December 14, 1939

Thursday Night – 12/14

My dear Sweetheart,

Yours of yesterday morning was received a few minutes ago and I telephoned Claudelle. We are so sorry that Lewis Dunbar has chicken pox and you are correct in keeping him at home. He should not get outside in the cold as it might develop into pneumonia. If he stays in he should have no difficulty.

The following are the best addresses I can furnish and I think they will be OK.

December 14, 1939

December 14, 1939

Skipping the names and addresses of friends to receive Christmas cards…

Had a talk with Dr. Annand & later with Mr. Rohner today on my transfer, both of which were quite favorable. Dr. Parker is expected here tomorrow & after a conference on grasshopper research I’ll be ready to go to Orlando & other Fla. stations. I’ll not have time to go to Texas stations until after Xmas, & will return from them to Denver on Jan. 11 & 12th. I am planning to come home about the 24th and will send an arrival letter or a Tourate telegram.

I’ll mail the check to Mother Dove.

I love all three of you lots and lots,

Your,
Walter.

Claudelle has written to you that she is going to Uvalde first but I don’t know when.

December, 1939

This is an organizational chart for the “Screw worm educational and control” project Walter is now working on again. You can click to enlarge it. Screw-worm is a type of myiasis caused by C. hominivorax larvae, for those who’ve just joined us. Note that Bishopp is directing the project overall, while Walter is in charge of all of the control activities. At this point, those activities consist mainly of educating farmers about animal husbandry practices to prevent screw-worm infections in livestock. One other name to note: E.F. Knipling, who is now an assistant entomologist in the research branch of this project. In a few years, he’s going to come up with a truly ingenious strategy for controlling this pest. He’ll also be heavily involved in another project that will later shape Walter’s career.

December, 1939

December, 1939

January 10, 1940

Stationery from the Hotel Shirley-Savoy, Denver, CO – “Home of KLZ.”

Wednesday PM.

My dear Ina & Boys,

The meetings are over and most of the folks have gone home. Strong, Gaddis and some of the state men are here yet. Think Strong will leave tonight. My speech was well received and I have had some good compliments on it from state leaders. Strong says he is pleased. The group gave me a rising vote of thanks for the good work of the last two years and this brought a good statement from Strong. I had requested a return to research and that I was one of the very best research men in the Bureau, that he had asked me to consider carefully. My request was being granted but he had an idea that I was going to find the contrast so great that I would now want more action. He said that should I make such a decision the Bureau would have a control job for me because they had many such projects. State leaders have shown a very appreciative spirit toward me and from one source I am told that a committee will record in a rather permanent way this high point in my career. I imagine a published resolution.

January 10, 1940

January 10, 1940

The meetings have gone as Strong and Gaddis planned them, but there was a very close approach to an explosion from state leaders. The Bureau still spends the money and supervises the work of its agents. It did permit a Committee from State leaders to handle any difficulties arising in any state-Bureau difficulty direct with Strong. This Committee will be authorized to make trips when necessary.

The meeting at Mpls on Monday includes a small group there, and both Gaddis & Wakeland asked me to meet with them before continuing my trip south. They cannot conveniently arrange to attend. Unless something changes it I’ll be home in time to attend that meeting & will then resume my travel toward Texas & the West. If there is a change I’ll wire, otherwise I’ll see you about Saturday.

R.A. is here & he thinks the move to Denver from Salt Lake is OK. Their lease terminates Jan 31st. He has been in Texas on leave and looks fine.

I cannot describe to you the feeling of turning over the throttle of the ‘hopper work. There is no let down feeling but one of duty to my family and my own health. I don’t mind saying that it is not an easy change and that the past two days and night have had me on edge. For the rest of the time here I’ll try to clarify any unfinished items of business, and pass along useful information. I have an appointment with the Chief this afternoon for a little talk on the N.W. situation, and will go over my immediate plans with him.

With love,
Your
Walter.

January 19, 1940

Plain postcard

Jan. 19, 1940.

