Category Archives: Uncategorized

July 10, 1939 (from Ina and Walter White)

200 W. Mesquite
Uvalde, Texas
July 10, 1939

Dearest Sweetheart:

We were so glad to have your letter from Denison and your telegram from Minneapolis today. It seemed like old times for you to be thoughtful about writing and wiring us. You have been on our minds a great deal since you left Saturday. We were afraid that bus ride would be awfully hot. Do you know that the temperature here that day was 112º – the hottest in 20 years? It was the same again yesterday, but I think it was a little cooler today. At least we have had a breeze.

July 10, 1939 (from Ina)

Walter White and Lewis Dunbar have been behaving nicely. Walter White has seemed so much more grown-up since he went to Reagan Wells with you. He hasn’t cried a time since then.

Honey, I’m not giving orders, but may I remind you of three things – the laundry, the due bills, and the letter from the Olson Rug Co.? Please have Mr. King B mail us clothing belonging to Reitha, the boys, and me. Your insurance, the gas, milk, rent, and perhaps other bills are due. You remember I told you about complaining to the Olson Rug Co. about the way the rug in our room behaves. If you will forward their reply to me, I shall appreciate it.

We hope you are not snowed under with work since your brief vacation. Don’t forget the sunshine and walks to the lake.

We love you lots and lots.

Always, your
Ina.

220 W. Mesquite
Uvalde, Tex.
July 10, 1939

Dear Daddy,

We went to Ina Marie’s today. We had a nice time only Ina (Ina Marie) couldn’t come back with us.

Tonight Lewis is going to sleep on the studio couch for the first time this summer.

See if you can manage to get a few days off to go to Mother Dove’s (which I doubt).

We went to Garner park yesterday to go swimming (which I didn’t).

Your Son,
Walter W. Dove

July 10, 1939 (from Walter White)

July 9, 1939

Stationery from the Katy Lines, “Missouri-Kansas-Texas R.R.”

Sunday En Route.

My dear Ina & Boys,

Had a good visit with the McDonalds at San Antonio and they brought me to the train last night. Mrs. Mc is going to write you and is expecting to see you at San Antonio. Mr. Mc is just getting ready for Pink Boll Worm clean up work in the valley and Mr. Dutton will report for duty soon to assist him. It will last about two months. They have about $600,000 which is about half the estimated needs. We should be able to release a number of our men & pickups to help them. Mr. Mc seemed willing to take my recommendations on any men for temporary transfer and I think the men will be glad to get work for a couple of months.

July 9, 1939

I started to spend today at Dallas but I am not enthusiastic about airplane travel. I could have left there at 8 tonight & reach Mpls about 10 tomorrow morning. By train & not stopping at Dallas today will reach Mpls 2:50 PM Monday, which is very good time. I have enjoyed the trip and I’ll feel fine on returning to Mpls.

With love,
Walter.

June 20, 1939

I’m not going to transcribe this whole report, but it gives some idea of what was occupying Walter’s time and mind – and consuming a large chunk of Federal funding – at this point. Click the image for a slightly larger scan.

June 20, 1939

June 6, 1939

Western Union telegram, received at Uvalde, TX.

MINNEAPOLIS MINN JUN 6

MRS W E DOVE=
222 WEST MESQUITE ST

FURNITURE ARRIVED AND NEARLY ALL PLACED IN LIVING ROOM TODAY. WHY DONT YOU COME UP AND SEE ME? COULD DADDY LEWIS DRIVE HERE IF SO WOULD BUY HIS TICKET WHEN HE WANTS TO RETURN PLEASE WIRE AND LET ME KNOW IF I SHOULD MEET YOU AIRPORT OMAHA SATURDAY WITH LOVE=

WALTER.

June 6, 1939

May 31, 1939

Postcard from the Railway Express Agency, Uvalde, TX.

You are notified that 1 trunk forwarded by you on 12-9 1938 addressed to Elvira White 267 N. Grove St. Uvalde Tex., charges $5.93 remains in this office undelivered because no funds to pay charges.

Storage began 12-19-38 at rate of .50¢ per mo.

May 31, 1939

Apparently Madie’s sister wasn’t able to pay the shipping on the trunk after all. I have no additional paperwork about this, but assume that Walter and Ina picked up the tab.

April 9, 1939

Stationery from the Hotel Graver, Fargo, ND.

