WILLIAM M. CUMMINGS:

An Inventory of His Diaries and Related Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society

Manuscripts Collection

OVERVIEW


	Creator:	Cummings, William M., 1917-1995, creator.
	Title:	William M. Cummings diaries and related papers.
	Dates:	1924-1995.
	Abstract:	Diaries and miscellaneous papers documenting the life of a St. Paul, Minnesota native who also lived in California (1957-1980, 1987-1995) and Florida (1983-1986). The collection provides a day-to-day account of the lives of a 20th century working class man and his family.
	Quantity:	8.75 cubic feet (9 boxes, containing 8 folders and 88 v.).
	Location:	See Detailed Description for shelf locations.

William M. Cummings was born November 18, 1917 in Kansas City, Missouri, but his family moved to Redwood Falls, Minnesota in 1919 and to St. Paul in 1923. Cummings held a number of different jobs after dropping out of high school. He worked for the Work Projects Administration as a page at the St. Paul Public Library and as a field research worker on the Annals of Minnesota for the Minnesota Writers Project (1938-1941); at the Cudahy Meat Packing Plant (1941-1942); at the Gopher Ordnance Plant in St. Paul and Twin Cities Ordnance in New Brighton (1942-1943); and as a route salesman for Bireleys (1944-1947) and Whistle Bottling Company (1947-1957).

In 1957 Cummings moved with his family to Berkeley, California where he held jobs as an animal caretaker at the University of California-Berkeley (1961-1967) and as a custodian for the Berkeley Unified School District (1967-1980) until he retired.

Despite his lack of formal education Cummings maintained a lifelong interest in book collecting, specializing in works by or about Henry David Thoreau, bird watching, natural history, and travel.

Cummings married Betty Rogers (October 26, 1937) and they had five children: James Walter (August 22, 1938), Ellen Elaine (June 8, 1941), Claudia Lynn (February 26, 1951), Thomas William (July 23, 1956), and Laura Blanche (December 28, 1960). Cummings was divorced (September 23, 1977) and married Paula Iverson (November 6, 1977). The second marriage ended in divorce (1980) and Cummings married Janet Kautenberg in February, 1981. Janet died in February 21, 1993, and Cummings married Jackie Israel on September 9, 1993. Cummings died in San Diego, California on April 19, 1995.

Biographical data was taken from the collection.

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SCOPE AND CONTENTS

Includes an extensive series of manuscript diaries (1933-April 21, 1936 and 1937-April 1995) and a smaller series of travel and nature journals (1934-1995), supplemented by miscellaneous photographs, newspaper clippings, magazine articles (undated and 1939, 1984), correspondence (undated and 1938-1993), and personal memorabilia, primarily school report cards (1924-1936).

The diaries recount Cummings' youth in St. Paul, beginning at the age of 15; various jobs he held including work with the Work Projects Administration (1938-1941), at arms plants during World War II, as a soft drink route salesman (1944-1957), as a laboratory animal caretaker (1961-1967), and as a school custodian (1967-1980); and his life in retirement. In his diaries Cummings writes about his daily activities and family relationships including births, marriages, and deaths; hobbies and interests including book collecting, natural history, and family history; travel accounts; and reflections on current events and personalities. Cummings' travel and nature journals complement his diaries and provide detailed accounts of his trips and of local nature walks.

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ARRANGEMENT

The collection materials are organized into the following sections:


		Diaries
		Travel and Nature Journals
		Miscellaneous Correspondence and Papers

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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. William M. Cummings Diaries and Related Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession numbers: 14,309; 14,905; 15,003; 15,246

Processing Information:

Processed by: Frank P. Hennessy, April 1994; Anne Levin, March 2006

Catalog ID number: 990017165220104294

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION

DIARIES

1933-1937:

The diaries kept during this period recount Cummings' youth in St. Paul. Beginning at the age of 15, Cummings relates his dislike of school and his habitual truancy. He was expelled from several St. Paul schools and completed the largest part of high school at the University of Minnesota Farm School and Mechanic Arts High School, but did not graduate.

A good portion of the entries relate Cummings' activities and interests outside school, including movies, hopping trucks and freight trains, bird watching, raising rabbits, peddling newspapers at the State Fair, and throwing parties with his friends. He tells of his arrests for sneaking into the State Fair (September 7, 1934) and stealing overcoats (December 12, 1934.). He also discusses his parents' divorce (October 1, 1934).

