Private! Keep out! Diaries of Girlhood

Diary keeping is a part of many childhoods. Girls, in particular, have been socialized to engage in this pastime, and have done so for centuries. In the early colonies, when young boys began working outside, girls were encouraged to focus on the household and domestic sphere. In addition to traditional household chores of cooking and cleaning, their expected tasks included writing letters and diaries, and keeping family genealogical records. These early diaries were mostly simple accounts of their daily lives, as girls were discouraged from reflecting on their experiences or dreaming of adventures in their writing. 

It was not acceptable for girls to publicly express their ideas, intimate thoughts, or feelings either, so diaries eventually morphed into private spaces where girls began to explore their sense of self. It was in their diaries that they could express themselves more freely without fear of the social consequences of not complying with the limiting gendered expectations of the time. Girls have also turned to diaries during times of chaos and war, or during severe illness. In these unthinkable circumstances, diaries again serve as a refuge for young girls to voice fears and anxieties, and to process grief. 

Diaries of Girlhood focuses on these intriguing snapshots from childhood. Curated by intern Terri Hatfield, the exhibit uses diaries from the collection of the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library to introduce visitors to Clara Barrow, Rita Scherman, and Dorothy du Rant, to name a few. It explores their joys, anxieties, and frustrations, their pastimes, their families, and communities.