This section is an editorial index to the diary and was not part of Emmett J. Mullally's original text. Page numbers refer to the pagination of the original 1952 typescript.

• Emmett James Mullally — Author of the diary. Records the family's 1952 summer holiday in Souris West, memories of his childhood there, his relationships with his children and grandchildren, and family events after returning to Montreal. Throughout.
• Mrs. Emmett J. Mullally — Emmett's wife and maternal grandmother of the Skelton children. Mentioned particularly in connection with Matthew Emmet Skelton's christening. pp. 26–29.
• Eileen Mullally — Travels to P.E.I. with Emmett and David Skelton; spends part of the holiday reading, writing, and working with her typewriter. Later attends Matthew Skelton's christening and related family gatherings. pp. 1–10, 22–29.
• Patricia Mullally — Emmett's daughter. Formerly worked for the Montreal Red Cross before taking Brenda's position with the M.H.N. Gruner Co. Travels to P.E.I. in August and later appears at family events in Montreal. pp. 2–3, 14, 22–29.
• Brenda Mullally McDougall — Emmett's daughter and wife of Ronnie McDougall. Married 16 February 1952. Appears throughout the diary in connection with the P.E.I. holiday and later becomes godmother to Matthew Emmet Skelton. pp. 3, 14–16, 22–30.
• Ronald "Ronnie" Hugh McDougall — Husband of Brenda Mullally. Brenda and Ronnie attempt to surprise the family at Drummondville during the journey to P.E.I.; later serve as hosts and, with Brenda, as godparents to Matthew Emmet Skelton. pp. 3, 15–16, 24–30.
• Jean Mullally Skelton — Emmett's daughter and wife of Murray Skelton. Travels to P.E.I. in August while pregnant with her fourth child. Gives birth to Matthew Emmet Skelton in September after the family's return to Montreal. pp. 1, 4, 14, 18, 22–29.
• James Mullally — Emmett's son. Mentioned when a letter from him unintentionally reveals Jean and Patricia's planned arrival in P.E.I.; later attends Matthew Skelton's christening gathering with his wife Mary. pp. 14, 29.
• Mary Mullally — Wife of James Mullally; attends the gathering following Matthew Skelton's baptism. p. 29.

• Malcolm Hamilton Nightingale Gruner — Emmett's son-in-law. Mentioned indirectly through the Gruner family and later attends the gathering following Matthew Skelton's baptism with Jessie. p. 29.
• Jessie Rosalie Mullally Gruner — Emmett's daughter and wife of Malcolm Gruner. Mentioned in connection with her medical care and attends the gathering following Matthew Skelton's baptism. pp. 24, 29.
• Peter Hamilton Gruner — Emmett's grandson. Joins the family in Souris West and spends much of the holiday reading and studying with Emmett. Emmett discusses Peter's first year at Loyola College, his intention to pursue medicine, book reviews he wrote for The Canadian Doctor, their reading of Plato and Alexis Carrel, Canadian history discussions, farm work, and minor medical treatment for infected blisters. pp. 1–13, 20–24.
• Elaine Cecilia "Lala" Gruner — Emmett's granddaughter, born 8 January 1946. Travels to P.E.I. with Jean, Patricia, Brenda Mary and Jane. Emmett gives an extended description of her personality, ballet training, relationships with her brothers and cousin Brenda Mary, and an illness during the holiday. pp. 14, 16–18, 22–23.
• Dr. Gruner — Mentioned in connection with experiments involving examination of blood from expectant mothers in an attempt to predict the sex of unborn children. p. 18.

• J. Murray Skelton — Husband of Jean Mullally and father of David, Brenda Mary, Jane and Matthew. Joins the family during the P.E.I. holiday after travelling from Halifax and later participates in Matthew's baptism. pp. 18–19, 22–29.
• David Skelton — Emmett's grandson. Travels to P.E.I. with Emmett and Eileen. Emmett gives him daily lessons in reading, poetry, arithmetic, geography and Canadian history and records numerous details of his behaviour and interests. pp. 1–11, 14, 22–29.
• Brenda Mary Skelton — Emmett's granddaughter. Arrives in P.E.I. in August. Emmett comments on her reading ability, independence, opinions and friendship with Lala Gruner. Later attends her brother Matthew's baptism. pp. 3, 14–17, 22–29.
• Jane Elizabeth Skelton — Young daughter of Jean and Murray. Emmett records several of her habits, expressions and personality traits in considerable detail. Later attends the baptism of her younger brother Matthew. pp. 14–18, 22–29.
• Matthew Emmet Skelton — Fourth child of Jean and Murray Skelton, born in September 1952 after the family's return from P.E.I. His birth and baptism form a substantial portion of the later diary. pp. 17–18, 24–29.
• Mrs. Leslie Skelton — Matthew's paternal grandmother; attends his baptism. p. 28.
• Naomi Thomas Calder — Murray Skelton's sister and Matthew's paternal aunt; travels from Hudson Heights to attend the baptism. pp. 28–29.

• Dr. Robert “Bob” Donahue — Husband of Emmett's sister Florrie. Emmett recalls Bob's athletic career at McGill, graduation in medicine in 1908, medical practice in Rocanville, Saskatchewan, marriage to Florrie in 1910, and death during the 1918 influenza epidemic. pp. 23–24.
• Florrie Mullally Donahue — Emmett's sister and wife of Bob Donahue. Returned to P.E.I. with her surviving sons after Bob's death in 1918. pp. 6, 23–24.
• Emmet Donahue — Emmett Mullally's nephew. Visits the Souris West house to retrieve his father's athletic medals, books and family possessions. pp. 6, 23–24.
• Raymond Donahue — Son of Bob and Florrie Donahue; books belonging to him and Emmet had remained in the Souris West house. pp. 23–24.
• Robert Donahue — Son of Bob and Florrie Donahue who died shortly after his father during the 1918 influenza period. p. 23.
• Rev. James Donahue — Brother of Bob Donahue, serving as a priest in Minnesota when Bob briefly went there following medical school. p. 24.

• Alice Landrigan Kickham — Emmett's former schoolteacher in Souris West. Emmett visits her during his summer trips to P.E.I. and records her death at age 89 during the 1952 holiday. Her death prompts an extended recollection of older Island funeral customs. pp. 11–14.
• Richard Kickham — Husband of Alice Landrigan and lifelong neighbour of the Mullally family. p. 11.
• John Kickham — Emmett's stepfather; buried at Rollo Bay Cemetery. p. 21.
• James Landrigan — Brother of Alice Landrigan and husband of Emmett's cousin Hannah Mullally; remembered by Emmett as a good teacher. p. 11.
• Hannah Mullally Landrigan — Emmett's cousin and wife of James Landrigan; also remembered as a teacher. p. 11.
• Frank Murphy — Teacher at the Souris West school who, with Tom Cullen, influenced Emmett toward serious study. p. 11.
• Tom Cullen — Teacher at the Souris West school who influenced Emmett's education. p. 11.
• Joe Roache — Teacher preceding Alice Landrigan at the Souris West school. p. 11.
• Howard Leslie — Former schoolmate mentioned by Emmett while recalling teachers who encouraged serious study. p. 11.
• Alex Campbell — Former schoolmate and later one of the people whose grave Emmett recalls visiting at Rollo Bay Cemetery. pp. 11, 21.
• Father Walker — Priest associated with Emmett's childhood at Rollo Bay. Emmett remembers walking to serve Mass for him and visits his monument in the cemetery. p. 21.
• Wade Hughes — Souris West friend and neighbour who frequently visits the family during their holiday. pp. 5, 19–20.
• Ella Hughes — Wife of Wade Hughes; remembered for repeated kindness to the family during their stays in Souris West. pp. 19–20.
• Eileen Hughes — Daughter of Wade and Ella; working in Charlottetown in 1952. p. 4.
• “Pee Wee” Hughes — Daughter of Wade Hughes, home from nursing school in Charlottetown. pp. 5, 20.
• George and Ella Mullally — Relatives or close family connections in P.E.I.; remembered for their kindness during the family's holidays. Emmett comments particularly on Ella's role in raising her brother's children after their mother's death. pp. 19–20.
• Phonsie and Helen MacDonald — Friends or relatives associated with a farm at Glenwood. Peter helps with haying there during the holiday. pp. 10, 19.
• Neel Hodson — With Joan Hodson, meets Emmett's party at Charlottetown and drives them to Souris West. Later helps transport the large family group back to the airport. pp. 4–5, 14, 22–23.
• Joan Hodson — Friend or relative who helps meet and transport the family. Her father is seriously ill in hospital during the visit. pp. 4–6, 14, 22–23.
• Mr. Winchester — Joan Hodson's father, hospitalized after a paralytic stroke and unable to speak. Emmett visits him shortly after arriving on P.E.I. and again before leaving. pp. 4, 23.
• Mrs. Finnan — Looks after the Souris West house before the family's arrival, airs the house and makes up the beds. pp. 4–5.
• Reggie Peters — Obtains cooked lobsters for the family during the closed fishing season and refuses payment. p. 19.
• Ikey Cheverie — Worked on the exterior renovation of the Souris West house, including its white siding and black trim. pp. 3–4.
• John Cantwell — Souris West carpenter whom Emmett remembers making coffins during his childhood. pp. 12–13.

• Mr. E. L. Chicanot — Managing Editor of The Canadian Doctor, to whom Emmett sends Peter Gruner's medical book reviews. p. 2.
• Ollie Kingdon — Family acquaintance who appears in Brenda Mary Skelton's imaginary telephone conversations; married Mrs. Frazer on 14 April 1952. p. 16.
• Dr. John Lefebvre — Jean Skelton's physician during her pregnancy and the birth of Matthew. pp. 18, 24–25.
• Dr. James R. Goodall — Emmett's former classmate and friend, who had previously cared for Jessie and Jean in obstetrical matters. p. 24.
• Elaine Lapres and James Cleary — Their wedding and reception are discussed during the diary's account of events following the family's return to Montreal. pp. 24, 26.
• Father M. Healey — Priest associated with Elaine Lapres and James Cleary's wedding. p. 26.
• Father Monahan, S.J. — P.E.I.-born priest involved in arranging Matthew Skelton's baptism. p. 26.
• Father Frank MacDonald, S.J. — Performs Matthew Emmet Skelton's baptism and tells a P.E.I. story during the ceremony. pp. 27–29.
• Rev. Pius McLellan, S.J. — Source of the P.E.I. wake story repeated by Father MacDonald. p. 28.
• Marjorie Gallagher — Family friend who appears both at the beginning of the P.E.I. trip and at the gathering following Matthew's baptism. pp. 3, 29.

• Souris West, Prince Edward Island — Principal setting of the summer holiday. Emmett's childhood home and the location of the family house in which the group stayed.
• Souris, Prince Edward Island — Nearby town and commercial centre mentioned throughout the diary.
• Rollo Bay, Prince Edward Island — Location of the parish church and cemetery associated with Emmett's childhood and family.
• Rollo Bay Cemetery — Burial place of Emmett's parents, his sister Jessie Josephine and numerous relatives, neighbours and childhood acquaintances. pp. 20–21.
• Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island — Arrival and departure point for air travel; location of the hospital in which Joan Hodson's father was staying. Throughout the travel portions of the diary.
• Glenwood, Prince Edward Island — Location of Phonsie MacDonald's farm, where Peter Gruner helped with haying. p. 10.
• Cape Tormentine, New Brunswick / Borden, P.E.I. — Ferry route used by Peter Gruner when travelling to the Island. p. 5.
• Montreal, Quebec — Family home base and setting for the later portions of the diary.
• 2021 Union Avenue, Montreal — Mullally family residence and location of several family gatherings recorded after the P.E.I. holiday. pp. 24–30.
• 4960 King Edward, Montreal — Skelton residence associated with Matthew's baptism and the gathering afterward. pp. 27–29.
• 3501 Vendome Avenue, Montreal — Home associated with “the twins.” p. 27.
• St. Mary's Hospital, Montreal — Hospital where Jean Skelton gives birth to Matthew Emmet Skelton. pp. 24–26.
• St. Ignatius Church, Montreal — Site of Elaine Lapres and James Cleary's wedding and Matthew Emmet Skelton's baptism. pp. 24, 26–29.
• Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Montreal — Location of the reception following the Cleary-Lapres wedding. pp. 24, 26.
• Loyola College, Montreal — College attended by Peter Gruner. pp. 2, 7–9.
• McGill University, Montreal — Associated with Bob Donahue's medical education and athletic career. pp. 23–24.
• Rocanville, Saskatchewan — Location of Bob Donahue's medical practice and the place where he died during the 1918 influenza epidemic. pp. 23–24.
• Danville, Quebec — Home of Brenda and Ronnie McDougall. pp. 3, 15.
• Three Rivers, Quebec — Location of the September 1952 convention of the Canadian Catholic Historical Association attended by Emmett. pp. 25–26.
• Hudson Heights, Quebec — Home of Naomi Thomas Calder. p. 28.

The central subject of the diary is Emmett's stay at the family house in Souris West from 23 July to 1 September 1952. Members of the Mullally, Gruner and Skelton families joined the household at various points during the summer.

