Dora's Diary ~ 1905 to 1945

Dora's Diary

The handwritten diary of Dora Lobaugh Hudson - 1905 to 1945

The handwritten diary of Dora Lobaugh Hudson (1877-1959) - covers the daily life and travels of this fascinating woman in the early 1900's to 1945. Married to photographer/cameraman Will Hudson; the diary includes her family life in the Pacific Northwest, their 3 year trip to China, the Arctic expedition, and daily struggles during the 1900's to the 1930's. 

Dora kept writing in this incredible diary for most of her life covering the ups and downs in great detail. One can learn not only about her family but what life was really like during those years - another view of history from a woman's perspective.

Dora was born in 1877 and attended Washington Agriculture College (now Washington State University) where she graduated in 1899. In college she met her husband, Will Hudson, a photographer. They married in 1900 and started a family. In 1905 they took an opportunity to work in China - leaving all behind and getting on a steamer to China with two young children. After spending about 3 years in China they came back to the Pacific Northwest and settled in Seattle. In 1913, Will went to the Arctic as a photographer on a scientific expedition. They got iced in, lost the boat, and went to Fairbanks by dogsled. His book 'Icy Hell' tells of this adventure. Will worked as a photographer and newsreel cameraman for Pathe News and the Seattle Post Intelligencer. He covered many historical events and got to see a lot more than the average person. Will was always traveling - and Dora was at home holding down the fort and keeping this wonderful diary.

Dora Lobaugh Hudson
1877-1959

This wonderful diary is in 3 volumes and sadly, one is missing. It covers part of their time in China from September 23, 1905 until January 1, 1907.  If anyone has any knowledge about this missing part, please let me know ~ it would be wonderful to have a complete diary.

Please note....this diary contains many comments and references that are certainly not “politically correct” today - I have typed them as they were written in the diary and it is not my intention to offend anyone reading this - yes, we have come a long way.