Name/Title
The Log Book of the Sailing Craft "Edith"Entry/Object ID
F354 .C3Description
(TEXT FROM THE FOREWARD) The Log Book of the Sailing Craft, "Edith" is the actual day to day account of an 1890 trip to Florida which was keped by one of the "Edith's" crew. It is an exciting story in itself, but there is no doubt much interest will also be stirred by its close connection with the life of a famous writer, Laura Ingalls Wilder.
In a way the Log is a sequel to Laura's last book, The First Four Years. The captain of the crew, all of whom were related to Laura, was her cousin, Peter Ingalls, one of the principal characters in that book, and the trip took place shortly after the events that clsoed it and preceding Laura and Almanzo's own arrival in Florida. Another surprising aspect of the Log is revealed in a letter Laura wrote thirty-eight years ago. It reads as follows:
[image of handwritten letter]
Dear Dorothy,
The "Log of the Edith" arrived safely and I do thank you for it and for binding it so nicely.
We enjoyed reading it very much.
There is material there for an interesting story, but it would need a great deal of padding to make it salable.
A lot of research work would need to be done to make the fiction added, true in detail to the time and the different places mentioned.
There should be a reason for the trip and an idea followed as a thread through it all to the end acomplished[sic]
I can see it all as it should be and if I were a few years younger would like to rewrite it myself. Of course as you so kindly say it is not expected of me now.
Nor do I know of any one who would undertake it at the present time.
Rose is so tied up and so overworked or I would suggest it to her.
Perhaps some time later someone will like to have the chance to use the material.
If Cal feels like trying tell him there must always be a first time.
Here's hoping the atom bomb test tonight will do no harm more than expected.
Love
Aunt Bessie
P.S. Manly especially enjoyed reading "The Log" and says to thank you for him.
Editor's Note: Laura's letter was written to her niece, Dorothy Pittman, a daughter of Almanzo's younger brother, Perley, who was the pilot of the "Edith". Dorothy had spent many hours copying the Log, which is hard to read, and had sent Laura and Almanzo one of her typed copies.
Rose was Laura and Almanzo's daughter and Carl was Dorothy's husband. Laura signed her letter "Aunt Bessie" because Almanzo's family called her "Bessie" to avoid confusion with Almanzo's oldest sister, Laura.
What a story Laura might have made of the "Edith" Log. SInce she knew the crew of the boat well, we can not help but pause for a moment and think how she would have woven their dreams into the account and led up to their "acomplished end".
Unfortunately, Laura had laid her pen aside for good, and before receiving a copy of Laura's letter, the "someone having the chance to use the material" had already decided it was best for her to treat the material as a little bit of American history, rather than trying to make a story of it as suggested by Laura, the gifted writer. Hours were spent deciphering the handwriting on the Log's yellowed pages, ouring over maps as the "Edith's" route was charted, and finding out more about the crew. Information surfaced in the most amazing places as, for example, in Laura's own correspondence.
Discovering what happened after the destination was reached was especially difficult, but several helpful sources of information became available at just the right time. [...]Collection
SailOther Names and Numbers
Other Numbers
Number Type
Old NumberOther Number
2013.L.250Book Details
Author
Carpenter, Joseph Q.Editor
Smith, DorothyDate Published
1984Publication Language
EnglishCall No.
SISBN
0-9613995-0-3LCCN
F354 .C3Location
Room
*Lou Smith LibraryBuilding
*Elizabeth & Bolling Haxall BuildingCopyright
Copyright Holder
Smith, DorothyCopyright Date
1984