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Preferred Citation

Papers of Margaret Lynn Templeton, Accession #11125 , Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

These diaries were made a gift to the Library by Joan Jacobs Brumberg of Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, on November 10, 1993.

Scope and Content Information

There are five volumes of diaries, December 1915 through March 18, 1934, kept by Margaret Lynn Templeton (1895-1978) of Staunton, Virginia. There are personal entries documenting her social, academic and business life. There are frequent references to military and social activities; officers, cadets, and students; and school buildings at Staunton Military Academy, Virginia Military Institute, and Washington and Lee   University. References to Virginia Military Institute include drilling and marching, dress parades, graduation, balls and dances, patriotic pageants, and the library. Also mentioned are the Ambulance Unit and Society Celebration at Washington and Lee   University. There is a mention of Helen Keller being at the New Theatre (May 1916).

Organization

Volume I: 7 pages 1-56, December 31, 1915 - January 6, 1917, written on recto; pages 57-112, January 13, 1917 - November 3, 1917, written on verso.

Volume II: pages 113-270 (271 blank), November 4, 1917 - October 13, 1919; list of "1919-1920 Dances"; [index] of 1918-1920; "Cadets I knew in 1918-1919"; and, "Dore House Bunch 1918- 1919" following last page of diary.

Volume III: pages unnumbered, October 18, 1919 - September 9, 1921; "Dances 1919- 1920" and "Dances 1920-1921" on front cover; [index] of 1920-1921 following last page of diary.

Volume IV: pages unnumbered, September 11, 1921 - May 13, 1928.

Volume V: pages unnumbered, June 8, 1928 - March 18, 1934.

Select Diary Entries

1916 Jan: [at Curry's playing and dancing; tea at Mrs. J. A. Alexander; [Warren] Giles; Mr. Pine; Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Castle in the "Whirl of Life"; Mrs. Terry; mother; Harold Lockwood and May Allison in "End of the Road"; Miss Evie and Miss Moss; Mary Pickford in "Madam Butterfly"; dance at Staunton Military Academy; Mr. McKelvey; [dansant] at Mrs. S. D. Timberlake, Jr's; Junior meeting; dancing class; Starke; Eleanor; Eleanor Curry; Harold Lockwood at the New Theatre; to sally port; to M. S. B. to Anton Kaspar's recital; Francis Bell's sister; "Armstrong's wife"]

1916 Feb: [Kenyon Smith; T. B. S.; dancing class; Edmund Starke; tea at Stuart Hall; mother; Joe Collins; Edwin Wayland; "Strife Eternal" at New Theatre; Argyle's; Willie Hann; Clifton Collier; basketball game between Staunton Military Academy and Washington and Lee   University scrubs; Miss Baugh's and Mr. Thomas' recital; Miss Angy Manning Taylor's Bible lecture at First Presbyterian Church; Alumnae Board meeting; "Gentleman from Indiana"; Page; Eleanor; Margery Brelsford Pilson and her son Billy Brelsford; reception at Stuart Hall; type writing; Marguerite Clark in "The Prince and the Pauper"; Fullerton; Harold Lockwood in "The Buzzard's Shadow"; "Reveries of a Bachelor" at the New Theatre for the King's Daughters' Union; Dad; lecture at high school; Margaret Hawkes; Margaret Enslow; Evangeline Harman; Charlotte Spotts; Hogshead's; Catherine Holt; Episcopal reception for Staunton Military Academy cadets in church squad; McKelvey; Newbury; James; William Sale; Gates; Norman; movies; Belgian Benefit at New Theatre; double quartet from Staunton Military Academy; Schaubs; Lybarger; Frazier; McAllister; Laws; Kibbe]

1916 Mar: [dancing class; Hann; Fullerton; Marsh; Kolstad; movies with Dad; downtown; Eleanor; Edwin Wayland; special dancing class; Virginia Eddy; Edith Bayles; millinery openings; Katherine Paul; Harriet Tynes; Carrie Sublett; tea at Mrs. Cassell's; Mary Pickford in "The Foundling"; recital at M. B. S.; Henghan; Leap Year Dance; Starke; Frances Churchman; James to Kentucky; Evangeline Harman; dance at Wilbur Stevens; Hogshead's; "Gaymont" country club; Juliet Kyle; Elsie; "Rabbit"; Low; Mr. Carter; Reifsneider; Laws; Westgate; Dot Curry; Webb Adams; Nannie Adams; Frances Churchman; Eliza Holt; played the Victrola; Morton [Logan]; Slater Logan]

