Tag Archives: Indiana University at Bloomington

Shirley’s Grandmother

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – handwritten by David]
Wed. Mar. 13, 1963

Dear David –

I am at my desk today trying to get a few things done that have accumulated in the past 9 days. Shirley’s grandmother passed away Sat. a.m. Mark had come Friday night to help with the children. He took Becky to Indpls. Sun. a.m. after I went to Sunday school (I didn’t stay for church, so he could get on his way). I kept Kirk and they came back yesterday afternoon to get him. Shirley was getting a sore throat, etc., so they stopped at the office for a shot of penicillin. I hope it stopped her ailment. She was probably tired from helping with her grandmother’s care. They plan to come the weekend of Apr. 5 which will be before your spring vacation begins. We have taxes to finish before the middle of April so thought they had better come the 5^th. You won’t know Kirk. He is growing very fast and is quite an “eater.” Whereas Becky didn’t always want to eat when 4 hours toll around Kirk is ready for his food and no monkey business. It seems a little quiet around here today after having company for more than a week. I will go to the office today – I had a vacation from that while the children were here.

Dad was on emergency duty yesterday and was in the hospital most of the day and after coming home for three hours went back to help on bone surgery until nearly midnight. He took care of three accident patients – two of the three requiring bone surgery.

[page 2] The DePauw Choir will be in Kentland for a performance tomorrow evening. I was asked to buy tickets but I think I won’t make the effort to go. The Tri Kappas are sponsoring the event and since I don’t belong to said organization feel no obligation to go.

I have much work awaiting me on my desk so should get this finished.

I bought a new Bible Dictionary thru the Bookshelf. It is the first good one I have had. It has a lot of interesting information in it. I used one of the circulars that had come to you to order. J. Kain wanted a commentary, so got that also besides the dictionary.

The weather today is about as uninteresting as possible, but at least we are rid of the snow and ice and Dad says he can see a little green showing on the roses. We thought the roses were probably killed, due to the severe winter.

I put a $2.00 dividend check from GM in your account.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/11/03/shirleys-grandmother/

I.U. Program

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – handwritten by David]
Friday, Feb. 15, 1963

Dear David,

Yours received. We tried to get your I.U. program but last Sunday evening I.U. in our area wasn’t good and we couldn’t get Indianapolis. We did get the sound and heard – I.U. panel and then we heard your name and that you were going into the ministry and that was all we could get. The picture was non-existent. Someone told me if we had traveled as far south as Raub or Earl Park we could have gotten the program. Better luck next time.

Glad to know you like your new subjects. I wouldn’t mind taking the Old Testament course and the one on the Reformation. I was asked to have a study class and decided since we are about finished with the study of Acts in Sunday school and have it fresh in my mind would use it. We meet on Wed. mornings at the church from 9:30 to 11:00. We had our first meeting this week and four came but with the roads so hazardous I could excuse some for not coming. Maybe the attendance will pick up when the weather moderates. We are still having 0 and sub 0 here. We can only use the west side of the driveway. There was more snow and wind and there was a drift across the east side of the driveway that looked as high as a car (almost). I had to take food to the church yesterday for the smorgasbord, so Dad furnished my transportation. I had been to Ambia Thursday a.m. to give a program for W.S.C.S. I showed the Indonesian and Thai pictures and talked about Ford Foundation – plus a few other things. Marge Janssen took a group of ladies from Raub and I rode with her to Ambia.

Financially the smorgasbord was a success last nite. Since I was ticket chairman I took charge of the money and banked $500.00 this morning. There was $120.54 in expenses so we realized a $380.00 profit. I said I wouldn’t be in charge of tickets again but I didn’t say why. I hope this time next year we will be enjoying a sunny clime on the other side of the world. Don’t worry about the mode of transportation we choose. Neither of us fear going by air and I am sure we will travel if not all the way by jet, at least half way.

Thru my prodding the repair work on the dining room wall in the church is about to begin. The Board decided to use paneling on the lower half of the wall. We are to entertain the District Woman’s Society meeting in March. I tried to get some painting done in the vestibules, but I doubt if that is done by March. I am not the only one who thinks we should have the church looking its best by the time we have guests from all over the district.

