Artist Janet Fry discovered a pocket diary from her great-great-grandmother, Caroline Currey Kelso, dated 1875. After keeping it in a drawer for nearly two decades, Fry transcribed the diary using a magnifying glass and created an exhibition titled "The 1875 Diary Project" at Storage Space Gallery in Indianapolis. The show features recorded excerpts read by 12 women artists, enlarged reproductions of the diary pages, and Fry's own artistic responses, opening October 17, 2025.
This project matters because it transforms a personal family artifact into a public art exhibition that bridges 150 years of women's experiences. Fry's work highlights themes of loneliness, lack of bodily agency, and the hidden lives of 19th-century women, drawing parallels to contemporary issues. By giving voice to her ancestor's sparse yet powerful diary entries, Fry connects historical domestic life with current conversations about women's autonomy and emotional isolation.