Wednesday, January 31, 1923

Beautiful, bright and mild. Arose 8 A.M. Breakfast etc. Studied. Dinner. Work. Chapel. Matriculation day address by Dr. Merrill of Brick Presbyterian Church N.Y.C. on "An Evolutionist at Calvary." Very good. Shaved. Wrote letter to Dr. Frick. Supper. To St. James with M.L.Y. Indebted for pleasant evening. Talked. Home with D.T. [Donald Timmerman] To bed 12:30 P.M. Thankful for health.

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Matriculation Day is a ceremony to welcome new students to Boston University. It must be the start of spring semester, and the reason Stanford had a week off. I had forgotten that back then, semesters didn't end before the December holidays but just took a break and then ended in January. Although it seems that welcoming new students should have happened in September, maybe they have two?

Here is some information about Dr. Merrill, taken from Wikipedia:

William Pierson Merrill (1867–1954) was an American Presbyterian clergyman, pacifist, author, and hymn writer. He was acknowledged during his time as one of the most influential ministers in America.[1] He is probably best remembered as the author of several well-known hymns, including "Rise Up, O Men of God."

Here is a YouTube video of Wheaton College Glee Club singing the hymn:

I'm assuming Stanford went with Mary Leah to St. James Episcopal Church in Cambridge (though he doesn't say why they went there on a Wednesday). Below is a 1967 photo of the church.

Taken from Wikipedia
By George M. Cushing, Photographer 

Dr. Frick is of course Stanford's pastor back in Schenectady.

Tuesday, January 30, 1923

Beautiful, bright and cold. Arose 8 A.M. Breakfast etc. Studied. Dinner. Work. To hear Coueˊwith Kenneth Leary. "Day by day in every way I am getting better and better." Very good. Registered for second term. Supper. Letter to R.E.P. To hear Bishop Hugh[e]s. "Anarchy vs Law Enforcement." Good strong message. Talked. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful.

**********
Emile Coue was a French psychologist who founded the treatment called optimistic autosuggestion. He was quite famous in his time. Click on this link to see the Wikipedia article about him. Coue died in 1926, so Stanford was fortunate to be able to see him speak.

Emile Coue from Wikipedia

Stanford is still writing to Ruth Pettit, it seems. Wonder when that will end? I suppose they may have remained friends . . .

Bishop Hughes is Edwin Holt Hughes, a Methodist minister who graduated from Boston University School of Theology in 1892. He was elected Bishop in 1908. See his Wikipedia article for more information. He was born in 1866 and died in 1950. He wrote many books in his lifetime. The photo at left was taken from the DePauw University archives. Rev. Hughes was President of DePauw from 1903 until 1908, when he became Bishop.

I wonder why Stanford is not in class this week? Seems an odd time to have a break . . .
॔

Monday, January 29, 1923

Beautiful, bright and cold. Arose 7:45 A.M. Breakfast. Letter home. Studied. Dinner. Work 12 M to 2 P.M. Studied. Supper. Played volley ball. Studied. To bed 10:30 P.M. Thank God for health.

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I wonder why Stanford doesn't have classes on this day? It's not a holiday that I know of. Interesting . . .

Sunday, January 28, 1923

Cloudy and cool. Arose 7:30 A.M. Breakfast etc. 9:30 train from North station to Salem. Trolley to Beverly. To morning service. Offered prayer. S.S. To Dinner with Mr. & Mrs. Farr, 9 Pont Street. Pleasant time. Calling with Dick Cameron. Girls' meeting at 4:30. E.L. Social hour at 5:30. Devotional meeting at 6. Evening service at 7. I first speaker Romans 1:16. Good service. To Boston. Cake donated by lady of church. To bed 11:30 P.M. Thankful for opportunity of service.

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Sounds like a full day!

The couple he and Dick Cameron went to visit was Clinton and Charlotte Farr, and they lived at 9 Pond Street, not Pont Street. Mr. Farr was a machinist in a factory; Mrs. Farr was a housewife. They had no children living with them at the time.