Cummings hopped freights and hitchhiked across the country during this time and he included detailed descriptions of trips to Florida (March 25-May 10, 1934 and January 24-February 27, 1936), San Francisco (June 21-July 21, 1934), and a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp in Washington state (April 12-May 8, 1937).

The diary entries also relate Cummings' interest in several girls and his marriage to Betty Rodgers. The 1937 entries also describe his difficulty in securing steady employment and his need for relief assistance.

1938-1942:

The diaries during this period detail the first years of Cummings' marriage, in particular the struggle he had finding permanent employment. Cummings describes his work with the WPA as a page at the St. Paul Public Library, as a field research worker on the Minnesota Annals for the Minnesota Federal Writer's Project, and as a clerk at the food stamp office. He also discusses work at the State Fair grounds and as a laborer at the Cudahy Meat Packing Plant from which he was laid off several times due to illness or cutbacks in production.

Cummings was hired by the Gopher Ordnance Works (July 30, 1942) but was terminated due to illness (August 18, 1942). He then worked at various temporary jobs before being hired as an inspector at Twin Cities Ordnance in New Brighton, Minnesota (November 16, 1942). The diaries contain detailed descriptions of each of these jobs.

The diaries also relate Cummings' family life during this period, including the birth of his son, Walter James (August 22, 1938) and his daughter, Ellen Elaine (June 8, 1941). He discusses matters related to his parents and siblings, as well as to his in-laws; his interest in family history and his work on the Gold family genealogy; his continued interest in ornithology and natural history; the books he read; his interest in Minnesota history; the various apartments and houses they rented and his frustration over being unable to own a home; his debt problems; and news items related to the war.

1943-1947:

Entries continue to discuss Cummings' employment and financial situation; war news, including his thoughts on the draft; family matters; and his various interests and hobbies.

Cummings details his work experience at Twin City Ordnance until his layoff (November 27, 1943). He then worked a number of temporary jobs due to his 1-A draft status. He describes in detail his decision to enlist and the induction interview which led to his rejection by the military and classification as 4-F (December 22, 1943). Cummings secured a job with Northwest Airlines as a truck driver (January 11, 1943), quit in May, and worked for a number of trucking firms until he was hired as a route salesman by Bireleys in Minneapolis (July 17, 1944).

The diary entries for the next 2-1/2 years relate Cummings' work with Bireleys, particularly his problems with his boss. He left Bireleys (January 24, 1947) and was hired as a route salesman by Whistle Bottling Company (January 27, 1947).

Cummings gives an ongoing account of his financial situation, including the repossession of his furniture and filing for bankruptcy (March 1943); the purchase of his first car (May 27, 1943) and the need to sell it (September 7, 1943); the purchase of a house (March 21, 1945) and the improvements they made on it; problems they faced with the mortgage and the decision to rent to his sister-in-law and husband (November 22, 1946); and the purchase of a larger home across the street (July 4-August 16, 1947).

Cummings continues to relate his interests in genealogy, birds, and history and devotes a good deal of his commentary to his growing interest in writing, reading, and books. He discusses his involvement in the beginnings of the St. Paul Bird Club (October 18, 1947); his completion of the Gold family genealogy (June 21, 1945); and his book collecting and acquisition of autographs, including the first place ribbon he won for his display of autographed books at the Minnesota State Fair (August 26, 1944).

Through his varied interests and hobbies Cummings counted among his friends a number of prominent people in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area including Theodore Blegen, dean of the University of Minnesota Graduate School; Grace Lee Nute, curator of manuscripts at the Minnesota Historical Society; Francis Lee Jaques and Walter Breckenridge, ornithological illustrators at the Minnesota Museum of Natural History; and Elmer E. Anderson, president of the H.B. Fuller Company and future Minnesota governor.

1948-1952:

Cummings continued to work for Whistle Bottling Company as a route salesman, and his income and relationship with his boss are discussed throughout. He also describes experiences related to the breeding of Welsh terriers and the extra income this activity generated. Improvements to the house and property are another ongoing topic and include the purchase of a summer house (May 1948); insulating the house (November 1948); the purchase of several new appliances and furniture pieces, including their first television (June 27, 1949); and the addition of a new porch (May 6, 1952). Despite his increasing income Cummings' worry about debt is mentioned repeatedly.

Cummings continues to describe his various hobbies, particularly book collecting, and his decision to limit his collecting efforts primarily to two areas: diaries and journals, and works related to Henry David Thoreau. He joined the St. Paul chapter of the National Society of Autograph Collectors (February 18, 1949) and the diaries contain descriptions of the chapter's monthly meetings. He was elected secretary of the chapter (October 18, 1949) and president (June 6, 1952). Cummings was also chosen president of the Ramsey County Historical Society (May 28, 1952).

