Biography of Robert P. Adams, PhD.

Robert P. Adams, PhD, as shown in Who’s Who in America, c. 1975

Note: This biography was written at the request of the University of Washington Archive to accompany the papers of Robert P. Adams, PhD. there.

Academic Overview

BA English, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH; PhD English, University of Chicago, 1937. Assistant Professor English, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 1938-1947; Associate Professor English, University of Washington Seattle, 1947-1961; Full Professor English University of Washington Seattle 1962-1979. Listed in Who’s Who in America, 1962-1979.

Biography of Robert P. Adams, Ph.D.

Robert P. Adams, PhD, (1910-1994) taught English Literature at the University of Washington from 1947 to his retirement in 1979. Starting as an Associate Professor, he became a Full Professor in 1962 with the publication of his book, The Better Part of Valor: More, Erasmus, Colet, and Vives on Humanism, War, and Peace, 1496-1535 (University of Washington Press, 1962). After its publication, he was listed for six years in “Who’s Who in America.”

Robert taught Shakespeare courses every year in addition to other English Renaissance authors. He also created a course called Social Ideals in Literature that included a range of authors who wrote on the ideal society, such as Thomas More, Utopia, Samuel Butler, Erewhon and Edward Bellamy, Looking Backward.  He also taught correspondence courses through the University of Washington correspondence study program and enjoyed his contacts with students all around the West and some abroad. His first love was teaching and he always placed high in the annual rankings of professors by students at the University of Washington.

Robert was born in 1910 in Highland Park, Michigan, a close suburb of Detroit, second of what would become six children of William H. Adams and Florence G. Adams. His parents were of English and English and French background respectively, residing in this country since the 1800s. His father was one of ten children of whom nine survived to adulthood and grew up on farms in upstate New York and Pennsylvania. William H. credits his mother as the driving force for education in the family in an era where children graduated 8^th grade, then went to work on the family farm. With ten children, William H’s family could not help him financially. William H. put himself through engineering school at Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio, which had a policy of low tuition to help students who otherwise could not afford to go to college. There he met Florance Gossard, who grew up on a nearby farm. She taught school in a one room school house for several years before attending Ohio Northern for one year before her mother called her back to work on the farm.

The newlyweds arrived in Detroit in 1907 and settled in near suburb Highland Park where their six children were born. Florence taught all six children to read at home before they arrived at school.

William H. became a prominent civil engineer in Detroit, first working for firms, then with a partner, and then as head of his own firm. There was a great period of development and expansion in Detroit at that time, and William H. provided underpinnings for many buildings. Detroit remains noted for excellent architecture.

Stable and prosperous though the 1920s, the family had live-in help and a summer cottage at Kingsville, Ontario, Canada, on Lake Erie. Robert and his two brothers became Eagle Scouts and all three attended Scout camps in Upper Michigan.  The children all had music lessons; Robert played the trumpet. The family was very active in Trinity Methodist Church, Highland Park. William H. was elected to the School Board. William H. and Florence deeply appreciated the good schools, excellent public library, and scout troops of Highland Park, advantages they did not enjoy in their own rural childhoods and were happy to give their children.

Robert was always a top student. He acquired outdoorsman skills from scouting and strong gardening skills from his parents that he retained all his life. He was also athletic and played on his high school and college basketball teams, an asset at 6 feet 2 inches tall.

William H. and Florence decided to send all of their children, three boys and three girls alike, to Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, a college they admired. The oldest got through before the crash on 1929. Robert was not so fortunate. He waited table and did dishes in the dorm for board and worked summers painting the Highland Park schools to make money for college. Despite the Great Depression, all six children were gotten through Oberlin, albeit with gap years, a heroic feat by William H., Florence, and the children themselves.

First a chemistry major, Robert’s path was changed by several English professors who took a personal interest in him and inspired him. He changed majors to English and his professors got him a fellowship to attend an extra year to earn a BA in English in 1931, the middle of the Great Depression. They helped him again to get a fellowship to the University of Chicago to work on his PhD in English, He was further aided by several more scholarships from that University., including the Senior Fellowship, the highest then awarded there. Robert’s fiancée Roberta England, also an Oberlin graduate, lived in Chicago. They were married in 1932. Roberta worked as a social worker in the newly created Relief Administration under the Illinois Emergency Relief Commission created to help needy Illinois residents while Robert worked on his PhD and held a library job at the University of Chicago. The young couple had a modest apartment and enjoyed going to theatre, concerts, and ballet, albeit from the balcony. 

Robert had long been interested in political, social and economic ideas in literature. He concentrated on the Renaissance under Professor Charles H Baskerville and proposed research on the early English humanists (Mores, Erasmus, Colet and their circle 1500-1535) and their ideas on war, peace, and a well-ordered society for his dissertation. His thesis was titled Pacifism in the English Renaissance 1497-1530: John Colet, Erasmus, Thomas More, and J.L. Vives.  Robert remained interested in these themes for his entire life.

After completing his course work and while writing his dissertation, Robert took a fill-in position at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, and was instructor in English for a year at Parsons College, Fairfield, Iowa, He was awarded his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1937.

Due to his chemistry background, Robert was that rarity: an English professor who was scientifically literate.

Robert accepted a position as Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, and he and Roberta moved there. Their first child, Robert W. Adams, was born there in 1938, followed by a daughter, Claire, in 1943. The couple lived in a rental house and enjoyed an active social life with other university faculty, together with family visits to Detroit and Chicago. Robert volunteered for the Navy during World War II, but was rejected due to his color blindness. During the War, he taught in the Air Force program at Michigan State. He planted and maintained a huge victory garden to aid the war effort and Roberta canned hundreds of jars of tomatoes, beans, and corn.

An offer of tenure in 1947 as Associate Professor from the expanding University of Washington Seattle was too tempting to resist for a child of the Depression. He accepted this lifetime job without even a visit to Seattle although far from his family in Detroit and Roberta’s family in Chicago. The family of four drove out to Seattle in their 1945 Pontiac, camping in parks along the way across the country to begin a new chapter. The couple bought a house in the Wedgwood neighborhood of Seattle, not far from the University of Washington. Theatre and concerts were a regular part of life. The two children attended Seattle Public Schools.

Robert put in a large vegetable and flower garden by the house and planted several trees in the huge front yard. He was also an avid amateur photographer. He built a dark room in the basement of the houses and developed and printed his own photos.

With his siblings scattered around the country in Toledo, OH, Eugene, OR, and Montclair, NJ, and parents in Highland Park, MI, Robert was a frequent correspondent as were all of the family, raised as they were in a culture of letter-writing. Long distance calls were very expensive and reserved for illness or death in the family. Cross-country family trips by car in the summer to Highland Park for family reunions at his parents’ home were a regular feature of the life of Robert and his family in the 1950s. The family would camp in national parks along the way.

Robert was awarded fellowships and grants at the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, DC, the Newberry Library, Chicago, and the Huntington Library, Pasadena, CA, through the years to do research and write what would become many articles in scholarly magazines and eventually The Better Part of Valor, in addition to three unpublished books, Passions’ Storm: What Happens in Chapman’s Original Bussy d’Ambois vis-a-vis Shakespeare’s Hamlet (1968); The World’s a Stage: An Approach to Renaissance English Drama Exclusive of Shakespeare (1978), and The Abuse of Greatness: Shakespeare, Greville, Marston, Chapman and Ben Jonson, The Late Elizabethan Tragic Sense of Life c. 1586-1603 (undated). Robert corresponded regularly with people he met at the various libraries where he did research.

Friendship with fellow English professor and editor of the Modern Language Quarterly Edward Cox led to cruising Puget Sound on Eddie’s 30-foot yacht Juno. The two would go out for a week every summer in addition to smaller jaunts around the Sound. Being First Mate also involved helping to maintain the Juno’s wooden hull, which needed to be scraped and repainted regularly.  He was a member of the Queen City Yacht Club in Seattle. Cruising appealed to Robert’s adventurer side. As a teen, he loved to read tales of adventure at sea, especially one called Cast Up by the Sea, by Samuel Baker, which he read and reread.

Son Robert William was a top student and was given a scholarship to Phillips Exeter Academy, New Hampshire, at age 15. Robert felt that this was an unequalled opportunity and Robert William went off to this East Coast upper crust enclave whose idea of diversification at that time was someone from the West Coast. Daughter Claire was also an excellent student, attending Seattle public schools.

English professors do not make a great deal of money and the family could not save much. The couple decided that Roberta should go back to school and get an MSW, which she did in 1953. She worked with an adoption agency in Seattle and the family became a two-income household, unusual at that time.

In 1960, Robert and Roberta divorced and Robert married Marjorie Ford, a social worker with a young daughter, Emily. The couple traveled to Europe on their honeymoon and took up residence in the house in Wedgwood. With the publication of The Better Part of Valor, Robert was promoted to full professor at the University of Washington in 1962. He was then listed in Who’s Who in America.

Influenced by his second wife, an active Unitarian, Robert attended the University Unitarian Church regularly. On the death of his friend Edward Cox, Robert inherited the Juno, which sank at the dock. He bought a 30-foot yacht with a fiberglass hull that he named Nepenthe, and he and Marjorie often cruised around Puget Sound. The couple traveled to Mexico, Canada, and Europe several times. Robert got a fellowship to the Newberry Library in Chicago, where he worked on his unpublished book, Passions’ Storm: What Happens in Chapman’s Original Bussy d’Ambois vis-a-vis Shakespeare’s Hamlet (1968). The fellowship included nine months in Chicago at the Library followed by three months at the British Museum, London.

Robert was a supporter of the arts, donating to the Seattle Repertory Theater, Intiman Theater, the Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Seattle Art Museum. He was a lifelong Democrat and a member of the American Civil Liberties Union. He was a founding member of Group Health in Seattle, then a pioneering medical practice.

Robert W. graduated from Harvard and MIT, becoming an architect. Daughter Claire attended Oberlin and graduated from New School University, New York, NY, becoming a newspaper reporter, researcher, legal assistant, and later working in web and marketing. Both married. Robert W. had two children, Matthew and Sarah, and Claire had one daughter, Natasha.

Marjorie died in 1980 of cancer at age 60. Widower Robert remained in the Wedgwood house. He continued to correspond with the scattered family, including the new generation, and to visit family around the country.  A highlight of this period was a month-long tour to China at age 79, a trip he often mentioned.

Robert died July 4, 1994 of cancer of the pancreas after a short final illness. He was cremated and his ashes scattered in Puget Sound, site of so many enjoyable outings on his boats. A memorial service was held at the University Unitarian Church and an obituary appeared in the Seattle Times.