Saturday, January 27, 1923

Beautiful, bright and cold. Arose 8:30 A.M. Breakfast. Studied. Went skating on Charles River with H.H. Very good. Fine times. Dinner. Worked 12 M to 2 P.M. Nap. Read. Supper. To P.O., market etc with Ernest S. Studied. H.H. to Lynnfield Center. To bed 11:15 P.M. Thankful for health.

**********
Skating on the Charles River does sound like fun!

Below is a picture of some hockey players on the Charles River in 1937. Click on the link in the caption to see the video.

Taken from a video that can be seen at Shutterstock

Friday, January 26, 1923

Overcast and cool. Arose 7:45 A.M. Breakfast. Studied. Class 9:30-10:30 A.M. Letter home. Dinner. Work. Volley ball. Shower etc. Studied. At 6 P.M. to Boston City Club to dinner of Union College Alumni of Boston & vicinity. Dean Ellery spoke. Pleasant evening. Walked about with H.H. To bed 12 P.M. thankful for education.

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Dean Edward Ellery was in 1923 the Dean of Faculty and a Professor of Chemistry at Union College. He must have traveled to Boston to make his speech at the Alumni dinner.

Dean Ellery was born in 1868 and died in 1961. He is buried in the Union College graveyard, a benefit of employment at the college. Interestingly, Edward married a Maine woman, a teacher, in 1909; it was his second marriage (being widowed) and her first. Both were 40 at the time of their marriage. Dr. Ellery's obituary appeared in the January 21, 1961 edition of The New York Times.

Thursday, January 25, 1923

Overcast, cold and breezy. Arose 7:30 A.M. Breakfast etc. Studied. Classes 9:30 - 11:30 A.M. Dinner. Performed in kitchen at Ginters'. Classes and chapel 2:15 to 4:45 P.M. Supper. Studied. To see the "Ninety and Nine" at Tremont Temple with M.L.Y. To bed 1 A.M. Thankful for friends.

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Stanford and Mary Leah seem to go on mostly religious-themed outings.

The Ninety and Nine was a film that was adapted from a play that was adapted from a hymn that was adapted from a poem. It was first released in December 1922. Here is a synopsis from AllMovie:

Vitagraph shot this melodrama, based on the stage play by Ramsay Norris, once before, in 1916. The newer version seemed to belong to the earlier decade, and ironically, its star was Colleen Moore, who would wind up making a name for herself by becoming the 1920s ultra-modern, quintessential flapper. Phil Bradbury (Warner Baxter) is engaged to marry society girl Kate Van Dyck (Gertrude Astor). But while he is away, Kate falls in love with Mark Leveridge (Lloyd Whitlock). There is a murder in Kate's home, and Bradbury becomes a suspect, so he runs far away to the town of Marlow. Under the assumed name of Tom Silverton, he falls in love with the town belle, Ruth Blake (Moore). Kate and Leveridge show up in Marlow and recognize him. Silverton is now also suspected of robbery and Ruth is ostracized because she tries to shield him. Silverton prepares to leave town, but a raging forest fire breaks out. It is only through Silverton's heroics that the town is saved. He is exonerated of the crimes he was thought to have committed, so he is able to settle down with Ruth.

Below is a poster of the film.

Taken from Wikipedia

And here is a link to the hymn, complete with music:
The Ninety and Nine

Wednesday, January 24, 1923

Overcast and cool. Some snow and rain. Arose 7:30 A.M. Breakfast etc. Studied. Test on N.T. [New Testament] Introduction at 9:30. Downstreet. Dinner. Worked 12-2. Classes and chapel 2:15 to 4:45 P.M. Supper. Studied. Out for walk with E.F.S. [Steinkraus] Studied. To bed 12:30 P.M. Thankful for life in America.

**********

Tuesday, January 23, 1923

Cold and windy. As per usual. Classes 9:30-11:30 A.M. Dinner. Worked 12 M to 2 P.M. Classes & chapel. Supper. Prayer meeting. Glenn Frye spoke on Egypt and the Holy Land. Very interesting and enlightening. Studied. To be 11:30 P.M. Thankful for worldly comforts.