Family matters discussed at this time include the birth of Cummings' third child, Claudia Lynn (February 26, 1951); his son's growing interest in autograph and book collecting; problems in his sister-in-law's marriage and the birth of her first child; and his father's election as mayor of Arden Hills, Minnesota (March 10, 1951). Cummings also relates various family trips taken at this time including a trip to the East Coast (September 23-October 2, 1949), which he wrote about in a separate journal; a trip through Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee (September 29-October 6, 1951); and a trip to New England (October 3-16, 1952), which is noted but left blank in the diary.

During this period Cummings periodically comments on the Korean war and discusses the 1952 political conventions and presidential election, which he is able to follow on television.

1953-1957:

Cummings' sister-in-law, Elaine, and husband separated (January 1953) and Elaine moved into Cummings' house with her infant daughter. Cummings purchased a second house to rent to Elaine (May 2, 1953) and describes the work he put into the house and his frustration over Elaine's marital situation up to the time she reunited with her husband in Texas (September 13, 1953). Cummings' father became ill and died in March 1954. The entries at that time (March 4-8, 1954) describe his father's death and Cummings' grief and reflections on his relationship with his father. After his father's death Cummings discusses his improved relationship with his stepmother and his expectations regarding his father's will.

Throughout that period Cummings describes his job at Whistle Bottling Company, the management of the kennels, and his ongoing debt problems. He relates how the bank asked him to close his checking account (August 19, 1954); his attempt to pay off his loans with the help of a finance company (October 25, 1954); the repossession of his car (November 15, 1954); the cancellation of a family trip to Texas due to debt (April 1, 1955); and his filing for bankruptcy (September 18, 1957).

Cummings describes the frustration and disappointment related to a failed attempt to purchase a new home (July 17- August 30, 1955), the sale of the house they purchased to rent to his sister-in-law (October 10, 1955), and their decision to build a home (April 21, 1956). He goes on to relate how they sold their house, were turned down for credit on the new home, and after a period of much worry purchased a house in Falcon Heights (June 7-28, 1956).

During this period Cummings continued to collect books and manuscripts and joined both the Thoreau and Emerson societies. He describes meetings held by the Autograph Collectors Society and Friends of the University of Minnesota Library, and discusses his acquaintance with librarians at the University of Minnesota, Hamline University, and the Minneapolis Public Library. He purchased a houseboat on the St. Croix River (June 25, 1953), and many of the weekend entries describe work put into the boat and the many outings with family and friends.

Cummings' children are the subject of many of the entries including the birth of a second son, Thomas William (July 23, 1956). Jim's high school activities are described including his graduation (June 15, 1956). Cummings discusses Jim's decision to attend the University of Minnesota (September 4, 1956-March 3, 1957) and relates his feelings over Jim's decision to enlist in the army (July 7, 1957). Ellen quit school to work as a waitress (September 10, 1957) and Cummings relates the turmoil surrounding her attempt to marry a 26-year-old man she worked with and the decision to send her to live with Elaine in Texas (November 3, 1957).

The diaries describe family trips taken at the time including a brief one to the Apostle Islands (October 10, 1953), a trip by his wife and daughters to visit Elaine in Texas (April 4-13, 1954), and the entire family's trip to Texas and Mexico (October 20-30, 1955).

The Whistle Bottling Company was sold (April 2, 1957) and Cummings discusses his worry about a new boss. He describes a trip to Texas, Mexico, and California (April 4-22, 1957) and his decision to move to California after visiting his mother and sister who lived in the San Francisco area. Cummings closes the 1957 diary with entries describing the sale of his home (November 9, 1957), his last day at Whistle (December 12, 1957), and the move to California, including a visit with Elaine in Texas (December 21-31, 1957).

1958-1962:

The entries for the period begin with Cummings' description of their arrival in California and the purchase of a home in El Cerrito (January 11, 1958). The first half of the 1958 diary describes Cummings' unsuccessful attempts at finding a job, his exploration of the San Francisco area, and visits with relatives and old friends living in the area. Cummings was hired by the Oakland Cigarette Service as a delivery man (June 17, 1958) and he describes the job and problems he experienced with it until he was terminated (April 7, 1961).

