Monthly Archives: June 2012

May 15, 1930

Walter’s current project is figuring out the etiology of endemic typhus (Rickettsia typhi). He suspects – correctly, it turns out – that rat mites are vectoring the pathogen.

Thursday PM.

My dear Sweetheart,

Your letter and the pictures came this noon. The pictures are very good and I am mighty glad to see them. Will keep them for the Baby Book. Walter White seems to be holding his own with so many new people.

May 15, 1930

May 15, 1930

I am enclosing a letter which was received from Mother today. Uncle Henry lost the little boy we saw at Sibley, La. I’ll write to him and to Mother tonight.

Yesterday Dr. Bedford brought his addition to the manuscript. It is very good for a rough draft but there is some duplication of information. This noon I had lunch with him at the Athletic Club. We plan to go to Longview and nearby places next Thursday PM. They have had quite a few cases of typhus. We want to determine whether or not rat mites are present. He wants to test samples of blood for typhus reactions (Weil-Felix test).

Mr. Somnier painted the gables of the house and the front of the garage. Today he is mowing the lawn and cutting the weeds in the back yard. The place is changing quite a bit. Perhaps this will be an added inducement to get the Mrs. to return to her husband.

With all my love, I am

Your Walter.

May 14, 1930

Walter’s next assignment will be studying the sand flies (Culicoides spp.) that are major pests in the coastal areas of the Southeast. He and Ina are figuring out the logistics for their pending move to either South Carolina or Georgia.

Wednesday A.M. 5/14

My dear Sweetheart,

It is difficult to tell you just what we should do. As much as I dislike the idea of being separated from you and Walter White, I am in favor of making it as comfortable for both of you as possible. I do not like the idea of leaving you in Dallas while I am in the Southeastern states. You could have everything delivered but you would be alone at night. I could get Mr. Somnier to let his oldest boy stay out there but it would be a responsibility to look after him. I think Mrs. Bucklin would be glad to stay with you but she would get on your nerves. Mrs. Chamberlain would be a lot of company and congenial.

May 14, 1930

May 14, 1930

If you wanted to stay in Uvalde until I get things located in the S.E. states it would be too much of an imposition on Daddy and Mother Lewis. They are going to have some anxiety over Thelma. They are going to have some visitors from Mississippi in June.

I am not sure but that it would be wise for me to come for you as we had planned. Then we could bring Claudelle and Daddy Lewis back with us. This would save Claudelle a little on her travel to Oklahoma. Then when you and I drive to Charleston or Savannah we could stop with Ethel for a little visit, also at my home if you care to. What do you think?

If you let me know just what you would like to do I’ll try to see it your way.

This PM Mr. Somnier is going out to our house with me to fix back steps, roof, gate, and paint the gables of the house. Will also paint front of garage.

With lots of love,
Walter.

May 12, 1930

Monday Noon.

My dear Sweetheart,

Last night I received two letters. We did not get the mail Sat PM nor Sun. AM so both were in the box when I went down last night. I spent a long day yesterday. Did not work on the manuscript. I painted the woodwork in the kitchen and breakfast room. I followed suggestions about using yellow to tone down the green, but when the paint (satin finish like that used in the bath room) dried it was quite dark. It seems to harmonize with everything but it makes the kitchen a little darker. I have a small can of floor paint for the back porch. I want to get the porch painted in a few days. Mr. Somnier says he will come out and help fix the steps, gate, garage door and replace some missing shingles on the roof. I want to get the hammer knocking and paint odors fixed up before you and Walter White return.

May 12, 1930

May 12, 1930

Does Claudelle mean that she will make some more drawings when she returns to Dallas or should I send some material for her to work with at Parman’s lab? Think it would be better to do them here if she has time. Mr. Roberts has some drawings to be made, too, but his paper is not as urgent as Babcock’s.

I am proud of the behavior of Walter White. Hope he is as good when you do not have company, especially during the night. I certainly miss both of you and Claudelle.

With love from

Your
Walter.

May 9, 1930

May 9. 1PM.

My dear Sweetheart,

Your letter came this morning. It is mighty fine that Walter White is on his good behavior. Hope he keeps up his reputation.

May 9, 1930

May 9, 1930

A letter from Bish suggests that we wait about crating furniture until after he and I make the survey in June. He thinks it will be as late as June 10th before he can meet me down there. It looks like I should go down by train and make the necessary hand shakes and then return for you. I have an idea that he wants the moving expense charged to the sand fly appropriation. The appropriation will not be available until July 1st. So far as he knows it is satisfactory to move during this summer.

I phoned Mrs. Laake last night. She sends her love. Mr. Laake is in Menard. He is expected Sunday morning.

All bills except telephone are in. I am paying all of the Harper interest (132), also 25 to Dr. Harmab.

Am beginning a revision of the A.B. paper for Hopkins. Gave the Babcock MS to Mr. Smith yesterday.

I pulled dandy lions from the lawn last night. The back yard and driveway also need attention. The Bermuda grass is growing nicely and the Euonymous twigs in the new transplanted places look OK. The house is OK.