Publications

Published Book:

 The Better Part of Valor: More, Erasmus, Colet, and Vives on Humanism, War, and Peace, 1496-1535 (University of Washington Press, 1962. 368 pp)

Published Textbooks:

Four paperbound texts (Seattle: University of Washington Division of Correspondence Study, 1967) Mimeographed.

• • Shakespeare, 31 pp

• • Shakespeare’s Comedies and Histories, 27 pp

• • Shakespeare’s Tragedies, 79 pp

• • Utopias and Social Ideals, 44 pp

Published Contributions to Books:

• • “The Social Responsibilities of Science in Utopia, New Atlantis, and After”, originally in Journal of the History of Ideas, X (1949), pp. 374-398, reprinted in a collection of the best essays from the Journal by Harper & Row, Anchor book, 1965-66

• • “Shakespeare’s Tragic Vision” in Pacific Coast Studies in Shakespeare, ed. Waldo McNeir and Thelma Greenfield (University of Oregon Press, 1966), pp. 225-233

• • “Critical Myths and Chapman’s Original Bussy d’Ambois” in Renaissance Drama 1966, ed. S. Schoenbaum (Northwestern University Press, 1967), pp 141-161

Published Articles:

“The Philosophic Unity of More’s Utopia,” Studies in Philology, XXXVIII (1941), pp. 45-65

“What are the Arts?”, “Othello”, “Literature in a Time of Crisis”, and “An Introduction to the Movies”, Syllabus for a Course in Literature and Fine Arts (Ann Arbor, Mich, 1945), pp 1-3, 74-80, 80-83, 113-126

“A Plain Man’s View of the United Nations,” seven articles in the State Journal (Lansing, Mich.  April 1945)

“Designs by More and Erasmus for a New Social Order,” Studies in Philology, XLIX (1945), pp. 131-145

“Pre-Renaissance Courtly Propaganda for Peace in English Literature,” Proceedings of the Michigan Academy for Science, Arts, and Letters, XXXII (1948 for 1946), pp. 431-446

“The Social Responsibilities of Science in Utopia, New Atlantis, and After,” Journal of the History of Ideas, X (1949), pp. 374-398

“Literary Thought on War and Peace in English Literature of the Renaissance,” Year Book of the American Philosophical Society 1955 (Philadelphia, 1956), pp. 272-277

“King Lear’s Revenges,” The News Bulletin of the Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association, XI, 2 (January, 1958), p. 4

“Gascoigne’s Master F. J. as Original Fiction,” PMLA, LXXIII, 1958, pp. 315-326

“Erasmus’ Ideas of His Role as a Social Critic, ca. 1480-1500,” Renaissance News (Renaissance Society of America) XL (1958), pp. 11-16

“Bold Bawdy and Open Manslaughter: The English New Humanist Attack on Medieval Romance,” Huntington Library Quarterly, XXIII (1959), pp. 33-48

“The Better Part of Valor: More, Erasmus, Colet, and J. L. Vives: Humanism, War, and Peace ca. 1496-1530”, Year Book of the American Philosophical Society, 1959 (Philadelphia, 1960), pp 626-627

Published Reviews:

• Edward Surtz, The Praise of Pleasure, in Renaissance News (Renaissance Society of America), XI (1958), pp. 129-133

• G. K. Hunger, John Lyly: The Humanist as Courtier, in Journal of Modern History, XXXV, (September 1963), pp. 287-288

Unpublished Books:

• Passions’ Storm: What Happens in Chapman’s Original Busy d’Ambois vis-à-vis Shakespeare’s Tragedies (1965)

• A Critical Study of the Original Bussy d’Ambois: George Chapman’s Hamlet (ca.mid-1960s, earlier draft of #1)

• The World’s a Stage: An Approach to Renaissance English Drama Exclusive of Shakespeare (1978)

• The Abuse of Greatness: Shakespeare, Greville, Marston, Chapman, and Ben Jonson- The Late Elizabethan Tragic Sense of Life ca.1596-1603 (mid-1970s)

Professional Activities

Paper read “How More and Erasmus Conceived a Life According to Nature or Reason as a Model for the Renaissance Social Order,” MLA, Section on English to 1650, Boston, 1940

Member, MLA Bibliography Committee for General Topic IX: Literature and the Arts of Design, 1941

Paper Read: “The Idea of Heroism in Homer and in Ernest Hemingway,” Michigan Academy of Arts, Science, and Letters, Ann Arbor, 1942

Paper read: “On the Cultivation and Preservation of Liberal Education,” before faculty in Liberal Arts of Michigan State College, 1943

Paper read: “The Social Responsibilities of Science in Some Renaissance Utopias”, MLA section on English to 1650, Washington, DC, 1946

Paper read: “Erasmus’ Earliest Ideas on War, ca. 1480-1500,” Michigan Academy of Arts, Science, and Letters, Ann Arbor, 1947

Paper read: “George Gascoigne: Problems of the Artist in Imaginative Prose,” MLA, section on period of Spenser, New York, 1950

Paper read: “Bold Bawdry and Open Manslaughter,” before Master and Fellows of Kirkland House, Harvard College, 1958

Paper read: “King Lear’s Revenges,” MLA English Drama section, New York, 1958

Editorial Consultant for Yale edition of Sir Thomas More’s Works, 1960

Paper read: “More, Erasmus, and Lucianic Irony,” Pacific Northwest Renaissance Conference, University of Oregon, 1960, This paper was accepted, but not read under rule limiting members to one for MLA, Comparative Literature section, 1958

Paper read: “Romantic Love—Death-marked vs Life-marked,” Renaissance Society of American meeting, Portland State College, 1962

Participant at Renaissance Society of American, Northwest section, annual meeting March 8-9, 1963

Editorial Consultant, MLA, 1963

Invited to serve as West Coast representative to the Council of the English Renaissance Text Society, 1963

Paper read: “Shakespeare’s Tragic Vision,” Pacific Northwest Renaissance Society (Renaissance Society of America), University of Oregon, March 1964

Nominating Committee, English Renaissance Text Society, 1964-65

Paper read: “Critical Myths and Chapman’s Original Bussy d’Ambois,” Pacific Northwest Renaissance Conference, University of Victoria, March 11, 1966

Participant in Pacific Coast Shakespeare Society symposium on King Lear, Berkely, CA, Feb. 11, 1967

Editorial Consultant, Northwestern University Press

Editorial Consultant, Duke University Press

Paper read: “Critical Myths and Approaches to Ben Jonson’s Major Comedies”, Renaissance Society of American (Northwest Renaissance section) conference, University of Alberta, March 16, 1968

Grants and Fellowships

1971-72: One year at Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, DC

1964-65: Research grant ($1000) Huntington Library, Pasadena, CA

1964-65: Newberry Library Fellowship: Nine months at Newberry Library, Chicago and three months at the British Museum, London

1962: Ford Foundation $600 and Agnes Anderson Fund $500, grants in aid of publication of The Better Part of Valor

1960: Anderson Fund grant $300

1958: Fellow of the Folger Shakespeare Society, $600

1958: University of Washington research leave, $2400

1956: Folger Library grant, $250

1952: American Philosophical Society grant, $428

1952: Folger Shakespeare Library grant, $300

1952: Agnes Anderson Fund grant, $250

1952: University of Washington research leave, winter quarter

1948: Michigan State College research leave, $1200

1936: University of Chicago pre-doctoral fellowship, $600

1931: Oberlin College graduate scholarship, $300

By Claire Adams Yurdin
 Burien, WA January 2024

Obituary: Melvina Pardee Adams, Mother of WHA

Born January 13, 1849 at Canandaigua, NY, Melvina died on January 17, 1912, at Beech Creek, PA.

The obituary appears in the Clinton County Times, February 2, 1912, perhaps in this upper New York State paper as the family lived upstate for a long time before moving to Pennsylvania.

RPA said that WHA always credited Melvina as the driving force for education in his family though she had only an 8th grade education herself.

“She was a woman of deep religious experience and of unusual strength of character. She was a constant advocate of higher education, and of her nine surviving children, three have taken Normal school degrees and four have been graduated from college and university,” the article states.

Read the entire obituary here.

Adams Family Papers Find a Permanent Home

This is old news for some, but I am happy to say that the Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, has agreed to accept the 17 boxes of Adams family letters, documents, and photos into their archive. See https://reuther.wayne.edu/index.php for more about them.

The Reuther Library was first established to collect and preserve original source materials on the American labor movement and is the largest labor archive in North America. The library later expanded the scope of its mission to include source materials from areas other than labor in Detroit and from prominent citizens there.

Our grandfather William H. Adams was an important civil engineer in Detroit for 50 years and was part of the impressive growth of that city. He also served on the Highland Park School Board.

The letters, documents, and photos span 1800-1994. Our grandparents arrived in the growing city of Detroit as newlyweds in 1906. Their six children (one of whom died in her twenties) and their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are now spread around the country, but our story began as a Detroit story.

The library requires that the letters, documents, and photos be filed in order by year with an inventory for each box and one for the whole collection. All photos need labels. It has taken many hours of work to get the collection in order, but I am on the home stretch. The official name of the collection is the Adams Family Papers.

You can schedule a visit to the library and read/view the collection in the Reading Room once the collection is available there.  See https://reuther.wayne.edu/node/45 on how to plan a visit.

My father, Robert P. Adams, PhD. English, taught English at the University of Washington for 30 years. His three unpublished book manuscripts and professional correspondence are going to the University of Washington archive, together with the biography of him I am writing and his doctoral hood.

After the sale of our family home in Seattle in 2006 where my father collected family letters, photos, and documents for many years, the collections traveled with me to Austin and back, then through two Seattle metro area rentals to the condo we bought in 2013 in Seattle suburb Burien, WA. I will be 80 years old next month.

It is time for our family papers to have permanent homes and be available to historians.

-Claire Adams Luhrs Yurdin

The boxes of Adams Family Papers in our condo dining room where I have been working on them. (February 2023)

1934: Helen dies and the family struggles

Alice Adams in 1934 (age 17)

Eleanor Adams in 1934 (age 14)

Helen sickens & dies

WHA has referred to Helen’s “attacks years ago” off and on, and she was home ill  from her teaching job Jan-March 1930. In May 1930, Helen wrote the three college boys, “… (the doctor) says my heart is enlarged…and that the timing between the auricle and the ventricle is wrong.”

On Dec. 1, 1933, FGA writes that Helen has been sick and home part of the time for four weeks. “She developed dropsy from which she is now getting relief” (Note: “Dropsy: An older term for the swelling of soft tissues due to the accumulation of excess water. Today one would be more descriptive and specify the cause. Thus, the person might have edema due to congestive heart failure.” https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=13311)

Dec. 9 FGA writes “We feel pretty worried about Helen and wish Everett (Helen’s husband) would bring her home for a while. It is hard to him as he goes home at noon to fix the fire and get her lunch unless she is here.” By January Helen appears to be at home with her parents and siblings and FGA is caring for her.

