Who was Doris Marguerite? What brought her to Seattle from Minneapolis? How did this journal turn up in a heap of household belongings of two aged African American sisters who died in a shambled house on Mercer Street in 1982? I quickly rescued the journal, and based several creative projects over the decades upon some of the entries, such as How to Sweep and Dust, and on Doris’ gossipy marginalia throughout the journal with Edwardian pencil drawings on the front and back end-sheets. Recently I repaired torn pages, re-enforced the spine, made a proper box for the journal, and made notes for future projects. Who can resist entries such as What is Water, Uses for Stale Bread, recipes for Corn Pudding and Raisin Pie? Whoever Doris was, she comes alive again through her journal as a coming-of-age Edwardian lady.
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