February 26, 2013

What do pioneer diaries and your personal journal have in common?  They are both part of history.

For my book, Hope Amid Hardship: Pioneer Voices from Kansas Territory, I read the diaries of many Kansas pioneers. With few exceptions, none of these men and women went on to become famous historical figures, but they did have a story to tell – their own. When paper was scarce, they wrote wherever they could find space. One pioneer’s daily entries were carefully written between business transactions in the shopkeeper’s ledger book where she worked. This journal is a wonderful document that gives a great deal of historical information, both about the diarist and the shop.

Some diaries contained very brief entries about the weather and maybe a word or two about a dance or party. Others, like that of settler Samuel J. Reader, included descriptions of the local Native Americans he befriended, the crops he planted, and local politics. Samuel’s diaries, which he began at age fourteen and kept up until his death at seventy-eight, included wonderful watercolors of local scenes and people, including himself. His advice on writing? “Keep a diary, it is one of the best things you will do in your life.”

These pioneer journals, each charming in their own way, yielded valuable information about the time period. Individual stories weave together to become historical fabric, the warp and weft of our culture. After all, everyone’s story is important, not just those of famous historical figures.

In this world of electronic communication, we run the risk of losing the part of our cultural personality that up to now has been recorded on paper. We lose those subtle nuances that create a feeling or evoke a memory: The lingering fragrance of perfume on a first love letter, the age-revealing darkened edges of a sixth-grade diary, or the pencil-smudged pages of a first sketchbook.

The written words, the doodles in the margins, or even the type of paper all give clues about the writer. In my own journal, my handwriting often reflects my mood. When I am excited, the letters become larger and larger. And, as many of you have experienced, when I am in a hurry to finish or can’t wait to write something, my style becomes frenzied and a bit sloppy. If I am especially concerned or thoughtful, I will write more slowly and deliberately. Our words have personality. Yes, we can express ourselves in email and blogs, but I still like to feel the paper and see the written words. It’s a tangible connection from mind to hand to paper to reader – an artistic process.

When we lose the written record, we lose part of ourselves, our history. So find a notebook and start recording your personal story. Write it, sketch it, put your heart into it.

For ideas, check out the “Journaling” section on my website. I’ll keep you posted on types of journals, styles, and more. Nature journaling is a personal favorite, so I will be posting on that.

Thanks for reading!