The letters relate a progressive deterioration in Helen’s condition.

In a letter from FGA Jan. 2 to Bob & Roberta about Helen, FGA quotes the doctor, “We are trying the last thing we can try in medicine…it is a losing fight.”

On January 4, FGA writes that Helen “… thinks she will not get well and has said her farewells, leaving many messages of love to all of you. We still try to hope.” On January 8, Bob visits home from college and writes Dick, “…sister seems gradually declining.” On January 11, Bob writes Dick “…she has been able to take virtually no food for several days…I understand that there is scarcely any tangible hope.” On January 16, FGA writes “She seems about to go into coma. She has scarcely had a lucid moment in days.” Bill writes on Jan 18 of the strain on FGA. “She drives herself increasingly…won’t save herself, insists on answering all doorbells and telephone calls herself…she is under a bad strain although not as much of a one…as Everett .”

FGA writes that her sister has come to help for a while as well as a friend. Helen’s husband Everett has moved in. Everyone takes a shift; FGA takes nights. Mrs. Vaughn, the domestic day worker Bill has hired, helps with Helen, too “It takes two to lift Helen. She is quite helpless.”

By January 19, FGA reports “The doctor told us this morning that Sister is failing. All we could do is to make her comfortable…” By Jan. 25, Bill reports that the doctor “says that she will just rest quietly, gradually getting weaker, and that one day she will slip off into a sleep from which she will not awaken.” Everett has “finally admitted to himself that there was no hope.” On Jan. 29, FGA writes that she has asked the one lodger remaining now, Miss Haigh, to go elsewhere for several weeks so the rotating volunteer nurses can be housed in her room.

Everett hired a nurse who arrived on Feb. 1.

Feb. 4 FGA writes that the doctor says Helen will not live more than a few days more. On Feb. 8 FGA writes “This morning Helen is so very weak, but tried to smile…”

Bill writes Feb. 8 of FGA “The wonder is that she could stand as much as she did, coming on top of the last four years. She is constantly tired…We have done as much as we can to take off of the work out of her hands. I have had Mrs. Vaughn (the domestic day worker) in frequently.” Bill begs Bob and Roberta come.

Helen died on Feb. 17, 1934.

Feb 22 FGA writes that Everett has moved back to his home and FGA attended church “It was hard to see Helen’s’ vacant chair in the choir… Now that everyone has gone home, the house is so still it almost hurts,” she writes.

FGA is very tired following Helen’s death

Feb. 23 FGA writes, “The events of the past few months seem to have left me so utterly weary I can scarcely think. I have known for a year and a half that Helen was failing and for a long time have known that the result was inevitable. I have had to think that through. There are many lonely days to come without her (Helen’s) frequent visits, but always I must say I am grateful her years of suffering are over…”

She adds, “I am too tired to do for anyone now and think it will be better for Grace (Miss Haigh, the lodger) to live elsewhere.” FGA and WHA ask Miss Haigh to find another place to live.

March 4 WHA writes that FGA has gone to visit Uncles Silas on the farm for a week. “Really thawey weather today and no doubt the maple sap will run. She wants to tend the sap fires…” The family pitches during FAG’s absence: Alice is cooking and WHA, Bill, and Eleanor help run the house along with Mrs. Vaughn. Visits to her relatives on their farms always seem to do FGA good.

March 14, FGA extends her travels. She is visiting friends in Kalamazoo and will visit Bob and Roberta in Chicago, returning to Detroit March 25.

With WHA working now, they are able to hire Mrs. Vaughn to help with cleaning and relieve FGA. Bill, Alice, and Eleanor all help with the cooking, cleaning, laundry, and yard work.

Despite her vacation, FGA’s fatigue carries on to the fall.

Oct. 19 FGA writes,  “Dr. Smith has taken me in hand and sternly told me what is what. I am to eat no pork except a little bacon and cured ham, no beans (dried). I am to refuse to do a single outside thing, not a lick of speaking if it tires me. Not too much work. Rest and rest and then some. I am to take a number of hypodermic treatments. If I do not do these things and a few more, I am told I am in danger of getting pretty sick. I am going to do as I am told and I am not going to get sick. I have been pretty tired.”

WHA & FGA re-mortgage the house to the Home Owners Loan Corp (HOLC)

HOLC was a New Deal program created by the Homeowners Loan Act of 1933 with the goal of  refinancing home mortgages in default or at risk of foreclosure after the 1929 crash and the collapse of the housing industry.

WHA and FGA take advantage of the program and re-mortgage the house.  WHA writes on April 1 “They paid all back taxes – three years – about $800—back water bills, some misc costs…and are putting in a new Holland furnace which costs $259. All this was added to the face of what we used to owe and constitutes the new face of the loan, about $5700. Interest is 5% and paid monthly….We are back where we were years ago, but we’ve kept a roof over our heads and have saved the home.” This has to be a great relief.

Despite their vow of “no more lodgers”, WHA & FGA take in a young Chinese couple April-May

April 1 WHA writes that a friend brought around a young Chinese couple, Mr. and Mrs. Yen, and asked FGA and WHA to host them for about three months as paying guests while the couple is in temporarily in Detroit . The husband “has been attached to the Legation as Washington for three years…and is studying the General Motors export system in Detroit.”  WHA and FGA had not planned to take in more lodgers, “but they begged so hard that mother fell.”

WHA writes April 1, “Mother and Mrs. Yen made an excursion to the main stem, introducing her to our shops. They are now getting suppers, and Mrs. Yen just said she wants to learn to make pie.”

On April 11 WHA writes that “Mrs. Yen made a cake today under mother’s tutelage. It was good and light. Mrs. Y. remarked that the one she made a day or so ago was a stone cake.”

Perhaps seeing how tired FGA is, the couple move in May to the home of a Chinese couple in Detroit.

WHA gets precarious temp jobs with New Deal programs & continually seeks work, landing in Chicago

In March WHA is told his current CWA job will end soon. He calls the chief of the CWA Coast & Geodesic Survey to seek work and is told he can work there.

On March 2, WHA writes that he is working for the County as a surveyor on Project BBZ 300, “which has about 400 men re-surveying all un-platted farm properties in the county outside Detroit itself. I start tomorrow as one of the District Engineers supervising the work of about six or eight field parties way out at the edge of the county….I was afraid that not driving a car would prove a bar to this work, but the Chief said that there are plenty of cars and that I needn’t worry.”

March 19 WHA writes that “my crew seems to be safe for another week anyway.” On April 1 WHA write that this CWA job has ended.

April 4 WHA write that he and a friend applied to be appraisers with the Home Owners Loan Corp (HOLC) (which holds FGA and WHA’s mortgage).  “We found that our tip was correct and they are planning to take on more and better appraisers.”

April 11 WHA writes “No word yet as to the workings of Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), replacing CWA…I have been doing things around the house.

April 21 WHA write “I just had word that I am to report Monday for work under the WCER (I could not find out what this was), same place as before. On same job (surveying), but a different assignment. 16 hours a week @ $1.25. We can actually work 32 hours in one week and lay off the next…I am to be in the field in charge of a party and not supervising several parties as before.” April 29 he writes, ”I put in my two days in the field Monday and yesterday. Pretty hard days on my feet, but I made out all right and will be able to continue…Had two very interesting days and really enjoy it.”

April 20 WHA hears from the Civil Service exam he took last July. On training and experience, he was ranked 94 of a possible 100 “to which is added an arbitrary five due to my army service, giving me a final 99 as my real rating…My rating is as Senior Engineer to design or supervise engineering and construction works of any magnitude…The positions rates a salary of $5600…I may be working on the Boulder Dam yet…”

WHA writes April 29 that he has a small side job for an architect for whom he did some work in the winter. “I put in a day there today and will pick up about $50 from this job using in part some specialized knowledge that I stored away in 1907 or 06 and to my memory have not used since. I had it in my memory and in my files.”

May 27 WHA writes that he finishing up with the architect and had a call from an old client for an inspection job for a day.

June 30 WHA writes he worked one day surveying this week and “next week will work Monday, Thursday and Friday. Monday I’ll get a new section unless I am attached to some other crew for the day…” He has used his extra time to reorganize his business files at home.

July 20 WHA has received a trial appointment as Appraiser for HOLC where he applied in March. He is paid $5 for each completed appraisal. “The best workers complete two or three a day and my companion yesterday seemed to think they do not limit the number given to a man. May be tough on foot, but my stuff is apt to be bunched inside the Boulevard where business and apartments expectancy are acting to change values. Street car and bus may do.”

July 26 WHA says he went in to get another assignment and found that yesterday he had done in one day what had been allotted for him for two days. Because he is new, he is given one appraisal a day. He thinks next week they will give him two a day. “It is interesting work, particularly the dealing with the people. The family all gather round when I enter.”

By Aug 5, WHA is promoted to three appraisals every two days.  Aug. 10 WHA writes that he is now required to take an appraisers’ exam. In the meantime, he has been ”developing the factory job I had as a prospect and there is some encouragement. One of these days there will be a job that WILL go ahead.”

Still in his letter of July 26, WHA hears from the TVA and has an interview in Detroit with their Personnel Director. Then July 26 WHA had an interview with the Manager of the Detroit Water Board “for what job they did not say.”

Aug. 28 WHA write that the PWA hast tentatively offered him the position of Resident Engineer Inspector in Chicago at $3200/year. He writes the TVA of this offer saying “that I regard the TVA work as infinitely more desirable and of a higher grade…Mother, Bill, and the girls will carry on at any rate until it is seen what eventuates…”

WHA starts checking over the house for any needed repairs before he needs to leave and has to finish a couple appraisal reports. “…but in general things are such that I can drop them pronto without damage to anyone else. Doubtless the architects who have become used to thinking of me as an institution will have the same kind of a feeling as we have when we go downtown and find that an old landmark…has given way to a parking lot or a hot dog stand. They’ll recover.”

Sept 7 WHA writes from Chicago. The TVA has not come through, but the PWA offers WHA a job as Resident Engineer Inspector at $3200/year. By September he is in Chicago staying at the YMCA. “I went down to the Loop this a.m. and bought a new suit and a rain coat…” Oct. 16 he writes Alice detailed instructions on transplanting plants in the garden where she has been a great help.

WHA writes Oct 23 that he is now renting a large room with maid service and mentions going to the theater with Bob and Roberta. He has found a good restaurant nearby. “The district is possibly on the edge of Chicago’s Greenwich Village,” he comments.

FGA is at home with Bill, Alice, and Eleanor all pitching in with some domestic help from Mrs. Vaughn.

