Category Archives: Uncategorized

June 18, 1927

Walter and Ina are now living in Dallas, where he works, and Ina has gone to visit her family in Uvalde for a few weeks, so we’re back to near-daily correspondence. Ina’s letters from this period are unfortunately missing.

At Home
Saturday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

This is about the hottest day we have had this summer. Alvis came to the Lab this PM and I visited with him until about 6:30. Bought some food for the cats and then visited with Gringell for about an hour. Mr. Ahern came yesterday to relieve Gringell. Mrs. Gringell leaves tomorrow night for Washington. About the middle or latter part of the week Gringell & Ahern will make a trip by Ford to San Antonio, the Valley, and then to New Orleans. Ahern is about 45 years old and is a very pleasant man. Mr. Laake is yet home in bed. I have not been over to see him but have been posted regularly by Gringell. Bish. had the bandage removed from his eye when he came down today. He had the eye treated this PM and it evidently gave some trouble for he did not come down this P.M. Outside of that things are going as usual.

June 18, 1927

June 18, 1927

Have been out by the Owenwood house a couple of times since you left. It is very difficult matter for me to make up my mind that we should sell it. Suggested to Alvis that he should buy it. They plan to take an apartment for a while. He came over to invite you and I to eat with them tomorrow evening. I declined the invitation, as I want both of us to be there when we accept. I think the invitation will keep OK.

The little letters from Thelma Lee and Reitha were mighty fine. They came this noon, and I exhibited them at the Lab with lots of pride. The photos are good, but I like some of the ones Thelma sent to Baltimore much better. All of them are real sweet and I am mighty proud of my nieces.

Haven’t gotten anywhere with the article, due to frequent interruptions. Will see the Gringells and also Alvis tomorrow morning so I will not get busy with it again until tomorrow PM.

Will close for tonight. Give my love to every one and remember that I love you just lots & lots.

Your
Walter.

June 6, 1927

Western Union telegram:

DALLAS TEX 1216P JUNE 6 1927

MISS CLAUDELLE LEWIS

CARE BOY SCOUT OFFICE UVALDE TEX

ARRIVED LAST NIGHT HAD GOOD TRIP BOTH FEELING FINE

INA

110P

June 6, 1927

June 6, 1927

This is what social network updates used to look like, kids.

June 3, 1927 (Ina to Claudelle)

St. James, MO
Friday night.
June 3, 1927.

Dear Claudelle:

We are having a splendid trip – no trouble of any kind. The roads are fine. We passed through St. Louis at noon today. We decided not to go by Little Rock on account of another rise in the Mississippi. Instead, we are going through Oklahoma. So don’t worry about the floods affecting us. We are far from them now, and will be all the way. We are in the mountains now.

June 3, 1927 (Ina to Claudelle)

June 3, 1927 (Ina to Claudelle)

Lots of love to all of you. Will write again soon.

Waler & Ina.

April 2, 1927

April 2, 1927

April 2, 1927

$3,000 translates to $38,586.95 today. Then as now, working for the government was not a good way to become wealthy. On the other hand, there was the undeniable appeal of working out the life history of goat lice.

February 22, 1927

I have decided not to transcribe the next few work letters, as they’re lengthy and already typed. Instead, I’ll post the scans and simply add a few comments. Click the image to get the full-size version.

February 22, 1927

February 22, 1927

It seems little has changed in research politics.

November 1, 1926

Letter of Authorization
No. 516
Washington, D.C.
November 1, 1926

Mr. W. E. Dove, Collaborator.

Under authority conferred upon me by paragraph 2 of the Fiscal Regulations of the Department, you are hereby authorized to incur expenses as follows, during the fiscal year 1927, in the performance of official duties, under the appropriation: “General expenses, Bureau of Entomology, 1927, Miscellaneous Insects” –

November 1, 1926

November 1, 1926

To make such trips from Baltimore, Md., to Washington, D.C., and return, as may be necessary, for the purpose of conferring with Dr. G. F. White, Insect Pathologist of this Bureau, with reference to investigations of insects affecting the health of animals in which you are both engaged.

To incur necessary traveling expenses.

You will be reimbursed for actual subsistence expenses, not to exceed $7.00 in any one day, while absent from official station and in a travel status.

L.O. Howard
Chief of Bureau

Your official station will be Baltimore, Md.

A second page indicates that the total year’s travel budget for this project is $50, which would be $643.12 in today’s money.

September 23, 1926

The correspondence between Walter and Ina gets more sporadic now, as they’re mostly together. The next few items will be correspondence from Walter’s work, providing a more direct look at what it was like to be a USDA scientist in the early 20th century.

Dr. G.A. White, September 23, 1926, Jacksonville Beach, FL.

Dr. G.A. White, September 23, 1926, Jacksonville Beach, FL.

When this photo was taken, that screened porch was the United States Department of Agriculture’s primary research facility for the entire state of Florida.