Emma Frost Diary

The diary of Emma Frost, a 24 year old woman from Detroit, Michigan, documents her social activities, amusements, and household activities in 1914. She mentions spending time at a yacht club, her maid, attending dances and movies, painting, trips to River Side Park, dates with men, a summer trip to Georgian Bay and Mackinac Island, and other activities. Frost used several pages in the back of the diary for expenses and as an address book. The following partial transcription of diary entries was provided by the seller:

"January 7th, Went downtown with mother and Louise. Fit our gowns. Bought some Chop Suey for dinner. Went to Hesse's. Maud and G. Donahue visited with here. Went to Mattie and to Tapert's. In evening went to dancing school with Dr. Hayes. Saw A. Kirchner. Went with crowd to Arcadic. Staid till 12 A.M. Took J. Kaiser and his girl home. Went over to Werner's with Dr. and Jos. K. Had a dandy lunch."

"January 12th, Very cold. Laid around all morning. Went downtown with mother and Florence. Had our hair dressed. Went to K. C. Ball with Dr. Hayes. Had gown with train. Jos. K. and Miss Mulgreen, Rose Seger and Charles Hayes, Dr. Hayes and myself. Had a limonene. Had a dandy time. Danced 30 dances. A. Kirchner, Alex, Edna and Frank and Carl. Wore violet and lily of the valley."

"February 17th, Did shopping. Went to Mrs. Wolz, to mother's club. Took Mrs. Frank, Mrs. Hammer and Mrs. Kaiser home. Went to K. C. mask party. Dressed as a Russian peasant. A. Kichner and Miss Volkman and Dr. Hayes call for me. Went in our car."

"February 20th, Did the cleaning. Staid home, slept. Went to Y. M. O. ball with Dr. Hayes in a taxicab. Came home in a big limonene with A. K. and that crowd. Had a dandy time. Mrs. Martz was in our box with us. Got a beautiful corsage."

"February 22nd, Cold, more snow. Was awaken at 8 o'clock. A fire in Hartman's liquor store. Went down there with Mr. Werner. Badly damaged. Had fire adjuster call. Took Mattie to hospital. Met Reg there. He came home with me. Dr. Haye phoned while gone. Cletis was up to Lynch's. Played 500 in the evening."

"March 17th, Raining. Went downtown with Marguerite. Saw the living models at Hudson. Went to the Liberty to see clothes. Called for mother. Staid home, had a headache. Stopped drinking coffee."

"April 12th, Fine weather. Went to receive communion. Dr. Hayes brought over a beautiful basket of candy and sent me a corsage. Went to 11:30 mass at St. Anthony's. Went out riding with Dr. Hayes. In the evening he took Marguerite and I to see Nancy Glaser. It was good."

"May 14th, Fair. Went to downtown with Louise and Marguerite. Went to a dance at the Yacht Club. Had a dandy time. Went on the roller coaster. Had a dandy ride in a Kinhun Go Car. Met H. Keating and Miss Long."

"May 17th, Warm. Beautiful. Went to 9:00 mass at Our Lady Sorrow. Met the crowd at 10:30 A.M. Left for Orchard Lake. Had our dinner there. Went to Pontiac and then to Lake Orion and then back to Pontiac. Had supper at the Log Cabin Inn. From there we went to the Yacht Club. Got home at 10 P.M. Had a dandy time. A. Kurchner, Ann Switzer, A. Zindler, Stella Look, J. Kaiser, Vena Mulqueer, C. Hayes, Rose Seager and Dr. Hayes and I."

"June 10th, Went down town in the morning. Went up to Hesse's. Went to the K. C. Moonlight. Miss the early boat. Met C. Hayes and Rose. Went to The Detroit to see A. Kellerman in Neptune's Daughter. Got the boat at 10:30 P.M. Danced all the dances. Had a dandy time. Aunt Emma didn't come."

