An Introduction

Susie Scott Hall ca.1878. 

 I first "met" Susie over 16 years ago when her grandson casually handed me two journals she wrote in 1871 (when she was 13) and 1876 (when she was 18).  They were written in beautiful faded script and I understood few members of her family had the patience to read them cover to cover.  I offered to take them home to transcribe and spent a whole summer painstakingly deciphering Susie's words.  It soon became clear that I had something truly special in my hands-- a first person account of a wealthy young woman who lived in Edith Wharton's New York.  In fact, she knew many of the same people: Theodore Roosevelt, Anne and Emeline Harriman, Mrs. Bradley Martin, and Mrs. Andrew Carnegie.  At the time, I wasn't familiar with Susie's world and except for browsing a few books (such as Kenneth T. Jackson's Encyclopedia of New York City) I did not attempt to research any further.  I returned the journals and copies of the transcripts to Susie's grateful grandson and over time forgot all about them.  Fast forward to a year ago when I rediscovered Susie's transcript in one of my desk drawers.  Two things had changed in those many years which started me on a new journey of discovery: 1) The internet now much more developed allowing me new access to people and information; and 2) I had the time, energy and drive to devote to this project.

Researching Susie's story is like peeling an onion-- every turn I find a Zelig-like connection to many important people and historical moments which she witnessed first hand.  Some will surely end up in my book, while others are more of a footnote and perhaps best shared in this format.  I think this is the perfect platform to highlight those "Can you believe this?", "I had no idea!", and "Fun Fact" items I uncover along the way.  From time to time I will also write about the living people I meet and places I visit as I try to follow Susie's footsteps-- many of the locations she mentions in her journals still exist today.  I might even document my own inner journey as I write my first novel.  

Whatever this blog becomes, I hope It conveys the thrilling pleasures and provocative lessons one can derive from delving into the past.