Lifelines

In 1935 a young woman wrote a letter to the magazine "Nursery World": "Can any mother help me? I live a very lonely life ...... I adore reading, but with no library am very limited with books.... Can any reader suggest an occupation that will intrigue me and exclude 'thinking' and cost nothing!" This plea struck a chord with women around the country who wrote back expressing their own, similar frustrations; the result was a private magazine.

Now Jenna Bailey has discovered the amazing archive that is the work of the Co-operative Correspondence Club or CCC, as the magazine was called.

For almost fifty years, members  - who adopted pseudonyms - circulated articles, all edited and bound in hand-embroidered linen covers by the indefatigable and meticulous 'Ad Astra'. Subject matter concentrated on what concerned them most personally, so the result is a hugely valuable social history of women's domestic lives from the 1930s on, now made public for the first time in Jenna's book Can Any Mother Help Me?

This was a truly affecting read. I found myself involved from the start with the women's individual stories, sharing their joys and sorrows, amazed at their courage in immensely difficult times, surprised at their candour, particularly where marriage was the issue, and cheered by the very supportive nature of the whole enterprise.

Had the technology existed, these women would have been the bloggers of their day. They left comments on one another's articles, private friendships beyond the confines of the paper 'club' developed, and practical help was often given in addition to sound advice. They were articulate, generally highly educated, often seeking an outlet which their lives as wives and mothers could not provide, but which their mutual correspondence apparently could.

One member, 'Accidia', makes the point: "Relieved of the inevitability of sink and duster and oven, one could be so much more creative in one's relationship with other people", and this seems to set the tone for what was written over the years. The result is an impressive testament to the way the women 'just got on' with things, expressing themselves - albeit safely  - within the group, but bringing an acute sense of perspective to often trying circumstances.

At the end of her life and in poor health, 'Ad Astra' decided the CCC papers she had kept over the years had become a burden to her and resolved to burn them. Fortunately, she told another member, 'Elektra', of her plan, and Elektra intervened and rescued the articles, later donating them to the Mass Observation Archive at the University of Sussex, which is where Jenna Bailey found them.  Elektra is now 101, and still going strong. Thank goodness she stepped in, and thank goodness she and her fellow members took the trouble to put pen to paper so often and for so long; the result is remarkable.

Comments

[Simon]

Wonderful!
So, does the book reprint the magazines? Sounds like it might be a must-buy... I can see entering the world of blogging is only going to make me poorer.

[Peg]

Now I MUST try to get a copy of this delightful collection of stories. The first bloggers indeed! I went to the link for Jenna and saw the ladies' photos. Delightful and wouldn't you just love to have tea with them?

[Kelly]

Echoes of round-robin letters - not the sort that get sent out once a year full of family news, but the packets of letters that would circulate among groups - of gardeners, or of friends: the packet would arrive at your house, you would read through the set, remove your previous letter (as it had made the rounds), add a new one to the packet, and post it off to the next person in the circle. I wonder how many still exist?

The far-flung communities that blogging can create can seem so new to us, but they aren't entirely, are they?

Thanks for the book tip!

[a simple yarn]

What a lovely subject and what great insight in applying to present day situation and technology. Oh yes, it's got to go on the read list now...

[sherry]

The hand embroidered covers sound simply divine. I do enjoy domestic histories. Have you read the new biography of Mrs. Beeton?

[Avice]

What a wonderful community they must have created. Some, I think, might have become bloggers in a different time, although I have a feeling that the privacy of the correspondence club -- and the fact it could thrive outside one's immediate environs -- must have been very appealing. Blogging would not afford such privacy. Thanks for sharing this!

[Elizabeth]

This is so fascinating, another book I must buy. I love the embroidered covers, and am longing to read their letters. Thankyou Karen for another wonderful blog entry.

[Elizabeth]

PS - I see that Alice Munro is short-listed for this year's Man Booker.

[Kim (Ragged Roses)]

Thanks for introducing me to what looks like such a fascinating read - they do sound like early "bloggers".

[natalie]

I read about this before I went on holiday, where did you find it? I'd really like to have a read.

[tara]

What a wonderful sounding book, and an amazing discovery for Jenna Bailey. This may wind up being a book depository purchase.