The Secret Eye: The Journal of Ella Gertrude Clanton Thomas, 1848-1889

by Ella Gertrude Thomas-Clanton

The journal of Ella Gertrude Clanton Thomas, spanning the years from 1848 to 1889, is rare for its treatment of both the Civil War and postbellum years and for its candor and detail in treating these eras. Thomas, who was born to wealth and privilege and reared in the tradition of the southern belle, tells of the hard days of war and the poverty brought on by emancipation and Reconstruction. Her entries illuminate experiences shared with thousands of other southern women.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

494 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1990

About the author

Ella Gertrude Clanton Thomas kept an extensive journal chronicling her life as the daughter and wife of Augusta planters from 1848 to 1889. An edited version of the journal was published in 1990 under the title The Secret Eye.

Ella Gertrude Clanton Thomas, the daughter and wife of Augusta planters, is best known for the extensive journal she kept of her life before, during, and after the Civil War (1861-65).

An invaluable resource for historians of the era and a reflection of the roles played by elite, educated southern women, Thomas's journal spans forty-one years, chronicling the period between 1848 and 1889. In it she recorded her experiences, reminiscences, opinions, and intellectual insights during her transitions from pampered southern belle to ardent southern nationalist to disheartened Confederate supporter to poverty-stricken wife and mother. In the last years of her life Thomas assumed leading roles in several civic and social organizations and described herself as a feminist and suffragist.

Reviews

[Lynn Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this journal and seeing history through the eyes of this observant woman. She lived in Georgia throughout the War Between the States and Reconstruction, and experienced great upheaval both in her public and private life. She has some remarkable insights about slavery, male/female relations, education and religion. It gives me better understanding when I can 'step out' of my own time and place and see how familiar events appear to someone from a different perspective.

Don't bother w/ the introduction, let Gertrude speak for herself.

[EJ Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drawn from the over 400,000 pages of the various diaries of Gertrude Thomas, The Secret Eye paints an extremely deep and intimate portrait of the life of a Southern aristocrat from the idle pleasures of the antebellum period through the glories and miseries of the War Between the States to the privations of Reconstruction to the cusp of the New South. Expertly arranged and edited by Virginia Ingraham Burr, this edition finally makes this precious resource available to the public.

The daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Georgia, Gertrude had a privileged upbringing and her young life was filled with parties, visits, and unique opportunities, such as attending Wesleyan College. After marriage and the War Between the States, however, Gertrude suffered several reversals, slipping into the ranks of the land-rich, cash-poor pauper aristocrats but never losing her spirit as she pursued personal crusades, such as supporting Confederate memorialization and also the suffrage movement, all while caring for her many children.

I would highly recommend The Secret Eye to anyone with a strong academic interest in women's lives during the 19th century. The nature of the diary format might, however, prove too tedious for some readers, who would do well to check out Gertrude's biography, Suffer and Grow Strong, by Dr. Carolyn Newton Curry.

[Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always so interesting to see how they lived their lives back then. Also always trying to understand how they ever thought slavery was like....a thing. Appears that they were all massively delusional. She was sometimes so close to getting the main point of racism and sexism that you're like "come on, come on girl, you're almost there" but then she ruins it by a racist or terrible remark. But she DOES seem like she had much more liberal viewpoints than many others at that time. Her husband sounds like a dick/loser.

[Megan Macrae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a very likable woman until the end

[Glenna J Christen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a very intriguing diary of a woman from Georgia written over a period of 40 years.
I skimmed the overly long intro, but the war years and post war years are fascinating. She was ahead of her time in many ways while still a product of her era. I love her comments on her reading as well. (still reading so no comments yet on the post 1866 years. ;-))

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A front row seat on the life of a woman who went from privilege to financial/personal challenges, including death of 4 children, a financially challenged husband, uncertainty about teachimg. But she also had satisfactions such as earning a paycheck & having her writing published. Her diary was her private friend where she shares some but not all of her private thoughts and feelings.

[Marjie · Rating 5 out of 5]

all time good read.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

S398

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect primary source account for my Senior Thesis in History.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating!