Burger Queen

Here's a woman who knows how to have it her way!

Photo from my collection, circa 1970s-80s.

Sketchbook of a Girl

DIY

Photo from my collection, circa 1920s.

Sketchbook of a Girl

I have not decided what series I am going to do next, so in the meantime, I will post this girl's sketchbook. It's really fantastic. John purchased it yesterday for me from a man he met at an antique show. It's a great little book because it's like a diary, but with drawings instead of words. Each sketch is dated and it runs from when she is 12 years old in 1933 until she turns 19 in 1940. It appears she gets married at that time. She does a few self portraits, drawings of friends & family, cartoon characters, movie stars, scenes, etc. She is great little artist. I will post several drawings everyday. Hope you enjoy them!

I am extending the deadline of the CREEPY CLOWN CONTEST until March 6, so don't forget to enter! You can win a $25 gift certificate from Amazon!

My friend, Barbara Levine, emailed me this weekend to tell me that her book was out, SNAPSHOT CHRONICLES: Inventing the American Photo Album. If you like found photos, be sure to check it out!

Millie

From my collection, circa 19th c.

DIARY OF A GIRL

May 2

4th is my B.Day. I am so tied up with emotion I don't know what to do. - can't talk now - tomorrow - maybe tommorrow - I've got to tell some one before it leaks out. God! Please help me! I can't laugh or cry. I am to emotional all I can do is sit!!

I was so stupid then I had seen David _____ - the guy from Dallas - My God

I'll have to stop leaving my diary out - people are reading it. I've got to lose weight - I weigh a 104 lbs. I should weigh about 95! I am going.

And that's all she wrote. It ends on such a dramatic note, just like what I would expect from Mallory. There are several blank pages after this, but no other writing. Why was she so distraught? We'll never know.

Hope you enjoyed this found diary. I will have to start up a new series. Hmmm, will it be love letters from 1900s Galveston, or the obsessed political letters and ephemera of a man who took a gun to the funeral of Kennedy and was busted by the cops? Or maybe another diary or an entire photo album that has captions....

What's in the Jar?

Photo from my collection, circa 1910s.

DIARY OF A GIRL

Has been a great weekend now I've made up my mind - Marialice - first

1. Go to Kirby _______'s luncheon.

2. Then to Muddie's with Dru - bought new dress & shirt

3. Then egg hunt

4. ________s come over

5. High point - David ______ is in town - told Mrs. ________ to tell him hello. he went surfing with David L., Brad, & Gary. I wish to see him again! I think I'll tell Mary that he came over!

6. Went with Marialice & her mother to work - went to Neiman's - got a new swim suit - which I love! & I got an adorable dress - Mama thinks is to small - which I'll send back - navy & white flowers, white middle with white buttons I loved it!



This will be a new feature on Swapatorium. I get lots of mail asking me to check out sites, books, music, etc. I will start posting it under this heading. If you have something you want me to take a look at or post for you and it pertains to the world of junking, recycling, collecting, old photos, etc, send me an email. This is a free feature, but it will be strictly limited to topics relevent to Swapatorium.

Kyeann Sayer from treehugger sent me this link to a documentary, TWO MUSEUMS: An Incredible Look at the Fate of Everyday Objects. Looks fascinating. I'm planning on ordering the DVD.

Jesse Thorn from The Sound of Young America did interviews with Davey Rothbart of Found Magazine, and the director of the film Other People's Pictures (about photo collectors). Check it out!

Yearbook of the Year

This is the best yearbook I have ever seen. A man who knows that we like photos and letters gave us a box of ephemera from an art/architecture student from the late 1960s-70s. Included was this Rice yearbook from 1970. I have scanned a few of the pages so you can get an idea what it contains. Apparently they set up a photobooth in their school in 1969 and asked students to pose. Those photobooths were then used as the yearbook images. Genius, in my book!

DIARY OF A GIRL

I just wish my family didn't disapprove of Cathy so wholeheartedly! Oh well - maybe it's all for the best. My report card (see scan)

I have to make 1 E or less in conduct to go the sc. geology field trip.

Right now this very instant - I could be best friends with Cathy, Mary, or Marialice but not with all of them - they all clash - Marialice clashes the most with everyone. She is not on my social level - below. I have worked so hard to get up - so I don't know what to do. Here I stand whatever I do I'll regret. I want to keep all my friends - I will have to decide Mon or sooner. Gotta go its 10:15. I have to get up at 6:30 tomorrow. Bye!

Opium Fiend

Opium Fiend, Chinatown - San Francisco

This is one of Chinatowns pictures I went with a party bought it under the care of a guide most wonderful sights I ever saw it will take me a year to tell half Ive seen dont know when will be home Ma Ma

Sent from San Francisco to Houston, Oct. 1905. From my collection.

