Category Archives: Uncategorized

March 31, 1931

This is a letter to Ina from Anna Laake, wife of one of Walter’s colleagues in Texas. From the address on the envelope, we learn that Walter and Ina were living at 10 Elmwood Ave., Charleston, SC.

Dallas, Texas
3-31-’31

Dear Mrs. Dove and family:

I have thought of you dear people so often and wondered how you were and what you are doing and after seeing Dr. Dove’s name in the paper to-nite I could not resist writing and enclosing the item.

March 31, 1931

Ina I received your letter and also Claudelle’s card which I enjoyed. I know you two are happy to be together again. And so you have found the old town more interesting with Claudelle’s help. I know you must be busy with your house full and I am certain that Walter White is receiving his full share of attention from “all.”

The weather has been just beautiful until the last week and we have had two bad freezes that have ruined many flowers and fruit.

Ernest visited me, arriving Friday evening March 20 – and left Tuesday March 24. He was just out of the hospital, having had a pretty bad case of flu. He came by auto and made it in two days – fortunately the weather was good during the trip and while he was here. He went back by train. I received a letter yesterday saying he was O.K.

You remember Mrs. Parish of Menard? Well the baby arrived O.K. about a month ago. They are so pleased with “him.” Ernest had Mr. Parish to come here while he was in Dallas. Ernest was so busy I saw very little of him while he was here. I can hardly realize he was here.

With very best regards to every one and a big hug for Walter White. I am

Sincerely,

Anna.

March 23, 1931

Though he had to miss Christmas with his family at the end of 1930, Walter’s work on the transmission of endemic typhus went well, and he and his colleagues started preparing their data for publication. I believe he brought Ina and young Walter White to live with him in Charleston, SC sometime after New Year’s. Meanwhile, Walter took out a loan from the Veterans’ Administration. The VA was apparently getting a lot of loan requests around then. Even with a steady job, the Great Depression was a tough time.

March 23, 1931

December 25, 1930

Dec. 25 – 10:30 P.M.

My dear Sweetheart,

I am enclosing some Xmas cards. I had breakfast with Mrs. Laake. Took temperatures of pigs until 1 PM, then had dinner with the Shelmires. This afternoon we made some blood transfers to new pigs. Tonight I checked temperatures on the whole lot. Our mite bitten pigs are not running high temperatures but they do run fever. The fever is consistent so far. We are very anxious for results on the transfer pigs. In the latter we would like to see swellings & be able to get tissue for demonstration of the Rickettsia.

December 25, 1930

This evening was a dull one for me. Also last night. This evening I went by the movie on Grand Ave. I can’t tell you much about the show. I was thinking typhus and guinea pigs.

Last night the phone rang a number of times but I was determined that I was not going anywhere to see a Xmas tree and kiddies. Since the phone started to ringing before 8 PM I knew that you were not phoning. Today I found that it was Mrs. Bedford Shelmire. She wanted me to be sure and come out for dinner today. Mrs. Geary and Mrs. Shelmire had mentioned the trees, and I was determined that I would not see their trees last night.

I am getting all of the male guinea pigs I can find. Mr. Somier is going to help the cause by bringing one from his house tomorrow. We want to make the injections as soon as possible, and just as soon as we get swellings and can autopsy, I’ll get on my way to Uvalde. I am getting mighty anxious to see you and W W & the folks.

With all my love, Sweetheart, I am

Your
Walter.

P.S. Bish wants to read our paper on rat mites & typhus at Cleveland. If we get sufficient evidence on transmissions we may wire him to announce it for us. We would like to have an exhibit & paper for the Southern Clinic at Dallas on March 31 to April 2. We will see how it comes along.

W.E.D.

December 24, 1930

Dec. 24th – 8PM.

My dear Sweetheart,

I am mighty sorry that I cannot be in Uvalde tonight. I can imagine that W.W. will get quite a thrill out of his first Xmas. I don’t know whether I made it clear just why I couldn’t come or not.

December 24, 1930

The pigs which fed the infected mites have been showing low degrees of temperatures and no swellings. We are transferring the infections to new pigs for swellings and localization of Rickettsia so that they can be demonstrated. Of three pigs receiving blood last night, two are already running higher temperatures than any of the others. I am anxiously awaiting these developments. I feel that we have the dope, but we want to nail it for all time. I haven’t phoned Shelmire of these developments. He will be over tomorrow A.M. for more transfers and I’ll spring it then. He has been pretty blue. We have nine animals on which infected mites fed and six which received injections of infected mites. This does not count the tests made with an animal which proved to be an uninfected pig.

