Sample photos by Adriana Janovich except where noted. Archival photos courtesy WSU Libraries: Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Robert Shields, a high school English teacher, minister, and manuscript editor, was born May 17, 1918, in Seymour, Indiana. He died at 89 on October 15, 2007, in Dayton, Washington.
In 1935 and again in the 1940s, he started and then stopped a couple of diaries. He also wrote poetry and short stories.
For nearly 30 years, from the 1970s until a debilitating stroke in 1997, he documented his daily life in pages that he sometimes he referred to as his “daily record” or GOD, the “Genesis of the Day.” He often listed his daily doings in five-minute increments, sometimes transforming handwritten notes into his typewritten, single-spaced journal. No detail—no matter how mundane—was spared. And that caught the attention of NPR, The New York Times, The Seattle Times, even Oprah.
Shields donated his 37-million-word diary to WSU, along with an endowment to maintain it.
Here are some snippets from his single-spaced life.
1935
Saturday, September 21, 1935
Monday I registered as a freshman at the University of Kentucky, had my picture taken during the procedure, and went through a line …
Wednesday, October 2, 1935
Got up late and literally tore to school—made geology class but a second early.
Wednesday, November 27, 1935
Thoughts, after all is considered, are the only things that really exist eternally. They cannot be destroyed by the ravages of time nor done away with by the passage of eternity. They are a representation of the soul and in that sense live more with us than the soul itself. Our souls—our feelings—our hopes and fears, sadness and exultations are represented by our thoughts; and the latter live longer than the feelings and instances that produced them.
1936
Wednesday, August 5, 1936
I often wonder as I write my failings here if they will always be as dust and perish with the hand that wrote them. As my scrawl dries upon the page, my words are dust and no longer living. But if some other … shall … note them, they would be revived and born again to live another life and … perhaps to better with their meaning the souls of men who now are yet born.
1937
Friday, April 30, 1937
Two years ago today I penned the first words on my diary. It is pitiful that now I am little better off in worldly ways than I was then.
Photo Robert Hubner
Saturday, May 22, 1937
Yesterday morning at 5:30 a.m. I had a very harrowing experience. Making a sharp curve right before Rockford Cemetery, overturned a truckload of gasoline … in a ditch. It was all so sudden I could scarcely think. I felt the truck slipping but could do nothing. The next moment it turned completely on an embankment into a ditch full of water. For a moment I sat there too paralyzed to think. Then I heard gasoline rushing from a broken tank so I climbed out of the top from the cab, any second expecting to be blown sky-high with the petroleum.
1944
Tuesday, September 19, 1944
It is too bad, indeed, that I have neglected my diary so much. I remember when I used to confide to it my every hope and fear. How alone I felt in the world! Now I find in prayer the fellowship I need so much.
1947
Monday, January 20, 1947
Rain, freezing to ice, fell most of the day. I stayed in the entire day, working on my stamp albums, mounting items, making catalogues, number stickers, etc. In the late afternoon, it got dark and very foggy … fell down on ice when I went for my mail at box.
1974
Tuesday, January 1, 1974
12-12:15—I completed typing the journal entry for December 31.
10-10:30—I washed utensils and fried two eggs in butter. They were my breakfast.
5:15-6—I fried 4 good sized lamb chops for the family and a T-bone for myself.
Wednesday, January 2, 1974
12:15— … I began my first diary in May 1935. It’s too bad I did not keep it up. It’s around here somewhere.
8:15-8:20—I saw snatches of the Sonny and Cher show, but it was ridiculous, and such a waste of my time, I was fortunately not carried into it.
The office of Robert Shields, 1961
Thursday, January 3, 1974
1:10-1:20—I made a pitcher of orange juice from a fresh frozen concentrate, and drank 12 oz. …
Saturday, January 5, 1974
2:45-3—I bought a 27-piece bucket of chicken, $9.95 plus tax, to bring home. My bill was $11.80. Expensive.
Sunday, January 6, 1974
4:40-4:50—Looked over my accounts. Made a check for ten dollars for church … We are in bad shape. All but $150 of the $1800 I borrowed on our life insurance is gone, and that is about every cent we have …
11:25-1:15—I preached. There were 43 present, which I felt was remarkable for it was 10 below this morning …
Tuesday, January 8, 1974
12:15-12:40—Home for Campbell’s beef with barley soup. I also had 2 slices of whole wheat bread with butter.
Wednesday, January 9, 1974
3:30-4:40—Faculty meeting. It was a waste of time.
4:40-4:45—I searched girls’ lockers (freshmen) and found my stolen English textbook … which I should have expected.
5:26-6—I shopped at McQuary’s; got four pork steaks for the family and a T-bone for myself; some bacon; frozen French fries, corn, peas, and so on.
