Began by learning in __ that the diary had been found in 1924 and that the Boston Evening Transcript published an article with a facsimile of the important pages indicating Susanna's marriage to Francis West. I then explored where the Transcript could be found. Finding the genealogical abstracts in Middletown, Connecticut, I visited the library at 134 Newfield Street. Although the genealogy abstracts were not articles, a woman wrote on 17 September 1924 about the marriage between Susanna and Francis West. Consequently, the article with the facsimile more than likely would have appeared prior to September 1924.
Having failed to locate the Transcript locally, I planned a trip to the Boston Public Library. On this trip, my wife and mother accompanied me (my mother being in town for my birthday). Arriving at the Library, we proceeded to find the Microtext department and inquire about the film. After completing paperwork and obtaining a temporary card, we were given six months worth of the Transcript. Believing that January and February were probably less likely, I assigned my mother to January and my wife to February. I began with March.
Knowing that the article featured a facsimile, I quickly perused through the microfilm. About fifteen minutes later, I found the article. Eureka! I then proceeded to print the article on the library's machines. Though excited at the discovery, the quality of the prints were less than ideal; but were readable.
My companions and I then ate lunch and read the article out loud. Words written more than seventy-seven years ago leaped from the pages as they related a more exiting discovery and journey by George Bowman. Here, after three-quarters of a century, is that article in its entirety: |