RSW's Diary Comments

Comments from RSW's 1932 personal library:

A capture from Google Maps

"Wed. August 24
Monadock
Very hot again. Feeling some better. With Phil, Julia, and little Phil went to Monadnock, visiting Garrishes. Stopped at Miss Frotheringham's at Marlboro. Made drawing of Monadnock - working hard. Left at 6:00. Dinner at Bernardton at 8:15. Home by 10:30, very, very tired."

Correction:

We believe Woodward incorrectly spelled "Marlboro". He is most likely referring to Marlborough, New Hampshire, not the Marlboro, Vermont we are far more familiar. Marlborough, NH is between Keene, NH and Mt. Monadnock. Marlboro, Vermont would be very much out of the way for this trip.



We must point out that Woodward never names the drawing he was working on, so this is an educated guess by us. Woodward also can be very misleading in how he phrases things. In the diary entry he makes it sound as if he makes the drawing in Marlborough, at Miss Frotheringham's place. He never says where the Garrishes live. While it could be interpreted a couple of different ways, still from our experience reading his notes and diaries, we believe he is saying 'on my way to see the Garrishes, where I will draw Monadnock, I stopped to visit with Miss Frotheringham.' Regarding his reference to going to Monadnock itself, it is classically misleading for the artist. We believe the entire trip was to make the drawing and so to Woodward, he "went to Monadnock."

A close up of chalk drawing's name.

We wish to express our appreciation to the current owner for contacting us regarding this previously unknown chalk drawing. RSW did not keep a record of the chalk drawings he did and thus we have no idea how many drawings there are... so welcome home Monadnock from Frost Hill glad to have you!