May 8, 1930

Thursday A.M.

My dear Sweetheart,

Arrived here yesterday afternoon. Was caught in a rain below Waco. Spent the night at Grande Court. Account of storm thought that I could not do much work at Wortham so returned to Dallas. Found everything OK at the house. Mrs. Chamberlain saw that the tornado killed one of their uncles at Routh. Both Mr. & Mrs. Chamberlain have relatives and friends there. They lived there before coming to Dallas. Mr. Laake is in Menard. Mr. Smith is at the office. Mr. Sommier is chewing and smiling as usual. I am trying to finish the Babcock manuscript before I tackle the thesis paper.

Hope all of you are getting along OK.

With love,

Walter.

May 8, 1930

May 8, 1930

May 9, 1930

May 9. 1PM.

My dear Sweetheart,

Your letter came this morning. It is mighty fine that Walter White is on his good behavior. Hope he keeps up his reputation.

May 9, 1930

May 9, 1930

A letter from Bish suggests that we wait about crating furniture until after he and I make the survey in June. He thinks it will be as late as June 10th before he can meet me down there. It looks like I should go down by train and make the necessary hand shakes and then return for you. I have an idea that he wants the moving expense charged to the sand fly appropriation. The appropriation will not be available until July 1st. So far as he knows it is satisfactory to move during this summer.

I phoned Mrs. Laake last night. She sends her love. Mr. Laake is in Menard. He is expected Sunday morning.

All bills except telephone are in. I am paying all of the Harper interest (132), also 25 to Dr. Harmab.

Am beginning a revision of the A.B. paper for Hopkins. Gave the Babcock MS to Mr. Smith yesterday.

I pulled dandy lions from the lawn last night. The back yard and driveway also need attention. The Bermuda grass is growing nicely and the Euonymous twigs in the new transplanted places look OK. The house is OK.

All of us send love to all of you. We hope you sleep well. We miss you.

With love,
Walter.

May 12, 1930

Monday Noon.

My dear Sweetheart,

Last night I received two letters. We did not get the mail Sat PM nor Sun. AM so both were in the box when I went down last night. I spent a long day yesterday. Did not work on the manuscript. I painted the woodwork in the kitchen and breakfast room. I followed suggestions about using yellow to tone down the green, but when the paint (satin finish like that used in the bath room) dried it was quite dark. It seems to harmonize with everything but it makes the kitchen a little darker. I have a small can of floor paint for the back porch. I want to get the porch painted in a few days. Mr. Somnier says he will come out and help fix the steps, gate, garage door and replace some missing shingles on the roof. I want to get the hammer knocking and paint odors fixed up before you and Walter White return.

May 12, 1930

May 12, 1930

Does Claudelle mean that she will make some more drawings when she returns to Dallas or should I send some material for her to work with at Parman’s lab? Think it would be better to do them here if she has time. Mr. Roberts has some drawings to be made, too, but his paper is not as urgent as Babcock’s.

I am proud of the behavior of Walter White. Hope he is as good when you do not have company, especially during the night. I certainly miss both of you and Claudelle.

With love from

Your
Walter.

May 14, 1930

Walter’s next assignment will be studying the sand flies (Culicoides spp.) that are major pests in the coastal areas of the Southeast. He and Ina are figuring out the logistics for their pending move to either South Carolina or Georgia.

Wednesday A.M. 5/14

My dear Sweetheart,

It is difficult to tell you just what we should do. As much as I dislike the idea of being separated from you and Walter White, I am in favor of making it as comfortable for both of you as possible. I do not like the idea of leaving you in Dallas while I am in the Southeastern states. You could have everything delivered but you would be alone at night. I could get Mr. Somnier to let his oldest boy stay out there but it would be a responsibility to look after him. I think Mrs. Bucklin would be glad to stay with you but she would get on your nerves. Mrs. Chamberlain would be a lot of company and congenial.

May 14, 1930

May 14, 1930

If you wanted to stay in Uvalde until I get things located in the S.E. states it would be too much of an imposition on Daddy and Mother Lewis. They are going to have some anxiety over Thelma. They are going to have some visitors from Mississippi in June.

