Dear Grandma

Bellingham Wash
Jan 5 1939

Dear Grandma

Are you and Gramp fine? I hope you are. Thank for the book it's real good. With my three dollar I am going to buy a wrist watch I did not feel so good the 3rd. so I did not to school.

I stayed at farm till Friday. Had lots of fun I came home on the train. I went in the observation car and a negro porter kicked me out. I was mad at him

Will I must say goodby write me soon

Yours
Truly
Bill

P.S. We sure enjoy the toaster.

‘...I will kill it’

Pages from a undated vintage notebook. Apparently, young Ray shot crows with a BB gun in his spare time, mapping out the location of his hunts. While researching to see if crows did indeed live on the island of Guam (which is identified on the map), I found this 2011 video about the passing of the last female Marianas crow.

http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15458:video-last-female-marianas-crow-on-guam-dies&catid=45:guam-news&Itemid=156

P.S. I am having a hard time making a clickable link here, so you might have to cut and paste the URL until I figure it out. :(

2. never hit a book

Found in a bin of books at a thrift store north of Seattle.

Dear Mildred

Bittersweet letters from three little New Jersey girls to their married older sister, Mildred, written during the 1918 flu pandemic that killed millions of people worldwide. Text is transcribed under the scans.

From her little sister, Evelyn:

Ridgefield N.J.
Oct 31

Dear Mildred I was out side Tuesday but I could not play with the outher girls I could not play in the back yard I could only sit down but I had to go in after while. Katheryn ran over to the gate she thought I was going to come out and play.

Dear Mildred I like the card you sent me I no the verse momma don't think I am strong enough to walk down the stairs.

Dear Mildred the book is very nice I read the book all through it is very nice. papa bought me a new pad.

Dear Mildred I thank you for the cotton it is very nice. we brought it to school first Bernice brought it to her tacher then I brught it to my teacher and my teacher let all the children see it Edith teacher father was so sick and the teacher had to leave the children out of school early because he was so sick that she had to go and see him and he died one sunday not very along ago school let out because of this sicknes I am going to school tuesday if I am strong enough maby. I cannot tell you anything about Edith teacher or school send my love to Russel.

Lovingly Evelyn


From her mother:

Ridgefield, Nov. 1-1918

Dear Mildred

I should have written to you today but had but there is not time left for that -- I have just finished a letter to Laura -- the first for two months. The children are doing nicely now. Evelyn has been getting up about noon since Tuesday and I still carry her up and down stair -- I feel better to day than I have since this sickness came. Hope you and Russell are O. K. Yes the box came and I stored it in the Attic after I had opened it -- I was startled when I saw the 5th Ave. Adress on it and wondered what had happened -- Your Loving Mother

I am going to let Bernice take this down to the P.O. Her first trip down.


From her little sister, Bernice:

Ridgefield, N. J.
Oct. 31

Dear Mildred

I recied my birthday present it is just big enough for me and it fits me fine. The sleves are not to big and they fit me well. Papa and mama like it very much to and they say that it will have to be my best sweater.

I to reied the card you sent me and thank you very much for it. I am saveing it because it is the only one I have. I know the peice that is on the frount of my card by heart.

And I also thank you for the nice book you gave me. I have readed it through twice and like it very much my story is about Dumble Bee who was so lazy and would not work. And learned how to work. I have so many things to write you about I hope you will get this letter in good time.

Lovely Bernice I am feeling fine

Give my love to Russell

I also forgot to tell you about my brithday party papa and mama gave me a pair of brown gloves and a new tress is orange and light blue stripes with blue cloer and eaves. And Kathryn small gave me a pencil box which I almost get every time I liked this all very much hope you have a happy Hallowe'en I am writing this in the munites I have because the girls are waiting for me to come out and play

So I close my letter with a which that you and Russell will keep well good by


From her little sister, Edith:

Ridgefield, N. J.
Oct. 31, 1918

Dear Mildred,

I thank you very much for the book. I got the book yesday eveing I read it after supper and I enjoyed it very much.

