A few days later, Evie made her first entry. “Grandmas were at our place,” the 10-year-old began in cursive. The date was January 1, 1936. Nearly 90 years later, Evie is still writing.

Elisabeth Hartsell was 13 when she got her first diary as a gift in 1931. Now, 92 years later, her grandson, Mark McKinney, and his wife, Liz Duren, are keeping her story alive.

Anne’s last entry is dated August 1, 1944. Since the diary was first published in 1947, it has appeared in more than 75 languages and sold more than 30 million copies.

LAKOTA, N.D. — It started simply. At age 10, about to turn 11, Evie Riski received a diary from her father as a Christmas gift. A few days later, Evie made her first entry. “Grandmas were at ...