Famous diaries

© St. Petersburg Times
published February 23, 2003

Diary of George Washington

April 9, 1760, Wednesday

Wind at No. Et. Very Cloudy and sometimes Misty.

The Heavy Rains that had fallen in this few days past had made the Ground too wet for Plowing; I therefore set about the Fence which Incloses my Clover Field.

Doctr. Laurie came here. I may add Drunk.

Boyhood diary of John Quincy Adams

Jan. 3, 1780, Monday, during his trip to Astorga, Spain

As for the People they are Lazy, dirty, Nasty and in short I can compare them to nothing but a parcel of hogs. Their cloaths are commonly of a dirt colour and their Breeches are big enough for to put a bushel of Corn in besides themselves. I do not wonder at it. Poor Creatures they are eat up by their preists. Near three quarters of what they earn goes to the Preists and with the other Quarter they must live as they can. Thus is the whole of this Kingdom deceived and deluded by their Religion. I thank Almighty God that I was born in a Country where any body may get a good living if they Please.

Dear Diary . . . Excerpts from a Bob Graham notebook. Dress in gray suit, discuss CIA, mingle Critics may consider it odd, but Sen. Bob Graham keeps a meticulous daily log of mundane tasks for a reason. Someday, historians may be glad.

Boyhood diary of Theodore Roosevelt

Nov. 14, 1869, Paris

I was sick and did not go out except for my russian bath. I and mama and Papa had a sociable time by the fire with my stampbook.

Diary of Anne Morrow Lindbergh

January 1928

He is great not because he crossed the ocean alone. He might have shown his genius in some other way. This explains the mad devotion to him. The flight gave him to the world. He is not a type of anything, as the newspapers have made him. Keen, intelligent, burning, thinking on all lines -- the intensity of light, burning, thinking on all lines -- The intensity of life, burning like like a bright fire in his eyes. Life focused in him -- When he in turn focuses his life, power, force on anything, amazing things happen.

Diary of Sen. Bob Packwood

March 20, 1992

Came to the office and got most of the work done that I had to do. Went down and used the hot tub for 20 minutes. I had already showered and shaved. I came out and I tried something. I just blew my hair. I didn't use any gel on it at all. I just blew it until it was about dry, combed it, and if it didn't come out looking just right. It had just the right amount of bounce to it and wave to it. I came back rather confident.

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