I heard that you are going to make me a sweater but you had to knite Russel one first for he needed it very badly.

I hope you will have a very happy Halloween. I am going out this eveing with my pupunkin for a little while I have a new pad for a birthday prestent on Bernices birthday I got a new green dress.

I have been up now for a week. And will be the first week I have been out Satrday.

I injoyed the card very mcuh to Kathryn is going to writgh a letter after we are all well.

Evelyn will be out for the first day Monday She got up last tusday and she is very glad to be up again.

Evelyn had the badest case of all she had nomonea [pneumonia] with her's I had the slitest case of all.

One of the little Berger Boys died sunday the day when I was taken sick so ther is only three boys left.

The the four boys were sick an the father and Ant. they all live in the same house next to Smalls only the mother dinent get sick but they are all up and out again.

I hope you and Russul will keep well.

Hear are some kissies x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Your Sister
Edith Beck

Snow on my jacket

Richard's Christmas-time school work circa late 1950s.

There is snow on my jacket
There is snow no my shoe
Ther is snow on everyihing
I like it; Don't you? Richard

About that torture

Hi [boy's name] did you know
what magic Johnson
did well he made
the miller company Donate 6000
Big ones for the united
negro college fund. and
about that torture
i'm ready for you
and grandma said
don't talk about
her Boyfriend
From [boy's name]

happy valentine

Itchy Richard

Dear Barb

Itchy Richard made my head itch. I rilly liked it. It was relly funy. But I do not ander stand it. Why Richard has the nit in Richard head on the caver.


Dear Alli,

When I look closely at the picture, I see a white spot in Richard's hair, too. But he didn't have lice! Maybe it's a mistake from the illustrator. A nit is so small, it would be harder to see than the white dot on the cover.

It was a funny book, but I also learned a lot about lice! We know here at Island School that teasing people about having lice is not such a good idea. The lice could be on your head next.

Love, Barb


[Unfortunately, I'm not sure which Itchy Richard cover design Alli refers to, as there are several. I didn't see a white spot in Richard's hair on either of them, at least visible online.]

Conserve alechrisudy

Drawn in the back of a 1971 children's book on environmental issues.

Well we know

Dear Santa

Letter to Santa from my daughter Susanna, age 7.

Love Tommy C

Red Jello

I went to old county Buffet
and I got Mac-and cheese
whith Red Jello and
when I was Done I
ate a Cupcake and Ice-
Cream and a brownie. The
funniest that I Did was
when me my Brother and my
cusin I didn't know were
the Bath room was and they
had to go and I didn't
see the girl's Bath rood
and I thot that was the only
Bath room and it was the
man Bath room and I
Didn't Know That was the
Boy Bath room and I walked
in the Boy's Bath room and
I came out and then I
Knew That was The man's
Bath room and my cusin and
my Brother was laghing.

Slumber party plan B

Was it too cloudy to see the stars? Or did Kelley change her mind?

I miss my school so much

Fine said olivia

olivia forms a band
olivia couldnt find
her other red sock
whats the matter asked
her mother I cant
find my other red
sock said olivia what
are those all over the floor
They don't go with this
one i fond it olivias moth-
er was packing a picnic
I want everyone ready
by seven for the fire-
works she said and the band
cried olivia Oh I don't think
there will be a band said
her mother but you
cant hav firworks
without a band explained
olivia
I know well be the band
Fine said olivia

Very good Alan

My friend Eagle-Eye Melody noticed that #3 is incorrect.

Mr. C loves the ladies...

...and TV, apparently.

I think Mr. C Should get a black lemo. So he can watch t.v. and drink wine with Michelle. She would like that I think and so would Mr. C. He would love that. He would Also get to watch t.v. He would love that to.

LEGO agent Alex

Comcast??

The worst thing I have heard of

A rare handwritten AIM chat log from the early part of this century.