DIARY OF A GIRL

Have come back from Calif. Talk about that later. I had borrowed Mary's white purse for Calif. She said she would pick it up this afternoon but forget to call or anything & that's all.

Today Marialice said is Mary mad at me she doesn't even say "hi" to me in the halls. I made up some excuse. But I think I am going to either have to be with either one - Mary is more fun, but I think our friendship is doomed - being as how her parents are terribly against me. I don't know what to do. I am going to a luncheon at Sakowitz by Kirby ______ and her cousin from out of town is to be the MAID of HONOR. I think I will wear my R., W., & B. coat & dress.

Mag Hag

We spent this weekend at a garage sale that had thousands of old magazines, books, and ephemera. It was all stored in an old building. There was so much that it was overwhelming. It didn't stop us, or should I say me, from buying over 500 magazines from the 1850s-1930s. Mostly Vogue from the 1920s-30s, but also some 19th century ladies magazines that have the most gorgeous colored fashion engravings. The Vogue pictured above has a cover by Salvador Dali. That's probably one of my favorites, but most of the covers are stunning. Any of the items that are in good shape will be put in archival bags and put on my bookshelf. I bought some cheap ones that were damaged that I will use for collage. I was really fascinated by the nice older gentleman who had amassed this pile of paper. Over twenty years ago, he would go to the paper recycling center and dive for old ephemera. They don't allow you to do that anymore, at least not here. Darn, I wish I had thought of that one! All in all, a fabulous shopping weekend.

DIARY OF A GIRL

I just got shoed out of Mama's & Daddy's bedroom - daddy said madly - I want to get into my underwear & walk around so out! What gets me is the rest of the family is in there! I have done my rough copy on my orchid report I have to wash my hair, then do my sideseams on my dress & my zipper. I also studied for my history test though I need to study so more. Linda _______ goes to the _______'s church. I got a new swim suit today. Everyone is against me! No one likes me! They all want to pick on me. Even the cat isn't sympathetic!

Sore Loser

Photos from my collection.

Posting a found photograph or letter/diary, you stand the chance of someone recognizing the person. The internet has made the world quite small. I received an anonymous comment yesterday from someone who said they went to school with the diary girls. Please email me directly and not through the comments. I don't want to post any information on them other than what came straight from Mallory's mouth through her diary, but I would like to hear from you if you really did know the girls. That being said, next week is the finale of this diary so if you are a fan of Mallory, make sure you check in to see how it all ends.

DIARY OF A GIRL

Mar 3, 1970

Gotta write I'm down. Gray's going to Calif. he has been sueponaed.

1. Everything I sew people critizize and make fun of, even though I work my head off.

2. I burned my hand badly on the stove.

3. I made a pink dress and no one liked it.

4. I have a major Eng theme due - 500 word, fotenotes, notecards, outline, & bibiliography.

I don't know what do or who to turn to. I know I'll quite sewing! My hand hursts. I am nervous all shaky inside. Everyone hates me. My hand hurts. I am going to have to quit because I am going to start crying soon.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentines and photos from my collection.

DIARY OF A GIRL

Mary's Mother is not going to let Mary come over here anymore. In other words we can't play anymore. Mary seems very glad in fact, I bet she & her Mother & Father made that up all together. So Mary is friends with - Lou Ann, Sara, Mike, Felicia, & Susie - she almost ignores everyone else. It seems like everytime I play with her she just makes life miserable for me. I wish she'd be nice - I need a friend that lives near me, goes to camp with me, & was, is a lot of fun. Oh well!

Marialice has a tandem bicycle. I have got to lose weight. I think I will keep a record of everything I eat. & see how much it actually is.

Recycled Memories

I often write in my description that an item was part of a large lot of ephemera from an estate sale. Here's an example of the loot that was purchased this weekend to give you an idea of what I mean by the word lot. There are some really great 1906 love letters from Galveston, Texas. Also some fabulous postcards of the San Francisco earthquake and the Texas City disaster. There are even more photo albums than what I have shown. Not every week looks like this, but for some reason, this was a good paper weekend. I'll post some of the individual finds from this lot in future posts.

DIARY OF A GIRL

Feb 25

Gray has been reading my diary so, I'm putting it in a new place. In my shoe cabinet in the bottom drawer. Made a 95 on math test & 94 on history & 88 on science & C on my science report which surprized me.

I just called Dannah to ask about her father selling Gray his bicycle. Dannah is so nice she makes you feel good to talk to her! I want to be better friends with her. Spending the night with Marialice Fri. Fri is a holiday - fatstock show.

