Belle Hauser Papers

The papers of Belle Hauser (c. 1860s-1950s), a teacher in Pennsylvania, are composed of six diaries, dated 1909 to 1943; eight letters of correspondence, dating from 1937 to 1955; four pages of undated personal writings; and two newspaper clippings, both dated sometime after February 26, 1949. The diaries contain short sentences describing each day. Hauser used one diary for multiple years, using the same page for each year, adding on below the previous entry. The new entries are dated, with some starting on new lines and others picking up where the previous entry left off on the line. The first diary, dated 1909 through 1911, does not include dating for the year of 1909, but does have dating for the days in 1910 and 1911. This diary describes her life as a teacher, the weather, and some day-to-day activities and tasks. Excerpt from the first diary: “Monday Sept. 2, 1910 School opened. Went back to teacher’s meeting in the afternoon. Took a stroll to the park in the evening.” The second diary, dated 1912 through 1915, is written in the same manner as the first, in that the date is not listed for the first entry, but is included in the subsequent. The diary covers Hauser’s daily and work life. Excerpt: “[Printed] Thursday, April 11, 1912 [Handwritten] Spent a busy day at school. Went to the doctor in the evening for ninth treatment.” The third diary, dated 1916 through 1919, follows the pattern of writing of the previous, with short descriptions of her day. Excerpt: “Thurs. Oct 31, 1918. Went to school house in the morning to get my check; to the bank in the afternoon. Went over to park and got my hat. Had a letter from Edna. Called on misses Murphy and Harden.” The fourth diary is dated 1920 through 1933, and continues the writing pattern. “Tues. June 24, 1930. Went down town in the morning. Jim and I was caught in a shower.” The fifth diary ranges from 1934 through 1938. The format of this diary is intended for use over multiple years, so each page has separate sections to write in for each year. “[Printed] January 12[,] 19 [Handwritten] 37. Tuesday. Went out early to use our bait. Caught one fish.” The sixth and final diary dates from 1939 through 1943. It was made in the same format as the fifth, for multiple-year use, with contents similar to the previous five. “[Printed] March 26 [Handwritten] Thursday [Printed] 19 [Handwritten] 42. The day was very fine. Crocheted most of the date on a bureau scarf.” There are also miscellaneous notes and information in the front and back matter of the diaries. The letters are sent to either Belle, her sister Edna Elizabeth (Hauser) Teeter (also seen as Mrs. Harry S. Teeter), or her niece Eulalia I. (Teeter) Walton. The pages of writing rally against the repealing of the Eighteenth Amendment, which prohibited the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcohol, and support temperance. These pages are not dated, nor is the author’s name listed, but the handwriting does look similar to the writing in the diaries. The newspaper clippings cover the marriage of Eulalia’s daughter, Elizabeth, with one clipping describing the wedding and the other containing an image of the couple leaving their wedding. All of the documents in the collection are in delicate condition. Some of the pages of the handwritten writings are flaking and folded. Some of the covers of the diaries have broken and deteriorated, as well as one of the diaries has come out of the binding. The coverings of the binding vary from cloth to leather. The diaries are handwritten, in cursive, with a mix between ink and graphite used.