Easter Sunday*

Dear Daddy and Mother Lewis,

Dr. Wakeland (Mr. Roberts’ boss) and I arrived here by auto about 4 o’clock. We have conferences tonight and with our supervisors tomorrow at the college. Yesterday we met with the extension folks at the South Dakota College at Brookings. We drove to Watertown, spent the night and arrived here this PM.

April 9, 1939

Small grain (oats, wheat, barley and flax) is coming up and during the past 3 days we have had some general rains. If it rains about 3 weeks we will not have so many hoppers to poison. The diseases develop during rainy seasons.

We are shipping bait materials in most of the states now, and after Mr. Dorward and I go into the Northwestern states we will ship up there. Dorward arrived Sat. and will meet me here tonight. I expect to go with him to Salt Lake City about the latter part of the week.

The birthday gift was appreciated very much and I want to thank you for sending it. It happened that I needed just what you and Ina sent and I’ll wear them soon.

With love,
Walter.

* To determine the date of Easter for any year, you can use the Easter date finder at Ancestor Search. It’s handy when transcribing correspondence from people who weren’t very good about dating their letters.

March 5, 1939

Railroad stationery from the Burlington Route, “The National Park Line.”

Saturday Night
En route to Denver.

Dear Sweetheart,

Dorward & Dr. Wakeland are with me and we meet with Colorado cooperatives tomorrow and Monday. I hope to leave Denver Monday night for Minneapolis and should get home Tuesday night. So far our conferences have been fairly satisfactory and we hope that things develop as they are being planned. You probably noticed that the House passed the bill for 2 1/4 million and that the Senate is going to insist on $5,400,000. Just how it will come out remains to be seen. We are planning for the full amount. You already know my personal views on it which I keep to myself. Dorward may go on to Amarillo. I am reducing my trip that much.

March 5, 1939

RA was with us for most of the week and seems to have his program worked out in considerable detail & with most every move approved. He sends his regards to the family. Said he saw Mother Lewis at Uvalde Xmas.

With love to all of you,
Walter.

February 28, 1939

Stationery from the Hotel Bozeman, in Bozeman, MT.

Tuesday PM.

Dear Sweetheart,

Dr. Wakeland left a few minutes ago by bus for Bozeman and Dorward and I are staying here until tomorrow. We meet Wakeland there tomorrow PM. R.A. has been here and he seems to be very active in getting his work organized. In fact they are about through and we are just beginning. I am not going to Amarillo on the 7th but will return to Mpls from Denver and I expect to leave there the night of the 6th.

February 28, 1939

So far I have not seen Fred B but Dorward says that he saw him. Parker is cordial and we have had some good discussions on ‘hoppers, but no mention of Fred. Both the cricket project and mine proposed to change state supervisors for Montana. I made mine stick and I am using Westlake who served with us as a district man last year. The cricket project is keeping their state supervisor but under protest. So far I have gotten everything I asked Dr. Mills for, including Brumkow[?] to be in charge of the migratory area in the eastern part of the state.

The meeting at Bismark with Dr. Eversael and the College folks was satisfactory. We had dinner with the legislators and this did not get either of us anything except to become acquainted.

I am getting fed up on conferences so it was a relief for Gaddis to tell Wakeland that I was needed in Mpls badly and should return there from Denver. Wakeland has a careful approach and the ability to talk in a low voice for a long time. If endurance in conferences means anything he will come out OK.

With love to all of you,
Walter.

February 14, 1939

Walter is still working on grasshopper control, with the government-funded effort now gearing up for a new season of spreading arsenic-laced baits across the heartland. Notes on the back of this sheet suggest that the project needed more spreaders, and also some photos for publicity. I trust that publishing the old addresses and phone numbers of people who are most likely long dead won’t offend anyone, but if you can articulate a legitimate gripe about this please contact me.

February 14, 1939

December 26, 1938

Stationery from The Piedmont train, New York-New Orleans.

En Route NO to Atlantic City
Dec. 26, 6:30 PM

Dear Ina,

Made a direct connection at NO and will arrive Phila about 530 Monday AM. The other train gets there about 2-1/2 hours later. This is early but will put me in Atlantic City at 820 instead of 10:40.

December 26, 1938

The stub for a water bill is enclosed. I am sending a check with other end of it to water board & you should list $1.16 in your check book. Thought I had paid it but found that I had not.

There were only a few people on the SP and tonight this train is not crowded. The 10 o’clock train from here seemed to have a lot of reservations.

Hope Lucien & Avis are visiting with you at home and that all enjoyed the rest of the visit at Uvalde.

With love to the 3 of you,

Your
Walter