1916 Apr: [Eleanor; Carrie Sublett; downtown; Virginia Military Institute Easter dances; movies; Waynesboro; Mrs. Cassell; Mary Ella Webb; Barksdale cottage; Mrs. Gassman; Mrs. Kinnear; Mrs. J. E. Irvine; Mrs. Bush; Mrs. Culton; Mr. Leonard; meeting at Star Theatre with delegates; Mrs. Merchant, chairman of Shiloh Monument Fund for Virginia; Mrs. Coiner; Mrs. Myers; Mrs. Wayland; historical meeting; Captain Carson; Virginia Military Institute '15 in the Lyric Orchestra; on train; Mrs. Guy; meeting in camp room with talks by Miss Preston, Mrs. Irvine and Mrs. Ellyson; Mrs. Alexander; Julian Johnson; Edmund Starke; church; Katherine Paul; Edith and Mrs. Bayles; Virginia; First Dress Parade; Miss Marian Fuller; Webb Adams; M. B. A.; Virginia Military Institute Library; "Pat" Lafferty; Colonel Hodges; Mr. Amory; Mr. Durant; Benny Bowering; Aunt Mary; Lawrence   Williams; "Wisdom" Boykin; baseball game; Janet Hughes; Mr. Zea; Mr. Steele; "Mutt" Loth; Mrs. Sansberry; Mr. and Mrs. McGiffert; John Bradford; Aunt "N" Nellie; movies at Virginia Military Institute; C. B. Thomas; Campbell Brown; Joe Collins; Billy Thomas; played piano; Mr. Sitwell; Mr. Parker; Miss Sitwell; Miss Cary; Stevenson; Major Anderson; Dress Parade; "Son" Read; circus and parade; Dutch Inn; Benny Bowering; Aunt "M"; Neal Chapin; Mr. Mettinheimer; Mr. Thornton; Ashton Sale; Mr. Driscoll; S. L. Bagby; Mr. Porter; Mr. Alverson; Mr. Massie; Winfred Kidd; dance cards in white leather card cases stamped in gold; Janet; Interscholastic Track Meet; Staunton Military Academy boys; Ed Scriven; Howe; Mr. Blow; sang in choir; Mr. Grossman]

1916 May: [ Lawrence   Williams; on train with Virginia Military Institute baseball team and Staunton Military Academy track team; Helen Keller at the New Theatre; Edwin Wayland; Stuart Hall; work on the Bessie Hunton essays; Mr. Church; Mr. Hann; Neal Chapin; Collier; Billy Thomas; Anne Willard; Mary Pickford in "Poor Little Peppina"; party for the Spanish boys at Staunton Military Academy given by Miss Houston; tea at the McDowell's; Eleanor; Staunton Military Academy boys left for camp; "Wisdom" Boykin; Church left for Annapolis; McDonnell; Mary and Carrie Walke; Miss Baugh; Miss Gammon; Dad; Mother; Deborah and Lewis; tea at Mrs. Swimley's for Ruth Guyer; Page; Mr. Mantor; Mr. Driscoll; Major Anderson; Mr. McGiffert; Mr. Lafferty; Virginia Military Institute final invitation; Mr. Stevenson; downtown; McKelvey; cadets return from camp; Dress Parade; Starke; Carter; Katherine Paul; Hanson; final drills; Martha Hancher; Edith Bayles; commencement exercises at the New Theatre; Guy C. Jackson]