Am leaving KC by Rock Island for Dallas at 110 PM today and should be at Arlington early tomorrow morning. After taking care of mail forwarded from Denver I expect to drive direct to San Marcos also San Antonio for likely sites. Then I’ll be able to weigh Menard pro & con. This would begin at Uvalde about Tuesday or Wednesday with a day or two with Parman, then Sonora, Menard & Dallas. Believe this a better route if roads OK. Will drive carefully.

Walter.

January 19, 1940

January 19, 1940

February 4, 1940

Stationery from the Amarillo Hotel, Amarillo, TX, “The Panhandle’s Meeting Place Since 1889.”

Sunday Night Feb 4, 1940.

My dear Sweetheart & Boys,

My train got here a few minutes ago and I have just arrived at the hotel, about ten-thirty PM. It is too late to phone any of the office folks though I am sure that Duck or Landrum would come down. I’ll see them tomorrow morning and will spend the day with them, arriving at El Paso Tuesday morning. Will see AK for a few hours & go to Yuma Tuesday night. From there I’ll go to San Francisco to see Frank, then drive or take a bus to Clear Lake to see Lindquist. Will be Clear Lake about a day then north to Portland about one day. Should you write me, the best address would be care Frank Prince, US Public Health Laboratory, San Francisco, or better still in care of his residence. I intend to go into Lundquist’s lab & to Portland without any notice.

February 4, 1940

February 4, 1940

Things are breaking much better in Texas than I had anticipated. After I talked with you I called upon Mr. Parman & gave him the news about moving to Menard. He questioned the wisdom of moving there or of consolidation of the stations and said that he guessed he would quit the Bureau even though he would like to get the program going in that area. I took him to lunch at the Kincaid & then he suggested that we should call on the Chamber of Commerce as a courtesy. The Secy was much concerned about it & thought we should find out how much Uvalde could do. He took us to the airport, Bureau of Fisheries & a new livestock pavilion west on US 90. The city C of C had donated land to all of these & he felt certain that he could give us 49 acres in one tract (which they have leased for 50 years) and that they could buy 6 acres with a 6 room house adjoining the livestock grounds and deed it to us for a building site. They have a good well 300 gals. per min. which will be used by us without charge, electricity available & we could also use the pavillion grounds when not in use by them. Land across the road & adjoining our tract can be rented & he is quite sure at 75¢ per acre. We pay 1.25 at Menard. It looks mighty fine & I think I have some good arguments for the chief. I have a feeling that Uvalde will be the place though I talked the advantages of Menard at Dallas. All of them except Mr. Parish at Menard seem to welcome the idea of Uvalde, even Dr. Laake. Strange to say Laake hopes that I’ll be in charge & that I’ll not be there just to organize but to direct the work. The notice (press) by Strong had prepared all of them for my visit & I received a most cordial reception everywhere. Different ones told me that they were glad & wanted to work with me. Mr. Parman did not say so, but seemed enthusiastic about the C of C offer. I am not worried about his cooperation.

I’ve tried to interest myself in the details of work of different men & how the move would affect them, though it does seem rather tame compared to ‘hopper work.

One thing I want to do here regards the use of an auto giro for tests at Uvalde. Parman & Barnett think we can find strong goats & sheep from the air & were enthusiastic about tests. It is worth trying soon.

Lots of love & hoping to see you before very long.

Your
Walter

Miss Autrey (Mrs. Baker) thinks she would like to go to Uvalde. My guess is that she will find a place at Dallas in a new govt. agency. WED.

February 6, 1940

Stationery from the Sunset Limited, Southern Pacific Railroad.

Tues Nite – En Route to Yuma.

My dear Ina & Boys,

I had a most pleasant day at El Paso with the Pettits and tonight the Trotters came to the train with me. Dinner at the Pettits’ tonight, chicken & all of the trimmings. Visited the irrigation plant this AM & this PM we drove on the River Road above the city.

