Anne Frank's Diary: Rewrites' Page Use

Anne Frank Diary Reference : Page Use (to chronology of rewriting)

Anne Frank's Diary: Rewrites' Page Use

Anne had a project of rewriting her diary for possible future publication. She did rewrites entirely on loose sheets of paper.

The loose sheets fill three folders. There are 337 labeled page sides, numbered from 1-324 (with 13 more page sides numbered with a non-unique number plus a unique letter). There are also two short notes she pasted on the rewrites for 27 Nov 1943 and 14 March 1944 (they are not given numbers or letters, so I didn't count them as labeled page sides, of course). Anne also wrote stories and essays on loose sheets of paper. These non-diary entries were apparently excluded from the page numbering. Anne didn't do the numbering. It was done after the war. They numbered the diary rewrite pages, which is all that is covered here. There were also 5 pages that were revealed after the diary pages were numbered (see excerpts from the missing pages). They also are not included here.

The sheets are unlined and are of different sizes. Their average size is slightly smaller than 21.4cm X 27.5cm (8.42" X 10.8"). Many are sized 21cm X 29.7cm (8.27" X 11.6"). Sheets are various (single) colors: salmon pink, rose pink, ivory, blue.

(Anne was very organized and neat with her stories and essays. I don't cover them here because I don't have any information. However, you can see this neatness and care on page 69 of Anne Frank: Beyond the Diary, a photographic remembrance, by Ruud van der Rol and Rian Verhoeven. It has photos of an index and two pages of writing. [There are photos of her stories index online: index; close up; very close up. Site down: 10 Sept 2003] The index lists the page numbers, titles, types, and dates of these non-diary writing efforts. It is all nearly free of cross outs and awkward additions. This strongly suggests that she gave seriousness and respect to these writing pursuits. One can see her diary re-write project as her largest writing project. She also wrote a long story, "Cady's Life," [at least part of which was in the third diary].)

Other Notes:

The dates are the date of the diary entry she was re-writing, not the date she was actually putting ink on the page. The probable range of actual writing dates is from late March/ early April 1944 to 3 August 1944 (the raid was on the morning of the 4th). See chronology of Anne's re-writing her diary for publication.

I illustrated the loose sheets as numbered across the least possible number of sheets for the numbering: 167 sheets. Anne conserved paper, but from photos it looks like Anne, at least sometimes, started new entries at the top of a new page side. That is, she wasn't rigid about paper conservation. Page numbering oddities show that, at least five times, she skipped a full blank page side, starting instead on a new sheet. In general, people accidentally skip an occasional second page side in writing on paper, so Anne's rare skips are totally understandable. The page numberer only numbered one of the blank page sides (page 91). There are at least four page sides that were not numbered, but there could be more. (For further exploration: Assorted Details Related to Loose Sheet Numbers Issues.)

From books, it has been impossible to know where exactly the unnumbered page sides are in the stack, but the general locations are known (see detailed discussion). Sheets with one blank side are represented in the illustration as half black and half gray, and are placed in the proper general areas. The illustration notes also point them out.

The two pasted in notes were probably pasted onto the bottom, though the illustration may look as if they were sheets pasted completely together.

All information is gleaned from The Diary of Anne Frank: the Critical Edition, by the Netherlands State Institute for War Documentation. Mainly the handwriting analysis article and the notes at the back of the book. (I am not more exact about all of this because I did the research just for my own curiosity several years ago.)

Little arrows on the illustrations

indicate photos of the pages. There are several photos of pages in The Critical Edition. "CE" pages refer you to that book. Similarly, AFBD refers to Anne Frank: Beyond the Diary, a photographic remembrance. All AFBD photos are color photos.

Currently, the USHMM site includes several zoomable images of the rewrite pages: the loose sheets. Those are not noted below.

Illustration (from top) Page Note

1 through 13 An ink spill has seeped onto these pages -- later pages having smaller and smaller blots. Anne re-wrote most of what got covered.

1 20 June 1942 (CE p. 302 has photo of this page, as does AFBD p. 38)

3 20 June 1942 (AFBD p. 38 has a photo of this page.)

