Union! Woo-hoo! However, judging from the scores the Union football team racked up in 1919 (see below), Hobart's the only team they can beat.

Friday, November 12, 1920

Wonderful bright cold day. Few flakes of snow. Arose 7 A.M. To College 7:45 to 11 A.M. To Library. Dinner. Down town in P.M. Chored around. Studied etc. Out in evening. Watched Church League bowl etc. Bowled at Morse. To be 12 P.M.

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Thursday, November 11, 1920

ARMISTICE DAY. Beautiful bright cold clear fall day. Arose 6:30 A.M. Studied. Breakfast. To College 7:45 A.M. - 12-10 M. Home. Mother in Troy to W.F.M.S. meeting. Wrote letter. Candled eggs. To Phi Nu Theta meeting. In evening out with Ruth. 15,000 in big parade. Hourdes [sic] of people. To bed 11:30 P.M.

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The WFMS is the Women's Foreign Missionary Society, an organization founded in the Methodist Church. Here is some information about it from the United Methodist Women website:

In 1869, Mrs. William Butler and Mrs. Edwin Parker, wives of missionaries to India, were home on furlough. They spoke to a group of women in Boston. Only six women were present because of an intense storm. Mrs. Butler told about the desperate spiritual and physical needs of women in India. A male doctor could not treat women. Schooling for girls was almost non-existent. Single, trained and dedicated women were needed for medical and educational work. 

The six women who were present called another meeting of women, wrote a constitution, and organized the Methodist Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society (WFMS). By November 1869, the newly formed organization raised funds and sent Isabella Thoburn, an educator, and Dr. Clara Swain, a doctor, to India.

The parade Stanford refers to is of course the Armistice Day parade, which is now known as Veterans' Day. This was the second anniversary of the signing of the armistice on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 that ended World War I.

Here is a picture, taken from the Schenectady book, of the original celebration in 1918:

Wednesday, November 10, 1920

Cold windy clear autumn day. Arose 7 A.M. Made toilet. To College 7:45 to 11 A.M. Home. Read paper etc. Dinner. To College 1 P.M. Classical Club Picture. Studied. Out to call on Uncle John. Much better. Supper. To Library. To Marion Benedict's home to E.L. Cabinet meeting. Eats. Home. Talked. To bed 12:30 P.M.

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Here is the Classical Club as they appeared the previous year. Stanford is in this picture--top row, third from the right.

Tuesday, November 9, 1920

Overcast cool rainy day. Arose 6 A.M. Studied. To College 8 A.M. to 12 M. Dinner. To College 1 P.M. Adelphic Society Picture. Home. Candled eggs. Cleaned up. Bowled at Morse with H.H., Russ & Merlin. To Church to reception to Dr. & Mrs. Frick. Bowled again. To bed 12:45 P.M.

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The Adelphic Society was a debating club. Stanford speaks of its debates from time to time in this diary. Here is a picture of them that appeared in the 1921 Yearbook, The Garnet:

I don't think Stanford is in this picture, but it could be because it was taken the year before.

Monday, November 8, 1920

Fair mild clear autumn day. Arose 7:30 A.M. Studied. Helped father etc. To college 9-11 A.M. Home. To Chapel 12-12:40 M. Dinner. Down town. Home. Read & studied. Supper. Talked. Home in evening. Studied etc. To bed 9:30 P.M.

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Sunday, November 7, 1920

Overcast autumn day. Rain in P.M. Arose 8:45 A.M. To Church & S.S. Dinner. To Swaggertown to Mr. Glindmyer's funeral. Large crowd out. Walked to Hardins. Home. Wiped dishes etc. To Epworth League. Good turn out. To Church with Doris Smith. Last of Evangelistic meetings. Home. Talked. To bed 10:30 P.X.

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Mr. Glindmyer is undoubtedly Henry Glindmyer, who was a friend of the family (along with his daughters) and who had a dairy farm in Glenville. He died in 1920, so that matches with Stanford's report. Perhaps Stillman bought cream or butter from Mr. Glindmyer and that is how they knew each other.

Saturday, November 6, 1920

Beautiful bright cool autumn day. Arose 5:30A.M. Studied. Breakfast. To College 7:45 to 11 A.M. Down town on errands. Cousin Grace Cornell here to stay over Sunday. Cut wood. Greased car etc. To Church at nite with D.S.R. Hanford with Marion. "Gloria Trumpeters." Out to Parkers C. To bed 12:45 P.M.

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Aha! At last, Hanford and Marion together!

The Gloria Trumpeters were a musical group of four women trumpeters. They were formed and led by Edna White, made records and toured with a vaudeville company in the 1920s. One of their records featured "Love's Old Sweet Song."

Here is a picture of them:

And here is a photo of them in action:

Friday, November 5, 1920

Wonderful bright mild autumn day. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast. Helped father. To College 8-11 A.M. Home. Read, carried wood, pitched horseshoes etc. Dinner. Read book. Candled eggs. Took bath. To College, Church and Star Alleys. Walked. To bed 10:30 P.M.

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Thursday, November 4, 1920

Marvelous bright mild clear day. Arose 5:30 A.M. Studied. Breakfast. To College 8 A.M. to 12 M. Dinner. Studied. Helped H.H. candle eggs. Supper. Cleaned and dressed up. To College to Phi Nu Theta meeting. Down to church. Walked around town. Home. To bed 9:30 P.M. Thankful for education & opportunities.

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Stanford's drawing seems to indicate he paid some attention to the election news, but I'm not sure what might have been crossed out or what J.H.U. means. Or maybe Stanford meant to make a kind of garlanded entryway for the G.O.P.? Hard to say.

Wednesday, November 3, 1920

Cool breezy overcast autumn day. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast. To College 7:45 A.M. - 12 M. Dinner. Wrote letter to Nellie. Took nap. To library. To Church to meeting. 700 present. Wrote letter to D.S.R. Studied. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful for health, friends etc.

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That's a big meeting!

Tuesday, November 2, 1920

ELECTION. Cool cloudy day. Rain in P.M. & evening. Arose 8 A.M. Vacation. Read paper. Helped father. Sawed up wood. Pitched horseshoes etc. On hike in P.M. with bunch from church. Fine time. Home. Cleaned up. Over to church. Riverside nite. Bowled ate etc. To bed 11:45 P.M.

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Interesting that Stanford doesn't discuss who was running for President that year (Warren Harding) or that women were given the right to vote for the first time. 

Monday, November 1, 1920

Cool & Cloudy. Some rain in A.M. Arose 7:30 A.M. Studied. Breakfast etc. To college 9-12:30 M. Home. Candled eggs. Played piano, wrote in diary, read etc. Down town on errands. Studied. Bowled at Morse with Merlin. To Church to Evangelistic meeting. Walked around with H.H. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful.

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