I am not sure but that it would be wise for me to come for you as we had planned. Then we could bring Claudelle and Daddy Lewis back with us. This would save Claudelle a little on her travel to Oklahoma. Then when you and I drive to Charleston or Savannah we could stop with Ethel for a little visit, also at my home if you care to. What do you think?

If you let me know just what you would like to do I’ll try to see it your way.

This PM Mr. Somnier is going out to our house with me to fix back steps, roof, gate, and paint the gables of the house. Will also paint front of garage.

With lots of love,
Walter.

May 15, 1930

Walter’s current project is figuring out the etiology of endemic typhus (Rickettsia typhi). He suspects – correctly, it turns out – that rat mites are vectoring the pathogen.

Thursday PM.

My dear Sweetheart,

Your letter and the pictures came this noon. The pictures are very good and I am mighty glad to see them. Will keep them for the Baby Book. Walter White seems to be holding his own with so many new people.

May 15, 1930

May 15, 1930

I am enclosing a letter which was received from Mother today. Uncle Henry lost the little boy we saw at Sibley, La. I’ll write to him and to Mother tonight.

Yesterday Dr. Bedford brought his addition to the manuscript. It is very good for a rough draft but there is some duplication of information. This noon I had lunch with him at the Athletic Club. We plan to go to Longview and nearby places next Thursday PM. They have had quite a few cases of typhus. We want to determine whether or not rat mites are present. He wants to test samples of blood for typhus reactions (Weil-Felix test).

Mr. Somnier painted the gables of the house and the front of the garage. Today he is mowing the lawn and cutting the weeds in the back yard. The place is changing quite a bit. Perhaps this will be an added inducement to get the Mrs. to return to her husband.

With all my love, I am

Your Walter.

May 18, 1930

Sunday PM.

My dear Sweetheart,

It is almost 7 o’clock. I have just returned from the Laakes’. We had a fried chicken dinner which was up to the standard of Mrs. Laake’s dinners. The Gearys (3) and (“L O D”) Miss Palliet were there. I exhibited the Kodak pictures with much pride. I spent part of the morning in touching up the front door facings with ivory paint. I expect to go home and get something accomplished on the thesis msc. Smithie is typing the Shelmire paper. The latter will have additions when we return from Longview & neighboring towns. We plan to leave next Thursday noon. It will probably be Sunday night when we return to Dallas.

May 18, 1930

May 18, 1930

I want you to do as you think best, about staying longer in Uvalde. I am anxious to see you and Walter White and I want to be with you some before going to Charleston. It might be wise to drive to Uvalde and leave the car until I return. On the other hand it might be better for you and Walter White if you made the trip by train to Charleston. I dread the drive for you two. Perhaps “Jimmie” can drive the car through for us, that is, if we can get his appointment through. Things are rather indefinite and will remain so until about July 1st. How would it be for me to drive to Uvalde about the 1st and leave the car there. When I return from Charleston, you will want to come to Dallas, won’t you? If not, I could have everything packed now and placed in storage. We could rent the place. It depends upon how you feel about it.

With love to all and with lots and lots for yourself & Walter White,

Always your
Walter.

May 20, 1930

May 20, 1930-

My dear Honey Bird,

Your letter came this Noon. I had begun to think that perhaps Walter White was not well and that you did not care to tell me. Had I not heard from you today I intended to phone you tonight.

May 20, 1930

May 20, 1930

I am sending Claudelle part of my thesis for copying. If she is busy with the new company or fixing dresses for herself or anything, do not let her bother about the copy. If she does copy it I’d appreciate any changes she may make which will improve the English or add to the clearness of thought.

Today has been a hot day. It looks like we might have a little dry weather for a change.

The house looks just fine. The hedge is planted along the west side, but of course it is very small. It extends from the corner of the fence to the side-walk.

I saw the little Chamberlain girl on her porch this AM. I think they were away Sat PM & Sunday. They are so quiet over there that I can’t tell when they are at home.