I have a notarized statement as to my birth, in lieu of a birth certificate, but we are having to furnish proof of Dad’s birth thru documents like Navy discharge and application for an

[page 2] insurance policy in 1923. We have to send photo copies of those papers to the Board of Health to get what is called a Delayed Record of Birth. He has to have that to apply for a passport.

Let me know when you plan to come home. I want to tell Rev. Fields. He will have to have a called meeting of the Board for you.

Luck with your date.
Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/11/02/i-u-program/

5 Below

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – handwritten by David]
Monday January 28, 1963

Dear David:

It is 10 below here this morning at 10 o’clock. According to the Chicago forecast I think it was to reach a 5 below, but I didn’t think they really meant it would get that cold. The schools are still not open – due to drifted country roads the school buses aren’t running. From what I can hear from parents, most of them are ready for the school to reopen.

We still haven’t decided definitely how we will travel. I talked to L. Kresler two weeks ago about a conducted tour, but the more we think about it the more we think we wouldn’t get much rest and one of the reasons we want to take a two or three months vacations is to get away from work and hurrying around. I think those conducted tours have too many time schedules to meet.

I was very glad about your grad report. From the difficulty you were having with the two courses, I am glad you didn’t flunk, but of course, I am expecting much better from you next semester, or I should say the present semester.

John’s address is
Dr. John Yegerlehner
FAK KIP
Djalan Semarang
Malang (Djatim)
Indonesia

We liked the little cartoon you enclosed in your letter.

I have deposited $225.00 to your account. I also like your sense of humor about GM & INR. Of course when GM goes up, your four shares increase in value also.

I think we had about the smallest attendance at Sunday school and Church yesterday we have had this winter. Of course, some people couldn’t get out because of the drifted snow. Bill Williams has been keeping our driveway and the street here cleared with his earth moving machine.

I hate to think of going out, but since all my errand runners are gone, I will have to brave the cold myself.

If you have a preference as to which weekend you would rather come home for that Official Board meeting, let me know.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/11/01/5-below/

Snow Drifts

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

January 24, 1963

Dear David:

Right now it is a chilly 13 below just outside our window. It did get down to 16 below just before we went to bed last nite. My car got stuck in the driveway yesterday, so when Dad came home from the office he was able to get it out and into the garage where it is going to sit today. Bill Williams (next door) has a large earth moving machine he has been running up and down this street and cleaning out driveways. The wind blew all day yesterday so the driveway kept getting full of drifts and when I tried to get out just before 5 o’clock got stuck in one of those drifts. According to all the weather men this is the coldest we have had in a number of years.

I talked to Rev. Fields about you and Quarterly Conference. He said it wouldn’t be necessary for you to come then, but some Sunday when you could be home, he would call a special Board Meeting after Church and take care of the matter. I will let you know when you need to come.

Bill Corbin went to Mrs. Shoaf’s yesterday and got your shirts. I have them all packed and ready to go. I want to talk to him about how he plans to get our package from the train station to the Quad. I think he shouldn’t try to carry it all that distance. I thanked him for running the errand for me, but you might thank him again.

I was supposed to attend a meeting (Legislative Seminar) in Indianapolis this week (Tuesday), but Dad thought it wasn’t necessary for me to go and the more I thought about it the more I agreed with him, and I certainly was glad I didn’t go. The weather was rather disagreeable that day and I was glad I had stayed home. Since we are planning such a large vacation next Jan. and Feb. I intend to save all the unnecessary trips this year possible.

I finally got the taxes (Federal) finished. That is such a large job. When Mark was here we didn’t have time to finish, but next year I hope Mark will be able to take care of the entire job himself. He plans to come the first weekend in February to do book work. The weekend of Feb. 22 (Washington’s Birthday) Mark gets a long weekend, so they plan to go see Shirley’s family. I don’t know whether they will stop here or not, but they will have been here Feb. 2 & 3. I forgot to tell you Quarterly Conference here at our Church will be March 18^th, which you can see will be on a Monday and not a day you would be out of school.

