{"value"=>"<p> Two guest books include names, addresses, and comments from guests at Books & Co. One is dated 1982-1984, the other lists guests for \"9/20/78\", \"9/20/88\" and was used for the 15th anniversary party on December 10, 1992, and the \"Final Party\" on May 29, 1997. There are five diaries and one single 1983 page ripped out of a diary. Watson records very brief entries, usually just a few lines on any given day. Most of the diaries, with exception of the 1986-96 diary (\"JWS\" inscribed on cover), are very sparse, containing very few entries over a broad time span. Some of the diaries have information, such as names and opinions, edited out by Watson herself; she scribbled over words.</p> <p>The small red diary, dated 1979, was used as a date book and records visits by <span class=\"persname\">Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis,</span> <span class=\"persname\">Morris West,</span> <span class=\"persname\">Bill Cosby,</span> <span class=\"persname\">Joseph Heller,</span> <span class=\"persname\">Truman Capote,</span> <span class=\"persname\">Kurt Vonnegut,</span> and <span class=\"persname\">Neil Simon,</span>among others. Sometimes their purchases or a conversation were also noted.</p> <p>Another diary appears to be notes or thoughts for stories for <span class=\"persname\">Lynne Tillman's</span>book about Books & Co. <span class=\"title\">(Bookstore: the life and times of Jeannette Watson and Books & Company, New York, Harcourt Brace, <span class=\"date\">1999)</span></span></p> <p>The diary c.1984 (lace-covered), includes thoughts by Watson on the store, who visited, stories about visits, her opinions on the readings and attendance, comings and goings of staff, and personal details such as comments on the birth of Watson's sons. Specific people mentioned include <span class=\"persname\">Isamu Noguchi,</span> <span class=\"persname\">Frances Steloff,</span> <span class=\"persname\">Tennessee Williams,</span> <span class=\"persname\"> Bernard Malamud,</span> <span class=\"persname\">Hortense Callisher,</span> <span class=\"persname\"> Paul Goldberger,</span> <span class=\"persname\">George Braziller,</span> <span class=\"persname\"> Shirley Buren,</span> <span class=\"persname\">Jacqueline Kenndy Onassis,</span> <span class=\"persname\">Woody Allen,</span> <span class=\"persname\">Virgil Thomson,</span>and <span class=\"persname\">Fran Lebowitz.</span></p> <p>The diary dated 10/6/95, inscribed by \"Susan\", records events from 9/4/96 through 5/20/97, the closing of the store, people who offered to help and Watson's personal feelings about it all.</p> <p>A diary with dates between 1986 and 1996, (\"JWS\" is embossed on the cover) is the most substantial of the five. The first few pages are loose and it appears to have pages missing. It appears to begin in 1986 (determined by reference to the space shuttle explosion). Though the entries are made within a ten-year time span, entries are actually broadly spaced within those ten years. The last recorded date is January 23, 1996. It is the longest of the diaries, and records numerous stories about the comings and goings of the store, the events held there, and particularly Watson's experiences and her feelings towards the clientele or staff, the events, and the general happenings in around her shop. There are several references to her family in this volume, especially her son Ralph, and her father, Thomas. Watson heavily edited this volume.</p>"}