Cummings describes another period of unemployment and subsequent financial problems including the repossession of his car (July 8, 1961) and filing for bankruptcy (November 13, 1961). He also describes the purchase of and move into a new home (August 28-September 5, 1961). Cummings was hired as an animal caretaker at the University of California (September 19, 1961) and the entries through 1962 contain a daily description of the work. In addition to the work at the University he relates his experience at a part-time job unloading trucks on Sunday nights (September-December 1962).

Cummings' description of his family life during this period include the birth of his third daughter, Laura Blanche (December 28, 1960); summer trips to Yosemite (1959-1961); his improved relationship with his daughter Ellen, her jobs, and various men she dated, including Cummings' disapproval of one which resulted in her moving out for a brief time (June 25-August 3, 1962); and Cummings' problems with his sister Ann.

Throughout the period Cummings also relates his thoughts and feelings regarding events in the life of his eldest son, Jim. These include Jim's marriage to Merilyn Stenburg (January 3, 1958); the birth of their first son, Walter James, Jr. (October 26, 1958); Jim's discharge from the army (June 5, 1959) and their move to St. Paul where Jim returned to the University; their visit to California (September 4-21, 1961) and move to California (November 5, 1961); Jim's employment at a bookstore (November 15, 1961); and a period of estrangement between Jim and Cummings (April-August, 1962).

Another topic discussed throughout this period is Cummings' increased involvement in the Presbyterian Church. He describes various church related activities including Sunday services, prayer meetings, church dinners, Bible classes, weekend conferences, Sunday school teaching, and his activities as a deacon.

1963-1967:

The diaries for this period continue the description of Cummings' work at the University of California. Also included are descriptions of a second job as a part-time janitor at his church (July 22, 1964-May 10, 1966), which he quit after suffering an attack of angina pectoris (May 6, 1966). During this period Cummings took classes on animal care and was certified as a junior animal technician (July 12, 1966) and a senior animal technician (June 14, 1967). Cummings was later hired as a janitor with the Berkeley Public Schools (October 3, 1967) and quit his job at the University (October 18, 1967).

Cummings continued to have financial problems. He filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy (April 22, 1964) and describes a period (April-June, 1967) in which financial problems were overwhelming and he thought of suicide (June 2, 1967). Cummings states that he filed for bankruptcy protection again (October 13, 1967). The period ends with a description of problems surrounding the purchase of a new house, including hard feelings that developed between his son Jim and himself over a loan Cummings failed to repay.

Entries related to Cummings' family include descriptions of problems with his sister Ann, and her marriage problems and divorce (October 10, 1966); his daughter Ellen's decision to move out and her return (January 31-June 22, 1964); her elopement with Terry Johnson (July 25, 1965) and wedding reception (August 14, 1965); the birth of their daughter, Terri Ellen (July 8, 1967); Cummings' growing dislike of Terry and problems in the marriage; his son Jim's return to Minneapolis (May 14, 1963) and recurring problems in their relationship; the discovery that his son Tommy was learning-disabled (December 7, 1965); and his daughter Claudia's problems at school due to truancy.

Cummings describes his activity as a deacon in the Presbyterian Church at the start of this period, but states his lack of faith in prayer (November 16, 1964) and total reversal in faith (April 7, 1966), which leads to withdrawing his church membership (November 30, 1967).

Contemporary news events commented on include John F. Kennedy's assassination (November 22-25, 1963); Cummings' thoughts on the race riots and integration; the Free Speech Movement at Berkeley (December 2, 1964); the escalation of the Vietnam War; and the anti-war protests at Berkeley.

1968-1972:

The entries continue to describe Cummings' janitorial work including his interaction with the teachers and students. Various community groups met in the school in the evening and Cummings describes his reaction to the Black Panthers and the objection by some parents to their presence (May 6, 1968). He also describes the unrest at the school at the time of Martin Luther King's assassination (April 4-10, 1968).

Financial affairs recounted at the start of this period include the continued strain in Cummings' relationship with Jim over the unpaid loan which is resolved when a cousin loans him $3,800 (January 25, 1968); a mortgage default which is filed against Cummings' house (March 26, 1968); and the purchase a new house in Oakland (April 3, 1968).

Cummings relates their decision to move back to Minnesota due to problems with their mortgage and a reluctance to have Tommy attend junior high school in Oakland (April 1969). He describes a problem he had getting money back from the realtor and how he was mugged at work with $750 in cash in his pocket (May 22, 1969). He goes on to describe the move back to Minnesota (June 7-30, 1969) including the purchase of a trailer house (June 7, 1969) and the rental of a house in Stillwater, Minnesota (June 9, 1969).