We cannot get as many pigs as we need at present. We have been promised a bunch on the day after Xmas. These will be about right for our more recent infections. It will take a few days for them to develop symptoms. It looks like it may be near the 1st before I can get there. I want to come as soon as possible. I think we should leave before it is time for Mother and Daddy Lewis to move. Have you said anything to them about Claudelle returning with us? Have you talked to Claudelle about it? She would be a lot of company for you. I could give her some stenographic work to do, and her living expenses would not cost her anything. I think it would be nice for all of us (Claudelle, you and I) if she returned with us. If she goes it will be necessary for us to ship some of the things but that would not amount to very much.

I certainly do love you Honey, and I am mighty sorry that I cannot be there for tonight and tomorrow. With all my love, and looking forward to seeing you, I am,

Your
Walter.

December 19, 1930

Friday PM.

My dear Sweetheart,

Yours of Wed. nite came this noon. The letter from Mother and the announcement of Evalyn’s marriage were enclosed. I do not know who her sparring partner is, but I’ll gamble that Mendelsohn’s Wedding March is the battle march. Mott is a very small place. She will be tired of it within two weeks. I hope that they will get along.

December 19, 1930

I sent a check for Mother and Revah. Also sent Mr. Laake a can of P.A. I’ll get something for Mrs. L. though I haven’t any idea of what to get. Thought a record or two might be OK for Claudelle, a box of candy for Thelma, a box of candy for Mother Lewis (the 5# boxes like those we got before). I’ll bring the clock for Reitha & Thelma Lee, a shirt for Daddy Lewis, handkerchiefs or tie or sox for Bob. Think we should give WW a deposit to his % [?].

C.G. Huff’s address is Dept. of Bacteriology and Hygiene, University of Chicago.

Mr. Parrish is going home tomorrow. He has to make a round of traps etc. He will be back during Jan. for about a month. He is just fine.

I haven’t any idea when I can get away. My pigs are not performing as well as one could hope. But it always happens this way during some stages of experimental work. “Facts are stubborn things.”

I certainly love you Honey and I am anxious to see you and W.W. & the folks at Uvalde. Will be glad when I can see you.

I hope you sleep good.

Your,
Walter.

December 18, 1930

Dec. 18 – 1930.

My dear Sweetheart,

I am enclosing your list of names for Xmas cards. I tried to supply addresses. Pardon my delay in returning the list and also no letters during the past two days.

December 18, 1930

Last night and the night before Dr. Shelmire came by and took me to their home for dinners. We came back to the lab at night. Our first series of feeding tests did not get us anywhere. The animal used for infecting mites apparently did not carry the infection. We are feeding two other species from new inoculations. The suspense is great. Some of the new animals received infected mites 3 days ago, others last night, and still others are to get theirs tonight and tomorrow night. We are allowing different intervals of time for development of organisms in the mites.

Yesterday I made application with the Southland Mortgage Co. for a lien to replace the one held by Mr. Harper. Also, I paid the city taxes (no penalty). Under the new scheme we would pay 10.60 per month on each $1000 loan with options of paying $500 at any time. The rate is 8% on the unpaid balance. Statements are sent by them every six months. There is no brokerage fee but the renewal with them will cost about $55. This covers guaranty policy, recording fees etc. We would not have another renewal of the lien.

I happened to mention it to Mr. Bruce. He said that he and Mrs. Bruce had some small loans maturing and that he thought they might be interested in making us the loan at 7%. He went home last night and I should hear from him Monday. I told him that you might feel that we were taking advantage of their friendship. He said that it was a business proposition as he could get only 6% in Kansas. If we let them have the loan it would probably mean another renewal as soon as they get a permanent location, one or two years. I don’t know how you feel about it.

I am enclosing cards from the Cushings and Mrs. Miller. I read them. Hope this is OK. Your letter of Tuesday came a few min. ago. I am glad to know that my family is OK.

Dr. Shelmire just left. He came out to be here with me when we inoculated some more pigs. In a few min. I am going to Oak Cliff for more mites. We want to have a colony going indefinitely with pigs. We want to try to carry the infection along by introducing new pigs to infected mites. Mr. Sommier is making the housing quarters for the mites.

I love you Honey and I certainly miss you. The Shelmire baby made me mighty homesick for you and W.W. “Wo” talks a little but I don’t savvy his language. He walks about 10 to 12 steps. The Shelmires have to be very careful about making a fuss over Wo when little Bedford is around. The dinners out there were very nice, and they were very hospitable. Mrs. Shelmire wants to meet you and W.W.