Thursday, January 10, 1974
12:15-12:40—Home for Campbell’s beef soup, two slices of berry of wheat bread (66¢ a loaf now); milk.
Friday, August 16, 1974
4-4:05—Grace is helping the girls get out the Walla Walla Union Bulletin … about 130 customers.
Saturday, August 17, 1974
7:00-7:30—Enjoyed The Lawrence Welk Show, as I always do when it’s on, with old-fashioned music.
Monday, August 19, 1974
6:20-6:35—G is a very economical wife and I am really ashamed at the pittance she has got along on for her personal needs and those of the girls, particularly clothes.
Tuesday, August 20, 1974
10:45-10:55—G warmed some oatmeal left from what she made for the girls the other day and I ate it with some brown sugar and milk.
Wednesday, August 21, 1974
9:15-9:30—Yesterday was our fourteenth wedding anniversary and we “celebrated” it with a hamburger apiece at McDonald’s.
11:50—I peeled and ate an orange and talked to Grace.
2-2:20—I washed, sliced, salted and ate 2 large tomatoes.
Friday, August 23, 1974
(At a wedding reception) 8:30-9:30—People dawdled around. One of the bowls of punch was heavily spiked with champagne and I studiously avoided it, after inquiring about it; and drank instead from the other bowl, which was Hawaiian (red) punch with Canada Dry ginger ale. It was good.
Saturday, August 24, 1974
Midnight-12:30—Typed in the daily record. Whatever I say it is, a record, journal, diary or whatever, is all the same.
1-1:35—I ate a peach, and fried a T-bone.
Saturday, September 7, 1974
9:10-9:15—I made handwritten memos for the daily journal.
Tuesday, September 10, 1974
5-5:30—Went to the post office to dispatch the mail, then McQuary’s Grocery to shop.
Wednesday, September 11, 1974
9:30-9:50—Heated a can of Campbell’s beef soup, and made memos I can later transcribe into typewritten entries in the journal.
Monday, September 16, 1974
12:15-12:40—Home for lunch.
Tuesday, September 17, 1974
5:05-5:15—I went to City Hall to vote. I was the only voter on hand. Bobbie Cassedy gave me my ballot. I vote Republican, but on local elections I split my ballot. I first voted for Hoover against FDR in 1932 in Seymour and remember it quite well.
Wednesday, September 18, 1974
7:55-8:05—Dressed, and walked to the elementary school to leave a birthday card from the family on the desk of Mary Ellen Juris. (Editor’s Note: Juris is an organist at Dayton’s First Congregational church.)
Saturday, September 21, 1974
3:50-8:20—I had four hours’ sleep. I dreamed I was digging a hole about as big around as a barrel and was shoveling out Bibles.
9:05-9:10—Heidi, her arm in a sling, visited me in the study and asked about the typing of my diary. She told me how she hurt her arm, so I could make that entry correctly.
Tuesday, September 24, 1974
808:10—Dress and to school. I always wear black Oxfords since I bought 6 pairs from Alden’s some time ago (Navy Surplus); I go to school in a shirt and tie, and sometimes a belt, and always a suit coat.
1976
Wednesday, November 17, 1976
12:12-12:40—Walked home. It was sprinkling. The mail wasn’t important. I boiled a can of chicken with rice soup (Campbell’s) and had it with crackers and read misc. literature.
Saturday, December 18, 1976
10-10:30—Took a badly needed shower.
10:30 to 10:35—Dressed my hair.
10:50-11—I put on my tie and suit and drove to the funeral home, where I holed up with the pallbearers and flower bearer in the receiving room just off the foyer …
11:25-11:30—I rode in the hearse as always.
12:20-12:30—Home, and got the cat in and fed him a bit but he wanted out again at once.
Robert W. Shields, 1971
1977
Monday, January 31, 1977
7:55-8:10—I dressed my hair, got dressed, grabbed some fodder for breakfast, and went to school. It began snowing an hour ago, and when I started the ground was covered. The farmers must have been begging for moisture, and here it is. To me, it is only a nuisance.
1980
Tuesday, January 1, 1980
4:30-6:15—At length, the cat came into my bedroom and wailed to be let out, and that was it. I gave up trying to rest. It angered me. I cannot get peace in my own house. I am adamant on the subject of another cat. NEVER.
Sunday, January 6, 1980
8:10-8:25—I shaved. I had a noticeable beard and had to go over my face twice to get a clean shave.
Tuesday, January 15, 1980
5-5:15—I sat around, looked at magazines.
Saturday, January 26, 1980
4:30-4:50—I paid the electric bill ($57.55) and renewed the auto license plate registration for the Pontiac ($13.80).
Monday, January 28, 1980
7-7:10—I looked at Good Morning America—a TV newscast. No developments of interest, so I shut it off.
Friday, February 1, 1980
Noon-12:05—I paid the water bill, $16.