After the move to Minnesota Cummings recounts his search for a permanent job, including temporary work with Fisher Nuts as a truck driver and with Midwest Motors as a dock worker (July-August 1969). He was ultimately hired at Montgomery Ward as a full-time truck driver (September 22, 1969), a job he describes on a daily basis until being fired (November 23, 1971). During this period Cummings purchased a house in Stillwater (October 21, 1969) and received his highest salary to date.

Cummings goes on to describe a period in which he received welfare and unemployment benefits, worked as a part-time custodian at the Temple of Aaron and as a part-time clerk at Jim's book stores (November 1971-April 1972). He also relates how a terminally ill friend gave him a trip to Europe (January 28, 1972) and, upon his return, gave him money to purchase a new car (May 3, 1972) and make a down payment on a house (May 25, 1972).

At the close of this period Cummings discusses their decision to move back to California when he learns he can get his job back with the Berkeley Public Schools (January 17, 1972); the purchase of a house in El Sobrante, California (June 14, 1972); the move to California (July 28-August 2, 1972); and the resumption of his work with the Berkeley Schools as a custodian (September 5, 1972).

Family-related matters include Cummings' description of his mother's deteriorating health and her death (December 11, 1970); problems in Ellen's marriage including a series of separations, her final move to Minnesota (October 1970) with her daughter Terri Ellen (whose name is changed to Elaine), her divorce (October 10, 1970), and an ongoing dispute over visitation rights resulting in Ellen being subpoenaed to a court hearing (October 30, 1972). Also discussed are Claudia's problems in school and their eventual improvement (1968), a succession of jobs she held after they moved to Minnesota, her marriage to Todd Swanson (February 18, 1972), and their move back to California with the Cummings. Cummings discusses visits to Jim's book store in Wayzata while working at Ward's, the opening of a new store in Stillwater (November 1, 1971), and Jim's anger over their move back to California, which he apologizes for during a Thanksgiving visit (November 20-28, 1972).

Cummings describes ongoing health problems at this time including his hospitalization for an infected bladder (March 23-24, 1971) and treatment for cancer of the colon (October 1-8, 1971). He also describes trips he took including one to New England with Jim (July 7-11, 1971) and his tour of Europe (April 6-20, 1972).

Current events continue to be mentioned in the diaries, with the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War protests being most prominent. He describes Tommy's experience at a riot at the University of California (February 19, 1969) and relates the activity surrounding the protests over People's Park at Berkeley (May 15-20, 1969).

1973-1976:

The entries for this period continue to describe Cummings' work as a custodian with the Berkeley schools. He describes his positive interaction with the teachers and students including talks he gave to classes on diary keeping and book collecting. He also recounts his decision to transfer to the West Berkeley Children's Center (January 31, 1975) and his experiences there until it closed (August 20, 1976).

Cummings continues to discuss his financial problems and his attempts to overcome them including another Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing (May 13 and May 21, 1974), as well as two part-time evening jobs he held until he decided to refinance his home mortgage and quit the second job due to health problems (February 7-October 6, 1975).

Cummings continues to relate his interests outside work which included gardening and a renewed interest in birds and nature in general. He describes his attendance at a series of Sunday religious programs entitled "God In Nature," various nature hikes at local parks, and a number of camping trips to Yosemite National Park. He also describes two trips to Minnesota, one with Tommy (July 7-21, 1974) and another with his future wife, Paula (December 19-28, 1976). Also included during this period are Cummings' comments on the events surrounding the Watergate political scandal and the Patty Hearst kidnapping.

Cummings' discussion of family matters predominates during this period. Problems with his daughter Claudia's marriage are related at the beginning of the period. The birth of Claudia's first son, William Theodore (February 6, 1975), and the repeated surgeries and prolonged hospitalizations necessitated by his birth defects are an ongoing topic in the entries for 1975-1976. Also mentioned is Cummings' decision to loan Claudia $1,000 toward the down payment on a home (October 6, 1975).

Cummings describes a visit from his son Jim (December 16-26, 1973), at which time he mentions problems in Jim's marriage and later discusses Jim's divorce (May 12 and May 24, 1974). Jim visited again with his second wife (June 26-July 5, 1974) and Cummings expresses his thoughts on the second wife and their wedding (June 29, 1974).

Problems resulting from Cummings' eldest daughter Ellen, dating a 20-year-old friend of his son Tommy are related (December 1974-January 1975), as is Cummings' disapproval of her involvement with Conrad Coyner (December 1975), whom she later married (July 18, 1976). Also described are a number of problems involving his two youngest children, Tommy and Laura, primarily related to school, drinking, and use of marijuana.