Dick graduates cum laude in Physics, travels West & starts an Oberlin post-grad year in Physics, but has to drop out

Senior Dick has a CWA job at Oberlin as lab assistant in Physics

WHA write Feb. 22, 1934 “(we are)…’set up’ at your new CWA job. How fine that it is in your field” On Feb 26 WHA explains “It has to do with arranging for publication a series of lectures and experiments in Physics, forming a manual for freshmen, I understand…It will pay him $20 a month at 50 cents an hour.”

Dick graduates cum laude & travels West all summer, hitchhiking & hopping freight trains

He visits Yellowstone, Idaho; Las Vegas; New Mexico where Uncle Harry, President of New Mexico Normal College (FGA’s brother) lives; Los Angeles; Oakland; and San Francisco, hitchhiking and riding freight trains with a friend. WHA write July 26 “Letters and cards from Dick indicate that he is today in Las Vegas, having ridden freight trains east from San Francisco to Salt Lake and Denver and thence south.” We hear he has visited Nebraska, CO, and Cheyenne, WYO. He is coming back via Chicago where he will visit Bob and Roberta.

Dick writes Aug. 19 “I am sorry and glad to leave the West and glad and sorry to be returning,” His traveling companion is staying on in CA.

Dick starts a post-graduate year at Oberlin in Physics, but it does not work out

He has a Miller Loan for a post-graduate year and planned to finance himself selling Chapel speeches as he did so successfully last year. He buys a car which “is a tremendous convenience to this business, which is poor, and to my social life as it permits dancing this side of Elyria at a very nice place and picnics…at Chance Creek accompanied by charming damsels,” he writes Bob Oct. 18.

Unfortunately, the speech selling business is not going well “because President Wilkins continues in his policy of selecting not only the Chapel speakers, but also their topics, which considerably handicaps me and the speakers as well,” Dick writes Oct. 30.  Dick did not get another CWA/ FERA appointment in the lab, but the physics department “has requested me to work on the FERA basis until told to stop.“  He has run up little debts around town and took out a loan of $100 to pay them off so as to owe everything in one place.  “If worst comes to worst, I shall sell the automobile although only as a last resort,” he wrote. This year’s board job is not working out well either.

“I’m driving myself for about the first time this year this week. By driving, I mean the old familiar routine of at it until tired enough to drop, then to bed, up regularly, and at it again,” he writes Oct. 30.

Dec. 16 Dick writes he has been called before the Miller Loan Board to explain why he has not been able to pay anything on his loan. “I have left the decision up to them and they know the whole situation: no work in Detroit, supporting myself here, and, incidentally, if the chapel speech business was what it was last year, I would be able to meet payments….I have definitely decided not to go on with graduate work of any sort after this year unless at some time in the future I should find myself flush and willing.”

It appears that the Miller Loan Board insisted on payment because by January 1935 Dick is back home in Detroit. He apparently takes the first job he can get in what sounds like a machine shop. “I am a true factory worker at last…the noise is terrific, the air is bad, and I got a fierce bawling out last week for opening a window one day…Sent forty simoleons down to Oberlin to apply on the hundred I borrowed last fall and will this week send thirty to the Miller Loan boys. This definitely puts me back on my feet…”

Bill steadily seeks work, gets a job with NBC

Feb. 26, WHA write that Bill’s job with Nabisco has petered out. WHA sends him to a contact of his for a job, then Nabisco called Bill back for 2 ½ days. Bill has sent out a “barrage of letters” to newspapers seeking work, but nothing has come through. He sells his blood at Ford Hospital to bring in money.

April 3 WHA write that Bill has a job with NBC. He also takes a side job per his letter of April 7: ghost-writing a thesis for a friend who is a senior at the University of Detroit, an “8000 word thesis on a phase of Browning’s poetry.” Bill regards this as a purely commercial transaction; “It will be fun to get out Jellife’s notes and a few books and throw myself back into the spirit of college for a while.”

July 12 WHA reports that Bill has a raise at NBC from $18 to $21 a week. He began the year at $14 a week, so this is a great improvement.

Alice stays at home a year before entering Oberlin

FGA writes Dick April 26 “Your idea about Alice being home a year is a good one and we are thinking about it. It may be the necessary course anyway.” The family finances have improved, but are still far from stable. WHA is working temporary jobs through New Deal programs with very little certainty on how long they will last.

June 4 Alice graduates high school valedictorian of her class. She visits relatives in OH during the summer and turns 18 on Oct. 18.

Nov 24 FGA writes to Bob and Roberta that Alice is starting on the reading list they sent. The Adams standard procedure is “read if you do not have a job or are not in school.”

Eleanor continues to flourish with the piano

WHA write April 16 that “Eleanor’s dance orchestra is playing tonight at a party of the Allied Youth at the YWCA. ..She says it is such fun to play in a dance orchestra.”

Friends offer to loan the family their summer lake cottages

 There are discussions of borrowing summer lake cottages from several friends, but the family does not take any of these offers.  Eleanor and Alice go to visit the OH relatives by themselves, but separately, for long stays.

WHA sets up the loan of their friends the Beckleys summer lake cottage to Bob and Roberta for a week, however. Alice and a friend come and use Bob and Roberta’s Chicago apartment for the week they are at the cottage.

WHA works and FGA rests as much as possible during the hot humid Detroit summer.

 FGA attends a Socialist convention in Detroit

June 4 FGA writes “I went to the Socialist convention one afternoon last week. I wish I could have gone more, but I caught something of the spirit there. I feel sure there is no other party I can follow at the present time.”

Bob passes his exams for the PhD in English at the University of Chicago

WHA write August 19 “We rejoice with you that you have successfully hurdled those final exams and are sure that your hearts are lightened. From now on your course may be a narrower one, possibly more plainly charted.”

WHA moves in to Hull House in Chicago; FGA visits

Nov. 16 WHA writes that Hull House has accepted him as a Resident (see below) and he will move in after FGA visits for Thanksgiving.

WHA was invited to dinner at Hull House and was smitten. Dinner was announced by “a waiter-dressed youth passing through the residence tapping on a Chinese gong…The china is their own pottery, bright-colored noodle soup came on in a huge tureen shaped like a gondola. Miss Dewey ladled it out into gay soup bowls……the main course was baked ham, potatoes au gratin, and steamed onions and there were seconds of everything. Dessert was gingerbread with whipped cream…The dinner was leisurely, 6:16-7:45 with much gay and sparkling conversation.”

Hull House in 1910 (from a postcard). Hull House was a settlement house on the Near West Side of Chicago co-founded in 1889  by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr to provide social and educational opportunities for working people in the surrounding area, many of whom were newly arrived European immigrants. At that time, the Near West Side was a mix of Italians, Germans, Jews, Greeks, Irish, and French Canadians. 

Hull House programs were run by Residents (as Hull House volunteers were called), who taught classes in literature, history, art, domestic skills (such as sewing), and many other subjects. Hull House also held free concerts and lectures and ran clubs for both children and adults.

At the neighborhood level, Hull House established Chicago’s first public playground, bathhouse, and public gymnasium, investigated housing, working, and sanitation issues, and pursued educational and political reform.  Hull House gradually advocated for reform at the municipal, state, and federal levels, addressing issues such as child labor, women’s suffrage, healthcare, compulsory education, and immigration policy. Their advocacy at the city level led to the first juvenile court in the US and a transition to a branch library system.

With its innovative programs, Hull House became the standard bearer for a movement that grew to almost 500 settlement houses nationwide by 1920.

Dec 2 FGA writes that she spent Thanksgiving at Hull House with WHA, where she found the other guests very stimulating. “Miss Addams presided at our table. Next on her right was a Mr. Elliott, President of the New York City Ethical Society…On her left was a Mrs. Lazareth, a Russian actress and dramatic teacher who went through the Russian Revolution. Across the table was a Mr. Kelley, just out of jail on charge of distributing Communist literature.”

FGA and WHA see a lot of Bob and Roberta and have lunch at the Englands (Roberta’s parents) “There are the most fascinating Mexican and Italian food shops along Halsted Street…I may say I would like to live a while at Hull House,” writes FGA on Dec. 2.

She sounds more cheerful than she has for a long time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1933: Conditions hit bottom; the New Deal comes to the rescue

A City of Detroit $1 scrip note, front and back. Scrip was a form of IOU that Detroit issued to City employees, including teachers, in lieu of pay for part of 1933. Merchants who agreed to take scrip in payment could apply the total amount to their City tax bill. The fine print  states that it is technically a municipal bond in a one-dollar denomination paying 5% interest, thus evading laws on issuing local currency.

The winter of 1933-34 was a very difficult period in the US and for the Adams family.

WHA has to leave his downtown office as he cannot pay the rent

Feb 13, 1933 to sons at Oberlin:” I am starting to pack up to vacate this office, taking necessary stuff home, including some files and a drafting board… Mother has offered to take in some of our office chairs, the three best one, and the small table, stand, and telephone stand. Everett is coming tonight and we will take home the transit, adding machine, typewriter, and a couple of lamps…Most of the stuff I’ll simply assign over to the building for back rent as I don’t want –the expense of moving and storing it.”

He explains, “…The Hofman widow…laid down the law that all non-rent paying patients should be oslerized [euthanized for being elderly.] We had been all set to run along until business picked up on a less than nominal basis…How much better off will she be with a lot more vacant space on her hands?” WHA asked Bill to try to sell the Ediphone for $40.

WHA sets up an office in the basement with a drafting table and four file cabinets and ’30 transfers cases…full of records of twenty-four years of work.” He adds that his friend Mr. Beckley helped him sort and pack for a couple days and WHA give him “several hundred pounds of samples of stone, marble, brick, tiles, terra cotta, etc.” for the rock garden Beckley plans to build.

The Governor of Michigan closes banks for eight days & local schools close a month early for lack of funds. 

Feb. 13, 1933 WHA writes the college boys “This morning Michigan is agog with the sudden news that the Governor has closed all banks in the state for eight days….The Union Guardian Trust Co is said to be in trouble, and as practically every bank in Michigan has bank deposits [there]…a run on that institution would endanger every bank in Michigan.”

FGA to Bob & Roberta March 3, 1933: re banks closing “it is a bad condition, but not so bad for those of us who keep no money in the bank or have none to put in. To date we are just as well off as we have been.”

March 3, 1933 FGA writes Dick that their lodgers Miss Haigh and Miss Blakely “wonder when they will be paid again with city money tied up in Michigan’s now famous bank holiday. The city employees may get 50% in scrip or even more.”

She adds that the schools are closing in May, a month early, as the schools have run out of money. “Many parents are furious that the Board of Education did not begin to look ahead when the 15-mil amendment was passed in November and make such adjustments as would ensure a longer term.” [Taxes were lowered, but apparently the budget was not adjusted to match.]