1916 June: [Willis Hann; Starke; Wright; graduate recital at Stuart Hall; party for choir at Mr. McDowell's; Miss Mattie Shreckhise; Alumnae meeting at Stuart Hall; movies; Alumnae Banquet at Virginia Hotel; final recital at Stuart Hall; final exercises at Stuart Hall; Virginia Eddy received the Bessie Hunton Essay prize; to Lexington; meeting of the Federation of Women's Club; Mary Walke; Major Anderson; Virginia Military Institute Library; Mr. McGiffert; Benny Bowering; Mr. Scriven; Mr. Harrison; Janet Hughes; Captain Snidow; Mother; Dad; Society Celebration at Washington and Lewis University; dedication of Doremus Gymnasium; Dress Parade; Joe Collins; reception at Dr. Smith's house; Mr. Smithson; Mr. Houston; Mr. Houston Showell; Mr. Masinter; Washington and Lewis University final exercises; Mr. Driscoll; card for the dances; Opening Hop; Neal Chapin; Mr. Porter; Billy Thomas; Horace L. Smith '15 ; track meet; Maury "Wisdom" Boykin; Mr. Ingram; Mr. Porcher; Will Chapin; Mrs. Pratt; Janet; Miss Bauers; W. B. Bradford; Mr. Campbell; Mr. Lafferty; service at Virginia Military Institute; "Son" Read; Guard Mounting; Mr. Ingram; Ida May Digges; Dress Parade; the Archers; the Meade's; Mayhew Mantor; the German, Douglas Fraser; alumni had a figure; Francis Bell; combat exercises; on Hill for Graduation Parade; alumni drill; John C. Parker '14; Captain Snidow; dances; Alumni Banquet; Joe Collins received the Garnett Andrews prize for best essay on a military subject; "Little Thomas"; graduation exercises; Mr. Harrison]

1916 July: [entertainment for the church at the "Pines"; describes the ski-da-mer-rinks with Nancy Pendleton, Bessie Paul Gassman, Gretchen Bell, and Margaret Lynn Templeton as the creatures; Miss Edna Gretchen Hazard; "Pat" Lafferty; movies; Websters; Evan Sidebottom McCord, president of Washington and Lee   University students; to Fairfield; Malvin Watkins; Janet; cousin Berta; Joe Sale; Francis and Louise Houston; "spin" in the car; William Sale; Dr. and Mrs. Vaden; Kenneth [Watkins]; Noel Shelton and his bride; William Taylor; Mr. Akers sang; Jimmy Martin; Mary Irvin Watkins; "Children's Day Services" at the school building; cousin Jennie Wheat; Noel and Bess; Estaline Sale; activities include dancing to organ and violin music; playing dominoes and croquet, taking pictures, and telling fortunes; listened to Mr. Akers play; cousin Will Templeton; sewing; telling ghost stories; [base]ball game between Fairfield and Walker's Creek; Bill Martin; Mr. Monteith, Estaline Sale's fianc黠dancing to the Victrola; Jack Lee  ; several car breakdowns to the from the dance; watching shooting stars; New Providence to church; cousin Berta and Mr. McFadden; Mrs. Elderton; Frances Sale; Phil Hanger; Mr. Turk; Henry Turk; the Houstons; cousin Anna; Wilson Springs; "Fats" Patterson; Bill Taylor; the Miley's Jack Lee  ]

1916 Sep: [trip from Staunton to Lexington; Aunt "M"; Aunt "N" [Nellie]; the Edwards; the Bruces; Janet Hughes; Major Anderson; Mr. Sitwell; the Moores at the Blue Hotel; Mr. Miles, a student; Mr. Yen Chu Lee  , the Chinaman; McCrum's; Mr. Tinsley; Mr. Colburn; Mr. Goodman; Adair's; Benny [Bowering] sent autographed copy of his song, "V. M. I. Spirit"; Major Murray Edwards' dance; dance in Virginia Military Institute Library; Major Millner; Captain Hepner; Mr. Durham; Mr. White; Aunt Virginia; movies; Virginia Military Institute [church] services; S. U. McGiffert; Dress Parade; E. S. McCord; "Son" [Read]; Phil Hanger; James; Lawrence   Williams; Mrs. Brooke; Inspection; Ida May Digges; Mr. Durham; Mr. Eva; Mr. McCabe; Mr. Handley; cadets drilling; Douglas Fraser; Dress Parade; Jennie Wheat; D. P. Lawrence  ; Mr. Grubb]