Take care of yourself and take your vitamins.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/10/31/snow-drifts/

About to Vanish

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

1-17-63

Dear David:

Your card came today. Sorry you won’t get to come home, but you should know more about your time schedule that I do. It is about time for Dad to come for lunch. He was in the hospital all day yesterday and all night last night. He didn’t even get a chance to change his shirt this morning. Pat Unger Murphy has a son (one that Dad delivered yesterday).

Mark and family came Friday evening and stayed until Sunday afternoon. Becky ran into the hearth and got a goose egg on her forehead, but we put ice packs on it and the next day it didn’t look so bad. She howled for awhile, but as soon as we let her up from the ice packs she made a quick recovery and was running and playing as usual. Kirk is growing so fast, it doesn’t seem possible. He is still very good and sleeps most of the time, but when he wants his food he lets out quite a noise.

We received a letter from Lea yesterday and at long last, she is going to have a baby. She said she is due in August. I know she is probably as happy as a person can be about anything. I will have to start collecting things for the new one.

The Company that is to replace our window is supposed to do the work this afternoon. I am glad the temperature is up a little. I would hate to have that sort of thing going on in sub zero weather.

We brought some Minnesota Mining last week and it has been going up. However, yesterday there was a dip in the market and MM went down a little, but it is still over what we paid for it. We bought it as 57 7/8 and it closed yesterday at 59 3/8. It did go up over 60 one day.

Kentland Bank is having a stockholders meeting Saturday afternoon and a dinner Saturday evening. Dad said he wouldn’t get to attend the meeting, but we plan to attend the dinner. Did we tell you the Bank stock is going to split? We have 50 shares now and after the split we will have 62½. Since John has the same amount, we will either buy his ½ share or sell him ours. I rather think we will buy his.

I plan (weather permitting) to go to Lafayette Monday to see a tax consultant. Mark and I worked on taxes while he was here over the weekend, but he is just learning and I decided I would like to have an expert check our figures. There is a legislative seminar (sponsored by Council of Churches of Indiana) and I was supposed to attend, but decided not to. The Seminar is next Tuesday the 22^nd and since I have an appointment in Lafayette on Monday, I decided that would be too much driving for me.

I talked to Miss Kresler Monday night about arranging our trip. We decided since she is a professional guide – she conducts tours every summer and has for 20 years – except during the war – we couldn’t find anyone who could better advise us. I took some of the literature along that I have accumulated since we have been planning our trip. She pointed out some things she thought we wouldn’t like in the literature we have. If we decide to take the trip she sells, it will be entirely by jet, but I think we will see much more that way. Once of the places included on the Olson Tour is Athens. The Olson Tour also includes the Holy Land and I want to see the Parthenon. She toured in Asia last summer, visiting Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and a few other places. Dad told Dr. K. yesterday that we are planning to be away next Jan. & Feb. He didn’t tell him any more than that. Miss Kresler told me that she is conducting a tour of Europe next summer and that Dr. & Mrs. Kresler and children, the Battons and another family are going on the tour with her.

I was going to give you the candy that was left over from Christmas, but discovered after you left that it was still in the refrigerator, so when Mark and Shirley left Sunday I gave them a box of Fanny May and opened the box of Snappers for us, so the only Christmas candy that is left is what came from South Africa and it is about to vanish.

—Dad has been home and we have had lunch. He had to make two house calls in Sheldon and is there now. The people who were supposed to replace the window haven’t come and since it is past 2 o’clock I doubt if they get here today. – I just answered the door and it was the glass people. They are now tearing out the broken window.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/10/30/about-to-vanish/

New Window

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 Postmark Jan. 9, 1963 – handwritten by David]

Dear David –

It doesn’t seem possible this can be Jan. 8, but here we are. Dad is having to spend most of the day – or the morning at least in the hospital. He has been getting a few evening at home however. He brought the drawers, from the cabinet where we keep the change box out to the house and after a sanding and varnish job they book like the rest of the drawers Kitterman put in. He also hung a door in front of the safe. Someone backed into our aluminum railing and bent it out of shape, and broke the base of the post on the north side – the post that rested on the bottom step. Dad had just secured the thing at the top, now we have to have one new post put in. We have no idea who caused the damage but, they had to be “away out” to manage to bank into it.

