Fragments of the diary of S. Anski

Fragments of the diary of S. Anski

Sample of fragments of the diary of S. An-ski, dated July 9 and July 12,  from the period of his ethnographic expedition to Volynia and Podolia, describing the team's efforts to purchase manuscripts and artifacts and to interview Jews in shtetls. The July 9th entry describes his efforts to convince an elderly woman to allow herself to be photographed. "She would do it in order to send a photograph to her children in America but not if her picture was going to be published in a 'goyishe' book." He describes asking photographer Shloyme Yudovin to stage a diversion with his camera in order to draw the attention of children who are chasing after him and making it impossible to hold private conversations with wary adults. The July 12th entry describes meeting an old carpenter and hoping, through him, to meet the town's cantor, and visiting a kheyder (traditional Jewish elementary school) with 40 students "crowded in like herring in a barrel," among whom there were several girls. The melamed (teacher) and his wife were suspicious of him, fearing that he might be a government inspector.

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