**********
I think Stanford is starting to get a little tired of the weather!

Glenn McKinley Frye was a student at BUST at the time of his speech. He graduated in 1923 (with Hanford's class). It's not clear why he was qualified to speak on Egypt, but he did go on to have a long career in the Methodist ministry, serving as pastor in a number of places, to include East Lansing, MI. He died in 1996 at the age of 99.

Monday, January 22, 1923

Overcast and wet. Some snow & rain. Arose 7:30 A.M. Letter Home. Breakfast. Studied. Dinner. Worked 12-2. Classes and chapel 2:15-4:45 P.M. Supper. Studied. To bed 10 P.M. Thankful for rest.

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Looks like Stanford didn't have much time for diary writing today. Well, maybe more will be forthcoming tomorrow!

Sunday, January 21, 1923

Overcast and mild. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast. Washed etc. Letter to M.J.F. To Trinity Episcopal Church with Steinkraus. Dr Mann's farewell service before leaving for Pittsburg[h] to be Bishop. Dinner. On 2:15 P.M. train for Beverly. Walked about town. To Church. Boys meeting at 4:30. Very good. Social Hour. League over which I took charge. Evening service by Gospel Team. To "72." Feed of ice cream & cake. To bed 12 P.M. Thankful for life in this age.

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M.J.F. is of course Merlin J. Finch, Stanford's friend from Schenectady. I'm glad to see they are still friends and keeping in touch.

I wonder what it is about "life in this age" that Stanford is thankful for? One would imagine the Roaring Twenties would present certain challenges for a pious young man . . .

Dr. Mann, who was at this time the Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, was elected Bishop of Pittsburgh in 1923. He was born in 1860 and died in 1948. Below is a photo of Dr. Mann and a short article that appeared in the November 21, 1948 edition of The Living Church, a newsletter of the Episcopal Church, that gives some details of Bishop Mann's life.

Alexander Mann
taken from Trinity Church website

Saturday, January 20, 1921

Fair and mild. Thawing. Arose 8:45 A.M. Breakfast. Studied. Dinner. Worked 12 M to 2 P.M. Downstreet. Nap. Read. Supper. To Market. Studied. Watched  B.B. game. Shower. To bed 10:30 P.M. Thankful for health.

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I guess he works every day but Sunday at the restaurant. Stanford's had a quiet weekend, relatively speaking.

For those who are confused by the "M" to indicate time, it refers to Meridian, or the highest point of the sun that day, or the mid-point of the day, that is, noon. Post-meridian, or P.M., refers to after noon, therefore. In this system, 12 P.M. designates midnight. Though it was common in Stanford's time, people rarely use M to designate noon anymore, preferring 12 PM for noon and 12 AM for midnight. A.M., or ante-meridian, means before noon.

Friday, January 19, 1923

Beautiful, bright, mild day. Arose 7:30 A.M. Breakfast, washed, dressed & studied. Classes 9:30 to 11:30 A.M. Dinner, worked. Talked. Nap. Supper with Steinkraus. Wrote in diary. Letter to Ruth Sawyer. Studied. To bed 11:30 P.M. Thankful.

**********
By Ruth Sawyer, Stanford of course means his sister Ruth, now Mrs. Sawyer.

Thursday, January 18, 1923

Fair, mild day. Breezy at nite. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast. Studied. Classes 9:30-11:30 A.M.  Dinner. Worked 12 M to 2 P.M. Classes and Chapel 2:15-4:45 P.M. Supper. To Tremont Temple with M.L.Y. Evangelistic meetings by Dr. Massee. Gloria Trumpeters etc. Very good. Talked. Home with Donald Timmerman. Talked etc. To bed 12:45 A.M. Thankful for comforting gospel.

**********
So it's Thursday again which means a date with Mary Leah! And he's back to Tremont Temple, this time with a date.

Gloria Trumpeters were an all-woman trumpet quartet, very popular at the time. Here is a photo of them playing at the dedication of new statues honoring Hall of Fame inductees at NYU in 1930.