70-1 28-9 Sept 1942 (CE p. 161 has a photo; the pages are in reverse order in this photo)

79 9 Oct 1942: Anne is horrified by what Miep tells them is happening to Jews in Amsterdam. (I believe this online photo is of the top part of this page. Site down: 10 Sept 2003)
80 19 Oct 1942 (CE p. 157 has a photo of this page.)

82 20 Oct 1942 (for photo: CE p. 156)

? An even number, 86, lands on a fresh sheet. This means that a blank page side was skipped in the numbering, somewhere after page 1 (illustrated as in the 40's). There is more exploration of this sort of thing.

86 I'm guessing that this page is written in normally for about a half page (the end of the rewritten entry for 29 Oct 1942) because there aren't many words. At any rate, this page, along with another page, are folded to make a little book. The seven new page sides are numbered 86a-86g. She must have written tiny because they tend to hold a regular page worth of writing, each. They are the entry for 7 Nov 1942: about being at a bursting point with Mummy over a book mix up and a blow up.
A further complication: she wrote 30 Oct 1943 as the date, crossed it out, and wrote 7 Nov 1942, but The Critical Edition put 30 Oct 1943 yet noted in the back (p. 713) her change.

(91) There appears to be nothing on page number 91 (except the "91" ;-). Nothing is noted as being on this page. It must be a numbered blank page side.

93 12 Nov 1942 (CE p. 163 has a photo of this page.)

95 17 Nov 1942 (CE p. 163 has a photo of this page)

? A blank page side was skipped in the numbering sometime since the last booklet. The blank page side is illustrated here as being in the 100's. There is more exploration of this sort of thing.

128 This is the end of her rewritten 13 Jan 1943 entry, apparently using tiny writing. The page is folded in half, making three new page sides, on which she puts the re-write for her 30 Jan 1943 entry). The new page sides are numbered 128a - c. That entry is about being boiling with rage at everyone's disdain, especially Mummy's. The writing is apparently tiny: she fits a lot on these half pages.

? A blank page was skipped in the numbering since the last booklet. It is illustrated here as being after page 151. There is more exploration of this sort of thing.

152 Another page folded in half to write in four resulting half pages. The pages are numbered 152, and 152a - c. 152 is the end of her rewritten 1 April 1943 entry (listening to talks with Daddy), apparently in tiny writing. The remaining three sides apparently also use tiny writing. They are the rewrite of her 2 April 1943 entry: getting reproachful looks for not wanting to pray with Mummy, and not regretting it.

162 At least in terms of the number of sheets of paper, this is about the half way mark. According to experts' handwriting analysis, half of the rewrites were done during a period of intensified efforts in the re-writes (starting at about 15 July 1944 -- see rewrite chronology).

173-4 These page sides were numbered in reverse: p. 174 comes first.

194-5 These page sides were numbered in reverse: p. 195 comes first.

235 Rewritten entry 27 Nov 1943. She pasted a short note for the end: she will never forget Hannelie.

? Another numbering strangeness: since page 153 must have been on a fresh sheet, we'd expect fresh sheets to continue to start with odd numbers, but p. 280 lands on a fresh sheet. Evidently a blank side was not numbered (illustrated here as in with the 190's). There is more exploration of this sort of thing.

280-1 The original of this sheet is missing. Photocopies replace it (see note in CE, p. 159). It was part of the 3 Feb 1944 entry rewrite: what people could do in a flood.)

309 She pasted a short, exuberant, humorous note for the end of her rewritten entry for 14 March 1944: the political situation is outstanding, it's impossible that we'll get caught, have to do today's task.

