Monthly Archives: June 2012

June 17, 1930

Stationery from the Hotel Dixon, Fort Pierce, Florida

June 17, 1930

Dear Sweetheart,

Greetings from all of us! The mosquitoes are not so numerous since the anti-mosquito work was undertaken. We called on Mr. Fee tonight, but will have more time with him tomorrow. The sand flies seem to be holding their own but are not annoying when there is a breeze. We go to Cocoa for tomorrow night, then Mr. McNiel will meet us and take us to his sub-station at Orlando. From there we take a train to Jax. Will visit St. Mary’s north of Jax, then Savannah, then Charleston. We may call at Myrtle Beach which is between Charleston and Wilmington. This general survey is getting pretty tiresome. We are getting some general information but it is not giving much in the way of leads. They have different notions about the breeding places. I’ll be glad when we get to Savannah and Charleston and can make some arrangements about beginning the work. I was surprised that Bish stayed with me so much for a general survey.

June 17, 1930

June 17, 1930

I certainly hope that you are getting along OK and that Walter White is on good behavior. It seems a mighty long time since I saw you. I love you, Dear, Walter White too, and I am anxious to see you.

Always,
Walter.

Mr. Reed of the Fla. State Board of Health is driving his Ford Coupe for the 3 of us. Quite crowded but we make stops frequently. Will be looking for a letter “General Delivery” Charleston. Should you find it necessary to wire me, send care City Health Officer Savannah or Charleston.

June 14, 1930

June 14, 1930 – Miami, Fla.

Dear Sweetheart,

We arrived here this morning. We expect to be here today and tomorrow. One of the State Health Board inspectors will take us “up state.” It will probably be about one week before we reach Savannah and Charleston. Jimmie’s appointment was recommended and it should be through by the time we get to Charleston. We plan to have him work at Savannah. His appointment is temporary until we hear from his exams. Dr. King made the trip to NW US on the mosquito survey. We expect to see Mr. McNiel at Orlando, one of Dr. King’s men, on our way up state. I am to return to Dallas about the 1st. Expense to be included in this year’s money. We are not going on West Coast of Fla. at this time.

June 14, 1930

June 14, 1930

With love,

Always,
Walter.

June 12, 1930

Stationery from the Hotel Mayflower, Jacksonville, Florida – “Radio in every room.”

June 12, 1930
8 PM.

My dear Sweetheart,

Arrived this morning at 7:30. I met a train for B but he did not show up. At Mr. Filby’s office I learned that B will arrive tomorrow morning and that he and I are going down the state. Mr. Filby and a number of the state and city Health folks are attending a meeting at Tallahassee today. I met Dr. Barker at the City Health Dept. He recognized me and spent about one-half of the day with me. We called upon everyone in that building and then one of the Commissioners, Dr. Baker had me eat lunch with him. He was very courteous and showed me every consideration. He planned an appointment for B and I for 11 o’clock tomorrow. The appointment is with Mr. Engle, one who has a half million invested in St. Georges Island, an island just across the St. John’s from Mayport. Think they are going to ask us to make studies down there. It is 20 miles from Jax.

June 12, 1930

June 12, 1930

This PM I called on Dr. Kirby-Smith at St. Vincent’s hospital. He had a nightmare a few nights ago and jumped from a window of the second floor of his home. Luckily, he landed on grass instead of concrete. His head missed the concrete just a little ways. He has some bad bruises on the face, hands and limbs. He hopes to return home tonight and to be in his office Sat or Mon. I did not see the children but his mother-in-law came while I was there. Kirby says the taxes on the new home amount to $100 per month.

The radio is giving me the WJAX program. I guess I’ll listen to the Sharkey fight.

Kirby says that he does not see as many cases of C.E. now. He thinks that knowledge of the causation and the publication of the news by the state Board of Health is responsible for the reduction in the number of cases. Kirby says they have published several short articles and that White and Dove have been mentioned several times.

With love,

Your
Walter.

