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Preferred Citation:

Victor M. Harding Christmas Diary, 1902-1940. Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, William and Mary.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Scope and Contents

Diary written by Victor M. Harding each Christmas as if a letter to his children. The Harding family lives in Chicago, Illinois and appear to be wealthy. Diary begins in 1906 with the intention of recording Christmas celebrations plus annual family news. Entries for 1902 through 1905 were added later and tell of the courtship and early marriage years of Matilda Boak and Victor Harding. Details Christmas customs; family gatherings; family travels in the United States and abroad; summer vacations; births, illnesses, deaths and marriages; financial problems; schools and colleges; and war and international news. Purchase first car in 1921. In France for Christmas 1925. Children attend Harvard, Northwestern, University of London, Smith College, Exeter and others. Addresses of different family members given. Partial family chart prepared by Special Collections is included.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Chicago (Ill.)--Social life and customs
• Christmas Activities
• Christmas--United States