Guide to the Florence I. Hunter diaries ARC Mss 92
Finding aid prepared by Leland Riddlesperger, 2019.
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara 93106-9010
special@library.ucsb.edu
2019 February 15
Title: Florence I. Hunter diaries
Identifier/Call Number: ARC Mss 92
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
Creator:
Hunter, Florence I., 1901-1961
Physical Description:
3.75 linear feet
(2 cartons, 3 document boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1920-1958
Abstract: Consists of 31 diaries written by Florence I. Hunter, an eyewitness to historical events ranging from women's suffrage to
World War II and changes in the religious order in which her husband was a pastor. Beginning with her 1937 diary, Florence
interleaved the pages with newspaper clippings, church bulletins, and a variety of ephemera related to events in her life.
Physical Location: Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library
The collection is open for research.
Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Research Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish
or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Research Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the Department of Special Research Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.
[Identification of Item], Florence I. Hunter diaries, ARC Mss 92. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara
Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Library purchase, 2019.
Florence I. Hunter (Walmer) of Hershey, Pennsylvania, was an eyewitness to historical events ranging from women's suffrage
to World War II and changes in the religious order in which her husband was a pastor. Hunter (1901-1961) worked for many years
as a stenographer at a New York department store and was married relatively late in life to Paul W. Hunter (1893-1983), a
pastor with the United Methodist Church.
Florence seems to have led a very pious life. She regularly attended church and Sunday school, and took part in a variety
of religious organizations. Vacation generally involved going to a religious camp. This was true even before she met and married
her minister husband.
Florence gave birth on June 29, 1934, to her first child, J. Paul, and she recovered in the hospital for nearly two weeks
but did not appear to have any major complaints or complications. Together, the couple had three children and took care, at
times, of a daughter resulting from Paul's first marriage, which ended in divorce.
The collection is comprised of 31 diaries written by Florence I. Hunter during her time spent in various New York and Pennsylvania
towns. Most of the entries are records of her daily life, who she visited, weather conditions, how she was feeling, and local
events. Included in the entries are mentions of women's suffrage, World War II, and presidential elections and politics. The
bulk of the entries relate to her life as a religious woman and her role in her husband's ministry. Those entries include
funeral service descriptions, weddings, and religious functions that she attended.
The diaries cover the following years: 1920, 1923-27, 1930-31, 1933-35, 1937, 1939, 1940-47, 1949-1950, and 1952-58. Beginning
with her 1937 diary, Florence interleaved the pages with newspaper clippings, church bulletins, and a variety of ephemera
related to events in her life.
The collection is arranged in chronological order.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Women -- New York (State) -- 20th century -- Diaries
Women -- Pennsylvania -- 20th century -- Diaries
Women -- Suffrage -- United States -- History -- 20th century
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American
New York (State) -- Social life and customs -- 20th century
Pennsylvania -- Social life and customs -- 20th century
Church bulletins
Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence
Diaries
Printed ephemera
Hunter, Florence I., 1901-1961 -- Diaries
box 1
Diaries 1920-1941
box 2
Diaries 1942-1955
box 3
Diaries 1956-1958
box 4
Clippings, letters and ephemera 1937-1949
box 5
Clippings, letters and ephemera 1950-1958