Daughter of Charlotte K. Willmering (b. circa 1884). Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki:
Purchase.
Accessioned and minimally described in November 2009 by Ute Schechter.
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Dorothy Lee Willmering Diaries, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Diaries, 1930-1931 of Dorothy Lee Willmering (b. circa 1915) of Columbus City, Louisa County, Iowa. Dorothy, who was about 15 when she started her diaries, lived with her mother and older sister.
Dorothy mentions visiting her father (her parents were divorced) and receiving letters from him. She also mentions her group of friends, boy friends, social activities and not doing well in school.
For a more detailed description and excerpts, both provided by the seller, see folder link below:
The following description and excerpts were provided by the seller: "Lucy writes of constantly going out with her "gang" of friends, which includes both girls and boys. Some of her friends are older and can drive, and some like to get drunk. Lucy writes of the fights she has with her friends, seeing a kid take carbolic acid and says "it was terrible" .... She writes of getting new neighbors, her rotten grades at school, bob sled parties, hanging out with her friends the boys she kisses and whose lap she sits on, a guy who felt her "bust" and made her mad, and there's an interesting entry where she writes of her father's face being half gone and looking terrible!" Excerpts provided by the seller: "..... First thing that greeted me was a note from Bill & Con. Was with Marquerite some this noon. Answered Bills note and gave it to him tonite ..... Fel. visited school and such a time. At noon Billie gave me a note, answered it and gave it to him after school and talked to him. Rode home with Fel .... Talked to Bill at noon. He was peeved at "Con". I wrote him a long letter, gave it to him after school but had a hard time. I sure felt bad about him being sort of mad "Take your choice Cornelia or I" ..... Louise and I went bob sledding tonite. I went to meet Fel. We sure had fun. Cow-bell, "Jingle bells", apples and popcorn, at Wm. afterward. Bowser went along and such a bother .... Sat in Pineys car this noon. "Monkey wrench" ha ha! "Do you cough from the bottom up or the bottom down?" I nearly felt like crying when I came home, it sure was lonesome for awhile .... Went down town and back with Glen, Kenny, Jake and Jess. Set in car after Glen went to Richies and got me. He sure had the devil in him tonite. Hid my pocketbook, kiss again. "I love you, I love you, I love you!!!" ..... Glen borrowed my pen again and the sweet smiles he can give. Rode on bicycle tonite with: Jake, Ray and Kenny. Sure is fun! Found out that Ozella Hontg quit school, amen, what a relief .... Tonite I sure told que what I thot of her - Our friendship has ended forever. I still have dear old Jess and Nell tho! .... Went to town, que half mad. Jess wanted me to go with K.D. but wouldn't, Jake felt my "bust". Boy was I mad - Glenn stepped on my toe to get me to look at him. Went home, Jake and Jess kissed 'bye' and Glen told Kenny he was going to kiss me soon. Stopped at Kenny's for Kodak. Went home, Glen kissed me on door step. Ooh! ..... Walked to town with Nel, Jake and Kenny. Fun. Saw que and she came with us but we didn't want her - On way home Jake handed me an envelope. Glen said open it and I did, it had a little snake in it, Glen sure laughed ..... School. Jess and Que sure made at Nell and I. Jess mad cause she had to walk home Friday nite and Que cause she thinks I'm jealous of her. Sure formed my opinion of them. Wrote Que a pretty slamming letter. I cried 5th period to think those girls would do that. Anyhow, I try to act like I don't care and cold shoulder them. In store tonite we sure started on Kenny, he said he didn't know his name was signed at end of letter. That makes 2 more from the "dear old gang". I hope they are satisfied at last. I don't ever want to be in it again after such slams and insults and names ..... Blanche and Bill up a while this a.m. Blanche and Bill up to Elsie's for supper. I was there all afternoon and for supper. Blanche had a bottle of hooch and was drunk. Joe and Bill were trying to get her mad. Went home about 9:00 with Joe in truck ........." "Some of the names she mentions in the diary are: Donald James ~ Lawrence Case ~ Guy Masonholder ~ Aunt Florence Hunter ~ Mary Black ~ Herman Weymeyer ~ Bob Owens ~ Tom Robertson ~ Bertha Thomas ~ Red Samuelson." "Some of the places she mentions in the diary are: Iowa City ~ Grandview ~ Galesburg ~ Salem ~ Brighton ~ Burlington ~ Savannah."