Persona

De Jong, Jack (collector)

The primary author of these diaries is unknown; although evidence within the documents suggests the author was a married farmer and his wife's name was Annie. They likely lived in southeastern Saskatchewan. Although trips to town were relatively frequent, the town was never named; however, Sunday, 24 July 1927 included at trip to White Bear Lake; and the entry from 15 July 1929 states "Annie went to Virden" - presumably, Virden Manitoba. On Friday, 2 March 1934 [they] "went to Wawota to put on play" and in 1941, "went to Carlyle" (Monday, 10 November) - all of which strongly suggests a location in the SE part of the province. Also, his Saskatchewan Wheat Pool contract number (written on one of the diaries) was 63-237; other contract holders with numbers of the form 63-xxx had mailing addresses in Carlyle. Neighbours included the Georges, the Ingrams, the Badgeleys; but a quick search of the Saskatchewan Homestead Index did not produce any land descriptions. Information in the diaries also suggests the man had served in the armed forces, originally in World War One. In late 1941 they rented their farm and the man joined the Veterans Guard of Canada.