What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 5pm Tuesday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 6pm Sunday 9am - 5pm

Sallys Diaries

Home
United States
Issaquah, WA
Sallys Diaries

I've been collecting, reading and researching handwritten diaries for over 25 years now and I share

This page is devoted to my diary collection and the amazing stories they tell. I try and share photos and excerpts of many of the diaries in my private collection.

02/18/2026

Brucklay Castle and the Fordyce family of Aberdeen, Scotland. 🏰

I have about 50 handwritten letters dated from the early 1800s. They belonged to Captain Dr. Arthur Dingwall Fordyce (that name sounds like it could be a character in the Jane Austen novel.) The castle, built by James Brucklay in the early 1600’s, ended up being a 100 room mansion. The Fordyce family owned the castle for many years, starting in the 1700s. One of sons who lived there was Arthur Dingwall Fordyce, born in 1814. His father was a wealthy merchant. At just 29 years old, he decided to continue in his father's footsteps and traveled to Calcutta, India. He was there just under a year when he contracted Cholera and died in 1845. He is buried in Calcutta, and I actually found his gravestone.

I’ve only just begun to read these letters and as you can see there are several “cross hatch” letters that are quite challenging. Nothing better than to get immersed in the life of a Scottish family and the castle they lived in!

02/10/2026

It took me quite a bit of effort to keep these diaries together, but thankfully, I was able to pull it off.

Meet Janet Rosemond de Kay Gilder born on July 17, 1891, in Marion, Massachusetts, and raised in New York City.
She was the daughter of Richard Watson Gilder, the revered, poet and literary editor, and Helen de Kay Gilder, a painter and arts patron. Her upbringing was influenced by some of the most influential writers, performers, and artists of the Gilded Age - this shaped her career in the performing arts.

Gilder pursued a multifaceted career in the arts that spanned over six decades. She emerged as a prominent American Theatre critic, arts administrator, cultural advocate, and made her mark as an influential figure in the development of American Theatre. Her efforts earned prestigious honors, including a 1948 Tony award, a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1950 and admission to the French Order of Arts in 1964.

There are 16 diaries/scrapbooks which tell an incredible life story as she travels the world meeting up with some of the most powerful figures of her time. Her diaries range from 1934 to 1989.

02/04/2026

Well I thought I’d start off with a bang. 💥

“I drew this from his own blood, from a sore on his leg.”

Yes, underneath the drawing of the aviator, it actually says that. I found the drawing with a handwritten note in the front pocket of this 1923 diary. I couldn’t resist, I had to have it. Now I just need a DNA kit to figure out who this aviator is. I haven’t read the diary and I’m hoping the author says something about it in his entries.

His first entry, New Year’s Eve 1922, says this, “I went out to an old-fashioned country breakdown, it was a treat.”

Well, we know our author loves country dancing, he’s interested in aviation and draws pictures in blood…..What more do you need?

02/02/2026

I've missed posting on Instagram about my diary adventures, (or I should say other people‘s diary adventures). So with that said, I’m back. I’ve decided to hire my friend Gina as my social media manager...and is so much better at this thing than I am. She will be sharing the photos and write ups that I give her on a regular basis. That way, I can get these wonderful stories out, share the latest news from our Diary Discoveries podcast, and give you a preview of what’s coming up. This frees up more time for me to spend on my websites, write my book, podcast and most importantly, read more diaries.

Link in bio to keep up with updates from Sally's Diaries and new podcast episodes!!

09/15/2025

I’m not saying this to get any reaction. I’m saying this to let everyone know that if you need to get a hold of me all my contact information is on one of my three websites
sallysdiaries.com
Sallysdiariesprivatecollection.com
diarydiscoveries.com.

I must get off Instagram and Facebook as there’s just way too much noise right now. I will miss learning about all those friends out there that I never get to see and I’ll miss seeing all the funny videos but it’s the best thing for my soul right now. But, I’ll still keep podcasting and posting diaries on those sites for those of you who are interested. ❤️

08/25/2025

The 1859 Gold Rush and a Lonely Heart; Episode 63 on our Diary Discoveries podcast. The 1859 gold rush to Colorado is on! “Pikes Peak or bust” was the saying of many a Fortune Hunter, who headed out to the Wild West in search of riches. But what about those left behind? In this episode we share passages from the diary of a newly married young woman, and talk about the history behind the 1859 gold rush. Mira, our author, missed her husband Ziba dearly and she wrote down some of her deepest thoughts concerning her loneliness, always wondering where he was. Imagine today having to wait months to learn about a loved ones situation or possibly hearing nothing at all until they returned. There were physical and emotional hardships on both ends during this time and many people died separated from each other. It’s a beautiful, heartfelt diary and we were honored and blessed to be able to share her words that showed what she experienced during the time when her new husband was thousands of miles away; in some pretty rough and dangerous territory no less.

07/11/2025

Just purchased a large group of ephemera from an auction house back east. I didn’t know exactly what I was going to get as the estate belonged to a woman who had been collecting ephemera for years. I was so surprised when I opened the box and started looking at everything. Among other things, there are diaries from the 1830s all the way through to the early 1900’s, including Civil War era, handwritten Civil War letters from Alcatraz Island in San Francisco, large groups of love letters and so much more. The coffee cup came from my favorite Ghost Town, Saint Elmo’s Colorado. Had to include my coffee cup! So excited to do some research on this group.

