The Diaries of Grace Emily Mackarness (1856-1944)
Grace Mackarness nee Milford, the wife of Archdeacon Charles Coleridge Mackarness, kept a daily diary for much of her married life, and some years before her marriage. Some diaries belong to Alison Goodman, who kindly lent them to Peter.
The diaries give a detailed and fascinating account of the family's life in Scarborough in the late 19th and early 20th century, including World War One when all four of Charles and Grace's sons saw active service.
Click the links lower down the page to read extracts.
The diaries give a detailed and fascinating account of the family's life in Scarborough in the late 19th and early 20th century, including World War One when all four of Charles and Grace's sons saw active service.
Click the links lower down the page to read extracts.
Front cover of 1910 diary
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First page of 1883 diary
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Back cover
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Grace’s octavo diaries had two days per page—she never missed a day, and always managed to squeeze her news into the half-page. She was a prolific correspondent and every day’s entry consists of three columns: a record of events in the centre, flanked on the left by a list of people she received letters from that day, and on the right by those she wrote to. The 1916 diary transcription reproduces the 3-column format.
The transcriptions vary in length. Some, like the World War 1 diaries, are extensively transcribed. Some, like 1888-9, are quite repetitive, so fewer selections were made.
The transcriptions vary in length. Some, like the World War 1 diaries, are extensively transcribed. Some, like 1888-9, are quite repetitive, so fewer selections were made.
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Two more of Grace's diaries from before her marriage (1880 and 1881) are in the Archive of the Dorset History Centre in Dorchester, and can be consulted by appointment. Patience hopes eventually to add extracts from these volumes to the site.