Tuesday, February 5, 1980
12:20-12:50—I ate a can of Campbell’s chicken noodle soup with milk and butter, and a helping of leftover, heated-up meatloaf that was very good. I had saltines.
1991
Tuesday, April 2, 1991
6:05-6:30—I saw Peter Jennings on the news.
Monday, April 8, 1991
3:53-4:02—I bought 2 plain Wendy’s hamburgers and 1 small fry.
Tuesday, April 9, 1991
2:50-4:30—I napped for ninety minutes. I do not remember any dreams, but I suppose I had them.
1:20-2:40—I ate a turkey sandwich; a thick slice of breast meat between two slices of honey of wheat bread. I read Reader’s Digest.
Friday, April 12, 1991
6:20-8:00—The wedding party had dinner and there were 26 in the house; but I did not eat a bite. The main dish was barbecued chicken. I abhor it.
Sunday, April 14, 1991
1:15-1:25—I was about to fix dinner for myself when I got a telephone call about the Bingman-Young wedding. I had forgotten entirely that I had promised to perform that wedding service. I got directions. I spent ten minutes putting on my jacket, tie, hearing aids, ring, Grace’s watch and glasses … before I set out.
Tuesday, April 16, 1991
10-10:25—I looked at the Norm Thompson catalogue. Shoes for men $220 and $240. Shoes for women $220 and $255. I would go barefoot in church before I paid such prices.
Saturday, April 20, 1991
10-11:30—I read the Tri-City Herald, ate a banana, had ½ Cream of Rice and ½ Cream of Wheat.
Sunday, April 21, 1991
10:35-11—I wrote down the attendance. There were 72 in church last Sunday, the greatest crowd since Easter. There were thirty at services this morning, a low attendance.
12:35-1—I read the Tri-City Herald. Nothing spectacular in the news.
1-1:05—I put on a Healthy Choice frozen dinner.
1:35-2:25—I ate the frozen dinner—nearly tasteless because it was low sodium—and read the National Enquirer, a sleazy, garish tabloid.
1994
Thursday, January 27, 1994
9:55-10:05—Jim Broatch of Milford, Conn., called … He is head of some sort of organization that deals with compulsion and I admitted the diary was “an obsession of sorts.” He is sending me free literature about the organization.
3:25-3:30—A British journalist called me from Oregon … He asked if I was doing the work for my own satisfaction, and I said No. I hope the diary will prove to be of use to the human race as a psychological, sociological and historical document, and that it might be of some religious value.
Monday, January 31, 1994
3:35-4:05—Well, I am getting to be a celebrity in my own right. I am no different than anybody else. I keep a diary. Thousands keep a diary. Mine just happens to be longer than anybody else’s.
1995
Sunday, August 13, 1995
4:15-7:25—I slept for three hours rather soundly.
7:30-7:35—I fed the long-haired white cat, Ting, with tinned tuna cat food. She ate the tinned food last night that I had set out yesterday.
8:40-8:45—I filled the humidifying basin mounted over the Futura baseboard heater.
8:45-9:20—I shaved twice with the Gillette Sensor blade … I shaved my neck behind both ears, and crossways of my cheeks too.
9:25-9:35—I dressed in a pair of black Haband trousers, a Haband white mesh shirt, the Haband blue blazer with simulated silver buttons, eyeglasses, the 14 degree Masonic ring, both hearing aids.
9:40-9:55—I hunted high and low for the recent issues of Time and Newsweek … and I was frustrated not to find them …
Read more about Shields and his diary
The constant diarist (Summer 2025)
Guide to the Robert Shields Papers
‘Way Ahead of His Time’: Endowment Supports Cataloging of World’s Longest Diary (WSU Libraries, September 26, 2024)
World’s Longest Diary (Story Corps, January 27, 1994, on NPR Morning Edition)
A Life, Single Spaced: Can A 36-Million-Word Diary Capture A Man? (Seattle Times, May 15, 1994)
The Energizer Diarist Keeps Going 24 Years, Writes Every 5 Minutes (Associated Press, March 17, 1996)
The Minister Who Updated His Status in a Diary, Every 5 Minutes for 25 Years (Atlas Obscura, February 5, 2016)
A Life’s Work: Robert Shield’s Diary Chronicles Every Minute Of Every Day Of The Last 20 Plus Years Of His Life (Spokesman-Review, December 14, 1995)
Obituary: Robert William Shields (Tri-City Herald, October 15, 2007)
Obituary: Shields, who Kept Meticulous Diary for Decades, Dies (NPR, October 29, 2007)
Robert Shields finally stopped writing (NPR Podcast, October 30, 2007)
Rev. Robert Shields, detailed diarist, dead at 89 (Associated Press, November 1, 2007)
Obituary: Grace Hotson Shields (Corbeill Funeral Homes-Dayton, April 17, 2024)