The Accidental Diarist: A History of the Daily Planner in America by Molly McCarthy (review)

Abstract

THE ACCIDENTAL DIARIST: A History of Daily Planner in America. By Molly McCarthy. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. 2013.In this meticulously researched and engagingly written cultural history of daily planner, Molly McCarthy traces how everyday Americans used their diaries both in expected ways (tracking passage of and monetary expenditures) and unexpected ways (tracking spiritual progress, interacting with burgeoning commodity culture). In doing so, McCarthy ably joins ranks of scholars such as Michael O'Malley, Patricia Cline Cohen, and Charles McGovern, who contributed to our understanding of Americans' standardization of time, acquisition of numeracy skills, and engagement with consumption and citizenship, respectively.McCarthy asserts that the daily planner was more than just an unassuming stationery product (3); instead, she argues, it transformed ordinary Americans into accidental diarists as customers customized various products beyond their intended use (8). McCarthy's Introduction emphasizes her desire to dispel certain myths about diaries: Americans kept diaries when they had something meaningful to say; diary writing was a private . . . enterprise; only women kept diaries; and that diary habits did not change over time (9).McCarthy begins with eighteenth-century precursor of daily planner, almanac, America's first best-seller (13). She points out that almanacs targeted primarily a local audience: providing information about of sunrises and sunsets; roads and railroad departure times for a specific city; location of inns; lists of local officials; and currency conversions specific to particular financial institu- tions (14). For almanac users, focus remained on calendar rather than clock time, and on seasons of year suitable for planting and harvesting (28). While notable Americans appear in this chapter (George Washington, Benjamin Franklin), focus here, as elsewhere, remains on almanacs maintained and preserved by ordinary Americans.Even while almanac remained popular, newer formats began replacing it, including commercial registers, or pocket of late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. Designed for portability, these small but durable account books were constructed of heavier paper stock and stiffer bindings, and included a day-by- day calendar, although with space for a line or two. …