June 11, 1930

11 A.M.
June 11 – En route to Jax.

My dear Sweetheart,

Spent last night in New Orleans with Jimmie. He was feeling as fine as ever. I slept at his room and was with him until my train left this morning. Will meet B at Jax – 8:25 tomorrow morning. If I can get a Ford roadster delivered before July 1st I may drive to Biloxi and meet Jimmie there. In that event our survey will start from there. Have not learned anything of Jimmie’s Civil Service exams. He was the only Freshman at his fraternity house to pass all subjects this year. His roommate has to take bio-chemistry during the summer. A number of the students have to spend the summer in passing courses failed during the year. Tulane does not have a summer session and they go elsewhere for the work.

June 11, 1930

June 11, 1930

The trip was not hot. Some dust but as a whole OK. Everything is very dry.

Hope Walter White continues on good behavior and that you and Claudelle are getting along OK with just one Walter.

With love,

Your
Walter.

I love you lots. Walter White too.

May 25, 1930 (PM)

Sunday Night

My dear Sweetheart,

I am at the PO now. Received some wonderful news and I managed to get this stationery to tell you about it. Bish sent a blank along which is to accompany his recommendation for me for the grade of Senior Entomologist at $4600 per annum. Can you feature such a jump. I expected a pretty good one but I did not anticipate this much. I am jumping the whole grade of Entomologist $3800 to $4500. This is an increase of $75 per month – Whoopee! I’ve pinched myself to see if I am awake. I’ve tried to figure if there are any loop holes. I guess not for he undoubtedly knows that he can get it through as he would not try in writing without this assurance. Bish is all right.

May 25, 1930

May 25, 1930 (PM)

With love and lots of it,

Walter.

Please be careful about mentioning it. You know how such news reacts on others in the service & even those out of the service. Tell the immediate family if you like but ask them to not mention it outside. I don’t believe I’d tell the figures to any except Daddy & Mother Lewis & Claudelle. Don’t tell Walter White even.

$4,600 in 1930 equals a little over $63,000 in 2012. Walter White is their first son, who was less than a year old at this point.

May 25, 1930 (Noon)

Sunday Noon.

My dear Sweetheart,

We returned about five o’clock yesterday PM. Mrs. Laake had invited me to eat dinner with them. Mr. & Mrs. Chandler were there also. It was another chicken dinner and it was just fine. I didn’t enjoy the cards one bit. Spent the night with the Laakes and had breakfast over there this A.M. Had some rats and parasites that needed attention so I came back to the lab. Shelmire and his son (JB) came about 11 o’clock and stayed for a while. One of the rats bit his finger.

May 25, 1930 (Noon)

May 25, 1930 (Noon)

I am going to stop at a restaurant for dinner and then go home. This AM I forwarded a letter from Mrs. Crowley of Nome. Had one from Miller. He is going to Kuskokwim this summer on a range survey.

It was a joy to find your letter when I returned. Will send the Dextrose-Maltose tomorrow. I think a smaller can is OK since there is very little saving in buying the large size.

Hope the company did not give you more to do. You have your hands full with Walter White. I certainly miss you two. I am mighty anxious to see you.

With love

Your
Walter.

May 23, 1930

Letterhead from “North Louisiana Hotel Co., Inc. – New and Fireproof – Gregg Hotel, Longview, Texas”

Friday night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

We have been making good time and the results are quite good. We left Dallas at noon yesterday, arrived Gilmore about 5:30 PM. Saw the two physicians, arranged for samples of blood of patients and for trapping rats, then came here for the night. This morning we did the same routine here and drove to Henderson. Got two blood samples, histories of cases, a rat and some rat nests there and returned here for another night. Tomorrow we pick up catches of rats and blood samples here and at Gilmore and will return to Dallas tomorrow night. We are finding more cases of suspected typhus than we dreamed of. About 100 cases at Longview alone during the past three years. We get a report of the seasonal incidence of all these tomorrow A.M. It seems that we left Dallas several days ago – things moved so quickly. Cooperation has been splendid.

May 23, 1930

May 23, 1930

The cases are old cases, except 2 at Gilmore but they give us some good dope. It may be pretty hard to quit for the Carolina work.

I love you Sweetheart, Walter White too, and I am anxious to see you. Hope to have a letter when I get back.

Walter.

Hope Thelma is getting along OK.