Throughout this period Cummings repeatedly relates his frustration with his marriage and family. The entries at the end of the period relate his affair with a 29-year-old woman, Paula Iverson, his decision to leave his wife and move in with Paula, and the settlement regarding the sale of their home (October-December 1976).

1977-1980:

Entries for the period recount Cummings' divorce from his first wife, Betty; his marriage to Paula Iverson (November 6, 1977) and the problems that led to its breakup in 1980; his retirement; and attempts to start a new relationship after leaving Paula.

Cummings' divorce was finalized (September 23, 1977) and preceding entries discuss his dealings with his family and the court in arriving at a settlement. Cummings details the recurring problems in his second marriage, associated with Paula's drinking and past relationships, including a failed suicide attempt on his part (February 25, 1978); problems related to his stepson, Jaffe, and his need for counseling; and the problems that arose with his children after his divorce, particularly those that occurred while his daughter Laura lived with them (October 26, 1978-March 25, 1979). Entries at the end of this period relate the circumstances surrounding Cummings' decision to retire (September 1979-June 1, 1980), the move to his own apartment (July 24, 1980), and his experiences with other women following his separation from Paula.

Travel described during this time includes trips with Paula to Europe (April 28-May, 1977) and the East Coast (September 30-October 26, 1978); and trips to two Thoreau Society meetings in Concord, Massachusetts (July 13-20, 1978 and June 28-July 16, 1980), the latter including visits to the Caribbean and Stillwater, Minnesota.

1981-1995:

At the start of his diaries Cummings documents his year by putting in photographs of his apartments; postcards of cities he lives in or travels to; photographs of himself, his wife Janet or later his wife Jackie, and other family members; trip itineraries; newspaper clippings on literary or political topics; and other mementos of his year. He starts each diary with expectations for all the blank pages and what the year will bring to him. At various points in his diaries Cummings will note how he has reviewed his diary entries from previous years and his enjoyment in keeping his diaries over so many years. The diaries for this period document Cummings' daily activities and interests in retirement.

In 1981 Cummings marries Janet Kautenberg whom he has met through the Single Booklovers service. He moves from Berkeley to Santa Barbara, California where they are married February 15, 1981. Their marriage continues for 12 years until Janet's death in February 1993. During their marriage they live in Santa Barbara and San Jose, California (1981-1984), Fort Meyers, Tallahassee, and Englewood, Florida (1984-1990), and return to Santa Barbara, California in 1990. In daily entries Cummings writes about his relationship with Janet, his children and family issues, his health and hospitalizations for a heart attack and other illnesses, finances, college extension and elderhostel courses, literary interests including his participation in the Kilvert Society that celebrates diarist Francis Kilvert in Wales, local walks and nature outings, trips to Minnesota to visit his son Jim in Stillwater, and travels to California, Hawaii, and throughout the United States as well as trips to Great Britain, Ireland, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Cyprus, and Mexico.

In 1993 following Janet's death Cummings reflects on his relationship with Janet and writes about his feelings of depression and loss. He also assesses his health and finances and writes about his move to Goleta, California. In July he contacts Jackie Israel through the Single Booklovers service and they meet in August and are married in September 1993. They live in San Diego, California, and continue to travel with trips to Minnesota, Arizona, New Zealand, and Alaska in 1994.

In his diary entries in 1995 Cummings writes about his daily activities with Jackie, memories of Janet, the beach conditions during his swims and walks, his health, and finances. Cummings' last entry is on April 18, and the final entry in the diary is on April 19, 1995, written by Jackie on the day of his death. She tells how he had wept in the morning watching the news of the Oklahoma City bombing and how he died that afternoon while walking on his favorite beach.

Location

Box

152.I.4.14F

Diaries, 1933-1949. 17 volumes.

Location

Box

152.I.5.1B

Diaries, 1950-1959. 10 volumes.

Location

Box

152.I.5.2F

Diaries, 1960-1970. 11 volumes.

Location

Box

152.I.5.3B

Diaries, 1971-1980. 10 volumes.

Diary, January 1-February 23, 1977.

Pages removed from volume due to broken binding.

Location

Box

147.H.13.7B

Diaries, 1981-1990. 10 volumes.

Location

Box

147.H.13.8F

Diaries, 1991-1995. 5 volumes.

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TRAVEL AND NATURE JOURNALS

This series (1934-1995) augments Cummings' diaries with notes related to his interest in natural history, travel accounts, and details of his personal life. A large portion of the entries are accompanied by photographs and postcards.