We are to get a new window put in a week from Thursday. The Insurance adjustor told Doris Wilson he could get it installed by a firm in Lafayette for at least $30.00 less than it has been costing. We said fine, you take care of it. It sounds like we have been “had” on all the other replacements – or the Insurance Company, since they have paid for all of the windows.

Mark called last night and while he was talking to me he said “Becky, stop that” – I, of course, asked him what she was doing. She was hitting Kirk in the face. In about a year, I think Kirk will probably be returning the blows. The way he is growing I think he will be able to take care of himself. They are coming

[page 2] down for the weekend. Taxes to figure and Mark wants to have his car worked on.

I have to attend a meeting this afternoon, so must get myself a bit of lunch and get a few things done before I go.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/10/29/new-window/

Christmas Plans

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
12-5-62

Dear David –

First I want to tell you that you were correct about your bank balance. It was $36.34 until I made the last deposit and it is now $236.34 – unless of course, you have written a check since Monday.

We are having some wintry weather today. Had a little rain last night and a few snow flakes today.

I noticed some Christmas trees on the Court House lawn today. I hope to get one while there is still a good selection.

I talked to Mark last night and they are coming down on Friday the 21^st for the whole weekend. They will go on to the Wards before Christmas and come back here Christmas day. I told Mark I didn’t like that arrangement, because last year Becky was so tired on Christmas day, she was irritable. He wondered if I had any suggestions. I told him they could leave Becky here. You can imagine how that went over. Becky usually won’t say anything on the phone when we are talking but last night she

[page 2] said grandma – you know how she says it.

I haven’t been out to see the new Field’s baby, but will probably stop one day this week.

The kneeling rail on the altar is 35½”x8.” You will of course have to get more material that a piece that size to allow for the edges and the depth of the foam rubber. I think Dad said we have the rubber. It is probably 1” thick. Get ample material.

I got out Christmas decorations last Saturday. I have the lovely candelabra the Kreslers gave us last year on the table. I have a bowl of tree ornaments on the coffee table and that, I think, will be the extent of my decorations. I took the crèche to the Primary Dept., also the choir boy and other wax figures I have had for years. I have decided to give that set to the Dept. and start a new one for Becky & Kirk.

It is about that time – 5 p.m. – so must get along.
Love Mother

Just keep saying – “Come on Louie, you can do it.”

Kitterman’s Bill

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

11-11-62

Dear David –

I had intended getting a letter written to you all last week, but my time seems to have gotten away from me. I have thought about you so much this week and hope you are able to make up your mind about your future. It is something you have to decide for yourself. We just want you to be sure you are going what is right for you. Pray for guidance.

We are enjoying a very pleasant day not too cold and the sun is shining, which helps during this season.

The pheasant hunters awakened me this morning in the field across the street. This is the first years I have seen hunters there. They must have had permission from Ken McCarty since there is a no hunting sign at the corner.

I attended a meeting at the hospital (luncheon meeting) and was home by 2 o’clock. I just finished writing to two more companies about around the world travel. There were so many ads in the Tribune yesterday and I saw one that included Hawaii and thought I would

[page 2] send for their literature. I just hope we don’t get so much we won’t be able to decide. I hardly think that will happen. Dad was saying yesterday we are going to have to decide soon.

Kitterman finally got around to bringing us a bill today. You know we didn’t ask him for an estimate. We just told him what we wanted and let it go at that. I was agreeably surprised when I learned the total bill was $2,916.96 – of course that doesn’t include all the other expenses connected with the remodeling, but I thought his bill was very reasonable. He still had to put the railing at the front step and of course that isn’t included I this bill, but that won’t amount to much.

I am studying to take a driver’s test this week. I have to renew my license this month.

I am finished reading Auntie Mame and Dad is just about to finish it. Same book.

I finished the coat for Becky and now I am knitting her a pair of mittens.

Let us know how you are getting along.