Hon about Walter White’s “Double Sugar” Dextrose-Maltose? Does he need another can now or should I bring it with me about the first of the month? I’d like to see you now but I can’t start any new work at Uvalde. Besides I have more than I can do here. The trip to Longview & vicinity will probably add more to my lot. Then the Shelmire paper will need the attention of both he and I.

I love you Sweetheart and it seems like an awful long time since I saw you and Walter White.

With love,
Walter.

May 22, 1930

Thursday AM May 22

My dear Sweetheart,

I have things ready for the little trip to Longview and neighboring towns. Shelmire is to call for me at one o’clock. We are going in his Ford. I cannot tell just how long we will be away but he works rather fast and we may be back before Sunday. It depends upon how easy it is to locate the typhus patients.

May 22, 1930

May 22, 1930

Everything is going very well. Last night I painted the floor of the front porch, a light gray. It was dry this morning.

Am yet working on the last section of the thesis msc. Also I expect to write a recap of the whole C.E. problem. It is gradually assuming final form. Have photographed drawings made by Claudelle and Jimmy but have not printed them. Also made plates of [illegible] due to pure cultures of two species.

Mr. Laake said that Mrs. Laake had a letter from you. Thanks.

Will take this to the post office this noon. Trust that I’ll have a letter from you before I leave.

I am pretty anxious to see our family. I know that Walter White is changing. From one meal to another I imagine that I can see changes in him. He is getting pretty heavy to handle. If I were you I would not handle him any more than necessary. He will tire you.

The neighbors went to Frost last Sunday. On account of mud they had to leave their car. He went for it yesterday. The high water down there makes my trip on sand flies out of the question. Guess they were washed away with floods. I doubt if I go down there.

I love you Honey and I am anxious to see you and Walter White.

Always
Walter.

P.S. Your letter received this noon. Please extend our congratulations to Bob & Thelma. Am glad that Thelma did so nicely.

WED

May 23, 1930

Letterhead from “North Louisiana Hotel Co., Inc. – New and Fireproof – Gregg Hotel, Longview, Texas”

Friday night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

We have been making good time and the results are quite good. We left Dallas at noon yesterday, arrived Gilmore about 5:30 PM. Saw the two physicians, arranged for samples of blood of patients and for trapping rats, then came here for the night. This morning we did the same routine here and drove to Henderson. Got two blood samples, histories of cases, a rat and some rat nests there and returned here for another night. Tomorrow we pick up catches of rats and blood samples here and at Gilmore and will return to Dallas tomorrow night. We are finding more cases of suspected typhus than we dreamed of. About 100 cases at Longview alone during the past three years. We get a report of the seasonal incidence of all these tomorrow A.M. It seems that we left Dallas several days ago – things moved so quickly. Cooperation has been splendid.

May 23, 1930

May 23, 1930

The cases are old cases, except 2 at Gilmore but they give us some good dope. It may be pretty hard to quit for the Carolina work.

I love you Sweetheart, Walter White too, and I am anxious to see you. Hope to have a letter when I get back.

Walter.

Hope Thelma is getting along OK.

May 25, 1930 (Noon)

Sunday Noon.

My dear Sweetheart,

We returned about five o’clock yesterday PM. Mrs. Laake had invited me to eat dinner with them. Mr. & Mrs. Chandler were there also. It was another chicken dinner and it was just fine. I didn’t enjoy the cards one bit. Spent the night with the Laakes and had breakfast over there this A.M. Had some rats and parasites that needed attention so I came back to the lab. Shelmire and his son (JB) came about 11 o’clock and stayed for a while. One of the rats bit his finger.

May 25, 1930 (Noon)

May 25, 1930 (Noon)

I am going to stop at a restaurant for dinner and then go home. This AM I forwarded a letter from Mrs. Crowley of Nome. Had one from Miller. He is going to Kuskokwim this summer on a range survey.

It was a joy to find your letter when I returned. Will send the Dextrose-Maltose tomorrow. I think a smaller can is OK since there is very little saving in buying the large size.

Hope the company did not give you more to do. You have your hands full with Walter White. I certainly miss you two. I am mighty anxious to see you.

With love

Your
Walter.