Self Portrait of Anna
Smith, Anna Clift
My present costume is not as graceful, certainly, but far more comfy than if I wore skirts: sweater above and trousers - bicycle trousers - below, ending in felt stockings when the weather is cold, and low shoes when it is warm. In the house I wear a skirt, but when going out I put on either a rubber or canvas coat falling below the knees. High hip boots rubber complete this novel garb, of which I herewith give an illustration trusting you will recover from the shock.
Smith, Anna Clift
<p>Chapter VIII, "Just Odds and Ends", <em>Van Buren Life</em></p>
State University of New York at Fredonia, Archives and Special Collections
January 6, 1905
Friends of Daniel A. Reed Library
English
Illustration
Skis
Anna's Diary
During the deep snow I wore skis. At first the long wooden runners bothered me. But gradually, I became accustomed to them and could travel much faster than I could without them. It is much like skating save that the feet always point straight ahead. It was such fun to slide over the huge drifts, sinking only an inch or so, when, if I'd been without the skis, I'd have gone in over my knees.
Smith, Anna Clift
Chapter VIII, "Just Odds and Ends", <em>Van Buren Life</em>
State University of New York at Fredonia, Archives and Special Collections
January 1905
Friends of Daniel A. Reed Library
English
Illustration/ Written Document
Painting in Winter
Landscape of Lake Erie Shoreline in Winter
Once in a great while I have a streak of energy. In those rare moments I hastily grab my painting kit and sally forth in quest of a picture - I don't always get it, but sometimes I do. The other morning as I sat by the sitting room window, I happened to glance out and saw the following. The sun was just rising and its first level rays touched the shifting fog bank that waved and undulated across the still surface of the lake. I say still, and yet a low smooth swell rose and fell in glassy lines. Near shore the water could be seen, but only a short distance out, the fog began, at first in stringy, soft veils that rose like spots of steam from the water and yet farther out it deepened gradually into the dense bank of mist. It was turned to pure gold by the sunlight, and the water was gold and palest of sea greens. Above, the sky was deepest cerulean blue softening to green, then pale salmon and at last melting into the low bank of yellow mist. One point stood out darkly, and around it shifted, coiled and broke the fog. It was a dream, and I hastily grabbed pastels and took a color note. Later I took a pencil note of the wave action around the base of the cliff, and began the picture. I expect to finish it before long, and have great hopes for it.
It is extremely difficult to work in winter. Water colors freeze out of doors, so I have to work in pastels, and either finish them in the open or in the house. Sometimes I do them all over again in water color. It all depends upon the subject and what medium I think is best suited to it. Winter painting is no cinch - the cold stiffens the fingers so that after half an hour I scarcely feel the chalk between them, and often it drops to the ground. I cannot wear gloves, they bother me so. And sometimes I come into the house with hands that are red as blood and aching, stiff and racked from cold. But it's all in the day's work so I don't mind.
Smith, Anna Clift
Chapter VI, "Painting in Winter", <em>Van Buren Life</em>
State University of New York at Fredonia, Archives and Special Collections
December 1904
English
Illustration/ Written Document
Provisions
Chapter V describes provisioning for the winter.
Smith, Anna Clift
Chapter V, "Provision", <em>Van Buren Life</em>
Friends of Daniel A. Reed Library
1904-1905
English
Illustration
Anna's Original Diary
Diary
Smith, Anna Clift
Van Buren Bay
Anna's original handwritten and hand-illustrated letter/diary begun on 29 December 1904, found among the Judge John Lambert papers in <a href="http://www.fredonia.edu/library/collections/archives/">Daniel A. Reed Library's Special Collections</a>.
Smith, Anna Clift
Smith, Anna Clift. 1904-1905. Archives and Special Collections, Daniel A. Reed Library, State University of New York at Fredonia.
Friends of Daniel A. Reed Library
1904-1905
Friends of Daniel A. Reed Library
English
Diary
Transcript of Anna's Diary
Smith, Anna Clift
Diary
Transcription
Transcription as done by Friends of Daniel A. Reed Library, 1996.
Smith, Anna Clift
Smith, Anna Clift. 1996. Anna Clift Smith's Van Buren Life. Friends of Daniel A. Reed Library: Fredonia, NY, 1996.
Friends of Daniel A. Reed Library
1996
English
Transcript
Van Buren Point
Anna's Diary
Illustration of Van Buren Point.
Smith, Anna Clift
Title page, Van Buren Life
State University of New York at Fredonia, Archives and Special Collections
December 1904
English
Illustration/ Written Document
The Bluff
Anna's Diary
<p>In the morning the gale had died down a little and I then saw what I never expect to see again. The bluff, for yards back from its edge, was sheathed in ice - every blade and spear of grass stood up round and stiff in its coating of ice. The smaller bushes were so heavily laden that most of them were bent to the ground, and twigs no larger than a small pencil were covered with ice often over three inches in diameter. The larger trees were coated on the windward side with ice three and four inches thick for about ten feet above their roots. The surface of the cliffs was so sheathed with the creamy armor that not a rock was to be seen. Creamy? Yes, for that was the most startling part of it. All the ice was a light cream color, caused, I suppose, by the muddy water after our recent thaw and rain.</p>
Smith, Anna Clift
Chapter I, "The Storm", Van Buren Life
State University of New York at Fredonia, Archives and Special Collections
December 29, 1904
English
Illustration/ Written Document
Fisherman's Hollow
Anna's Diary
I knew that the roads were drifting fast, but as I had walked down the beach I didn't realize how fast. My one hope was to get to Fredonia and back before they became impassable. Maybe you remember the two hollows on the Lake Road just before you turn into Van Buren? It was in the first one that Nell went down. I got out and, calming her, I shoveled her out. I got in again and started her up. At the next hollow where the drift began, she again went down. Again I got out and shoveled her out, and again got in and started her up. She went about four or five yards and down again! By that time she was trembling violently from the effort of plowing her way, belly-deep, through the drifts, and was rapidly becoming nervous. I had to talk to her constantly to keep her from plunging into me as I stood in front of her and shoveled her out. The drift stretched ahead of me to the top of the hill, and after getting in and trying to turn her across it into the fairly clear pasture at one side - only to have her half down again - I gave up and, unhitching her, I tried to drive her home. Drive! Ye tears!! She pulled me through that snow until my footprints were two yards apart. I could get no purchase for my feet, so couldn't brace myself enough to stop her. At last onto my knees I went, sliding, wallowing, plunging. She pulled me until, with an effort, I threw all my weight backward with a sudden yell and jerk and she stopped. Then I tied the lines so that they wouldn't trip her, and let her go home alone.
Smith, Anna Clift
Chapter III, "Difficulties of Leaving Van Buren", <em>Van Buren Life</em>
State University of New York at Fredonia, Archives and Special Collections
December 1904
English
Illustration/ Written Document
[Untitled work]
Anna's Diary
Illustration from the margins of Chapter III of <em>Van Buren Life</em>
Smith, Anna Clift
Chapter III, "Difficulties of Leaving Van Buren", Van Buren Life
State University of New York at Fredonia, Archives and Special Collections
December 1904
English
Illustration/ Written Document