Following suit, FDR closes the banks nationwide & establishes the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

As you may recall, in 1933 a President still took office on March 4, a holdover from an time. The 20^th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified January 1933, set inauguration at January 20.

As one of his first actions, newly inaugurated President Roosevelt closed the banks nationwide March 6 -13, 1933 and passed emergency legislation establishing the FDIC to ensure bank deposits at the federal level and restore confidence in the banking system. The FDIC ensured deposits to $2500 in 1933 (to $5000 by 1935.)

The Michigan Legislature funds Detroit by borrowing against unpaid taxes

March 10, 1933 WHA writes family: “The day you were leaving the Michigan Legislature passed a bill permitting Detroit to borrow $20,000,00 against unpaid Taxes…it seems to be agreed that Detroit is thus supplied with enough cash funds so that paydays will be assured to City employees until June 30.” He comments,” it is no better for a city than for an individual to use next year’s income this year.”

This means that the lodgers, all City employees, will be paid and FGA and WHA will have an income.

The lodgers continue with personnel changes & economic strains

WHA to Bill & Dick, Jan. 8, 1933: During Miss Parks long vacation, another lodger has been gotten in. WHA says “Mrs. Savage will be with us for another week anyway…[she] is good company, an incessant talker, but usually has ideas…. She and Miss Blakely get along very comfortably…” Jan. 16, 1933 WHA writes the family that Miss Parks has returned and cannot decide what to do. Mrs. Savage has decided to stay longer, so WHA and FGA have told Miss Parks to go elsewhere.

By March 10, 1933 WHA reports that they are taking in a third teacher, Miss Lincoln [It appears that Mrs. Savage has moved on.] All three lodgers are city employees and their rents are FGA and WHA’s sole source of income at that time. “…all HP school employees received but 10% of their February wage …Both our City-supported guests are close to the bottom of their purses…”

March 3, 1933 FGA writes Dick that their lodgers Miss Haigh and Miss Blakely “wonder when they will be paid again with city money tied up in Michigan’s now famous bank holiday.  The city employees may get 50% in scrip or even more.”

She adds that the schools are closing in May, a month early, as the schools have run out of money. “Many parents are furious that the Board of Education did not begin to look ahead when the 15-mil amendment was passed in November and make such adjustments as would ensure a longer term.”

April 22 WHA to Bob & Roberta writes that FGA “has house cleaning nearly done…She is about all in –what with the care of a near psychopathic case in Miss B. Scrip difficulties have almost been too much for her.” By May 11, FGA writes Roberta “Miss B has given us worlds of worry. She may go away next week. She gets her affairs in dreadful tangles. I think a guardianship is the only thing for her. There are times when she is distinctly off.”

Grace Haigh, however, has become a close friend and takes outings with the family. She has a car, which is helpful. WHA April 22 mentions that “Grace took M, E, and I out Van Dyke to Utica, from there along the Clinton River where we found lots of wild flowers.” On June 4, WHA write Bob & Roberta that FGA, Grace, Alice, and Helen have gone to Ohio to visit FGA’s relatives. On June 26, FGA writes that Grace tools FGA, Eleanor and Mrs. S to hear a carillon concert.  On Sept 21, WHA mentions that FGA and Grace went downtown. On October 4, WHA notes that William and Grace went to the movies downtown “Grace had been paid in cash instead of scrip …and felt expansive.” On Oct 26, 1933, WHA writes that Grace took Eleanor to a children’s play and took Alice to another play.

On May 31, WHA writes Dick “…this week City ‘scrip’ came out…It is unpopular with the merchants and hard to get rid of. Mother spent most of yesterday in finding places where she could buy with it, and even at that, those places will be apt to be full up of scrip by next weekend. Highland Park teachers will have about $400-$500 worth of it…There was a perfect orgy of spending this week in the stores that had announced that they would take it. Most of them will soon reach their limit, the amount that will take care of their taxes.”

Aug 2 WHA writes Bob & Roberta that Miss Lincoln “has made an exit. Her room has been cleaned and made ready for another. There were rumors of six collegians who were to come to Chrysler from NYC and would need quarters, but we saw but one and he did not take the room yet. Miss Blakely is still out at the Lake and will be apt to stay till mid-September, possibly losing her room by that means as Mother will not hold it for her if another comes in.”

WHA makes a brief foray into local politics 

Flyer for WHA as Highland Park City Commissioner

Feb. 13, 1933 WGA to Oberlin boys: He reports that he gave a speech on Taxation to the Highland Park Taxpayers’ Association.  “To my surprise, I find that they are nominating ME for a Commissions in the H.P. Primary Elections March 6….” Mother says that it is the best speech on taxation and/or public affairs that she has ever heard….” As the Association has a thousand members, WHA thinks he might have a chance.

WHA files, but says “I have little expectation of being nominated and less of being elected. I will not be able to spend a cent for publicity…there is a large field of aspirants.”

March 30, 1933, WHA writes everyone: “As expected, I did not survive the primary election…”

WHA gets involved in community relief work

Letter of April 20, 1933 WHA to Bob: “For a man who has nothing to do, I lead an extraordinarily busy life.” Most of his time is taken by a “trading post” community venture, a sort of co-op whose members can trade goods and services. “We now have 153 members and grow steadily” The Detroit papers have written articles about it.

“Also, I have taken the lead in the Thrift Garden movement, which is rolling up like a huge snowball. Think I’ll only have to start this, however, and someone else will run it. My part all over this week possibly.”

WHA April 22 to Bob & Roberta: “Yesterday I went out with Commissioner Kink to look for land for the garden scheme. Found lots of it out John R. about ten miles out, and Zink is handling the contact with the owners. Yesterday it was announced that Ford has donated the use of 1000 acres of his holdings around Dearborn…Ford is the largest taxpayer in HP and we are trying to get him to do the same here.”

By May 8, 1922 WHS writes Bob and Roberta that “We are about to discontinue the Trading Post, can’t make it self-supporting. It would require a subsidy which is not available. We have about 70 completed jobs to our credit, have somewhat over 200 members, have about 22 members with credit balances and about 20 with debit balances.”

WHA on May 31, 1933:” We have concluded that a store is necessary if the Post is to be even remotely self-supporting…Have found an old rookery on Cottage Grove near Woodward that needs so much repair that we could work out a year’s rent there…We are working on it.”

Dick gets entrepreneurial

He sells his blood for money. During summer 1933, Dick sold his blood (type universal) at the Ford Hospital in Detroit at $25/pint, “the easier money he ever heard of” says WHA in a letter of Aug. 2, 1933 to Bob & Roberta. The Hospital called the house asking for Dick to give more after he had returned to college.

He mimeographs & sells copies of Oberlin Chapel speeches by notable people. Oberlin had a program of weekly lectures by notable people in the Chapel for the whole student body. Dick has the idea of getting the text of the speeches, mimeoing them, and selling them right after the speech when interest is high.

Dick to Bob & Roberta Nov 1933 says how profitable the speech selling business has been. “I am making so much that I don’t bother to keep books, I figured out that I cleared about $15 during October, which wasn’t bad since I was rather unorganized…Once I figured that out, it was easy. Now the way I do it is to appear at a different dorm each noon, make a brief announcement, and display the talks right on the spot. Not every day, but whenever I possibly can…I figure out that since the first of this month I have taken in between 45 and 50 chips gross. I don’t know how much of this is profit, but probably at least thirty-five. It has been my only income since the first of the month. I have a bank balance of 27, I sent 15 home…”

“As valuable as anything else has been the faculty contacts I have had,” he continues.  Dick gets the written text the speakers, mostly Oberlin professors, who are surprised and flattered at how well their speeches sell. Dick types the stencils himself, but hopes to have them done at the Business School soon.

The money Dick earned selling copies of speeches enabled FGA to buy some orthopedic shoes she needed. Sister Alice wrote him on Nov. 9 saying that FGA needed these shoes badly. “Corrective shoes cost $8-$10. I can scrape together two or three dollars. I don’t want to ask Bill because he’s already turning all his money over to Mother. I am going to write to Bob and do you think that between us we can scrape together enough? If you can possibly scrape together and spare a couple dollars, send them to me, will you? Don’t send it to Mother because she’ll spend it on something else… I wouldn’t ask you, Dickie, I know what a hard time you’re having yourself, but this is really getting desperate.” Dick sends Alice a PO order for the money for the shoes and Alice gives it to WHA as WHA reports Nov. 15, 1933.

WHA writes Bob & Roberta Nov. 26, 1933 “His scheme of supplying copies of speeches bids fair to pay so well that he’ll leave Oberlin almost clear of debit, Miller Loan, etc. He took in about $50 between Nov. 1-19 with not over $10.00 expense.

He holds three PT jobs at Oberlin. Dick is a lab assistant, works in the library mopping at night, plus waits table for his board in addition to selling speeches.

He also holds loans. He has a student loan and WHA has taken another loan using Dick’s life insurance as security

FGA writes Dick Nov 3, 1933” I am so proud or your spirit and courage.”

Bill plays in the band at Oberlin winter 1933-34 & gets job in Detroit by summer

Bill to FGA and WHA Feb. 24, 1933 reports “Up till now there has been rather of a lull in the orchestra business around here, but things are breaking with rapidly and within the last week jobs have come in that will keep us busy every Saturday through April…I admit frankly that it is a source of considerable gratification to me that I can, in a time like this, take care of myself without drawing on the paternal sources that have given me so much already that I can never repay.”

The National Recovery Administration (NRA) was a New Deal agency established in 1933. The goal was to eliminate race-to-the-bottom competition by bringing industry, labor, and government together to create codes of fair practices and set prices. The aim of the codes was to end destructive competition and to help workers by setting minimum wages and maximum weekly hours, as well as minimum prices at which products could be sold.

Bill is home during the summer of 1933 when the NRA arrived in Detroit.

WHA writes Bob & Roberta Aug. 2, 1933:” Last night’s paper noted from A&P that the joining of NRA  by A&P would mean their taking on many new men. Today William contacted one of their store managers and was advised to rush down…that they were to employ 600 new men…The boys have returned [and were] a day too late. The A&P took on 400 men yesterday and do not anticipate adding any more until September 1^st. However, there are others who will be similarly affected that they are going to make a careful study of the situation and may be able to find some other similar place…”

Sept 26, 1933 WHA to Bob & Roberta mentions that Bill has a job.

Bill writes Dick Oct. 6, 1933 “I am pretty well at home now in the office of the N.B. C. The first two and a half weeks were tough, but I found my stride and am now doing my full share of the billing…. And I enjoy the work and the fellows.” Bill contributes his salary to the family.

FGA is thrifty

WHA writes on March 10, 1933 “Mother is making Alice a coat of old materials, a very difficult job in this case as she has none too much materials.”

Oct 26, 1933 WHA writes Dick that FGA is making herself a coat out of an old one.