Love Mother

The New Arrival

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

Thursday afternoon
October 11, 1962

Dear David:

Yours received via Corbins. It is a wonderful day and just like summer. I suppose it is a few degrees warmer where you are. Dad has had a very busy week. He had to spend most of his time this week in the hospital, taking care of accident cases, surgery and baby cases. He is getting some work done around the yard this afternoon. He is going to the office at 5 o’clock to put a new handle on the inside front door. The old one keeps getting out of order. We keep getting a few more things done at the office and Dad is working on the speaker system to get the FM radio hooked up. Don’t worry about my record player. If we want to, Dad can make it into a stereo. We have been too busy it seems to even listen to records, but I hope this pace doesn’t keep up. Anyway, you know I am not (at this time) interested in spending anything on record players. We will charge the FM off to office expense when Dad gets it ready to be installed. I am so used to writing John without using any paragraphs that I just decided to do the same with you. This is the easiest way. I hope you get your studies. You sounded so busy in your last letter, I was beginning to wonder if you were going to get it all done. We haven’t heard from Mark’s since a week ago today. Mark says Shirley isn’t due until the 20^th or 21^st. Of course, that isn’t going to keep her from going a little early if the baby decides not to wait until the date set. It would have been nice to have Becky here during this nice weather so she could have played out of doors some. I will let you know when the new arrival gets here (or there, rather). Lea and Bob came last Saturday and spent the night and Sunday with us. We took them to the KC for smorgasbord Sunday noon. We didn’t know they were coming. I was supposed to attend a class party at the parsonage, and had baked a cake, after I finished baking yours (incidentally that was your birthday cake, if a little late) to take to the party. I cancelled attending party and had cake to serve for dessert Saturday evening.

Dad has gone to the office to work on the door and I am going down to do some work on a thing or two I can’t get done while the office is open for business.

Love Mother

Carpenters Haven’t Finished

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Tuesday October 2/1962

Dear David:

I presume you received the little birthday gift – you didn’t mention it. We will get your time taken care of when you come home. Is your telephone number the same, in case I need to call?

We entertained bridge club Sunday evening. We went to KC for smorgasbord. Mrs. DeAntonia (Ann Funk) has the place fixed the nicest I have ever seen it. We had a very good meal and if anyone didn’t get enough to eat no one can be blamed.

I hope you are over your cold. I am sending you some vitamins and I want you to take them. Since you are having sore throats and colds, is a very good indication you need vitamins.

The carpenters haven’t finished a few things around the office yet and we haven’t paid them anything since that first $400.00. I am going to call Mr. K. tonight and give him a little reminder that he hasn’t finished one of the cabinets – two drawers we especially need every day aren’t in yet. We have the old cardex file cut down and painted grey – it nearly matches the metal ones and Edna is gradually getting the inactive cards transferred from the hall into the cabinet. As usual the office has been very busy and some days I go at 4 instead of 5 to help. Dad is fixing up the FM radio I have here at the house, with extra speakers and we are going to put it in the office instead of my record player. We learned from Dr. Ferguson that one isn’t allowed to use a record player in a public place. Dad was telling him about our preparations for getting music in the office and when he learned we intended to use our record player, told Dad that. Dr. F. has FM in his office. He gets it from Indianapolis. We will have to have an aerial put on the office building, but that won’t be much of a job.

I finally got around to having the carpet cleaned. I didn’t have Fowler Laundry, but had Dale Hamman here in town who uses the Duraclean method. It looks very clean now and we are trying to keep it clean for a while. When Becky comes it may get dampened once in a while. I intend to put training panties on her and get her to use a potty chair I have borrowed. We may have a few little accidents before her visit is over, but I hope to get her out of diapers. Mark is to bring her down as soon as the new baby comes. He says it should arrive any time after the 14^th of this month.

So far the new janitor has been giving satisfactory service. Howard and his wife both do the work and seem very anxious to please. When I hired Howard I told him I thought he could usually clean the office in an hour each evening – with extra time once in a while for heavy cleaning and that is about what it has been running. We were certainly being taken by the former cleaning woman.

I will put $100 in the bank for you this week.
Love Mother

I listened to NBC’s special program last nite about Mississippi. I have no sympathy with those southerners. They certainly can’t see the handwriting on the wall.