February 6, 1940

February 6, 1940

Yesterday I had a good day at Amarillo. Attended the USDA Club luncheon at noon where about 250 were present. Was introduced to the club from the speakers table but was not called on for a speech. The weather was hazy & not good for flying so did not go up in the auto-giro or Cub plane but I did visit the storage & shop. Spreirs had me to dinner lats night (steak & all the trimmings including apple pie). Landrum took me out to his house to meet the Mrs & the new baby who is about 3 weeks old. Mrs. Landrum is still in bed & weak but baby has good lungs and a strong vocal apparatus. At both places I was entertained and all seemed very glad to see me. The trouble is that they want to transfer to me. Miss Anderson & I had a cup of coffee Monday afternoon & she wants to go to Menard or Uvalde too. I told her about Polly’s wish & that it looked like Miss Autrey would continue.

Wednesday I’ll be with Mr. Rainwater at Yuma & I expect to see Mr. Schroeder there too. I should be able to see Frank about Friday & Lindquist Saturday. Think I’ll try & call on Prof Harris at Berkeley & also visit the University Exp. Sta. at Davis for a little while.

On my return from Portland I want to stop at Hamilton to see the new Public Health Lab & to see what they are doing. I should get some ideas on construction of the lab at Uvalde. Also I hope to spend a little while at Fargo before reaching Mpls. I know that all of this seems a delay in our moving from Mpls but it is all important.

John thinks that things are moving rather slowly in Denver & that the general supervisors (now called field supervisors) should sit in on the state conferences with Wakeland, RA, Mr. Holton & Mr. Dutton. It seems Messenger is with Townsend at Denver & others are in the field.

With love to all three of you,

Your
Walter.

May 2, 1940

Picture postcard showing the Chicago Campus of Northwestern University, addressed to Walter White.

Your report card from school is very good and we hope that the arithmetic will be on a par with the others for the last half term. Mind Mother and don’t let others tease Lewis D.

Daddy.

May 2, 1940

May 2, 1940

May 3, 1940

Friday AM.

My dear Ina,

I arrived here about 830 this morning and will stay at the Shirley Savoy. My address for personal mail will be Room 455 this hotel. Have not been to the office but am ready to go now. Lots of snow about Chicago but here it seems like summer. Suit & leather coat arrived & look OK. Am feeling first rate & I hope that you and the folks are.

With all my love,
Walter.

May 3, 1940

May 3, 1940

May 5, 1940

Sunday Night.

My dear Ina & Boys,

I missed you very much today. Last night I went to dinner at Mr. & Mrs. Townsend’s, and he doesn’t talk any more than I do. Mrs. Townsend served a nice dinner with roast beef and I enjoyed the dinner and visit. They have a big Persian cat to play with, and she finds it difficult to keep cat hair cleaned from the rug & furniture.

May 5, 1940

May 5, 1940

Friday night I took Polly & a Miss Cagle (one of the girls at the office from Georgia) to eat and we walked out to Polly’s apartment and visited for a couple of hours. I am to eat some of Polly’s cooking Monday night. I think she still likes Mr. Messenger pretty well and I have an idea that I’ll hear more about it later. I think the Bureau has done pretty well by him. He seems to be scrambled and I think he has had more than he could handle. R.A. seems to be feeling fine and seems to have improved some during the past two years. I hope to work pretty close with him so that he can do this work in the future. Beckwall seems to be much more agreeable since she had her operation, and she misses Quarterman too. Dick Thompson is the same and it will be a pleasure to work with him again. His good nature and smile seemed to be the principal asset for a good morale in the office. Wakeland is a sick man and I don’t know whether he will be much help or not. RA says that he insists on being at the office and this means that the three of us will be here.

It is about 60º here during the AM & PM and 84ºF on Friday. Quite a change from the snow at Chicago.

With all my love,
Walter.

May 7, 1940

Tuesday Night.

My dear Ina & All,

Polly is a good cook and I enjoyed her steak dinner & the visit. She wanted to know all about all of you. Later she brought up Mr. Messenger & I think I anticipated her and put her straight without offending her. Poor Dr. Wakeland will never get wise to Messenger’s dual personality, & the dislike that all have for Mr. M (except Polly).

It rained tonight & I went to a movie by myself. “A Million Years BC,” & it was interesting.

With love
Walter.

May 7, 1940

May 7, 1940