FGA continues canning, buying fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets and roadside stands, aided by Everett with his car. WHA Sept 29, 1933 “Today mother is again canning tomatoes, also making green tomato pickloes and some pimiento relish. She and Everett went out to a roadside stand last evening…”

WHA’s letters often mention baked beans for dinner.

Social life, the Methodist Church & the Wranglers continue, always

Relatives visit in a steady stream.

WHA and FGA keep up with their Chinese friends. WHA write June 11, 1933 of a large party in honor of Miss Chen, who has recently been appointed Industrial General Secretary for the YWCA for all China and is currently the Treasurer of the Chinese Christian Students Association.  Miss Chen never showed up, but many other YWCA people did, along with members from Methodist Church and five people from the Labelle Ave ME Church (African-American) and everyone had a good time

Nov 15, 1933 WHA write that FGA is having the United Missionary Society from the Methodist Church over.  FGA put out her silver and china and guests brought refreshments.

On April 20, WHA writes that he is giving a speech at the Wranglers on “Is Technocracy Dead?” On Nov. 2, 1933, he writer Bob & Roberta that he is working up a talk on “What I’d expect to see in China”, doubtless drawing on all the reading about China that he has been doing.

And, of course, there are always events at the Methodist Church, together with weekly church attendance and Methodist friends.

Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church Order of Services & 
Calendar, Jan. 22, 1933. The Adamses attended services each Sunday (often twice), taught & attended Sunday School, sang in the choir, served on committees, & attended church events. The building served the Methodist Church 1923-1978 when it was taken over by the New Mt. Moriah Baptist Church.

WHA teaches well-attended Sunday School classes.On Feb. 21, 1933 WHA writes the Oberlin boys, “There has been more than 240 registrations. About sixty attended the first class on Christianity and Crime. There were about thirty in my mission study class…”

FGA & WHA read on with books borrowed mostly from the Highland Park McGregor Library

Jan 16, 1933 “We are nearly through with the Epic of America [by James Truslow Adams]…All three of us [FGA, WHA, and Alice] have certainly enjoyed it, and what arguments it has started! One has to have the dictionary at hand all the time…” [They appear to be reading it aloud in the evening.]…Finished Van Loon’s Geography last week.

Feb. 13, 1933: WHA says, “Finished reading my 1031-page Law Book last week…”

Aug 2, 1933: WHA says, “We have read several new (to us) books about China and think about that possibility most of the time…We watch the news of recent economic changes and ponder.”

WHA to Bob and Roberta Sept 26, 1933: He had read the Dr. Schweitzer’s autobiography, Out of My Life and Thought and says,” … [it is] worth reading if only as it shows how he surmounted the great obstacles which confronted him.”

Oct 25, 1933 to Dick says, “Finished reading Land and Labour in China, by Towney, and am in the mist of Debt and Production, by Basset Jones.

Nov. 26 WHA writes to Bob & Roberta that he finished Folkways, by William Sumner, and Twenty Years A-Growing, by Maurice O’ Sullivan.

Nov. 29, 1933, WHA sends Bob a cc of a letter he wrote a friend about Germany Enters the Third Reich, by Calvin Hoover, noting. “You’d be especially interested in Hoover’s discussion of the part the students and unemployed college graduates played in the German overturn.” In his letter of Dec. 9, 1933, WHA further expands on the book and says that it could definitely happen in the US.

By April WHA has nibbles for engineering work

April 22, 1933 WHA to Bob & Roberta:” I have had three nibbles at engineering work! One is a pipe dream… the second is a revival of the last year’s Market Project on the Detroit House of Correction site….The third is brought up by a Chicago man who has some here to see me about my Ecorse Bay project, he is expected here again tomorrow and I am to lunch with him…”

WHA writer May 22 to Dick that he is estimating the Market job based on hand labor “on the supposed requirements of the new Federal Act which is to govern the Reconstruction Finance Corporation in its loan policy.”  The criteria for funding is the number of men put to work on a project. WHA was not asked to estimate the job like that, but is optimistic   “Saw my client a week ago today and he was very optimistic about the enterprise…I felt enough of the contagion to make it seem worthwhile to do three days work on new drawings last week and about four days on estimating this week.”

May 31 WHA writes Dick “I have had four nibbles at engineering work—think of it! Four in ten days, more than for two years past One is disposed of by quoting what looked to the promoter a fantastic price. It was a “pipe” anyway. The other three are actively pending…” One has to do with bank liquidation and I had a fine conference with Gov. Groesbeck Friday. He is Receiver for the Union Trust Co. A second has to do with my Ecorse Bay port project and comes from Chicago. I expect to meet tomorrow with the gentleman…The third is a revival of the Eastern Market Product Terminal on which I did so much work last year. This time it comes up under better auspices, with men back of it that have a better chance of being able to finance it…If this goes ahead, it will go soon as it is a relief measure, and if financed, it will be on account of the fact that it would take  thousand families off the Detroit Welfare for six months….It is quite exciting to have engineering ideas in my head again.”

Sept 26, 1933 WHA to Bob & Roberta: “I put in nearly $75 worth of time on that store remodel job and am not quite through yet.”

By fall, New Deal jobs become available & WHA applies, even out-of-state

WHA reports that he applied for position of Senior Engineer in Federal service and also applied with the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Nov. 15, 1933 WHA writes “My long-expected call to Toledo materialized and I spent Monday and Tuesday there.  The project…is for the construction of a large Winter Mooring Basin for about 45 lake cargo vessels…If it goes ahead, there will be a fine big job of the first magnitude…I am to go down there again tomorrow or Monday to see the Mayor and the Port Commission. My work so far has been with the President of the Port Commission whom I have know in various capacities in connection with waterway matters ever since about 1920…It would have to be financed by a federal loan…”

In a letter to Dick Dec. 1, 1933, WHA says that once the Pennsylvania Railroad agrees to sell the land, the project will need to go to the Toledo City Council for final approval. “it’s quite a long road from inception of a job to turning the first shovelful of earth.”

“I made a preliminary design that struck fire at once and estimated it up on the spot. I think I am firmly in the saddle if the job matures. I’d have to have an office in Toledo and the work would have to be done there with resident employees…”  By Dec. 9, 1933, WHA reports to Bob & Roberta that there is “much fear that the railway owned site cannot be secured and much talk of a different site out in the Bay on publicly-owned land.”

WHA is steady & calm in letters, but the times have been taking a toll. Helen writes Bob Jan. 13, 1933, “…I can never forget the pitiful letter he wrote me on his fiftieth birthday—at the office, alone, out of work, and completely discouraged…Can’t you send him a note now, just a bit of appreciation?”

Dick reports that WHA looks bad. Nov. 1933 to Rob and Roberta: “Dad…looked extremely worn, rather gaunt and worried, oppressed, and generally upset. If something doesn’t happen around there pretty soon, I hate to think to what may happen in the way of souring him on the world and on life in general. I was able to leave them $15, which seemed to help things out a lot, at least momentarily.”

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) comes to the rescue. The CWA (Nov. 1933-1934) was a short-term job creation program of the New Deal to rapidly create mostly manual labor jobs to employ the millions of unemployed during 1933-34. In 30 days, 2.6 million men and women were put to work repairing bridges, building roads, and working on parks, schools, and other public works.  The CWA also paid teachers’ salaries. In 1934, four million were employed.

On Nov 26, 1933 WHA writes of a possible project in Toledo, a Civil Works Administration (CWA) project.  The project hinges on the purchase of land belonging to the Pennsylvania Railroad and would supply work for 3000 men for ten weeks. “Think of 1500 men with pick and shovel and 1500 with wheelbarrow wheeling direct a quarter of a mile, mixing concrete by hand – 2600 yards of it.”

WHA notes “They put about 6500 men to work in Toledo and Lucas Country last Monday morning, paid directly by the CWA, mostly on not very valuable work.”

There are CWA projects in Detroit as well, of course.

WHA reports Dec 9 to Bob & Roberta that he “registered yesterday at the Veterans’ Building and was told that there has been a shortage of civil engineers this week to supervise projects underway. More than 75,000 unemployed have registered in Wayne County…They expect to put about 35,000 to work, have reached nearly 28,000 now. Lack of plans prevents much value coming out of their efforts. Mostly “raking leaves’ to use a trenchant expression of one CWA regional engineer.”

WHA adds that the Port District plan carried by 2.:1 vote in Wayne County. “…the next step has not yet been taken, but doubtless in political circles the possible candidates for Port Commissioner have been mulled over.” WHA has been working on trying to develop the Port of Detroit for years now.

WHA to Dick Dec. 10, 1933:” …I have been chasing CWA projects here and have some hopes of being put on within the next few days—30-hour week, $1220 ($1.20 an hour), on some kind of public work. Here’s hoping.”

On Dec. 17. 1933 WHA write Dick, “A CWA job is mine, starting tomorrow at City Hall Highland Park planning projects to keep 1200 men at work after their present jobs are finished.”

It has been a long year for WHA.

Other events

Amidst all of this, Eleanor blossoms with the piano. FGA and WHA have noted consistently in the letters that Eleanor does not like school and is home a lot with colds and sore throats. She would say how much she loved being at home and that she would rather be there. WHA notes earlier in 1933 that she has a C average “which is acceptable to her.”

WHA to Dick Jan. 27, 1933 says that “Eleanor is trying out for the job as pianist for the JHS orchestra…E is at the piano tonight at an orchestra at Trinity Church supper”.

Sept 26 WHA writes Dick “Eleanor is playing in two orchestras…She says she never had so much fun in her life as she is having this year.”

FGA writes Dick Oct. 6, 1933 of Eleanor: “She says this is the first time in her life that school has been so interesting she does not want to miss any.”

WHA & FGA consider living in China. It appears that FGA and WHA had some thought of going to China.

Aug 2, 1933: WHA says, “We have read several new (to us) books about China and think about that possibility most of the time…We watch the news of recent economic changes and ponder.”

WHA writes Rob and Roberta Nov. 15, 1933, “I am inclined to think that the China scheme has been finally exploded…Mother finally got the lowdown on living conditions in China and I am inclined to think she would feel very reluctant to make more than a tourist visit to that land.”

Bob’s wife Roberta is arrested during a demonstration in Chicago & briefly jailed. WHA reports in Letter of Sept 26, 1922 to Dick:” …[She] was by standing at a Communist demonstration in front of the German Consulate (on account of the preposterous trial in German of five Communists for setting fire to the Reichstag Building last May). Bobbie was standing with two other caseworkers from her office, both colored woman…Suddenly up rushed a big patrol wagon, out popped the police, and the three, with about twenty actual…demonstrators were roughly bundled into the Black Maria and off to JAIL. There they were given no opportunity to identify themselves and were permitted to cool off for 3 ½ hours, after which someone from Bobbie’s office rescued them…”

FGA gets political. FGA to Dick Nov. 3, 1933: “The League for Independent Political Action has a meeting…tomorrow and I want to go.”

