Tag Archives: work

May 16, 1927

They’ll be going back to Dallas.

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.

March 24, 1927

Take it or leave it.

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

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

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.

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.

June 13, 1926

Sunday 12:30 PM.

My Dear Honey Bunch,

Your letter including one from Thelma Lee came this morning. It was mighty sweet of her to write. I am marking the date on it and will keep it to show her when she is a young lady. Your letter was a real sweet one, Dear. It seems like a year to me, too.

June 13, 1926

Dr. Roark and I called on the Bakers last night and played cards some but visited most of the time. This noon (1:30) we eat dinner with the Bishopps. At 6 o’clock we are going with Mr. & Mrs. Laake & Mr. & Mrs. Fudge for a picnic lunch. Seems like a lot of going for your hubby. I can’t say that I like it, but there is no way to get away from it without being rude. We will probably enjoy it when we get started. There is just one person in the world whom I’d like to see and that is my Honey Bunch. I never want to be separated from you again. Just as soon as I can get things in shape so that I can leave I expect to come for you. I don’t know whether Bish wants me to help out on their problem or not. He probably does, but I am not interested in it. Will feel him out today.

I love you Sweetheart with all my heart and I’ll see you just as soon as I can.

Always,
Walter.

June 10, 1926

June 10. Thurs Nite – The Lab.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I have just written to Mother Dove and I came very near addressing this letter to Roxie, Miss. That accounts for the erasure on the envelope. I certainly do not like the idea of being separated from my “Honey Bunch.” I haven’t told you how much I miss you, but the past week seems like ages. I didn’t know that a week could seem so long. I realize how much Mother Lewis missed you when we were married.

June 10, 1925

Dr. Roark and I drove to Owenwood and the Fair Park after supper, and then by the post office. Your letter came this AM so I did not expect one tonight, but he had one from Mrs. Roark. I have had lots of visits with him recently. He is somewhat disappointed that Bish did not have the work going. Dr. Roark has been here ten days and Bish has not yet gotten the materials. I told him that he should not blame Laake or Brundy as they would have had things going if it had been left to them.

This PM I printed pictures from 1 to 5 PM. Have been at this during the past three afternoons. Most of them were Mr. Parman’s & many of them were ones that I made down there last summer. The C.E. infection looks more encouraging since the hot weather began. I believe that my physical exercise helped some.*

Friday AM.

Good morning. I hope you slept well. I did. Am waiting for Dr. Roark & we will eat. He and Laake are golfing again this A.M.

I love you lots and lots & lots.

Your
Walter

* To see if his hypothesis about the cause of creeping eruption (larva migrans) was right, Walter tried to give himself a case of it. He inoculated his arm with a pure isolate of the nematode he thought was responsible. In upcoming letters he’ll be talking about the progress of this self-experiment.

December 13, 1925

Sunday A.M.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Your letter telling me that the invitations had been sent out and also one of the invitations has been received. It certainly sounds wonderful to me and I get quite a kick out of it. I feel very enthusiastic over it. It certainly seems wonderful and we are going to be happy.

December 13, 1925

I am going to try and be good to you, Dear, and while I am a poor man, I believe that with your help we will soon be on our feet. With a love such as ours, I feel that we will work together and in a reasonable time will have a nice little home of our own. I know that we are going to be happy.

I had suggested that we go via New Orleans and this seemed to meet with your approval. Since Mr. B is coming to Dallas and will not get there before about Xmas eve, I am thinking that it would be a good idea to go via of Dallas. I do not know how long he will be there, but I want to talk with him a few minutes. If you object, we will not go that way for I feel that you have a right to say what you would like to do. The situation, is that he will have to return to Columbus shortly after Xmas and I probably would not be able to see him. There are a number of things I want to talk to him about, but will take time to discuss only the prospects of an appropriation for work at Marco Island. It seems to be coming along fine & Dr. Howard is showing an active interest.

In the event we went by Dallas we would not try to see friends at that time, but would stop at a hotel. During the day I could go out to the cottage with you and meet Mrs. Goodman. After you have seen the place, and while we are in Mississippi we could decide whether or not we would want to live in the cottage with the Goodmans or whether elsewhere. I want you to have a “say so” and I am leaving it that way so that it will meet with your approval.

I have an idea of coming direct to San Antonio, and then go by Dallas. I hope that this suits you OK, Dear. I cannot leave here before the 18th, and if I go by Dallas I would not see Mr. B and would have very little time there too. By coming direct, I could probably see you Monday night. Then we could go to Dallas together.

I love you with all my heart, Dear,

Your
Walter.

November 21, 1925

The Beach, Sat Night Nov 21

My Dear Sweetheart,

I did not hear today, and no doubt you intend to make me wait a while for a letter. I deserve it, and will have to take my medicine.

November 21, 1925

Did not go any place today and spent most of the time on a report on the Caxambas trip. It will go into hands that I am very particular about and I want it to be in tip top shape.

I love you, Sweetheart, and I hope that you will write to me soon.

Always your
Walter.

P.S. I am enclosing the list. If I think of any names to be added I’ll write them, but I believe I have included all.