1910 Handwritten Travel Diary Europe Elliott Griswold Milliken Family Covina CA

Description

WELCOME TO SALLY’S DIARIES:
Before I tell you about this Edwardian travel diary I want to mention that I have begun a podcast called Diary Discoveries. I share stories from some amazing people who are represented in the original diaries from my private collection. If this is the kind of thing you like please check out my podcast as we’ve done 10 episodes already. You can find it on most of the podcast venues. Again it’s called Diary Discoveries.
As far as this diary is concerned. The year is 1910 and it’s a travel diary written by a woman whose name I believe is Gertrude Elliott. There is a name written in the front and I’m almost sure it is Gertrude as it lists an address for her while in Germany and then another address which is “Gamma Phi Beta House, Berkeley California.” There is also a postcard written to Gertrude that was found between the pages and the message on this postcard seems to have to do with the University in Berkeley. It has a photo of two young men on it and it reads….
“August 30, 1910. Dear Gertrude,
Glenn and I start home the 17
th
, Mamma is not going for a couple of weeks. I am going to U.S. C. next year. I am going to take to Armour Fust
(?),
at Chicago. I am going to study
architecture. Chautanqua
(?)
closed here Sunday. Will write you a letter as soon as I get started to school. With love, Hoy K. On my way home I am going to stop off at Berkeley if I can. Have you heard that Chas. Ward was sent home again because he couldn’t pass the ex?”
Then there’s another postcard and this one is addressed to
“Miss
Kitty Nason, 1100 Pearl St. Sioux City Iowa.”
It’s signed “Baby” and I’m assuming that’s Gertrude as she talks all about getting ready to head to Europe, and it says….
“
June 6
th
, 1910.
You see, I am poor and Europe is a sure thing. I leave here June 18 and sail June 25. No stopovers. Santa Fe. We are rushed to death. Went to town today and had my measurements taken for tailor suit. Dark blue sage. The dressmaker comes this week. Am not going to have many clothes. I go as far as London with a party of 22 and from there Miss Hawes and I leave and go to Germany and tour it thoroughly. Well see the Passion Play. “Baby”.
”
Finally when I went to look her up on the genealogy pages I found a passenger list for the very sailing that our author talks about and of course that list has her name on it sailing on the ship “Columbia.” There is just a brief one page description in the diary about her time on the boat going over but she does say she lands in Glasgow on July 3
rd
, 1910. She is sailing as a “Saloon” passenger.
The final thing that seemed to seal the deal was on one of the pages of entries she talks about being on board the ship “Columbia” which was the same as the genealogy web site passenger list. So everything seems match up but of course further research needs to be done.
So
if this is the same Gertrude I found on the genealogy sites she was born in December of 1891 in Los Angeles California to the parents of James Rufus Elliott and Carrie L. Griswold.
The Griswold and Elliott families where pioneers who were among the first settlers in the Covina area and instrumental in development of the citrus fruit industry in the mid 1880s.
She lived in Rowland California and then moved to Covina where she married Herbert Eyre Milliken in 1915.
They had three children: Nancy, Arthur and John. The photos you see above are of Gertrude and then the entire family including the Griswold’s, Elliott’s and Milliken’s.
Those are the only two pieces that I copied from the web, the other pieces of ephemera were found in the diary.
The couple eventually moved to Los Angeles. Herbert passed away in 1944 and Gertrude in 1985.
There are
37 handwritten pages describing her trip
including having her fortune told
before she boards the ship
, a
six
day bicycle trip though Germany
with
one day consist
ing
of 70 miles just that day,
a boat trip to Interlaken, fireworks and Illuminations one night while in Grindelwald and so much more. H
ere are a few example entries…..
1910
“
June 21
st
,
Arrived at 10:00 A.M. Left 3:00 P.M. Went to Marshall Fields for lunch. Did a little shopping. Hot weather, beastly hot. Went to Michigan Central R.R. Traveled all night through Kalamazoo, Battler Creek, Jackson, Detroit, Ann Arbor.”
“
June 22
nd
,
Arrived at 6:00 A.M. Left at 8:30 A.M. Went in carriage around the falls over on to Canadian side, etc. American Falls, 167 ft. Canadian 158 ft. high. Didn’t have time to go on “Maid of the Mist” or to go beneath the falls. Went to Buffalo from there stopped half hour and then took train for Albany. Miss Bartlett joined us at Buffalo.”
