https://transcription.si.edu/view/17875/NASM-NASM-9A16128-019_020
1) What do you notice? What do you wonder? These questions are just to get you thinking and writing about your initial impressions of the source. What stands out to you about the source you chose? (This might be why you chose it in the first place.) What questions do you have about it?
The diary entries are neatly written and made on a regular basis. I wonder how old the pilot is at the time. The author seems to have a good vocabulary and good penmanship and is most likely educated. The conciseness of the entries stood out to me.
2) Source: Tell us a little bit about the source itself. Is it a letter, article, photograph, advertisement, diary entry, etc.? When and where was it created? Who was the initial intended audience?
In this section, be sure to link to the source or upload an image of the source so everyone can see it.
The source is an entry from the diary of Zenos Miller a World War I pilot with the 27th Aero Squadron. Miller was a prisoner of war and the diary contains entries written by his fellow POW's. The entry was made in 1918 in Dallas. It may have been created for family members or anyone else that would be interested in the authors daily life.
16 Wednesday, Jan. 16, 1918 Out to camp in the morning and reported Nothing doing In the afternoon decided to visit Dallas. Went over by trolley. Got accommodation at the Adolphus Hotel a fine up to date hotel Got a jitney to take me out to Love Field The place was a swelter of mud. Saw Marshall for about 20 minutes. He is very enthusiastic about flying Training is very slow at Love field Stunting discouraged. 17 Thursday, Jan. 17, 1918 Purchased a pair of wings from a Dallas jeweler before returning to Fort Worth. I am getting well acquainted with the roads from Fort Worth to the camp. The Major expects us to leave any day. This delay is wearing on both the officers and men. Spent night in Town. Hotels are making some money out of us flyers.
3) Context: Using what you know about the time period in which this ad was placed, provide some context for the content of the ad.
Provide some background information that might help to answer some of the questions you posed in Question 1.
Cite at least one module blog post in your contextualization.
In 1918 at the time the entry was made World War 1 was coming to an end and the Progressive Era. Immigration and American citizenship are key issues during this time as well.
Citation Module 12: Americanization, Reform, and Rights in the Progressive Era
4) Implications/Conclusions: Why is this source important for understanding American history? Is it illustrative of any larger trends? Does it help to clarify, humanize, or personalize any particular event or phenomenon in the early twentieth century? Essentially, why was this source saved for people like us to examine?
This is an important source historically as it personalizes the experiences of military personnel during World War I. Sources like this one break large historical events into smaller more relatable pieces.
5) Discussion Question: End your post with a discussion question for everyone else to answer. This question should be one that doesn’t have one “correct” answer.
What motivates people to keep diaries like this one?
I agree with @Sims71 above--daily reflections are often used as a way to process things and can be especially helpful in a stressful situation like Miller's. I was most interested in the line about how the delay was weighing on both officers and men. I think we can definitely understand the more human side of the war by reading Miller's accounts, it helps to break this major historical event into smaller, more understandable pieces as you noted.