Drumm, Helen Diary Guide to the Helen Drumm Diary SC 00939

Guide to the Helen Drumm Diary SC 00939


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Special Collections Research Center

William & Mary Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
400 Landrum Dr
Williamsburg, Virginia
Business Number: 757-221-3090
spcoll@wm.edu
URL: https://libraries.wm.edu/libraries-spaces/special-collections

Finding Aid Authors: Ute Schechter.

Repository
Special Collections Research Center
Identification
SC 00939
Title
Helen Drumm Diary 1927-1928, 1934
Quantity
0.01 Linear Foot
Quantity
Creator
Drumm, Helen
Language
English

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Conditions Governing Access:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation:

Helen Drumm Diary, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Acquisition Information:

Purchase.

Processing Information:

Accessioned and processed by Ute Schechter in May 2009.


Scope and Contents

Diary, 1927, 1928, 1934 of Helen Drumm, a teacher of Tacoma and Republic, Washington (State). Helen Drumm records her 1927 and 1934 trips to California describing some places and structures in great detail. Her entries also cover the year 1928 when she moved to Republic, Washington to take on a new teaching position.

For the 1934 trip her entries include writings of are of a more religious nature.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • California--Description and travel--20th century
  • Women teachers
  • Women travelers--Diaries
  • Women--Diaries
  • Women--Religious aspects
  • Women--Travel

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • California--Description and travel--20th century

Container List

Mixed Materials Small Collections Box 58 folder: 1 id56719
Diary
1927-1928, 1934
Scope and Contents

Includes trips from her hometown of Tacoma Washington to Santa Cruz, California (1927); to Republic, Washington (1928) and California in general (1934). At the start of the diary Miss Drumm (1900-1991) is a Tacoma grade school teacher. She uses this diary at three different times in her life. In 1927 she travels by bus to Santa Cruz to attend a teacher's conference. In 1928 she travels to Republic, Washington to teach school.In 1934, she again visits California, this time for an extended trip, visiting many places throughout the state. Miss Drumm's bus trip from Tacoma to Santa Cruz describes primitive accommodations and also somewhat of an adventure. She is the only woman on the bus at the start of the trip. One entry: "Almost into Oakland a Ford ran into us. We were going fast and so was the car in front of us. It stopped quickly and so did the fellow who ran into us. No damage but some broken glass. Bus was running about 45-50 now to make the 10:30 ferry and arrive in (San) Francisco at 11:30. tooo tired to speak. Beautiful ride and very happy trip." In 1928, Miss Drumm accepts an appointment to teach in Republic, Washington, a small town in the Northwest of the state. She talks about traveling there by train, setting up her household and the first few months on the job. Of her class she writes: "30 beginners and some cut ones, but, oh, some poor ones... Home conditions are terrible here among the lower people. Of course, the higher class people are fine. Most of folks are old timers here, born, raised, married and settled down here." Miss Drumm revisits California in 1934, her life having taken a religious turn. In writing about this trip she notes her observations of the places visited, rather than writing about what she does daily. During this trip she: Goes to the dedication of the Long Beach Marine Stadium. Sees the Negro Choral Society, directed by Minnie Albritton at the Hollywood Bowl. Visits Forrest Lawn and says it is "one of the outstanding art shrines in America." Goes to 11 different California Catholic Missions: San Jose, San Carlos, San Miguel Archangel, Santa Barbara, San Juan Capistrano, San Luis Rey, San Diego, San Gabriel, San Juan Baptista, Mission Dolores and San Francisco Solano. This section includes some original drawings by Miss Drumm. Visits the Holy City in the Santa Cruz Mountains. "