07/05/2025

June 11, 1979. LOOK Magazine. “Seven months after he sailed out of the world aboard a sloop christened with the name from a fantastical poem, the Brillig,John Arthur Paisley has become a legend of the Times -“The Missing CIA Man,” who, according to the wilder speculation, appearing in nationally, circulated magazines, may be alive and well and walking about in Russia. There have been allegations that Paisley may have been murdered by the Soviet KGB, that he may have been a long suspected communist “mole” in the central intelligence agency, even allegations that it was not Paisley‘s body that was found floating in the waters of Chesapeake Peak Bay last October 1978, with a bullet wound in the head.”
At least 10 years ago, I purchased a large tub of photos, manuscripts, newspaper clippings, and other items belonging to John Paisley and his girlfriend. He was a CIA agent in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70s. I asked the buyer where he got all these items and he had said they were buried in the basement of a church in Maryland. Now 10+ years later, I’ve decided to pull out this group and read it, research and finally share it, as it will be the subject of our next podcast. The group is so incredibly mysterious because on some of the binders are titles such as secret logbooks, codes, life after his death?, dream journals, and so much more. What happened to John Paisley? Well, I think after researching this lot, I’ll definitely know what his girlfriend thought happened to him. And if the CIA asks, I don’t really have these items….

05/24/2025

Two women born the same year, 1879, both given the same first name, both poets, and living only 150 miles apart. One was a black woman, the other, a white woman. Both eventually were known as Effie Smith. What are the odds? In our next episode on our Diary Discoveries podcast we uncover the fact that one writers work has been credited to the other. I acquired a 1906 diary and two journal like composition books filled with short stories, essays and poems. The author’s name was not in any of the three manuscripts but when I read the diary, and used the clues within, I discovered the authors name; Effie Smith! But which Effie? And with the help of writer/poet, Leatha Kendrick, the real author of the 1909 poetry book, “Rosemary and Pansies”, is finally known.

05/09/2025

Who are you!!!!????
I just posted the excerpts of this mysterious diary on my website, Sally’s diaries private collection. There is no name and there are only 13 days of entries, but those entries sure tell a story……
“January 1, 1914. Today is my 18th birthday and six weeks I will be married off to old Mr. Halsted. I don’t want to be married to him but pappy and Papa give me no choice. What about Cecil? I’ve loved him so long.”
And I might add old Mr. Halsted is 57!!!

04/16/2025

Dreams in the midst of grief: I just posted on my new website, “Sally’s Diaries Private Collection” part five of John’s 1927 grief diary. I remember transcribing this diary back in 2012 just four years after my husband Kevin had been killed. So it was like my own private diary as I would add my own thoughts to the transcription. One of those was a dream I had had in 2009 only a year after my husband had died and I call it…..
THE STORM
Kevin and I were standing in the kitchen of an old Midwest farmhouse. The kids were also somewhere in the house. I felt so content at that moment. I remember that the house itself was in the middle of acres and acres of farmland; cornfields. It was a summer night, twilight, with the sun almost gone beyond the horizon. It was hot outside, so we had all the doors open and he and I were standing at the stove cooking. Suddenly, I noticed that he turned to look out the screen door and way off in the distance huge dark clouds were forming with the most incredible burst of rose colored light shining through them. The storm was all around us and the warm wind was slowly picking up. I could see Kevin calmly head for the door and I followed him in a panic. As I stood on the back porch, I watched him standing by the dirt road right in front of the house. Right then an old truck pulled up beside him and the driver, an old farmer, leaned over and opened the door for Kevin, and then turned and looked at me through the back window of the truck with the most loving look. I believe that old man was Jesus. I called out to Kevin with tears in my eyes, telling him not to leave, and that I wanted to go with him. Before he got in, he turned to me so lovingly, and said, “You can’t go just yet, not now, but I’ll be back to get you one day. I love you, Sally.” He then got in and slowly drove off towards the ray of light. I sobbed as I watched the truck disappear in the distance.
I do you know this, one day he’ll be back for me. And Jesus will be in the lead. There is a reason I am still here, and there are reasons for our “storms.” I will keep loving, depending on, I believe in God until that precious day.

03/11/2025

Gypsy Caravan Diary from 1924. How fun is this. A group of friends set out in the summer of 1924, camping along the English countryside, writing in their diary and taking photos along the way. The only thing I could wish more from this diary is to see photos inside the caravan. Other than that, I’m having so much fun reading their entries and sharing in their adventures. Here’s one of those entries….
“June 15, Trinity Sunday. After a truly caravan night of utter discomfort and trying to get sleep on 18 ticks of board covered with half a mattress, I called to the boys at 7 o’clock, as it had been a night! I endured it until three and then could stand it no longer so I dragged my mattress onto the floor, rolled myself up in blanket and cushion, stuffing the latter one into my back and really got a true sleep. The moon shown in at the caravan door, though it was almost dawn. We washed in the open, and as the others were not ready for breakfast, I went down to early service by myself through an awful pretty village to a charming little church. The altar was Arum lilies, and oriental poppies, and Mr. Nast took the service. When I returned, breakfast was ready out of doors and a lot of the packing up done, so we were able to leave about 10:05 through a lane wooded on either side, to Manningford Bruce, another pretty village with the church bells ringing as we drove through”

Address

Issaquah, WA
98029

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 6pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.sallysdiaries.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Sallys Diaries posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Sallys Diaries:

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Issaquah?