Helen is in poor health.In Nov 1933, Dick notes in a letter to Bob & Roberta “…Helen looks very bad. She commented on various pains of one sort or another and generally looked to be in very poor health…”

On Dec. 1, 1933 FGA writes Richard “Helen is pretty miserable. She has dropsy, but is better than a few days ago…she was home part of the time for four weeks.”” [Note: dropsy is an older term for edema.]

FGA writes Bob & Roberta Dec. 9, 1933 “…we wish Everett would bring her home for a while. It is hard for him as he goes home at noon to fix the fire and get her lunch unless she is here.”

Helen had a period of poor health in 1930 and stayed home from work late February-early May. She wrote on May 5, 1930 “Probably I should have done as the doctor said and stayed in bed for two months. He says my heart is enlarged, whatever that means, and that the timing between the auricle and ventricle is wrong…” She was able to get back to her teaching job in May, however.

It’s going to be another Christmas without presents. FGA writes Bob & Roberta Dec. 9, 1933, “It has been decided that we present pictures of the things we would like to give each other for Christmas. No one should spend any money this year. We are searching the ads and having fun.”

1932: Conditions worsen further

 

In an infamous incident, 3000-5000 unemployed Ford workers marched peacefully to the largest Ford factory, the Ford River Rouge plant in Dearborn, on March 7, 1932. The marchers wanted to petition Ford to rehire the unemployed, provide funds for health care, end racial discrimination in hiring and promotions, provide winter fuel for the unemployed, abolish the use of company spies and private police against workers, and give  workers the right to organize unions.

Dearborn police met the marchers at the city limits with tear gas and started to club the marchers, who responded by throwing stones. Ford security guards opened gunfire. Five men lost their lives and 60 were injured. About 60,000 people attended the joint funeral. This incident provided impetus to unionize the auto workers.

The auto industry had brought prosperity to Detroit. In 1931, vehicle production fell to 1,332,000 vehicles, only 25% of the production of two years earlier Workers were laid off, and the wages of those still working slashed. In 1929, the average annual wage for auto workers was $1639. By 1931, it had fallen 54% to $757.

FGA’s mother falls ill & dies

During January-June 1932, WHA and FGA were preoccupied with the final illness and death of FGA’s mother, Helen Matilda Canfield Gossard. FGA spent much time at Bowling Green, OH, where her mother lived and finally brought her home in April to care for her.  FGA’s half-sister Myrtle came as well and stayed; the two took alternate shifts. It appears from the symptoms described that Helen Matilda has cancer. She died on June 14, 1932, at the house and FGA organized the funeral at the cemetery at Helena, OH, close to Helen Matilda’s longtime farm home. See https://adamsperiscope.wordpress.com/category/grandmas-parents/

FGA takes a road trip to Pine Mountain School

WHA to Bob March 25, 1932: A local teacher suggested that FGA and she drive down, another friend is coming, and Alice is included as it will be an educational experience for her over spring vacation. WHA notes that FGA needs more material for her talks on the Pine Mountain School and will charge a small honorarium that will cover the cost of her trip. Taking a break from her ill mother (then still in Bowling Green), FGA makes the trip. It will be her last break for awhile.

WHA to Dick Easter 1932 “Today mother and her friends were to tramp over Pine Mountain and reach the School. What a time they will have this week. They expect to return by a different route…”

Dick writes FGA for Mother’s Day

The times are distracting and everyone is working hard, but Dick and the other sons do not forget Mother’s Day. Dick writes on May 8, 1932 from Oberlin: “In referring to American Presidential elections, Professor Artz [ history professor] said, the other day, that these elections could be compared to Mother’s Day, coming every four years instead of one, and being heartily observed, but then immediately forgotten for another year or four.”

“This may be so in many families, Mom, but it isn’t in ours. Your sons here at Oberlin think of you always.”

“All three of us were at the Junior Prom last night. It isn’t often that we find ourselves all in the same place.”

“The cookies have been distributed about among the fellows as well as Bob and Bill – and met with universal approval.” [Note: FGA often included homemade cookies in the clean laundry sent from home.]

“Love from your third loving son,

Dick”

FGA loved the letter and replied on May 20, 1932: “Your Mother’s Day letter to me was precious. I do love you and rejoice in you as we do all of our children. Just as long as we preserve family love and loyalty, nothing can break our beloved ties.”

WHA looks for projects steadily, but nothing comes through. He juggles loans & finances are tight

WHA to Bob Feb. 15, 1932: He has a new job prospect, doing appraisals on foreclosed properties (of which there were many) . “The Patersons are organizing a group to buy up apartment properties which have been ‘re-possessed’ to use the modern …substitute for ‘foreclosed’. There would be a good field for appraisal work in connections with such a company.”

WHA to Bob April 27, 1932 “I am working on a preliminary job that has promise. It is a nice big job…This is a wholesale market project, somewhat similar to the big produce terminal out on Fort street, not as big, however, and with more promise of making money….Here’s hoping.”

WHA to Bob  April 27, 1932: “I managed to make another loan on my US policy, enough to pay the current quarterly premium and the due interest on the existing loan and have enough left to pay quarterly premiums on two other policies It’s living from hand to mouth…”

WHA to Bob May 7, 1932: “We are so so close that we buy no toothpaste, no ice, no anything we can possibly get on without. Better not buy any books or distant theater tickers until you are assured of sufficient funds for necessaries.”

WHA to Dick, May 16, 1932: “At the office there is nothing stirring. On a remote prospect, I am doing some studying and collecting data about grain elevators, but the prospect is remote…Could you borrow from college sources if necessary to the balance of your year’s expenses?”

In his extra time, WHA does chores at home and helps FGA in the house as most of her time and energy are absorbed by her sick mother earlier in the year. Later in the year, they have three lodgers, which creates more work.

FGA writes Dick Dec. 16, 1932’ “Dad is home quite a lot these days and is invaluable.”

The Adamses are not the only ones struggling

In a letter to Bob on May 5, 1932, FGA writes, “Detroit teachers must take half pay for May and June.”

WHA to Bob, June 10, 1932: “There is not the slightest chance of getting substitute work in HPHS. There are fifty or more teachers –former teachers—of the system who are available and, since we quit paying for substitutes, that is, we make teachers pay for their own substitutes, there has been almost no absence…”

FGA & WHA take lodgers to bring in money

WHA to Dick Aug. 6, 1932: “Laverne Parks has arrived for a stay as a ‘paying guest’. She is still under hospital care.” She appears to be convalescing.

WHA to Bill and Dick, Sept. 26, 1932: “Our second guest came Saturday, one Miss Haigh, a librarian over on the east side – a very pleasant young woman…She lost her heart to the pretty little bedroom you boys did up so well.  The other room is colorful and pretty, too…An aged dame is flirting with the idea of coming in…The girls moved up to the third floor last week…” ….” you boys had better send your front door keys home. We need them for our new responsibilities. (Hope it is not long that we have to have such, but in the meantime, they need keys…”

Oct 10, 1932, WHA write Dick “The study is now occupied by an elderly dame seeking solace of health and rest.”

Oct 12, 1932: FGA writes that the convalescent lady is home now. Last week another woman came, a retired kindergarten teacher…she pays $50 a month, which gives us an income of $120 a month…. Do you need any money? I may be able to send you at least enough to tide along. Later I can help quite definitely. It keeps us very busy, but is fine…”

Nov. 26, 1932 WHA writes Bob & Roberta: “Miss Parks…expects to seek greener pastures, is tired of the always the same short walks permitted and really needs a change of scenery. Her successor –for a month—is a Canadian lady, a friend of the Lindners, neighbors down the street.” WHA write Dick Dec. 2, “Miss Parks is still here, the successor did not succeed.”

WHA write to Bob & Roberta Dec. 8, 1932: “Miss Parks has gone to Albion for five days and comparative quite has descended…How that gal can talk or at least make noise…”

By December 16, we are hearing of three lodgers: FGA mentions the holiday plans of Miss Blakely, Miss Hough, and Miss Parks. Miss Parks appears to be staying on.

WHA writes Dick Nov. 4, 1932: “Our ménage goes smoothly under Mother’s skillful hands…”

When the boys come home to visit, it appears that cots are set up in the attic.

Despite hard times, WHA & FGA do not regret the money spent on educating their children

WHA to Bob June 10, 1932: “The times are not of your making. My generation is responsible for the conditions that grip us. If they continue until we lost every material thing that a quarter century has enabled us to lay by, we shall not feel that the money we have put into education is one of our losses – rather that is money that we cannot lose –it cannot be taken away from us unless you boys and girls…make nothing of the training that has been given to you.”

Bill graduates & hitchhikes around MI looking for a job, ends up playing in a band at Oberlin

On July 15, 1932 Bill writes Dick that he has been to Pontiac, Flint, Saginaw, and Bay City. In Bad Axe (pop 5000) he found a newspaper editor who might need a reporter soon. He is going to Battle Creek Friday with a friend of WHA who is driving there.

Bill to Dick Aug 1, 1932: He goes to Oberlin, visits Sandusky and Lorain to check out the newspapers, and then went to Lakeside  “…and that is where I landed my job. Art Curry is organizing a jazz band to operate out of Oberlin this year, all union band, none of the fellows in school, but merely living there to get a share of the college jobs. He hopes to play five or six nights a week, and we’ll make at least enough to live on besides being in the world’s most perfect place in which to live…I’d rather play than do anything else I know of and with this bunch of men, it will certainly be fun. And we may make a good deal of money—you never can tell.”

Bill hitchhikes back to Detroit, rests a bit, then hitches to Minnesota for a week with a friend where they will stay with college friends.

Nov. 14, 1932 Bill writes Bob & Roberta, “Our orchestra is coming along in fine shape and we have several big jobs ahead of us…We haven’t gone to the Union ranks yet, but I anticipate our joining in the near future…It’s a gamble, of course, but as far as I am concerned, there’ll never be a better time in my life to take a chance than right now.”

Always keeping an eye out, WHA write Dick on Dec. 13, 1932: “I wrote Bill yesterday that Fromm’s can use him in their sporting good department next week.”

Dick struggles to stay in college

WHA to Dick Aug. 6, 1932: “That is still in the lap of the gods. My big prospect is still only a prospect. I am working on it right along and it still looks promising. If it materializes, all will be well. I am afraid there is not enough definiteness about it to do more than live from day to day and make your plans to go back…”

Dick has gotten back to Oberlin somehow and gotten a job as FGA writes him on Sept. 29, 1932: “It is fine that you are head waiter.”

