Isaura Bentley Abegg was born October 15, 1895 in Colonial Juarez, Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico to Joseph Charles Bentley and Gladys Woodmansee. She married Elijah Abegg on May 22, 1919. She attended BYU intermittently after moving to Utah in 1947. She divorced Elijah before 1952, and died July 5, 1971.
This collection consists of two boxes, which include Isaura Bentley Abegg's diaries. They cover January 1, 1952 to July 4, 1952, April 19, 1964 to September 1, 1964, the years 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, most of the year 1970, and the year 1971, up until the day of her death. These photocopies of her diary are categorized into separate folders, according to date. As diary entries, they mostly consist of daily events. Isaura writes concerning her friends and various activities in which she participates. She cleans, cooks, and attends BYU assemblies. Also frequently, she sews, remains active in the Church, and researches some of her genealogy. She often writes of her family and apparently in 1952, had a son on a mission in Texas and grandchildren elsewhere in El Paso. On Saturday, March 8, 1952, she writes, 'How easy it is to neglect recording the day's activities regularly. It seems also that since I started trying to keep this meagre record, things have been more hum-drum than ever before'however, that may be something to be thankful for, like the saying that “No news is good news' at least no tragedies are taking place.' She also reports being tired quite often. The last entry begins: 'I came to the close of this day with a song of gratitude in my heart for my Heavenly Father's direction and answer to my prayers. Although I was on the bed most of yesterday, I was able to fast and attend my two ward meetings and enjoy the fine patriotic services of the BYU Field House (by TV) with dear Elder LeGrand Richards as the speaker and Elder Yarn conducting. . . . I feel so especially blessed in being able to tune in on these blessed and inspired occasions'where I always wonder if and hope that many many souls are being blessed and inspired with our teaching of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.'