Taken from Amazon.com

Wednesday, January 17, 1923

Bright, clear, cold & breezy. Arose 7 A.M. Washed etc. Breakfast. Studied. Cleaned room. Classes 9:30 to 11:30 A.M. Dinner. Work. Classes & chapel 2:15-4:45 P.M. Supper. Studied. talked etc. To bed 11:15 P.M. Thankful for clothing.

**********

Tuesday, January 16, 1923

Bright and cool. Arose 7:30 A.M. Breakfast. Washed etc. Talked and studied. Classes 9:30 to 11:30. Dinner. Worked. Classes and chapel 2:15 to 4:45 P.M. Supper. Talked. Prayer Meeting. Brothers Night. H.H. & I took charge. Wm R. and Elmer A. Leslie spoke. Very unique and interesting service. Studied. To bed 11:15 P.M. Thankful for friends.

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I wonder what people without brothers did?

Monday, January 15, 1923

Mild and overcast. Wet. Arose 8:30 A.M. Washed & dressed. Breakfast. Wrote letter home. Studied. Dinner. Worked 12 M - 2 P.M. Miss Benjamen back. Classes & chapel 2:15 to 4:45 P.M. Church History quiz. Supper. Read, studied etc. To bed 11:30 P.M. Thank God for prayer.

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I'm assuming Miss Benjamen is one of his teachers who was away the first part of the semester.

Sunday, January 14, 1923

Cool and overcast. Awakened at 4:30 A.M. to see big fire on Mt. Vernon St. Across from school, a few houses north. Dressed and out to see it. Returned. Slept 6-9 A.M. Breakfast. To Tremont Temple to hear Dr. Massee. Evangelistic meeting. Good. Dinner at Child's. To "72." Read etc. To Beverly with Gospel team. Cameron, Cardwell, Leary, Tyrell & I. Conducted E.L. & evening service. Enjoyable Evening. Lunch. To bed 12:45 A.M. Thankful for privilege of education.

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I couldn't find any more information about the fire on Mt. Vernon Street, but it must not have been a big one as it didn't make the list of historical fires on the Boston Fire Department History website. The website is kind of an interesting one, though, so I'll pass along the link: Boston Fire Historical Society.

Tremont Temple is yet another fancy church in Boston; this one is a Baptist Church. Below are photos of it as it appears today, with views of its opulent exterior and interior.

from Wikimedia Commons

from Card Cow

Dr. Massee was J. C. (Jasper Cortenus) Massee, the pastor of the Tremont Temple Baptist Church, having been hired in 1922 from a New York Baptist Church. He was somewhat of a controversial figure during this time, being at the center of a split in the Baptist Church between the more liberal group and the much more conservative group. Wikipedia has an article giving the history of Dr. Massee and the Baptist Church at the time. He was born in 1871 and died in 1965; he wrote a number of books on theological topics, most after 1923.

Saturday, January 13, 1923

Cold, clear and bright. Arose 7:30 A.M. Breakfast. Studied. Wrote letter to Nellie. Down street with H.H. Bought overcoat at Beckhard's on Tremont St. Marked down to $35.00. Dinner at Ginter Company Luncheonette 32 Tremont St. Worked 12 M to 2 P.M. To P.O. with letters. Studied. Supper. Study, reading, meditations and prayer. Shower bath. To bed 11:30 P.M. Thank God for good parents.

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Friday, January 12, 1923

Snow in A.M. Colder in P.M. Cloudy. Arose 7:45 A.M. Washed & dressed. Breakfast. Studied. Classes 9:30 - 11:30. Dinner at G. Worked 12 M. to 2 P.M. To "72." Wrote letter home. To P.O. Got hair cut 25 cents etc. Supper. To meeting of Gospel Team workers. Studied. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful for health.

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Hmm. I wonder if the Gospel Team involves singing or reading the Gospels?