All of us send love to all of you. We hope you sleep well. We miss you.

With love,
Walter.

May 8, 1930

Thursday A.M.

My dear Sweetheart,

Arrived here yesterday afternoon. Was caught in a rain below Waco. Spent the night at Grande Court. Account of storm thought that I could not do much work at Wortham so returned to Dallas. Found everything OK at the house. Mrs. Chamberlain saw that the tornado killed one of their uncles at Routh. Both Mr. & Mrs. Chamberlain have relatives and friends there. They lived there before coming to Dallas. Mr. Laake is in Menard. Mr. Smith is at the office. Mr. Sommier is chewing and smiling as usual. I am trying to finish the Babcock manuscript before I tackle the thesis paper.

Hope all of you are getting along OK.

With love,

Walter.

May 8, 1930

May 8, 1930

May 7, 1930

Almost a year has passed since the Alaska trip (and you thought it was just a weekend). Walter and Ina are back in Texas. Ina and their first son, Walter White Dove, are apparently visiting her parents in Uvalde, while Walter Sr. is on the road working on his louse and fly projects for the USDA.

Postcard from Grande Courts, 1000 Elm Street, Waco, Texas – “America’s finest tourist quarters.”

Wed. A.M.

Arrived here about 8 PM. Rain in this vicinity and near Wortham. Am going to Dallas this morning and will go to Wortham when dry weather is on. Will write tomorrow. With love,

Walter.

May 21, 1930

May 21, 1930

Autumn 1929?

I can’t decipher a date on this telegram, but it’s probably from late 1929, when Walter and Dr. White received an award from the American Medical Association for their work on larva migrans.

CHARLESTON SOCAR 11 839A
DR W E DOVE. EXHIBIT BOOTH CONVENTION HALL
AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSO

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH WE ARE SO GLAD LOVE
INA.

Autumn 1929?

Autumn 1929?

June 1929

We’re in another gap in the letters, as Walter and Ina are together again. He returned to Dallas with his Sc.D. from Johns Hopkins, and the two of them left immediately for his new assignment in Alaska. Walter investigated a parasitic fly that was laying its eggs in the hides of reindeer, sickening the animals and riddling their skins with holes. After working out the insect’s life cycle, Walter recommended a series of control measures that would prevent the problem. I believe someone in the family still has a chair upholstered in fly-damaged reindeer hide, a souvenir from this trip.

Ina was pregnant with their first child as they journeyed up the Nome River in an open boat.

June 1929

June 1929

May 19, 1929

Sunday PM. 11:00.

My dear Sweetheart,

I have just returned from the Corts. Place card enclosed herewith. The Scotts and the Springlers, Sarles and I were present. The lunch was very nice and informal. I wore my black suit and so did the other men except Scott. He wore a light grey. Chicken a la King on toast, hot biscuits, asparagus, mashed potatoes, some kind of a fritter, olives etc. Fresh strawberries with pineapple etc. for dessert. It was OK. Scott talks as much as ever. Cort said that Scott did not have the Egypt job closed but that it would come OK. They do not feel sure yet.

May 19, 1929

May 19, 1929

They have a Chevrolet sedan, mileage 10M. Everyone wished that you could have been there. Mrs. Springler was anxious to meet you. She has a position somewhat similar to the one you had. She did not find one until after Xmas. Springler gets his degree this spring and may take a job on swine parasites with Hall, location in Alabama. He is on Cushing’s type. She is quiet, refined and rather good looking.

I have not talked to anyone about the Alaska job. Think it better to keep quiet about it.

Tonight Cort told me that he was “very pleased” with my written examination. That I had a better grasp of helminthology than he had supposed. He also assured me that I would get the degree OK. The oral is a form and it is up to the candidate to make a good impression on the thesis and minors. This sounds good. I feel more certain of it now.

I took a box (2#) of candy to Mrs. Cort and the girls. They were very appreciative. Mrs. Scott’s Xmas cards were returned to her both times.

Am studying bacteriology, protozoology and ento for the oral. Root said in a joking way that he might quiz me on entomology too. I hope he does. I think I’d impress the committee more favorably.

With all my love, your
Walter.

I have not mailed the Owenwood check. If you need some money draw on the account.

Monday AM.

Sweetheart,

Just received your letters of Tuesday, Wed & Friday, and I enjoyed them more than you think. I am glad that everything is going OK.

I am going downtown sometime today to look up the sailings for Alaska. Sounds funny, doesn’t it? I’d like to tell Cort but I am afraid that the news would reach persons whom we would not care to know of it. The thesis news seems to be rather general among the Sch. Hyg. folks.

I am sorry that Jimmie has trouble with his car & that he had 25 expense [?]. However it had the earmarks of such a car. Think he will get a lot of good out of it, anyway.

I want to talk to Bishopp about taking Jimmie to Alaska. It is advisable to see how he comes on the exam. It may be better to not interfere with his course work at SMU. Maybe next summer he can go with us.

With all my love, Dear,

Your
Walter.