Request This Item

Diary of Christian Aitkin (1)

1 folder (0.1 linear feet)

(1908)

Edward H. Nabb Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury, University, Salisbury, Maryland

Identifier SC2014.036
Creator(s) Aitkin, Christian
Acquisition

Acquired by Dr. Beatriz Hardy (Dean of SU Libraries and Instructional Resources) in 2014.

SC2014.036
Language(s) English
Use Records are open for research. Copyright, including literary rights, belongs to the author(s) or their legal heirs. Permission to publish or reproduce must be obtained from the Nabb Research Center which extends beyond "fair use."
Preferred Citation "Item, collection title and identifier, box # and folder # (if applicable), Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland."
Attribution Finding aid written by Ian Post.
Related Materials

Curtis and Helen Williams' Playbill Collection (1983 – 2019)
Separated Materials See Nabb Center Staff
Abstract

The Diary of Christian Aitkin documents the social life of a man from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1908. Aitkin wrote daily about the theatre performances he attended, which included vaudeville, opera, and burlesque, playing billiards, gambling, and eating at various restaurants.

Biographical History

Christian Henry Aitken was born on August 23, 1884 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  His father, Archibald Aitken (1839 -1917) immigrated to the United States from Scotland. Archibald first shows up in a U.S. census with his family in the year 1860. He lived in his father’s household and listed his occupation as a blacksmith. Christian’s mother was Caroline Regina Fleckenstein Aitken (1860 – 1914); the daughter of German immigrants. Christian had one sister, named Caroline Aitken, who was born in 1883 and only lived for about a year.

Christian worked for most of his life as a clerk in his local post office. In 1914, Christian married Eleanor Goettelman Aitken (1889 – 1960), a native of Philadelphia whose parents had also immigrated from Germany. The couple had one daughter, Mary Aitken (1921 – 2014).

Christian died in 1966. He was buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Arrangement Statement See Nabb Center Staff

Subject Terms

  • Topical Terms
    • City and Town Life
    • Diaries
    • Diaries (Men)
  • Location Terms
    • Philadelphia (Pa.)

Inventory List

The inventory list for this item is hidden due to its length. Click the button below to view it.

See Nabb Center Staff

Artifacts

See Nabb Center Staff

Attachments

None