On the Continent, 1936

In 1936, when my grandmother was 28 years old and working at the Chicago Tribune, she and her best friend planned a trip to Europe. At the last minute, her friend got cold feet and decided to stay home; my grandma went anyways. While abroad, she collected all kinds of ephemera- postcards, menus, hotel stationery- and kept a journal of all her adventures, one of which was befriending Jesse Owens (who was headed home to the States from the Berlin Olympics) on her return voyage aboard the Queen Mary. The two of them played bridge together often, and apparently he was the subject of much talk amongst the ladies on the ship. Here are some of my grandma's treasures from her trip. Ever since David Leibowitz posted about sailing on the Queen Mary last year, I have been dying to recreate my grandmother's trip. Maybe one day...

this reads: "The Plane Trip: Left Chicago via Amerian Airlines 1:30 #17 July 11, 1936. Most thrilling experience. Best mode of travel. Clean, fast, comfortable. Sailing through the clouds was glorious- like castles. Landed at 6:AM in Newark- hated to leave the plane for the sordidness of New Jersey and New York. Trip took about 5 hours. Only uncomfortable sensation was ringing in my ears, which was stopped by yawning and swallowing."

I may share more bits and pieces as I read through the journal, so stay tuned!