"June 25th, Warm. Fair. Went down town with Marguerite. Went over to the Motz Tire Co. Went to the Yacht Club with the Dr. Took Emmabele with us. Took in all the sights at Riverside Park. Rode the Mountain ride and the Drop the Dip. We both had a great time."

"July 5th, Warm. Went out to the Fair Haven in the Dr.'s car to A. Kirchner's cottage. Had a dandy time. Jos and Verna rode home with us. Went over to the Yacht Club. Had a lunch then went on the Derby Racer. Rose Segar asked me to be bridesmaid."

"July 26th, Warm, 90 degrees. Went to 9 o'clock mass, to communion. Went down to Mattie's and then to Florence Glaser. Went up to Lynch's after dinner. Went for a ride over to the Island. Took a long ride out to Grosse Point then played 500 hundred. Went over to the Island 11:30 to hear curfew but didn't hear it to Rey to the ferry. Bud Fisher was with us."

"July 28th, Warm. Went to Anna Switzer's party at the Yacht Club. She announced her engagement to A. Kichner. There was a fire over on the Island. Went to see it, couldn't cross the bridge. Played 500 hundred."

"August 6th, Staid home and slept. Went to the shore, stopped at Zender's. Had a highball. Went for a long ride. Was awaken at 1 o'clock A.M. The front doorbell rung. Went over to Millenback's. The house was robbed. Was talken with the policeman at 2:30 A.M."

"August 16th & 17th, Warm. Went to 9 o'clock mass at Our Lady of Sorrow. Left at 11 o'clock A.M. on the steamer Mayesh (?) for Georgian Bay trip. Arrive at Sarnia 6:30 P.M. Staid there one half hour…..Pass a favorable night. Arrived at Mackinac Island. Took a carriage drive around the Island. It is certainly wonderful. Like it very much. Had dinner with the steward and purser. Left at 10 P.M."

"August 20th, Rain. Stopped at Parry's sound 4:45 A.M. got on the Waubic (a passenger steamer). Rode around all the B300 Island. Arrived at Penitary (?) at noon. Left there at 4 o'clock. Had a dance on the boat but wouldn't dance. Sat on deck with Mr. Swan, Marg, Lee Black and Louise and her friend." (They arrive back home the next day.)

"September 20th, Warm. Went to 9 o'clock mass at Our Lady of Sorrow. Slept most of the afternoon. George came up in the evening. Took a walk over to the Island. Spent a very pleasant evening. Asked if he could _____. Told him I would let him know. Didn't take him serious at first. Seem to enjoy his company very much." (Not sure what she meant when she said George asked her something as she just leaves that part blank. Kiss her? Marry her??)

"October 3rd & 4th, Cool. Got ready to leave for White Lake. Florence Glaser and her brother and George and I and Ethel. Arrived at the lake at 2:30 P.M. Took a row over to the Island. Had quite a little chat. Staid up until 12 P.M. Played a joke on the boys. Ethel broke the looking glass. I decided his question…..Warm. Missed church. Went out for a launch ride. Took a walk with George to the farm house. After dinner they all went out fishing. George and I staid at the house. Took care of the children. After supper went out for a row. Moonlight. Had a camp fire on the lawn. Staid up until 12 A.M. Had a lovely time."

"November 26th, Cool. Thanksgiving. Carl's family were here for dinner. Went for a ride with Mattie. George came up in the evening. Went for a ride. Did not enjoy myself. We changed my opinion of him. Very much displeased."

"December 30th & 31st, Cold. George phoned. I got up rather late. Went to the Detroit with Frances to see J. Elthing in the Criminal Girl. It was grand. George and I went out to Arne's. I went to the Dr. George decided not to phone so often. I didn't like it on him very much….Cold. Went to Jack Tinlangson. Met Ethel there. We all went out to Kraussman's. The children had a dandy time. George came up about 7:30 P.M. Acted rather cold. The first part of the evening was awfully angry. Really don't know whether to blame him or myself. He staid for the New Year. Everything fine. Very happy."