Everett Wilkie posted the following at ExLibris this afternoon, and I pass it along since it is of both local interest and obvious importance:
"On March 7, 2008, 10:05pm, a black courier bag containing four diaries of the noted John Deere engineer Theo Brown was stolen at the bus terminal, South Station, Boston, Massachusetts. The volumes lost were 1916, 1922, 1939, and 1943. All volumes were enclosed in gray boxes (phase boxes) labeled in black letter with "MS 2 Theo Brown Diaries". The diaries contain notes, black and white photographs, and color illustrations of John Deere tractors and agricultural equipment. They also contain personal writings, photographs, clippings, and color illustrations relating to Theo Brown, his family, and events of his time. All volumes are bound in leather, consist of 365+ pages, and are labeled and/or inscribed with the date of the volume and "Theo Brown". The 1916 volume measures roughly 4"x8"x1", bound brown leather with a detached front cover. The 1922 volume measures roughly 6"x8"x1", bound in black leather with "1926" prominently displayed on the front cover. The 1939 volume measures roughly 6"x9"x2", bound in brown leather, labeled "1939 Theo Brown" in gold letters on front cover. The 1943 volume measures roughly 6"x9"x3", bound in brown leather, labeled "1943 Theo Brown" in gold letters on front cover.
Please contact the Archives & Special Collections, Worcester Polytechnic Institute at 508-831-6612 or archives@wpi.edu if you have any information on these missing diaries."