Operation

This cartoon booklet was part of a large lot of drawings that I purchased several years ago from the estate of a lady who was an artist. She drew this when she was 12 years old in 1936.

DIARY OF A GIRL

Feb 18

Mike sent Mary a Valentine & asked her to go steady. ID and all that. Mary came over to show me. I said my, my, my. That's great ect... & she says - well is that all you are going to do. What does she expect I haven't even see the guy she's going with. Tomorrow is going to be a depressingly busy day tomorrow.

(1) Wash hair 1/2 hr
(2) Take Cyrano to vet 1 hr
(3) Sc. report 2 hr
(4) Sc. test 1 1/2 hr

How do you like that. Wish me good luck. It's 10:15 Bye.

Battle Scars

What do you think these Texas veterans were up to? Are the fellows on the bottom row part of an initiation or a reenactment of some sort?

DIARY OF A GIRL

Remember David _______? Well the song of his - Gypsy - is going to be recorded by RCA! He is now in SMU in Dallas where he lives. I was on cloud 9! The very boy I was so infatuated by only a month ago. To think of it a month ago - he & me sitting by the fire - & he was making songs about me. & for me. Hallaleijah! Mrs. _______ says that he was still talking about me. I think I will write him - & see what happens.

Thrift Store Art Contest - WINNER

In order to keep things fair, I had Claire Chauvin, from the awesome POOPSCAPE, judge the contest. The winner is Formica with MUTANT LOVE which was purchased in a San Francisco thrift store! Thanks so much to everyone who entered and to the lovely Claire for judging the contest!

DIARY OF A GIRL

Now - I've been waiting to tell the big news. Rememember a while back in my other diary when I mentioned Daved______. I met him over at the_________. He was 18 & all night he made love to me & stared at me all through dinner over chrystal wine goblets & a bacarat chandieler. & finally in the middle of dinner he said - I'm in love - with you. I flipped. I was wearing make up, lip gloss, contacts, my hair was shining & in braids wrapped around my ears & my lacy Mexican peasent blouse - I looked gorgeous. He didicated a song to me. - Gypsy - he was the best guitarest I had ever heard - in real life. & this was one of the prettiest songs. The chords F, C, G, A. The words - I'll never probably know, or so I thought. Any way sitting there on that cold winters eve - by the fire with David ______ playing songs for you - heaven!

Old, Old School

Source: Homecrafts and Hobbies, 1936.

DIARY OF A GIRL

Feb. 13 - Friday

I have a lot of news to report - How do you like my new pen? Valentine present from Mama. I washed my hair today. I made a 96 on my last math test. We are starting to sew now in homec. I am making an adorable dress. Navy & white stripped dress with an empire red sash with gold buttons & a scoped neck - real cute. I am to be in the basketball intramurals I am to be a guard. I'm getting better too. Mary is going to Austin today - take-away Inn. But I just found out why Mary quit really studiing for tests when we had little sessions - she gets all of her answers from LouAnn & LouAnn has a cheat sheet. I am real disappointed in Mary. I didn't think she would do anything like that. I got one Valentine from - Marialice - a yellow lollipop. & one from Muddie.

We had a real hard science test. I must admit I got 1 answer from the girl in front of me - I shouldn't have. I have to do a science report & an english them - both real hard.

Boys Will Be Girls

I purchased a cigar box filled with photos at an estate sale recently. These were at the bottom of the box. There is no writing on them, but one photo shows a College Station sign. So it would appear that these boys were from Texas A&M, circa 1930s. I also have a handful of other shots from this series that show large groups of boys in their costumes in front of a train. Is this a freshman hazing? Does anyone out there know?

DIARY OF A GIRL

Feb 3.

Made a 79 & an 84 on math test - going down in average. The history test was real hard. Oma & Ival are leaving tomorrow - we ate here the whole time! Not going out to dinner once! I went to dancing had great fun - I like Bobby a lot! We learned the Vianese Waltz - I forgot it - it's hard. Gray gave Mary a Valentine box of candy today. I got the zipper & neck facing in my dress - sleeves & pockets tomorrow - maybe. It's 10:00 - gotta run!

The Dating Game

Joann was quite the party girl back in 1945! The bank ledger is empty except for this entry. Too bad I don't have her diary!

DIARY OF A GIRL

It was real windy this morning - I felt almost that the house would blow down. It rained real hard last night. Oma & Ival are driving here & will get here this evening. I must go over to Mary's & get my dress today. Mother made awful bisquits for breakfast this morning. Today I well: 1. do cross word puzzle for health, clean room, maybe sew a little.