May 22, 1930

Thursday AM May 22

My dear Sweetheart,

I have things ready for the little trip to Longview and neighboring towns. Shelmire is to call for me at one o’clock. We are going in his Ford. I cannot tell just how long we will be away but he works rather fast and we may be back before Sunday. It depends upon how easy it is to locate the typhus patients.

May 22, 1930

May 22, 1930

Everything is going very well. Last night I painted the floor of the front porch, a light gray. It was dry this morning.

Am yet working on the last section of the thesis msc. Also I expect to write a recap of the whole C.E. problem. It is gradually assuming final form. Have photographed drawings made by Claudelle and Jimmy but have not printed them. Also made plates of [illegible] due to pure cultures of two species.

Mr. Laake said that Mrs. Laake had a letter from you. Thanks.

Will take this to the post office this noon. Trust that I’ll have a letter from you before I leave.

I am pretty anxious to see our family. I know that Walter White is changing. From one meal to another I imagine that I can see changes in him. He is getting pretty heavy to handle. If I were you I would not handle him any more than necessary. He will tire you.

The neighbors went to Frost last Sunday. On account of mud they had to leave their car. He went for it yesterday. The high water down there makes my trip on sand flies out of the question. Guess they were washed away with floods. I doubt if I go down there.

I love you Honey and I am anxious to see you and Walter White.

Always
Walter.

P.S. Your letter received this noon. Please extend our congratulations to Bob & Thelma. Am glad that Thelma did so nicely.

WED

May 20, 1930

May 20, 1930-

My dear Honey Bird,

Your letter came this Noon. I had begun to think that perhaps Walter White was not well and that you did not care to tell me. Had I not heard from you today I intended to phone you tonight.

May 20, 1930

May 20, 1930

I am sending Claudelle part of my thesis for copying. If she is busy with the new company or fixing dresses for herself or anything, do not let her bother about the copy. If she does copy it I’d appreciate any changes she may make which will improve the English or add to the clearness of thought.

Today has been a hot day. It looks like we might have a little dry weather for a change.

The house looks just fine. The hedge is planted along the west side, but of course it is very small. It extends from the corner of the fence to the side-walk.

I saw the little Chamberlain girl on her porch this AM. I think they were away Sat PM & Sunday. They are so quiet over there that I can’t tell when they are at home.

Hon about Walter White’s “Double Sugar” Dextrose-Maltose? Does he need another can now or should I bring it with me about the first of the month? I’d like to see you now but I can’t start any new work at Uvalde. Besides I have more than I can do here. The trip to Longview & vicinity will probably add more to my lot. Then the Shelmire paper will need the attention of both he and I.

I love you Sweetheart and it seems like an awful long time since I saw you and Walter White.

With love,
Walter.

May 18, 1930

Sunday PM.

My dear Sweetheart,

It is almost 7 o’clock. I have just returned from the Laakes’. We had a fried chicken dinner which was up to the standard of Mrs. Laake’s dinners. The Gearys (3) and (“L O D”) Miss Palliet were there. I exhibited the Kodak pictures with much pride. I spent part of the morning in touching up the front door facings with ivory paint. I expect to go home and get something accomplished on the thesis msc. Smithie is typing the Shelmire paper. The latter will have additions when we return from Longview & neighboring towns. We plan to leave next Thursday noon. It will probably be Sunday night when we return to Dallas.

May 18, 1930

May 18, 1930

I want you to do as you think best, about staying longer in Uvalde. I am anxious to see you and Walter White and I want to be with you some before going to Charleston. It might be wise to drive to Uvalde and leave the car until I return. On the other hand it might be better for you and Walter White if you made the trip by train to Charleston. I dread the drive for you two. Perhaps “Jimmie” can drive the car through for us, that is, if we can get his appointment through. Things are rather indefinite and will remain so until about July 1st. How would it be for me to drive to Uvalde about the 1st and leave the car there. When I return from Charleston, you will want to come to Dallas, won’t you? If not, I could have everything packed now and placed in storage. We could rent the place. It depends upon how you feel about it.

With love to all and with lots and lots for yourself & Walter White,

Always your
Walter.