Category Archives: Uncategorized

October 2, 1931

Friday Night.
Oct. 2, 1931.

Dearest Sweetheart:

Your letter of Monday night started the day off right for me. On the days that I do not get one from you things don’t seem to go so good.

October 2, 1931

October 2, 1931

I was interested to note the tone of Jimmie’s letter – rather blue and somewhat apologetic didn’t you think? You are not going to reply to it, are you?

Your “sprout” is sleeping soundly. He has a good time all day and sleeps well at night. One of his new stunts today was, when we asked him what he was, to pucker up his lips like he ust to do when he said “owna go, owna go” and say “hobo.” He picks up things so quickly that it is almost alarming. Mama carried him for a walk this afternoon. She said she felt almost like she was with a man when she was with him. After being with Ina Marie he does seem big and grown-up. He is so sweet and good natured. He speaks of you often now, but for a week or two when we first came he would not mention you. We would ask him “where is Daddy” etc. and he would immediately change the subject to the moon, stars, lights or something else without answering. It gave me a queer feeling to see him deliberately avoid speaking of you when I knew that he used to talk of you almost constantly. Even when he heard a car drive in he would not say is usual “is that Daddy – it’s Daddy.” I can’t imagine why he did it. He stopped mentioning you as soon as you left us on the train. I would not tell you before because I thought it might hurt your feelings. For the last few days he has been calling “Daddy” & “Walter” real often and loves to talk about you. Isn’t it queer? I knew he had not forgotten you. He either did not like it because you did not come with us or he was resigned to it and did not care to discuss it. Again I say, babies, or rather, little boys, have more sense than we give them credit for. I wonder if he realizes that it will not be so very long before we see you again so he can afford to speak of you. He hears us talking about it. Of course I don’t expect as much of him as Mr. Parman did of his 6 week old baby.

We love you lots & lots, Honey.

Always, your devoted family,
Walter White & Ina.

October 1, 1931

Thursday Night.

Oct. 1, 1931.

Dearest Sweetheart:

Your letter of Sunday night came today. I was very glad to have it. There was no letter from you yesterday.

It will be lovely if Mr. Hall’s light traps prove successful as a means of control of sandflies. I am sure you enjoyed your visit with Mr. & Mrs. Hall & David. I have been intending ever since we came to write them and others at the lab but I don’t seem to be able to think to purchase cards when I am down town.

October 1, 1931

October 1, 1931

Today when we would ask Walter White “whose boy are you?” he would answer “Daddy’s boy.” Mama taught him that. He is learning so fast. Each day I think he is as interesting as he can be, but the next day he is more so. For one thing, he doesn’t care much for little girls – especially affectionate little girls (how long will it last?) We made a mistake by asking Ina Marie to love him. She tried to and fondly called him “Baby.” He resented it and, in order to prevent its occurring again, he pushed her down every time she approached him. She is such a sweet affectionate little thing and is so crazy about him that it is a shame the way he treats her. He wouldn’t be very kind to a baby sister I’m afraid. When he looks at a magazine he calls the pictures “baby,” “man” or “boy” but seldom says “girl.” He likes the big girls, though. Every morning at 7:30 when he hears Susie coming down the back stairs he gets down from the table, rushes to the back door, opens it and has started down the steps by the time she reaches him. Then she places him between herself and her husband in the car and he goes with her to take her husband down town to work. It takes only about ten minutes, but W.W. expects it every day. Susie says she wishes he were hers. Bertie and Mr. & Mrs. Cain pay a great deal of attention to him too. If they are going down town and back quickly they sometimes carry him. He makes friends readily.

Last night I went to prayer meeting. Rev. Taylor had announced his subject as “The Menace of the Movies” and, since my husband was such a movie fan, I thought I should go. The talk was interesting and sensible.

We had a letter from Claudelle today. She is making $5.00 per month escorting a senior student who is blind to her classes from one building to another. She is trying to get other employment but says it is strange how people don’t want her to work for them. Honey, if her Bureau check comes to Charleston will you forward it to Uvalde please? In her letter today she was wondering if it had come.

It will be fine for Mr. Hall, Mr. Hull and Gilbert if they can do some school work this winter.

Last night was quite cool which reminded me that I failed to tell you where the quilts were. I do hope you thought to look in the closet in the hall because that is exactly where they are.

Please remember Walter White and me to the lab force and the Robinsons. I’ll write them all soon.

We love you, Honey, and I miss you too. I hope you sleep good.

Always, your
Ina.

September 29, 1931

Tuesday Night.
Sept. 29, 1931.

Dearest Sweetheart:

Your good letter of Friday night was greatly enjoyed. We were amused at your account of the wedding. I read that part of the letter to the family and they laughed. It was nice that you and the Halls could attend. I’m glad you let them have the furniture. I do not know how much it is worth. Don’t you think it would be advisable to find out from Mr. Firetag what we paid for the bed and mattress & table, then use your own judgement about the worth of them now? They have not had hard usage, but of course they are second hand.