1934-1935:

The earliest journals contain lists of birds Cummings sighted on his rail hopping trips to Florida and California in 1934. A daily record of his trip to California and rules governing a club he helped form, the "Thomas Street Freight Gang," are found in the back of the second notebook. There is also a journal (1935) that Cummings kept as a school assignment in which he discusses his family and his interests in nature, movies, girls, trains, and travel.

1939-1951:

The majority of the entries document Cummings' nature hikes. The entries include the hike's date, location, and participants; a description of the weather; the number and species of birds seen; and nesting dates. Many of the hikes took place along the Mississippi River bluffs near Cummings' St. Paul home, at Fort Snelling, or along the Minnesota River. There are also descriptions and photographs of several outings with the St. Paul Bird Club (1947).

Travels that are described include trips to Faribault, Granite Falls, Renville, Red Wing, and other Minnesota towns; Washington, D.C. (September 1946), Illinois and Iowa (May 1949); New England (September-October 1949) and Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee (September 29-October 6, 1951). Photographs and postcards accompany the trip journals.

Other pursuits and personalities mentioned include Cummings' interest in Ignatius Donnelly and Donnelly's house in Nininger, Minnesota; his interest in genealogy which included visits to old family homes and various cemeteries in order to identify or locate family members; authors he admired including a visit with August Derleth (September 23, 1949); and his friendships with Brother Hubert Lewis, his high school principal Dietrich Lange, and Theodore Blegen.

1952-1969:

Consists almost entirely of travel accounts with entries related to Cummings' personal and family life and his interest in natural history scattered throughout. The travel accounts begin with a family trip to New England including visits to Concord, Massachusetts and Walden Pond (October 1952). Trips aboard the family's houseboat on the St. Croix River (1953-1956) and several short journeys in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin are described including trips to the Apostle Islands (October 1953) and Duluth (July 1955). Vacations in Texas (October 1956) and in California, Texas, and Mexico the following year (April 1957) are also documented.

An account of the family's move to El Cerrito, California (December 1957) is given and several outings in the San Francisco area and vacations throughout California are described (January 1958-June 1969). There are entries describing church conferences at Mount Herman, California (September 1960 and January 1961), a tour of San Quentin prison (March 11, 1961), visits to the Monterey peninsula, trips to Yosemite National Park (June 1961, July 1963, August 1968), a tour of missions in southern California (April 1962), and a trip to Oregon (June-July 1965).

The period closes with a record of the Cummings family move back to Minnesota (June 1969).

1970-1980:

Entries begin with Cummings' arrival in Stillwater, Minnesota, followed by an account of a vacation in Ontario and Manitoba, Canada (July 1970), Cummings' reflections on the death of his mother (December 1970-May 1971), and a record of a trip to New England with his eldest son Jim (July 1971). Cummings was given a two week tour of Europe by a terminally ill friend (April 1972) and an account of the trip is given in a separate journal.

Several short journeys in Minnesota are documented along with descriptions of the town of Stillwater, the Cummings' home, and the family's decision to return to California (July 1972).

The entries after Cummings' return to California reflect a renewed interest in natural history. They include descriptions of his home in El Sobrante; several camping trips including visits to Yosemite (June 1972) and Tahoe National Forest (June 1974); and a series of nature walks and Sunday morning "God-In-Nature" services (October 1975-June 1976). A trip Cummings made to Minnesota (June 1974) is recorded in a separate journal.

The breakup of Cummings' first marriage and a trip to Minnesota with his second wife are described (October-December 1976), followed by records of their trips to the East Coast (July and October 1978), additional visits to Minnesota (August 1977, October 1978, and December 1979), and a three-week tour of Europe (April-May, 1977). A trip that Cummings made by himself to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Concord, Massachusetts (June-August 1980) and a record of his visits to Yosemite over a seven year period (1973-1980) are also included.

The entries at the end of this period document the breakup of Cummings' second marriage and the beginning of his relationship with his third wife Janet Kautenberg (October-December 1980).

1981-1995:

The first volume in this section contains Cummings' notes from courses he took on journal writing, American literature, marine biology, and philosophy (February 1980-October 1984).

The remainder of the journals document Cumming's moves to San Jose, California (November 1981), Sanibel Island, Florida (October 1983), Tallahassee, Florida (July 1984), Englewood, Florida (June 1986), Santa Barbara, California (July 1990), and San Diego, California (September 1993). The majority of the entries pertain to Cummings' nature walks on beaches near his homes. Topics include bird watching, shell and fossil collecting, his interest in loggerhead turtles, and acquaintances he made while walking.

