SOLVED. Multigeneration family epic, New England, LONG; central character Alice, keeps diaries/journals [s]

[Michele]

Trying to find a book for my mother. She actually has 4 photocopied pages from it but the title isn't at the top, alas!

This is a big multi-generational family epic, so lots of characters and has genre-typical "set pieces" like family gatherings, weddings, family arguments/falling-outs, etc. Similar to for example Penmarric or Trollope's Palliser Novels. Set in America, most likely New England since the copied pages mention Boston, Connecticut, etc. The book features very strong women characters. Main focus is a woman named Alice who describes herself as "a farmer's wife". Alice keeps diaries, scrapbooks, etc. The copied pages are from Alice's POV, thinking about how much she loves getting letters from her grandchildren. Other names that occur on the four photocopied pages: Edna, Howard (older generation); Mat and Minnie (died as a children), William, Jack (who has twins Cora and Blanche, and is maybe a scientist?), Ella, Anna, Aunt Tenney or possibly Ten; surname Steele.

I've put the four pages online, you can read them in their entirety here.

Published probably in the 1970s (which is when Mom thinks she read it), but based on the names in the book I'd guess it's set much earlier, and since it's a big family epic it probably covers several decades. Mom is fairly certain it was a female author. Book is definitely a "doorstop" since the page numbers on the photocopies are pages 718-721.

Really hope someone can help, my Mom very much wants to find it!

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Seems to be Time in Its Flight by Susan Fromberg Schaeffer.

[Michele]

Ye gods, I think that's it!!! Just called my Mom to tell her, and she's now running around her living room somewhere on the West coast, dancing with delight. You guys rock :)

[Michele]

How did you find it, by the way? I googled everything I could think of and never got a single hint of this book!

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

I entered some of the proper names from the pages into googlebooks. Something like "Mrs. Siddons" Edna Cora and it was the first search result.

[Michele]

Gaaah. I did that and got nothing. You are clearly magic :D