“
June 22
nd
,
Albany. Miss Williams told my fortune by cards. At first, oodles of money but later numerous romances force money into background. Two tall fair handsome young men, a very dark woman as a rival. Another rather dark woman comes to the rescue. Will meet them soon. Results not known but appear favorable. Many, many friends. Romances come all at once. General good luck. Will receive rather a business like letter, very important, soon. Also a gift and handsome gowns. Nothing said concerning my long journey. Stayed all night in Albany. Took car ride. Bum town, all flats. Beastly hot. Saw Capitol and state buildings. Fireflies. Saw oodles of nice looking fellows.”
(She takes a trip down the Hudson River on the boat, “Robert Fulton.” Says there were a lot of brides and grooms on board. Then an auto down Fifth Avenue in New York, Coney Island, Luna Park and more.)
“
June 25
th
,
Had breakfast at 6:00 A.M. and went to pier. Crowds of people there. Did not see Lorraine. Boat left at 9:15 A.M. Got eight letters and a book.”
“
June 25
th
– July 3
rd
. Columbia. First three days very calm and lovely. June 28
th
, terribly rough and foggy. Many sick. I still felt perfectly ok. Weather improved. First sighted land (Ireland) July 2
nd
about 2 P.M. Foggy. Ireland lovely, everything green and white. Stopped at Moville at 7 P.M. Met boat from Londonderry. About one third of the people on board left here. Arrived at Glasgow July 3
rd
, 8:00 A.M.”
“
July 3
rd
,
Were not bothered by customs. Could not get train to Edinburgh until 5 o’clock because it was Sunday. Went to the Cathedral, splendid service. Milk Chocolate. St. Enoch Hotel for lunch. Grand eats. Went out to museum and college. Left Glasgow at 5:00 P.M. Arrived at Edinburgh 7:10 P.M. Stayed at Pension Grant, 17 Hatton Place. Take “Churchill & P.O.” car to Landor Road. Walk 1 block.”
(London the next day and then on to Antwerp, Rotterdam, Hague, Amsterdam)
“
July 8
th
,
Hague. Went out to “House in the Woods.” Lovely forest, trees covered with green moss. House very interesting. First peace conference held there. Grapes. Went to Art gallery and old prison. Saw all old instruments of torture. Went out to Scheveningen, a beach resort. Lovely drive. Left Hague 7:05 and arrived at Amsterdam 8:00. Stayed at Hotel des Pays.”
(On to Germany)
“
July 15
th
,
Celebration at Coblenz, promenade. Illumination at the fortress of Ehrenbreitstein. Lovely. People didn’t got to bed until very late. Had to stay at the Victoria, fierce candle light…….”
“
July 22
nd
and 23
rd
,
Took train to Titisee, grand scenery. Old Scotchman. Lunched at Titisee and then started off on our bicycles.
Grand. Down hill. Went through Neustadt, Loffingen and Peiselfingen. Puncture at last place. Village people. Drinking cup, buttons on shoes, etc. Three hours to fix it. Started on at 8:30. Puncture again in Miss H.’s wheel. Walked up hill. Began to thunder, lightening and rain. “Around the corner.” Fierce. No houses along the way. Soaking wet, over two hours. Peasant house full. Went on to Boundrof.”
“
July 31
st
,
Basel Interlaken. Rained in Basel. Ate lunch at Hotel Victoria Went to Berne and on to Thurn. Took boat from there to Interlaken. Poured down rain. Two hour trip. Met Mrs. Haley and daughter. Went to Hotel Central and Continental. Not very grand. Next morning walked down street. Met all Americans so left for Grindelwald. Nice trip up there.”
“
August 1
st
,
Grindelwald. Hotel Belvedere. Nice place. Went up to the glacier and into the cave. Perfectly blue, lovely illumination and fireworks in evening. Search light. Sat out on our little porch. Grindelwald is a lovely little place. Saw sunrise next morning. Very beautiful. Left at 6:50 for Scheidegg.”
Her entries go on for a few more pages and then suddenly stop while she is in Luzern. Not sure why. Plenty more pages that I have not quoted from.
As far as the condition of the diary there is some damage (burned perhaps?) on the cover and then also some wear to the edges of the cover. The cover has come apart from the binding, a few loose pages, so really this diary needs some archive repair. The diary measures about 4” x 6 1/2”.