Harry D. Lane Diaries, 1921-1978

Title:

Harry D. Lane Diaries, 1921-1978

Creator:

Lane, Harry D., 1886-1980

Creator Role:

Author

Accession / Call Number:

2011.009

Object ID:

2011.009

Date:

1921-1978

Physical Description:

5 boxes ; 1.88 linear feet

Scope and Content:

The Harry D. Lane Diaries consist primarily of individual yearly diaries written by Harry D. Lane of North Hampton, NH, covering the years 1921 and 1923 to 1978. There is no volume for 1922, and the last one included is 1978 which was two years before his death in August 1980. The content of the diaries is limited to the area of coastal New Hampshire where he spent his whole life. Lane lived on the family homestead with his sister and brother-in-law. Harry D. Lane recorded his daily life activities with brief daily entries in his diaries. The people mentioned are largely his family members and co-workers, as well as neighbors and local shopkeepers. There are many entries telling of trips to Portsmouth for shopping, or to the shore for fresh lobsters and clams, as well as frequent train trips to Boston for baseball games. The short entries give a picture of how easy it was to travel by train in coastal New Hampshire and to Boston. There are few references to events and places outside this area. Some notable entries include car purchases and his first license plate, family deaths, jury duty, a train robbery in 1926 where $65,000 was stolen, income taxes, a 1929 forest fire in North Hampton, the demolition of the Batchelder Hotel, notes on the Mabel Johnson Smith v. Boston & Maine case in 1933 and 1936-1937, escaped prisoners from Portsmouth in 1934, the 1938 Hurricane, the sinking of a submarine in 1939, the bridge opening between Portsmouth and Kittery, the local effects of World War II, various local fires, the installation of dial telephones, his retirement, etc. See the appendix for a full list of notable entries. In addition to the diaries, there are some loose papers that were removed from the diaries and placed (either originals or copies) in folders in the last box. These materials include photographs, programs, tax receipts, membership cards, some correspondence, retirement papers, and newspaper clippings.

Subjects:

Baseball , Diaries , Farm life , Railroad employees , Railroads , Farmers

Locations:

North Hampton, NH
Hampton, NH
Portsmouth, NH

People:

Lane, Harry D., 1886-1980

Organizations:

Boston and Maine Railroad

Credit Line:

New Hampshire Historical Society purchase.

Restrictions:

Available for research.

Level Description:

Collection

Finding Aid Link:

RS57853_Lane_Harry_D._Daries_2011.009.pdf