Thursday, January 11, 1923

Cool and breezy. Arose 7:30 A.M. Washed. Breakfast. Studied. To New Testament Introduction and Effective Speaking 9:30 to 11:30 A.M. To dinner and work 11:40 to 2 P.M. Psychology of Religion 2:15 to 3:15 P.M. Chapel 3:15 to 3:40 P.M. Church History 3:40 to 4:40 P.M. Dressed. Timmerman, H.H., Miss Hoffman, Miss Yant & I to Lynfield Center. Chicken dinner with Alex Stewart, wife, and mother-in-law. To A's prayer meeting. To Boston on 9:25 train. To 31 Norway St. with M.L.Y. To bed 12:30 P.M. Thankful for God's protection.

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Well, that was a full day! And the second date in a row with Mary Leah! Ah, things are off to a good start. Moreover, it sounds like he has some interesting courses this semester.

Wednesday, January 10, 1923

Cold and snowy. Arose 7 A.M. Made toilet. Breakfast in room. Studied. Classes 9:30 - 11:30. Dinner. Worked 12 M to 2 P.M. Classes and chapel 2:15-4:45 P.M. Supper. Studied. Dressed. To make call on M.L.Y. Pleasant evening. Cocoa, festino etc. To bed 12 P.M. Got brown suit mended in elbow & pressed. Thankful for worldly comforts.

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So, Stanford didn't wait too long to call on Mary Leah. That is a good sign, even if he did spend New Year's eve with some other girl.

 After some searching, I discovered that festino is a kind of cookie/candy from Nabisco. Below is a 1914 ad that describes that confection and some other popular Nabisco offerings. The only one left these days is the sugar wafer.

On sale from Old Ad Store

Tuesday, January 9, 1923

Cool, cloudy. Rough & slippery under foot. Arose 7:45 A.M. Washed. Dressed. Breakfast. Studied. Classes 9:30 to 11:30 A.M. Dinner. Worked in kitchen at G's 12 M to 2 P.M. Classes and chapel 2:15 to 4:45 P.M. Supper. Played volley ball. Shower. To Prayer Meeting. Nelson Price B.U.S.T. '15 spoke on Burmah. Studied. To bed 11:30 P.M. Thank God for friends.

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I wonder who Stanford plays volley ball with?

Burmah was one spelling of Burma in 1923. It seems to be a British spelling.

Monday, January 8, 1923

BOSTON
Very wet and slushy. Rain all day. Arose 9 A.M. Performed morning duties. Read. Took typewriter to be repaired. To Ginter Co. Dinner. Back at work 12 M to 2 P.M. Classes and chapel 2:15 to 4:45 P.M. Supper. To bed after studying. Thank God for guidance.

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So, back in the old routine!

Sunday, January 7, 1923

SCHENECTADY
Cold and overcast. Arose 8 A.M. 3 below zero. Some snow. Shoveled yard and walk. Breakfast. To call on the Gallups a la Kissel. Pleasant visit. Called at Church for H.H. Dinner. Took 1 P.M. trolley for Albany and 2:42 train for Boston. Trains all late. Arrived at South Station 10 P.M. To B.U.S.T. Unpacked trunk etc. Talked. To bed 12 P.M. Thankful for comforting gospel.

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So, time to go back to graduate school! Sounds like a long day for Stanford. He doesn't mention Hanford's going back with him. Perhaps he came later? If Stanford called on him at church, then maybe he is doing a preaching assignment this term.

Dot Gallup is one of Stanford's girl friends. Information about her can be found at this post: October 24, 1919. Below is a photo of her gravestone. She was buried in Altamont, NY. She and her husband Earl had two daughters, Betty and Marilyn. I don't know if either had children.

Saturday, January 6, 1923

Cold & blustery with snow. Arose 7:30 A.M. Breakfast etc. Odd jobs. To depot with truck & touring trunks and people. Sister Ruth & brother-in-law Mark otherwise known as Mr. & Mrs. Sawyer left for California via New York Washington, New Orleans and El Paso. Dinner. Downstreet. Bowled, Shower at "Y." etc. Supper. Candled eggs. Played dominoes with father & H.H. Talked. To bed 11 P.M. Thank God for home.

