1924 - 1953 ORIGINAL GROUP OF 15 MANUSCRIPT DIARIES HANDWRITTEN BY A FASHION FORWARD SUFFRAGE ERA BRIGHTON GIRL WHO EVOLVES INTO A DUTIFUL 1950s WIFE

BRIGHTON, HOVE ENGLAND BRITAIN. Good. 1935. On offer is a super group of 15 original, manuscript diaries begun in 1924 by a young Brighton woman who writes as a student on the heels of British suffrage in the 1920s to her as dutiful housewife in the 1950s these diaries offer a superb opportunity to witness the evolution through the self made narrative of a young English woman. From the slingshot of World War I rationing to the exuberant, fashionable, empowering 'Roaring 20s' to her later life as a respectable, conservative '50s housewife. Maisie lives for fashion as even a casual reader notes as she records her school and then work life. The earlier years shows that interest and her travels in fashionable circles evident in the numerous drawings and pencil sketches as she explores couture, hairstyles, and headdress. We count at least 70 pages with her illustration likely garnered whilst attending fashionable soirées. We learn she is apparently of a well off family Maisie, she mentions the 1926 general strike in the United Kingdom, which lasted nine days; at the time she was working at some type of a studio, but during the strike she was selling flags. Aside from fashion she makes no effort to hide the fact Cupid's arrow has struck her heart with regard to a charming young man, Harry Norman Shepherd, who she would later marry. [Fascinatingly we note Harry was involved in the fashion industry with a 1959 news reference easily found online naming him the master of ceremonies for a fashion show put on by Marks & Spencers designed to attract "an attentive and fashion-conscious audience." Other entries from the mundanities and details of travels [Italy, France, Switzerland, throughout England, and Dublin we believe], married life, occasional expenditures, books read, etc. We also learn as an extension of her fashion proclivities she sews a great deal perhaps having gained the 'bug' and experience in her fashion oriented younger years. The books proper cover the years 1924 - 1927; 1930; 1944 - 1953. There are a small number of ephemeral pieces in the diaries. Various pocket book sizes. Overall G.; Manuscript; 16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, MAISIE SHEPHERD KINGSLEY, MRS. HARRY NORMAN SHEPHERD, ROARING TWENTIES, WOMEN'S EMANCIPATION, GENDER STUDIES, WOMEN'S STUDIES, FLAPPERS ERA, SUFFRAGE, BRITISH SUFFRAGE, JAZZ ERA, POST WORLD WAR I, BRIGHTON, HOVE, BRITAIN, ENGLAND, HANDWRITTEN, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, AUTOGRAPHED, AUTHORS, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, KEEPSAKE, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, PERSONAL HISTORY, ARCHIVE, DIARY, DIARIES, JOURNAL, LOG, PRIMARY SOURCE, FIRST HAND ACCOUNT, SOCIAL HISTORY, PERSONAL STORIES, LIVING HISTORY, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, DOCUMENT, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, MANUSKRIPT, PAPIER OGGETTO D'ANTIQUARIATO, ATTO, VELINA, DOCUMENTO, MANOSCRITTO, CARTA ANTIGÜEDAD, HECHO, VITELA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITO, PAPEL,BIOGRAPHY BIOGRAPHICAL AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY PERSONAL NARRATIVES .