Series 1: Diaries, 1913/1970

Scope and content:

This series contains over thirty diaries written and maintained by Maude Presslor through various periods of her life. Earlier diaries center on her social, family, and school life as a teenager (then Maude Mathas) in Montezuma, Indiana. She frequently discusses her interactions with friends, including her future husband John Dee Presslor. Later diaries from the World War II era focus on her family life and the participation of her sons, Richard Frank and David Lowell, in the armed services. Presslor also mentions major geopolitical events in her entries, such as the Allied invasion of Normandy, the death of President Franklin Roosevelt, and the surrenders of Germany and Japan. In addition to her written entries, Presslor's diaries include newspaper clippings detailing similar events. Diaries from the decades following World War II focus more on Presslor's daily activities, such as her participation in Women's Society of Christian Services social functions. She also writes at length about the activities of her children and grandchildren. As with the World War II period, these diaries include references and newspaper clippings concerning major news stories. Topics include presidential elections, political assassinations, and U.S. engagements in Southeast Asia.

Access and use

Contents