Travel-related entries document trips to the East Coast and Minnesota (May-June 1981, September 1983), a trip to Britain (August-September 1981), a Pacific Northwest cruise (September 1982), two trips to Hawaii (December 1982, January 1988), trips to Jamaica (February 1984) and Bermuda (February 1986), five Caribbean cruises (May and November 1986, April-May and November 1987, April 1989), a tour of Ireland (May 1988), and a cruise from San Francisco to Alaska (June 1994).

Location

Box

143.E.6.10F

Travel notebook: Bird checklist (Florida trip), March 25-May 11, 1934.

Travel notebook: Bird checklist (California trip in back), June 21-July 22, 1934.

School notes and journal, 1935.

Nature Journals:

July-October 1939 and January-March 1941.

January 1942-September 11, 1946.

Nature and travel journal. September 29, 1946-October 6, 1951.

New England trips:

September 1949.

October 1952.

Travel Journals:

February 17, 1952-July 3, 1960.

April 1957-June 11, 1969.

Location

Box

143.E.7.1B

Move back to Minnesota, June 14-21, 1969.

Travel journal, June 26, 1969-April 30, 1976.

Europe trip, April 6-14, 1972.

Minnesota trip, June 5-July 19, 1974.

Travel journal, May 2, 1976-June 13, 1981.

Europe trip, April 28-May 20, 1977.

Caribbean and Concord seminar, June 29-August 17, 1980.

Yosemite trips, August 11, 1973-September 9, 1980.

Location

Box

143.E.7.2F

Class notes, February 6, 1980-September 1984.

Travel Journals:

August 25-September 22, 1981.

Trip to Britain.

November 5, 1981-April 1, 1986.

May 20-September 16, 1982.

April 2, 1986-November 1, 1987.

April 26-December 1, 1987.

November 2, 1987-October 11, 1989.

Nature journal, October 17, 1989-May 9, 1994.

Nature and travel journal, May 11, 1994-February 3, 1995.

Includes notes from a trip to Alaska, June 11-21, 1994.

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MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE AND PAPERS

Includes four folders: first is a series of Cummings' school report cards (1924-1936) and a few other identification cards; second is a group of correspondence, photographs, memorabilia, and miscellaneous papers (undated and 1938-1993) related to events documented in the diaries; third, material related to Cummings' interest in authors and book collecting including a bibliography of Cummings' Thoreau library and a group of correspondence (undated and 1942-1949, 1962, 1986) from authors responding to his requests for autographs; and finally, a group of Cummings' published and unpublished articles (undated and 1939, 1994) related to his avocation as an amateur naturalist.

Location

Box

143.E.7.2F

School report cards and miscellaneous identification cards, 1924-1936.

Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, undated and 1938-1993.

Authors' correspondence, undated and 1942-1948, 1962, 1986.

Articles, undated and 1939, 1994.

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CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:: Bird watching -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul.; Book collecting.; Fossils -- Collection and preservation -- Florida.; Nature study -- California.; Nature study -- Florida.; Nature study -- Minnesota.; Public schools -- California -- Berkeley.; Retirement.; Shells -- Collection and preservation -- Florida.; Voyages and travels.; Working class whites -- Dwellings.; Working class whites -- Family relationships.; Working class whites -- Finance, Personal.; Working class whites -- Travel.; World War, 1939-1945 -- Equipment and supplies.

Places:: Berkeley (Calif.).; Englewood (Fla.).; Europe -- Description and travel.; Great Britain -- Description and travel.; Ireland -- Description and travel.; Saint Paul (Minn.) -- Social life and customs -- 1918- .; San Diego (Calif.).; Sanibel (Fla.).; Santa Barbara (Calif.).; Stillwater (Minn.).; Tallahassee (Fla.).

Persons:: Bennett family.; Cummings family.; Gold family.; Gould family.; Kilvert, Robert Francis, 1840-1879.; Thoreau, Henry David, 1817-1862.

Organizations:: Berkeley Unified School District (Berkeley, Calif.) -- Officials and employees.; Gopher Ordnance Works (U.S.) -- Officials and employees.; Twin City Ordnance Plant (New Brighton, Minn.) -- Employees.; United States. Work Projects Administration (Minnesota).; Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of Minnesota -- Officials and employees.

Document Types:: Diaries.; Journals.; Photographs.

Occupations:: School custodians.; Truck drivers -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul.

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