An Amanuensis is a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.  My whole blog is dedicated to the transcription of my grandparents’ letters, so I may rightfully call myself an amanuensis. I did some sorting of the letters last Friday. I organized my grandmother’s letters from 1942. I don’t have a definite count as yet as to how many letters there are in total.  On Friday, I opened 107 letters by my grandmother which were written between August and December 1942. I know there are also over 100 V-mail letters written by my grandmother between the years 1942 and 1944. I would estimate that there are at least 500 letters total at this point. Over the next few weeks as I pull out each letter and organize it, I will have a firmer count. I consider myself fortunate that my grandparents had fairly legible penmanship. It makes the task of transcribing their letters even more enjoyable.

Today’s letter was a short one, but it had a lot of genealogical information. Roscoe mentions Jim and Raymond. Jim was Jim Foster, my grandmother Gladys’s brother. As for Raymond, I’m not sure about him yet. Roscoe had a brother Raymond, but he died in 1922. I might just have to wait and see if another letter gives me more clues.  I’m not sure if Raymond is an extended family member or a neighbor from Kentland.

Another genealogical event mentioned in the letter was the anniversary. My grandparents were married on May 25, 1929. The year 1942 was their 13^th anniversary. There was no mention of the anniversary in the letter dated on that day.  Roscoe really did forget.  Hopefully, Gladys was very forgiving for this lapse of memory. I think they had more important things to worry about in 1942.

Letter translation:

Thurs.

Dear Mother-

Just been on duty all night and you possibly will not get a letter as usual. I’m writing this while still on duty.

As yet I haven’t seen any of the boys that are supposed to come from up there – I mean Jim & Raymond. I’m going to write more later on today and get you the low down on things. Just this is 7:00 AM and I can’t think much.

I Really forgot the anniversary but the days are just days no Mon, Tue, etc – And I’ve

(page 2) heard one raid since and that wasn’t news. I’m off at noon today so want to get some more sock & shirts.

For until later,

Daddy

© 2012, copyrighted & written by Deborah Sweeney