With all my love,

Your
Walter.

December 13, 1930

Saturday Night.

My dear Sweetheart & Buddy,

Yours of Friday AM came this noon. I note that Daddy Lewis is up to his old tricks yet. The trade sounds like a good one. From what you tell me of the location it seems OK. It should be close enough to the High School, in case the apartments are not rented to year-around residents. If three apartments are rented now, the chances are pretty good.

December 13, 1930

We have not yet had our lien fixed up. I am figuring with a loan man for the Savings Bank of Detroit. His proposition is a 10 year pay at the rate of $12.50 per month on each thousand. This includes prin and interest and there are no other renewal charges. There is a brokerage fee. At this rate our house would almost pay out from the rent. This would seem to be OK if we made a trade for something else or if we sold. I am investingating other propositions. I think I have time enough to do so.

My first series of experiments are not yet giving results. I fed the mites on a pig about the time the fever was subsiding. Since then I used another animal just about the time he came down with fever. Tonight I am feeding a third lot on an animal just beginning the fever. This will make three series of experiments, two of which should give transmissions. The first lot may come through. For they sometimes go about 12 days before they come down. I am pushing it all I can for I am anxious to complete the work.

Jimmie writes that there is no hurry about returning but that he misses us. Says Mr. Hall makes it pretty embarassing at times. Bruce says that Hall is running true to form. Looks like another Abbott in some ways. Hope we can find out about him before it is time for his wife to return. I have a lot of sympathy for her, but that does not make the lab work go as it should.

With lots of love, Honey, I am

Your
Walter.

December 11, 1930

Dec. 11, 1930 5 PM.

My dear Sweetheart,

Your letter came last night. I hope you received my check in the next letter. I neglected to enclose it. Had a letter from Mother today. She thought it was nice that W.W. and you could come and visit at Uvalde while I am here.

December 11, 1930

Night before last I took Mrs. Laake to dinner and to a movie. She had me eat breakfast with her yesterday morning.

Mr. Wells is leaving tomorrow morning for grub work in Colorado. Dr. Stochick went out there several days ago.

Dr. Bedford just returned from Paris this PM. He gave a talk on endemic typhus last night.

Am sorry that I did not include the spring with W.W.’s swing. Guess I overlooked it in packing.

The pigs are not all normal but the symptoms are not yet exciting. I hope they will hurry up and get sick because I want to see my family. Love and lots of it,

Walter.

December 8, 1930

Box 208 – Monday Night.

My dear Sweetheart,

Yours of Saturday AM was received this AM. It is fine that W.W. is getting along OK. Hope he keeps up the good work.

Today Shelmire brought another infected pig by for the mites. Have just finished feeding the mites on this animal. The latter animal is in the early stages of the disease and should have more organisms in the blood stream. Animals inoculated from the other pig, which was convalescing, have not yet shown symptoms. It is a little early. This is the end of the 4th day for them.

December 8, 1930

This PM I called on the Southland re: the first lien. They are not in position to handle any more, but he sent me to another insurance Co. They are investingating and will let me know right away. They had not made any loans in Owenwood and were going out to take a look. More about this later.

I am enclosing a letter received from Dr. White. It runs true to form.

With lots of love, I am

Your
Walter.

December 7, 1930

Sunday PM.

My dear Sweetheart,

Yesterday I sealed your letter before I enclosed the check. I am enclosing it today.

I spent this afternoon and evening in feeding mites on an uninfected pig. Some of them are dropping now. Am trying [females] and newly hatched larvae. If my pigs keep increasing I’ll have experimental animals in nearly every room of the lab. The ones receiving crushed mites, blood etc. by needle are kept away from those receiving living mites. It is getting so I’ll spend most of my time taking temperatures and watching for symptoms.

December 7, 1930

I haven’t seen Mrs. Laake for a couple of days. I get there either before she gets home or after she has retired and I leave without seeing her the next morning. I should have invited her to dinner today, but I was not sure when I could leave the pigs. I ate breakfast with Bruce, Wells and Parish. Also ate lunch with Wells. I’ll get dinner when I go to post this letter.

Shelmire and I saw a pretty case of typhus yesterday at St. Paul’s. He was a Mexican who runs a grocery store. The history is practically the same as the other cases at Henderson and Longview.

I hope you are enjoying your visit and that W.W. is not giving you too much trouble. I certainly miss both of you and I am looking forward to seeing you as soon as I can “round out” my work.

I love you Honey. You too Buddy, and I hope you sleep good.

Your
Walter.

P.S. Got pants from Kahns OK.