- 07
- Mar
- 2025
A centenarian from North Dakota, Evie Riski has kept a daily journal since 1936. Through her notebooks, this remarkable woman has documented the story of a changing America, capturing both everyday moments and major upheavals.
In a modest home with wooden planks weathered by Lakota’s harsh winters, a timeworn hand glides across the paper. This daily ritual, repeated consistently for nearly a century, has become as natural to Evie Riski as the act of breathing. Since the first day of the year 1936, this now-centenarian has never missed her appointment with writing, recording the pulse of her life day after day.
At 100 years old, sitting by the window that lets in the Midwest mornings’ golden light, Evie gazes at the towering stack of notebooks on her bookshelf. A testament to memory, meticulously built over 89 consecutive years. More than 32,500 entries that undoubtedly stand as one of the most extensive personal records ever compiled.
"I never imagined it would become this significant," she confides. "It was just a way to remember, to give shape to my days."
What started as a simple childhood pastime has evolved into a monumental work, a bridge between eras, an intimate chronicle of the 20th century. Far from grand historical accounts, Evie's journal offers a unique perspective: the story of an ordinary woman navigating extraordinary times.
The Handwritten Dawn
It all begins on a bitter cold January morning in 1936. Evie, just 11 years old, receives a simple school notebook for Christmas. America is still struggling to recover from the Great Depression, and in the remote farms of North Dakota, life is shaped by agricultural work and the unyielding seasons.
Her first entries are disarmingly simple. "It snowed today. Dad had to clear the path to the barn." The writing reflects the perspective of a child, yet even then, her keen attention to the details of everyday life that would come to define her work is already evident.
World War II marks a turning point in her writing. In December 1941, after Pearl Harbor, she solemnly writes, “Today, we entered the war. Mom cried all day.” The following pages describe the young men from the village going off to war, the letters from the front and sometimes the dreaded telegrams announcing a loss.
By the late 1940s, Evie meets Charles Riski, a young farmer of Polish descent. Their marriage in 1950 marks the beginning of a new chapter. She writes about their early days together and the birth of their children Robert, Susan and Michael.
A Living Chronicle
As the decades unfold, Evie’s journal captures the sweeping changes that reshape American society. In 1953, the arrival of electricity at their farm feels like a revolution. "Tonight, we had dinner under an electric light. The children’s faces looked different in this new glow."
On July 20, 1969, like millions of Americans, the Riski family watched as humanity took its first steps on the Moon. "We held our breath as Neil Armstrong set foot on the lunar surface. Michael said he wanted to be an astronaut."
Through the 1970s and 1980s, the children grow up and eventually leave home. But in these pages, Evie also faces her deepest sorrow: the loss of Charles in 1987. "Today, Charles is gone. He passed away peacefully in his sleep. We were married for 37 years. How do I go on without him?"
The entries in the weeks that follow are brief. Grief seems to have momentarily stilled her writing. Yet, true to her commitment, she never stops keeping her journal.
The 1990s usher in what Evie calls her "third age." Now past 65, she remains fascinated by technological advancements. Her grandson gives her a microwave: "This little oven is magical. I reheated my coffee in 30 seconds. What would my mother say if she saw this?"
When the internet first emerged, Evie was initially puzzled. However, in 2005, at the age of 80, she sends her first email. "It's astonishing to think that these words will instantly travel across the country to reach Robert in California."
As she grows older, her writing becomes more introspective. She reflects on the world around her with a clear and compassionate eye. "Young people today live in the moment, always rushing, always connected. They sometimes forget to look at the sky, to feel the wind on their faces. But perhaps I am out of touch."
At 90, while many of her peers have passed away, Evie continues to observe and document. Her writing is sometimes slower, hindered by arthritis, but her determination remains unshakable. "As long as I can hold a pen, I will keep writing."
What gives Evie's journal its value is this continuity—her unwavering commitment to a project spanning nearly a century. “This journal is a treasure trove for understanding the evolution of daily life in rural America,” confirms Daniel Whitman, a professor of social history.
"It reveals how significant historical changes take shape in the life of an ordinary person."
A team of researchers is currently working on digitizing these thousands of pages. The project aims to preserve this unique testimony while also uncovering trends that deepen our understanding of recent history.
For Evie, this academic interest remains surprising. "I never wrote for posterity, just for myself, to keep a record, to make sure I wouldn't forget."
It is precisely the personal nature of her writing that lends her testimony its value. Unlike official accounts, Evie’s journal provides a unique perspective: that of an ordinary woman navigating extraordinary times.
At 100 years old, Evie Riski continues to write. Every day, she adds another page to this monumental work she began 89 years ago. "I write so that things don’t fade away," she explains. "Memories fade, but ink remains."
Her children, fully aware of the importance of this legacy, are organizing an exhibition in Lakota and a book based on her journals. But for now, Evie remains dedicated to her daily writing, staying faithful to the promise she made to herself nearly a century ago.
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