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So the Sawyers are off to California! They have a long journey ahead of them, presumably by train. They would have traveled on the Southern Pacific Railway from New Orleans to Los Angeles, presumably on the Sunset Limited. Below is an ad that appeared in the January 6, 1923 edition of the Literary Digest magazine, promoting a trip from New Orleans at Mardi Gras time.

from E-Bay listing

Friday, January 5, 1923

Cold and snow. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast. Shovelled. Helped father get ready for his trip. Helped around house. Professional Crater to pack Ruth's things for California. Dinner. Down street. Bowled with H.H. In evening Mother, father, Ruth, Mark, Ed Groat and I and H.H. to Marcus Cramers to dinner. Pleasant evening. Music etc. H.H. & I walked home. Talked. To bed 12:15 P.M. Thankful for all blessings.

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Marcus Cramer is the father of Jesse Cramer, who was an usher for Mark and Ruth's wedding on the 30th of December. Marcus is also Stillman's 1st cousin. He was the son of Richard, Catherine Cramer's brother. They lived at 24 Alvey Street in Schenectady in 1920. Jesse was still not married by 1942, still living at home and working for GE. He died in 1969 and is buried in Carlisle, NY, with the rest of his Cramer family. Below is a picture of the house where the Cramers lived in 1920 as it looked in 2011. It's about 2.8 miles from the Clossons' house, so it looks like Hanford & Stanford had a good walk.

Thursday, January 4, 1923

Overcast with snow. Arose 8 A.M. Shovelled etc. Candled eggs. Dinner. Read. Down street. To ΦΝθ for supper. Pleasant time and good eats. Took Mildred Swart a la Kissel to Church to hear Welsh Male Chorus. Very good. Home. Talked and lunch. To bed 12:30 P.M. Thankful.

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Mildred Swart is another of Stanford's girl friends. You can refresh your memory of her at this post: April 1, 1921.

The Welsh Male Chorus is actually the Welsh Male Glee Singers, advertised in the Schenectady Gazette for that day. Below is the ad:

I couldn't find out anything more about them, however.

Wednesday, January 3, 1923

Overcast. Arose 8 A.M. Breakfast etc. Odd jobs. Out delivering for father. Dinner. Read, studied etc. Ruth & Mark returned from a short wedding trip to Pittsfield. H.H. & I out for walk. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful for home.

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Pittsfield is Pittsfield, NY and why the newlyweds would go there, I can't tell. There does seem to be a nice lake nearby, Silver Lake, but that's about all I can see that would attract a young couple. Below is a picture of the lake. It's privately owned land now, but perhaps was not back in 1922.

Taken from Google Maps

Tuesday, January 2, 1923

Overcast and cooler. Some snow in P.M. Arose 9 A.M. Breakfast etc. Read. Studied etc. Dinner. Nap. Helped put house to rights. To visit Ruth Pettit in evening at 1 Sunnyside Road, Scotia. Pleasant evening. To bed 12:30 P.M. Thankful for friends.

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A photograph of the house Stanford visited is below, as it appears today. It's not clear if Ruth lived there in 1923, but it's possible.

As a reminder, Ruth Pettit was one of Stanford's girl friends. Information about her can be found in this 1922 blog post: March 19.

Taken from Google Street View

Monday, January 1, 1923

Mild, wet day. Rain all morning. Arose 9 A.M. Breakfast. Chopped out gutter etc. Dinner. Odd jobs in P.M. Supper. To Gertrude Anthony's at nite. Pleasant evening. To bed 12:30 P.M. First New Years we did not go to Uncle Johns since I can remember. Mortal life ever changing and uncertain. Thankful for hope of immortality.

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I am assuming that Stanford is chopping out the ice and clearing the leaves out of the house's gutters.

Gertrude Anthony was one of Stanford's girl friends. Information about her can be found at this Datebook 1922 post: December 24.

Stanford's Uncle John died June 30, 1922. He was one of his family's favorites. See the Josiah Closson Genealogy, page 190, for information about John Henry Closson's place in the family history. Here is an excerpt:

Stanford is finally writing his diary in a larger book, making it easier to read and giving him more room to write! Here's hoping he takes advantage of it by giving us a fuller account of his days.