322 Rewritten entry for 29 March 1944. (for photo: CE p. 580)

324 The last page of the rewrites of her diary: the end of the 29 March 1944 rewrite.

Illustration (from top)	Page	Note

1 through 13	An ink spill has seeped onto these pages -- later pages having smaller and smaller blots. Anne re-wrote most of what got covered.
1	20 June 1942 (CE p. 302 has photo of this page, as does AFBD p. 38)
3	20 June 1942 (AFBD p. 38 has a photo of this page.)
70-1	28-9 Sept 1942 (CE p. 161 has a photo; the pages are in reverse order in this photo)
79	9 Oct 1942: Anne is horrified by what Miep tells them is happening to Jews in Amsterdam. (I believe this online photo is of the top part of this page. Site down: 10 Sept 2003)
80	19 Oct 1942 (CE p. 157 has a photo of this page.)
82	20 Oct 1942 (for photo: CE p. 156)
?	An even number, 86, lands on a fresh sheet. This means that a blank page side was skipped in the numbering, somewhere after page 1 (illustrated as in the 40's). There is more exploration of this sort of thing.
86	I'm guessing that this page is written in normally for about a half page (the end of the rewritten entry for 29 Oct 1942) because there aren't many words. At any rate, this page, along with another page, are folded to make a little book. The seven new page sides are numbered 86a-86g. She must have written tiny because they tend to hold a regular page worth of writing, each. They are the entry for 7 Nov 1942: about being at a bursting point with Mummy over a book mix up and a blow up. A further complication: she wrote 30 Oct 1943 as the date, crossed it out, and wrote 7 Nov 1942, but The Critical Edition put 30 Oct 1943 yet noted in the back (p. 713) her change.
(91)	There appears to be nothing on page number 91 (except the "91" ;-). Nothing is noted as being on this page. It must be a numbered blank page side.
93	12 Nov 1942 (CE p. 163 has a photo of this page.)
95	17 Nov 1942 (CE p. 163 has a photo of this page)
?	A blank page side was skipped in the numbering sometime since the last booklet. The blank page side is illustrated here as being in the 100's. There is more exploration of this sort of thing.
128	This is the end of her rewritten 13 Jan 1943 entry, apparently using tiny writing. The page is folded in half, making three new page sides, on which she puts the re-write for her 30 Jan 1943 entry). The new page sides are numbered 128a - c. That entry is about being boiling with rage at everyone's disdain, especially Mummy's. The writing is apparently tiny: she fits a lot on these half pages.
?	A blank page was skipped in the numbering since the last booklet. It is illustrated here as being after page 151. There is more exploration of this sort of thing.
152	Another page folded in half to write in four resulting half pages. The pages are numbered 152, and 152a - c. 152 is the end of her rewritten 1 April 1943 entry (listening to talks with Daddy), apparently in tiny writing. The remaining three sides apparently also use tiny writing. They are the rewrite of her 2 April 1943 entry: getting reproachful looks for not wanting to pray with Mummy, and not regretting it.
162	At least in terms of the number of sheets of paper, this is about the half way mark. According to experts' handwriting analysis, half of the rewrites were done during a period of intensified efforts in the re-writes (starting at about 15 July 1944 -- see rewrite chronology).
173-4	These page sides were numbered in reverse: p. 174 comes first.
194-5	These page sides were numbered in reverse: p. 195 comes first.
235	Rewritten entry 27 Nov 1943. She pasted a short note for the end: she will never forget Hannelie.
?	Another numbering strangeness: since page 153 must have been on a fresh sheet, we'd expect fresh sheets to continue to start with odd numbers, but p. 280 lands on a fresh sheet. Evidently a blank side was not numbered (illustrated here as in with the 190's). There is more exploration of this sort of thing.
280-1	The original of this sheet is missing. Photocopies replace it (see note in CE, p. 159). It was part of the 3 Feb 1944 entry rewrite: what people could do in a flood.)
309	She pasted a short, exuberant, humorous note for the end of her rewritten entry for 14 March 1944: the political situation is outstanding, it's impossible that we'll get caught, have to do today's task.
322	Rewritten entry for 29 March 1944. (for photo: CE p. 580)
324	The last page of the rewrites of her diary: the end of the 29 March 1944 rewrite.

Question: why did she sometimes make little booklets? All three are about discord in the secret annexe. Perhaps she wanted to do the re-writes for these entries in greater privacy so that no one would accidentally read them and thereby cause a new blow up over the contents. She could take a folded sheet along with diary two (the missing diary: the diary that they must have come from), and write somewhere private. Perhaps she used the diary itself as a desk for writing on the smaller pages. That is, if someone still happened upon her, she could quickly shut the diary, hiding the contents from them. Also, once the pages were written, they would hide in the stack of loose sheets. Using full pages on the desk in hers and Pfeffer's room would have run more risk of curious eyes.

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Last Update: 11 March 2004

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