Name/Title
Diary of Marie Neville, 1945Entry/Object ID
2021.82.1Description
Acc. No. 21.82.1
Subject Category: Citizens of Alameda; Businesses of Alameda, WWII
Date or Period: 1945
Object: Diary
Description: A spiral-bound book with dark brown leather-look plastic cover, with caption '1945' and 'Oakland branch Fidelity and Deposit Company'. Inside, each page has space for 4 days, 2 on each side, with caption (the date) printed in black with handwritten notes.
Size: L 8 1/4 x W 5 1/2 inches.
History of Object: Date book used as a diary by Marie Neville, nee Beidleman (1913-2003), of 765 Santa Clara, when she was a young mother. She was a member of the Welfare Council, attended Christ Episcopal Church, and would later be active in the Adelphian Club. Husband Blevin Frederick Neville (1904-1973) operated a real estate business at 1514 Webster Street, started by his father, Francis Rufus Neville (1870-1955), who had also been involved in the Alameda Improvement Society, and had bought the house with his wife in 1903. The younger couple had one daughter, Anne Marie Hurff (1939-1968). The house was sold in 2004.
The diary describes events, from daily descriptions of the weather, household matters, illnesses, vacations, war events, and holiday practices to school (Mastick) attendance and visits by family, friends, and neighbors.
The book was donated to the Naval Air Station Alameda Museum, and passed on to the Alameda Museum.
Acquired from: Gwen Pirack
Donation Date: 8/21/21; Catalog Date: 9/2/2021