1916 Oct: [dancing classes; Ferris; Twitchell; Tannenbaum; O'Connor; Gundry; movies; Page; Mary Pickford in "Hulda from Holland"; Y. M. C. A.; Glenn Williams; Joseph; Mr. Nicholson; Paul Jones' figures at dancing class; Roderick; Munn.; Mackenzie; Mr. Kay; Whittaker; James; Lummus; Sloan Stevens Orr; Teddy Clark; Elizabeth Kerr; Frances Churchman; Mother; Mrs. Logan and Barnes; circles at dancing classes; Hogshead's Heughan; Stevens' Saunderson; Driskell; Jenkins]

1916 Nov: [dancing classes; Frances; Billy Ferris; Mr. Williams; Mr. Armitage; Teddy Clark; Merrill Yost; Glenn Williams; Gibbs' bungalow; taking pictures; movies; Whorley; invitation to informal dance; Y. M. C. A. for election returns; James; Jenkins; Jim Roderick; Kay; Streit; Boxley; Watters; Wilkinson; Montgomery; Mahs; Lesczynski; Mrs. Logan; O'Connor; R. Barnes; Whittaker; G. Smith; Armitage Williams; Mother; Dad; Major [Ferris]; Mr. Pons gave her a "huge rush"; heard Elizabeth de Barrie Gille; Junior meeting; kitchen shower at Mary Stuart Robertson's for Kinney; Hogshead's; Broach; Sloane Stevens; Young; boys "rushing" her]

1916 Dec: [Frances; Reddy Laws; Hogshead's' Billy [Ferris]; Clough; Dixie Pons; Nicholson; Jenkins; Montgomery; dancing to the Victrola; Teddy [Clark]; Twitchell; Young; date for the Washington Hop; Pritchard; dancing classes; Munn; Langley; Ford; "Pat" Watters; sold Christmas Red Cross seals; Helen Mooers; Dorothy Mercereau; Broach; O'Connor; Barnes; Armitage [Williams]; Christy; Mr. Armstrong; movies; cadets; Major [Ferris]; Roderick; Stevenson; McGiffert; Virginia Military Institute Library; Major Edwards; Captain Mayo; Major Anderson; Jackson Arch; Mr. Durham; Mr. Cole; Mr. Davis; "Son" Read; Janet; Mr. Massie; visit to hospital; Aunt Mary; Francis Bell; Aunt Nellie; Weinberg's; Bill Harrison; Mr. Adelstein; Marvin Driscoll; Mr. Mettenheimer; Sunday School tree; Lawrence   Williams; church; Josiah Porter Green or "P Green"; Mr. Yen Chu Lee  , the Chinaman; McCrum's; Mr. Tinsley; Benny Bowering; Mr. Abell, the coach; Major Stuart Wise Anderson; Captain Snidow; Mr. Rothert, a cadet; Miss Neale; Churchill Robertson; dansant at Virginia Military Institute; Mr. Lacy; Mr. Ruffin; H. B. Barton; Washington and Lee   University; Will Chapin; taking pictures]

1917 Jan: [Yen Chu] Lee  ; Bessie and Paul Gassman; movies; Aunt "N" [Nellie]; Dixie [Pons]; Mr. Armstrong; Elizabeth Kerr; Billy [Ferris]; invitation to dance; James; boys "rushing" her; went to Intolerance; Mr. Roderick; Frances; fight in the gym; Teddy Clark; Young; Lidgemeyer; went to the New Theatre to see "Seventeen"; Colonel Kable; saw soldiers come from the border; Pritchard; faculty party at Miss Foster's; Lee  -Jackson Celebration at Stuart Hall; Mr. Taylor from Staunton Military Academy; Y. M. C. A.; "Tools" Lybarger responsible for a court-martial of Dr. Kable; dancing class; Andrews; O'Connor' Mother; Taylor; [basket]ball game; Frances; Hogshead's; dancing classes; date for Washington Hop; Billy [Ferris] in the Guard Room for several weeks; Major [Ferris]; reception at Stuart Hall; dance; Mr. Hutchings; Mr. Hogshead; Merrill taking pictures; Mr. Graham; banquet at the Y. M. C. A.; Christy]