September 29, 1931

September 29, 1931

I am sure our room looks much better since W.W.’s bed has been moved. Thank you. He should be more comfortable in his own room too. He is getting large enough to want a little privacy now.

Last night Mama, Walter White and I went out to see Mrs. Jackson & family (Lois, Edith etc.) We stayed until nine and he seemed to enjoy every minute of it except when the parrot screamed at him. Mrs. Jackson showed us her pictures and souvenirs from her Gold Star Mothers’ trip to France. They were interesting. I recognized some of the places as names you had mentioned.

Thelma had the last of her teeth extracted today. It was very painful this time as the anesthetic failed to affect the gums around two of the teeth. Mama spent the afternoon at Thelma’s and said she was suffering agonies for hours after she returned home. We are hoping she can rest tonight.

The depression is on. That is practically all people here talk about. I am wondering if it has just now reached this part of the country. Banks in different towns in this part of the state are failing. Yesterday one of the largest banks in San Antonio closed. I’m beginning to feel that money isn’t safe anywhere. Honey, the Citizens & Southern is a chain bank. Do you suppose there is any danger of its suddenly going broke? We are saving money for Owenwood in November and it would mean a lot to us if we were to lose our account in the bank. I would even hesitate to deposit a salary check. Of course I realize that a spirit of that kind is what causes banks to fail. At any rate, we are not going to invest a thousand or more dollars in a car any time soon, are we? It seems that automobiles have been reduced less than most things so far, so there must be a drop in them coming soon. We surely do not want to be paying on too many things right now, do we? So many people are having to let things go back as they are unable to complete the payments.

No doubt you and Mr. Hall will be starting on your Florida trip soon. I hope it will be a very pleasant and successful one. I can hardly wait to hear about the possibilities at Tampa.

Please remember me to the lab force, and to other friends.

I love you lots & lots, Honey – I’d love so much to be with you tonight.

The family sends love.

Always, your
Ina.

P.S. Today Claudelle wrote us to send her shorthand book. She wants to practice as there is a stenographer’s civil service exam to be given in October. That is lovely, isn’t it?

September 26, 1931

Saturday Night.
Sept. 26, 1931.

Dearest Sweetheart:

Your card of Wednesday A.M. and letter of Tuesday night came this morning. I appreciate your writing the card for fear you could not locate the letter. I judge you found it though.

September 26, 1931

September 26, 1931

After reading your letter I told Walter White that Daddy said “I love you too, Buddy.” He surprised me by answering immediately “O.K., Baby.” Sounds like flapper talk, doesn’t it? Bertie taught him that. Honey, he is the sweetest baby in the world. Of course it is because he is ours that I think so but I love him more every day. I didn’t know I could love him any more than I did, but I do. Honestly, I love him so much that it hurts. It brings tears to my eyes. I don’t know how to explain it. I suppose it is partly because he looks so much like you and I miss you.

Mama spent this afternoon at Thelma’s. At one o’clock Thelma went to Dr. Massie’s office to have seven more teeth extracted. She got along nicely this time. There are six more teeth, then she will be ready to let her gums “set” for a few months before getting her plates – is that what you call false teeth? Poor girl! I have not had Dr. Massie look at my teeth yet but I intend to do so soon.

Mrs. Monagin spent a while with Walter White, Papa and me this afternoon. She said Mervin was suffering with yellow jaundice and was told by his physician that it would be about two months before he could recover completely. He has been without a job for a long time.

Thank you for the compliment from A.K. It is nice to be told once in a while that one is not fading as fast as it sometimes seems.

I love you immensely, Honey, and I hope you sleep good.

The family sends love.

Always, your

Ina.

September 25, 1931

Friday Night.

Sept. 25, 1931.

Dearest Sweetheart:

Your letter of Monday night which arrived this morning was most welcome. It contained lots of interesting information.

September 25, 1931

September 25, 1931

The thing that impressed me most was the possibility of our moving to Tampa. Yes, of course I understand that it is by no means cut and dried but is a mere possibility. However, it doesn’t hurt to think about it. In fact, I consider it very pleasant food for thought. Tampa is a very nice place to live, is it not? At any rate it is not Charleston – is not even in South Carolina. I am very anxious to know more concerning it. Also, I am wondering who would remain in Charleston. 150 miles from Ft. Pierce should be safe.

Have you heard anything from the Cushings? They should be coming out soon.

It is nice that your trip to the Southern has been approved and that Dr. Shelmire had a second thought in regard to the order of names in the exhibit.

I am glad that you were pleasantly surprised in the number of sand flies in your collections during your last trip. I did not want you to be disappointed in it.

Walter White gets sweeter every day. This afternoon Mr. Cain (the rather elderly gentleman in the apartment next to us) said that W.W. was the cutest boy he ever saw. He said he was so easily entertained. He, his wife and daughter seem to be so fond of W.W. I believe the baby would enjoy visiting with them all day. He knows when people like him.

