Elizabeth Scott
edshome.bsky.social
Elizabeth Scott
@edshome.bsky.social
Retired: faculty, dean, managing editor. Business Ethics. HRM. Active: refugee resettlement, English teaching, technical support. My whole life: UCC member.
Pinned
In 1925, my grandmother kept a diary. She was a single, 20-something English teacher in Reidsville, NC. During 2025, I will post most of her entries here on the same month and day she posted them – with #NCHistory, #1925
Bethany is not on Harvey’s way back to Elon – he may have some “reading days” prior to exams and/or he may have wanted more time with his sister.
Somewhere in Missouri, Dick Van Dyke was born on this very day.
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
December 13, 2025 at 4:33 PM
There’s not much evidence that she buys anything when she’s down town, but her father’s store is near the Imperial Theater, so she could leave things with him while she continues her social life. It is amazing how often she goes out to a play or movie. No date with G.
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
December 12, 2025 at 2:16 PM
She does not explain how the “tire trouble” was resolved. Did they wait for someone to come by and offer help? They did get to Greensboro in time to go to the movies. It looks like G didn’t get a Friday night date.
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
December 11, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Mail delivery was quick and reliable. Perhaps not as quick as a text or phone call, but still quick enough for “dates” to be arranged for the weekend.
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
December 10, 2025 at 1:46 PM
These letters were from Virginia, where they lived prior to about 1920. She had a cousin Irene who was her age, so that is probably who the second letter is from.
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
December 9, 2025 at 2:24 PM
At this time of year, she probably has lots of grading to do. Judging by the start-date of the semester, she may not have to create exams until January.
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
December 8, 2025 at 2:09 PM
December 7th is not yet a “date which will live in infamy.” A test on her extension work was the most exciting news. It seems she has a limit on how much she will tease Mack.
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
December 7, 2025 at 12:58 PM
A weekend at home with a lot of male attention seems to be the ticket. She is in much better spirits than she was a few days ago.
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
December 6, 2025 at 2:06 PM
I came home from Thanksgiving on the train - had to take a picture of the Greensboro, NC train station. I am sure it has changed a lot since 1925 when my grandmother lived there.
December 5, 2025 at 2:05 PM
“N” is not a family name, so was probably a housekeeper. She probably cooked and cleaned for my great grandfather while his daughters were off teaching school.
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
December 5, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The day after she evaded a prank planned on her, she introduced her brother to Mack as the other man she has been dating.
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
December 5, 2025 at 1:56 PM
She has participated in pranks on her fellow teachers before, so perhaps that made her more aware of the signs that one was being planned for her.
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
December 3, 2025 at 10:38 PM
It’s interesting that she doesn’t use her diary to explore her feelings. She says more about techniques she used to stop herself from crying, but doesn’t talk about why she’s feeling blue. “Stiff upper lip” wins out over “you’ll feel better if you let it all out.”
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
December 2, 2025 at 2:26 PM
She is sad again. Advent is marking time towards her first Christmas without her mother.
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
December 1, 2025 at 3:23 PM
The amount of teacher education going on is impressive. I hope the quality matched the quantity.
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
November 30, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Atlanta folk: any cab recommendations? Going from Lilburn to the train station. Thanks.
#Atlanta
November 30, 2025 at 12:24 AM
G and Mack in competition again – W is not a love-interest, so she chose the trip with G. Did G stay past curfew?
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
November 30, 2025 at 12:21 AM
No entry for today. Hope everyone is having a nice Thanksgiving break.
November 28, 2025 at 4:22 PM
She and her sister are not there during the week, so much of the work their mother did is left undone until they come for the weekend. Their father lived with one of his children for most of the rest of his life. We finally learn what happened to MH.
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
November 27, 2025 at 11:56 PM
No MH and no Thanksgiving feast. It appears that the holiday had not taken hold yet. They didn’t even seem to be observing a “day of prayer and fasting.”
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
November 26, 2025 at 12:12 PM
The house is certainly busy. It is the day before Thanksgiving, but no mention of preparation for a feast. She is out of school in the middle of the week and there are ball games, so it seems like a Thanksgiving break.
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
November 25, 2025 at 1:59 PM
She is now calling “Sister” by her name – “Essie Mae.” Bertha may have been working downtown. G G is a new character.
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
November 24, 2025 at 1:24 PM
She has plenty of intrigue in her own dating life – but she seems to enjoy it in the movies as well. Mr. S must be a friend of G’s.
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
November 23, 2025 at 1:13 PM
She reliably spells extension “extention” and I have to fight with autocorrect. I still have not uncovered what “to buck someone” means. It is not pleasant, so my original guess of giving a dollar to the person does not hold water.
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
November 22, 2025 at 2:02 PM
She was worried about her brother a few weeks ago, so that may have been why she wanted to stay home and talk with him. He was a WWI veteran and the youngest of the brothers.
#NCHistory, #1925, #OTD
November 21, 2025 at 1:15 PM