Subjects recorded include:

• Travel from Montreal to Prince Edward Island.
• The renovated exterior of the Souris West family house.
• Daily family life at the house.
• Visits from neighbours, relatives and friends.
• Swimming, shellfish gathering and other activities around Souris.
• Peter Gruner's farm work at Glenwood.
• Family arrivals and departures during August.
• The large family's return journey to Montreal on Labour Day.

Emmett establishes a regular morning teaching routine with David. Subjects include:

• Reading aloud.
• Poetry.
• Multiplication and mental arithmetic.
• Geography using a small globe.
• Canadian provinces and capitals.
• Early European exploration of North America.
• Daily letters home to David's parents.

Emmett records that David gradually learned much of the poetry by memory despite initially resisting memorization. pp. 6–10.

Peter and Emmett spend part of the summer reading and discussing:

• Plato's Republic.
• Alexis Carrel's Man the Unknown.
• Canadian history.
• Medical literature.
• Medical book reviewing.
• Vocabulary and pronunciation.

Emmett also describes an unsuccessful attempt to prepare biological specimens for Peter's small microscope. pp. 2, 6–10.

Emmett records Peter's intention to enter pre-medical studies at Loyola and eventually attend medical school. Peter writes reviews of medical books under Emmett's supervision, and Emmett submits two of them to The Canadian Doctor under Peter's own name. p. 2.

Emmett visits his elderly former teacher shortly before her death at age 89. Her funeral prompts one of the diary's longest historical recollections. pp. 11–14.

Emmett compares Alice Kickham's 1952 funeral with funerals of his childhood. He describes:

• Coffins made locally by carpenters.
• Black textile coffin coverings and decorative tacks.
• Metal breast plates naming the deceased.
• Horse-drawn hearses.
• Crepe worn by pallbearers and the hearse driver.
• Preparation of the coffin in the family home.
• Changes brought by embalming and professional undertaking.

He also records finding the metal breast plate removed from his mother's coffin after her death in 1911. pp. 12–14.

On 23 August 1952, Emmett and Peter walk to Rollo Bay for Mass and visit the cemetery. Emmett reflects on his parents, sister, relatives, childhood acquaintances and Father Walker, as well as his memories of travelling the same road as a boy to serve Mass. pp. 20–21.

Near the end of the P.E.I. holiday, Emmett's nephew Emmet Donahue removes his father Bob Donahue's athletic medals and other family possessions from the Souris West house. This prompts Emmett to recall Bob's:

• Athletic career at McGill.
• Graduation in medicine in 1908.
• Medical work in western Canada.
• Marriage to Florrie Mullally in 1910.
• Death during the 1918 influenza epidemic.

pp. 23–24.

Jean Skelton enters St. Mary's Hospital on 22 September 1952. Labour begins the following morning and Matthew Emmet Skelton is born shortly afterward, weighing 7 lbs. 3 oz. Emmett records the family's surprise that the baby was a boy because they had expected a girl. pp. 24–26.

Matthew is baptized at St. Ignatius Church in Montreal. Brenda and Ronnie McDougall serve as his godparents. Emmett provides a detailed description of the baptismal ceremony and identifies many of the relatives in attendance. pp. 26–29.

At the end of the gathering following Matthew's baptism, Brenda and Ronnie tell Emmett and Mrs. Mullally that Brenda is expecting a child. pp. 29–30.

The diary raises a number of useful research leads that could be investigated separately:

• Locate the two medical book reviews written by Peter Hamilton Gruner and submitted to The Canadian Doctor in 1952.
• Identify the exact issues and bibliographic details of the three medical books Emmett gave Peter to review.
• Research Alice Landrigan Kickham, including her teaching career, death record and 1952 funeral.
• Identify the surviving metal breast plate from Emmett's mother's coffin, if it remains among family possessions.
• Research John Cantwell, the Souris West carpenter whom Emmett remembered making coffins.
• Locate records relating to Robert Donahue's athletic career at McGill and his medical graduation in 1908.
• Locate records relating to Robert Donahue's death in Rocanville during the 1918 influenza epidemic.
• Identify the Souris West school reader belonging to James Emmet Donahoe that Emmett found in the family house.
• Identify the Canadian history textbook and other books that remained in the Souris West house.
• Confirm the date of Elaine Lapres and James Cleary's wedding, as the diary contains an apparent date discrepancy.
• Confirm the date of Billy Archie's visit before the family's departure from P.E.I., as the typescript appears to contain an erroneous “Sept. 30.”
• Investigate the history and ownership of the Mullally family house in Souris West, including its 1951 exterior renovation by Ikey Cheverie.