I believe there is more talk about the depression here than at Charleston. These people are more accustomed to prosperity than Charlestonians, I suppose, and a shortage of it causes discomfort and probably alarm. Honey, don’t you suppose we had better wait quite a while about getting a new car? It was for this trip home that I was especially anxious for it and since we have gotten along so far without it I believe we could make Willie do for many months yet. In that way we could avoid rendering a new car for taxes next year and could probably buy a car at a lower price later. In the meantime we could be using our money to a better advantage. I am anxious for us to be able to pay a great deal on Owenwood next time. It will be lovely when we get even with the world financially.

By now Rebecca should have been married long enough to settle down to her household duties.

It would be lovely to have another letter from you tomorrow.

We love you lots & lots.

Always, your

Ina.

September 20, 1931 (Ina)

Sunday Night.

Sept. 20, 1931

Dearest Sweetheart:

Papa and I have returned from church. Mama kept Walter White for us. I was going to carry him tonight to see how he would behave but he missed his afternoon nap and I knew he would be sleepy early. I went to Sunday school and church this morning. I enjoyed Mr. Getzendaurer’s class immensely. His lectures are always very interesting. I enjoy them more than a sermon. He is really a splendid man.

September 20, 1931 (Ina)

September 20, 1931 (Ina)

This afternoon Ruthven Jordan (of the Uvalde Leader-News), his wife and little daughter carried Walter White and me for a three hour ride. Walter White made friends with him immediately and they had a good time together. Ruthven said he was the best natured child he ever saw. Dozens of people have said that. Mama said tell you that you have a mighty fine son. They have become so fond of him that it will be hard when we take him away. He sits in the swing and talks to Papa lots. The “moont” and “stars” being the most interesting topic of conversation. Excuse me – I started this paragraph on our afternoon ride but as usual I soon begin admiring Walter White. Anyhow, we drove to the “shut-in” and found that a summer camp of cedar log cabins had been built there. It would be a wonderful place to spend the hottest part of the summer. You remember the place on the Frio river near Cou Cou, do you not?

I am wondering if you have arrived in Charleston yet. I am anxious to hear about your trip.

I hope you are feeling fine. I just love you so – I miss you too.

Here’s hoping there will be at least a card from my husband tomorrow.

Lots of love from all of us.

Always, your devoted
Ina.

P.S. Observe the number of “Is” in this letter, will you? It was unintentional.

July 12, 1931

Stationery from the Hotel Ware, Waycross, GA – “Fireproof, Circulating Ice Water, Ceiling Fans.”

Sunday 6PM.

My dear Sweetheart,

This is a right good little town. It is high and from all appearances it has been dry. It is raining now, and I’ve been in showers all day. Spent last night at the Methodist Hotel in Savannah where you and I stopped the first time. Had a better room last night. Made most of the cage collections at Savannah last night. Used a flash light.

July 12, 1931

July 12, 1931

Had a detour in coming here today. It lasted for 32 miles of sandy road. Haven’t seen anyone about the problem here. It is so late on Sunday PM that I do not intend to do more than make an appointment for tomorrow A.M. The town does not look like a sand fly town. I would not suspect Phlebotomus here. It looks like the rapid running streams through the town might furnish a lot of Buffalo gnats (Simuliium). I have an idea that they are the ones that give trouble.

With love

Your
Walter.

Walter is starting his sand-fly work, looking for ways to combat these biting flies that infest the marshes of the Southeastern coasts. One result of this work will be the naming of a species, Culicoides dovei. I’ve always found it amusing that our family has an annoying pest named after it.

June 10, 1931

Wednesday Night.

My dear Sweetheart,

The meetings go along OK. It has been cool & raining. The exhibit awards were made this PM. Dr. Shelmire and I were given second place in Class I. He is out tonight. I have just returned from Dr. White’s høtel. Have had two whole evening visits with him. He has a nice exhibit up here and would have drawn a prize if he had been demonstrating something as new as ours. He is feeling pretty good, and talks about as usual.

June 7, 1931

June 7, 1931

Our paper is scheduled for Friday morning sometime. The exhibits close at either 12 M or 2 PM. Expect to go to Wash. Friday night and spend the day there. They close at noon so I won’t be able to see very many [museums?]. Hope to arrive home Sunday A.M.

With love,

Walter.

June 10, 1931: AMA Award

June 10, 1931: AMA Award

The two researchers published their work the following Spring. The paper is a footnote in medical history, as fleas turned out to be the primary vectors of endemic typhus.

June 7, 1931

Walter is now in Philadelphia for a meeting of the American Medical Association, where he and Bedford Shelmire are presenting their work on the transmission of endemic typhus.

Sunday A.M.

My dear Sweetheart,

We arrived on time this morning and it is not so late after all. It was daylight when the porter called me. At the hotel I note that they are on daylight saving time so this is not bad.

June 7, 1931

June 7, 1931

This hotel is about an average one. It has been newly decorated. I haven’t had breakfast yet so I can’t say about the food.

I hope everything is going OK with you and Claudelle & WW.

With love,

Walter.