1917 Feb: [Dixie [Pons]; dancing classes; church reception at First Presbyterian Church; Philip Enslow, Desmond Chandler, Schloss, Brooks, Fielding Lewis; "Mr. Bill" Coumerilk; "Johnny" Ayers; tea at the Bickles; Mother; downtown; Roderick; Frances; Emmert; McIlheny's; Teddy Clark; Andrews; Young; Johnson; invitation to the formal; basketball game of Staunton Military Academy; Mr. White; Fancy Dress Ball at Washington and Lee   University; Al. G. Fields Minstrels; Mr. Wehrly; Forrester; Lesure; concert at the Y. M. C. A.; Yen Chu Lee  ; started work in Mr. Stickley's office; to Lexington; Aunt "M"; went to Dutch Inn; Mr. Hansel; Mrs. Nichols; Ring Turn Phi; Benny Bowering; Lawrence   Williams; Major Anderson; Janet Hughes; Miss Neal; Captain Millner; Captain Snidow; John Porter Green; Mr. McCabe; Marvin Driscoll; Mr. Chapin; Mr. Blow; "Wisdom" Boykin; Mr. Mallard; Shull; Campbell; Sterling; Dr. Smith's son; in the senior figure with Roger White; left Lexington for Staunton; Alfred Young; Staunton Military Academy dance, in opening figure with Young; choir rehearsal]

1917 Mar: [played Grafonola; left for Washington; Mother; Aunt "N" [Nellie] and Mrs. Austin on train; at Winchester, party of boys from the Shenandoah Military Academy got on the train; Mr. Lovell; Inauguration guests; St. Andrews; Miss Hazard; presidential parade; Woodrow Wilson passed; to Hibbs Building to see fireworks; visited the Monument, the Capitol and the White House; White House closed to visitors due to explosion that wrecked the East Room; trouble with suffragettes the previous day; Huyler's; a Victor store; Cumberland Apartments; saw Great Expectations with Jack Pickford and Louise Huff; left Washington for Staunton; Mr. Downing, Virginia Military Institute cadet; Harpers Ferry; Mr. Waters; dancing classes; Frank O'Connor; Teddy [Clark]; Billy [Ferris]; Forrester; Wehrly; Dennett; Saturday night dance; Hutchings; Walker; Ortez; Captain Lykes; Major [Ferris]; David Bell; "Retreat"; Mr. "Andy" Grose; Mr. Oliver; James; Dixie [Pons]; received bid to Washington and Lee Easter dances from Roger White; Worline; Coumerilk; Romeo and Juliet at the movies; Betty Sommerville; took pictures]

1917 Apr: [Worline; Mr. Coumerilk; Frances; Billy [Ferris]; Teddy [Clark]; took pictures; "Retreat"; Mother; Major [Ferris]; Major [Ferris]; Elinor Surber; Elizabeth Kerr; Taylor; Roderick; Fred Stock; dancing classes; Ortez; Mrs. Terry; Ellinor; Dress Parade; Inspection for the Government Inspector; Robert McGuffin; Mary Pickford movie; Young; choir practice; "C" company scouting; Hutchings; King; Matthews; Dennett; in Patriotic Parade in car devoted to the Staunton Juniors; Billy Ferris returned ring; Worline; Clifford Matthews; hair washed at Reba's; Miss Louis McChuy; Betty Somerville; left Staunton for Lexington; Roger White; Aunt Mary; Monday night dance; Shull, Hansel, Owens; Benny Bowering; "Son" Read; Francis Bell; Mr. Durham; Mr. Blow; "Wisdom" Boykin; Hansel; Gen. Nichols; Capt. McKay; Miss Nettie Smith; Capt. Derbyshire; Mr. Tinsley; Mr. Chapman; Church Robertson; Janet Hughes; Mr. Black; invitations to finals; Doremus Gymnasium for the dansant; Knighton; Richards; Kicklighter; "Inky" Peters; McCrum's; Mr. Mallard; movies; "Boots" Walker from Covington; Mr. Jeter; Mr. Richards; Sperner; Stiles; Shepperson; Knighton; Harnsberger, formerly S. M. A.; O'Connor; "Retreat"; concert at Y.M.C.A.; Wehrly; return to Staunton; Saturday night dance; Saunderson, the adjutant; Snyder}