WHA write him Nov. 11, 1932: “Did I write you our approval of your financing scheme…It is OKed though we hope things won’t always require such intensive effort on your part.”

Dec. 4, 1932 Dick writes to Bob and Roberta: Dick has two jobs.  “After saving here at the room job for the first quarter I managed to save $27…I also have a job over at the Library, pushing a mop around two nights a week from usually a quarter of ten to a quarter after eleven, fee – 90 cents per night…I have turned into a regular miser and never even think of spending a cent except under unusual circumstances. Both of my suits are about shot…However, I stand a chance to get a job working at the lib for four days during the vacation…perhaps I’ll be able to wash enough windows to get a new suit, a nice brown one to match my eyes.”

FGA writes Dick on Dec. 16, 1932: “We think it would be better for you to say home during vacation, rest, and do some extra reading and studying if you wish to do so. It seems to us you need the rest. You are working very hard.”

Bob struggles to finish his MA & comes up with a plan

Bob paints in the local schools again, his sixth summer. WHA to Bob June 5, 1932: WHA advises that although the school maintenance budget was cut, there will still be painting work this summer. “It might be worth your while for you to consider the advisability of being here ready for work…Our schools close June 17 and I suppose that the summer gangs will start out the following Monday.  That is, it you do not have other plans for the summer. “On June 10, he adds, “With literally hundreds hounding [the Maintenance Supervisor] for work, the only safe bet is to be here.”

Bob does get a job painingt the local schools despite the intense competition, but the job abruptly ends on August 6, 1932 as WHA relates in a letter to Dick “Robert’s job came an abrupt end today to his horror. They are stopping the paint work entirely…”

FGA & WHA advise Bob to complete his degree. WHA to Bob June 10, 1932: “Mother thinks you had better plan to complete your work next year, either taking the half year of steady work or the whole year of more diluted work rather than try to drop out for a whole year…” [to earn money]. We may be going to need help desperately, If we do, that fact will develop during the summer and the final decision can be made before you have to go back in the fall…”

“No matter how much we need help, you can be of slight assistance  until you are ready for your life work and at it. Such fill-in jobs as you could get here, with a hundred thousand men tramping the streets and willing to work for pittance wages would be of small assistance to yourself or us…”

Bob shifts gears, transfers to the University of Chicago, aims for a PhD. Bob to Dick, Aug 1, 1932: Bob reports that the University of Chicago has given him a full year’s credit for his work at Oberlin. “This means that if I work like hell for two years and perhaps a wee bit more, I may be able to take not the MA, but the PhD, all in one great lump…” He has gotten a fellowship and will work in the university library part-time.

An added bonus to Chicago is that his girlfriend Roberta lives there with her family.

Bob & Roberta marry on short notice

In April 1932, Roberta left Marshall Fields Department Store and got a job as a case investigator with Chicago relief.

“At the nadir of the Depression, Chicago’s unemployed numbered 700,000 people (fully 40 percent of the workforce). By 1932 the city’s relief expenditures reached $35 million annually, an amount supplemented by an estimated $11 million in private donations—but these totals fell far short of the need” http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/883.html

Bob worries in his letter of April 24 about her having to visit bad neighborhoods and advises her to wear “some clean kind of uniform or badge of service”. In a letter of April 28, 1932, Bob says,  “ … it does not seem to me to be a good thing for us to be married when your family is largely depending on you for support…” However, Bob and Roberta decided to marry nonetheless.

Bob write Dick Sept. 29, 1932:  that they plan to be married in two weeks. “…an utterly simple wedding” Afterwards we’re going to live here near the University while I study and life will be very happy.” WHA & FGA cannot afford to come to Chicago for the wedding. Oct. 5, 1932 Bob write Dick and Bill not to come as it will be a very simple wedding in Roberta’s family living room and “the wedding journey will be taken in one of the coaches of the Elevated…” He says to wait until Christmas when he and Roberta will come to Detroit for several days.

They were married by the England family pastor in the England’s living room on Oct. 8, 1932 with members of her immediate family present. A nice luncheon at home followed. Roberta’s father refused to walk her down the very short aisle and give her away as he felt very strongly that a couple should not marry until the man could support the wife and a family. He himself had waited until his thirties to marry for that reason.

Roberta’s friends gave the new couple a shower in November.

WHA puts his extra time to good use.

WHA researches & writes articles published in The Detroit Free Press, one of  Detroit’s two newspapers

In January and February 1932, WHA used some of his free time to research the cost of government in Highland Park and to write articles about it. As a School Board member, he had regular contact with the city government.

To Dick Feb. 11, 1932: “Finished my six articles on cost of government in H.P. [Highland Park] and The News will begin running them ‘at once’…”  WHA had tried the local paper The Highland Parker, but “H.P. City Hall reached out a slimy hand and threatened to shut off Kingsley [editor of The Highland Parker]..the “wind” is city advertising…”

WHA reads a great deal, especially history & biography

McGregor Public Library, Highland Park. Highland Park boasted a  beautiful and well-stocked  public library and the Adamses were frequent borrowers. The McGregors gave the land to Highland Park in 1918, stipulating that the city build a substantial and attractive library there. At that time, Highland Park was a prosperous, growing city of about 50,000 with a strong tax base, upscale housing, the Ford assembly plant, and other factories that would soon be merged into the Chrysler Corporation.

In 1924, City voters approved $500,000 in bonds for the library and a Library Commission was appointed. The Commission searched the US for a model, settling upon the public library in Wilmington, DE. They engaged its architects, New York firm Tilton and Githens, to design a dignified classical Roman building for Highland Park.  

WHA to Bob May 16, 1932: He read Anatole France, Golden Tales in two days. He is reading Bryce, Holy Roman Empire, and Greene, England.

June 5, 1932 to Bob: WHA mentioned Hillis, A Man’s Value to Society and quotes at length.

WHA June 12, 1932 to Bob: He is getting Frank Lloyd Wright’s Autobiography from the McGregor library. He includes a list of ten books he wants to read, but could not find at the library. Titles include: San Yat Sen vs Communism. Social Interpretation of History, The New Canaan, Enchanted Woods, Dreamy River (fiction), Conquistador, Universe Unfolding, Flights from Chaos, The Lake Country, by Walpole.

Nov. 11, 1932 WHA to Dick: He lists three books he is reading and says he is reading from a W. G. A. [Writers’ Guild of America] booklist.

On Nov. 26, 1932 to Bob & Roberta, WHA mentions that The Epic of America, by James Truslow Adams, is “wonderfully interesting.”

On Dec. 8, 1932 WHA mentions to Bob & Roberta that he has finished Byrnes, Hungarian House, and is now starting Lavengro, by George Borrow.

FGA note in a letter Nov. 11 to Roberta that one of their lodgers, a librarian, also brings them books from her library.

Christmas 1932 will be without presents

FGA to Dick Dec. 16, 1932:  She writes that the plan for Christmas is to make a list of what each would buy the others if he/she could. FGA plans to “give” her half- sister Myrtle “a brown sport roadster touched up with scarlet spokes and lines. Alice will present her with a raccoon coat.  It seems rather a relief not to be buying a lot of things and at the same time thinking more.”

FGA writes to Bob & Roberta Dec. 16, 1932:  “It is priceless to have a new daughter-in-law – just the best and first Christmas gift, and then sons like you.”

The usual Christmas fruitcake is underway, however. WHA writes Dick Dec. 15, 1932: “I am going home early this afternoon to exercise the well-known biceps in stirring up the Christmas fruitcake.”

WHA & FGA continue to have a social life

WHA and FGA continue to dine at friends’s houses, have people over, attend Wranglers meetings, and attend church functions.

FGA thinks politics

Dec. 16, 1932 FGA write to Bob & Roberta: “I long to work with the Michigan Branch of the League for Independent Political Action and help create a new third party. I know I could make a political speech.”

She certainly is an experienced public speaker. WHA writes Dick on Oct. 5, 1932, saying  that FGA “…made her 59^th Mountain talk Sunday evening at the Boew’s church on Lucille’s invitation.”

In a letter to Roberta on Nov. 11, 1932, FGA reveals that she and WHA voted for Norman Thomas in the Presidential election of November 1932.

Norman Thomas (1884-1968), a Presbyterian minister, ran for President six times with the Socialist Party of America. He was an articulate advocate of democratic socialism and a pacifist.

 

Late 1931: The family is resourceful as conditions worsen

Unemployed man in Detroit c. 1930. Recall that there was no unemployment
insurance at that time.

By summer 1931, there were 100,000 unemployed in Detroit. WHA writes to Bob Nov. 8, 1931: “Unemployment is so severe here (only 38% of Detroit workers were employed Nov 1) that it would be useless for anyone to look in this direction.”

Detroit Mayor Frank Murphy does his best

Mayor of Detroit 1930-1933, Frank Murphy went on to become Governor of MI, Governor-General of the Philippines, US Attorney General, and a US Supreme Court Justice. In 1933, he helped form the U.S. Conference of Mayors to lobby Washington for aid to cities.  

Detroit Mayor Democrat Judge Frank Murphy rose to the challenge. He set up the Mayor’s Unemployment Committee (MUC) of private citizens from all sectors, which set up soup kitchens and community vegetable garden plots,  raised money for relief, and distributed food and clothing to the needy among other actions. He cut city employees’ pay 50% and replaced burned-out light bulbs with lower-wattage bulbs to save money.https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2015/07/19/frank-murphy-detroit-history/30381049/

Of these endeavors, the “thrift gardens” were the most successful. Community gardens had been implemented by earlier Mayor Hazen Pingree in response to a recession brought on by the Silver Panic of 1893. Mayor Pingree sold his best horse to launch the program at that time on 430 acres of land owned by the city. Murphy knew of these gardens and thought it was a good idea. Many of the thousands who had flocked to Detroit come from farm backgrounds and had gardening skills. Any extra produce could be canned.

Detroit thrift gardens in 1931

The MUC allocated $10,000 for the gardens, which would go to welfare recipients and unemployed. The land was located by the Detroit Real Estate Board, the Dept. of Parks and Boulevards provided equipment and prepared the land, and the Dept. of Public Works staked out the plots. Seeds were provided and tools loaned. Gardeners were not allowed to sell their produce, and had to agree to serve occasionally as a night or day watchman to protect against theft. There were 6,600 gardens on over 400 acres.

The Project Commission determined that “Fresh air, sunlight and the visible results of their own work have altered the morale of many gardeners. The mental, physical and social rehabilitation of the individual gardeners is perhaps as important an aspect of the Thrift Garden Project as the financial benefits.”

Election booths were recycled as storage sheds for tools and seeds.

Note that that community plots returned to Detroit after the city’s bankruptcy in 2013. Detroit now has one of the strongest urban garden networks in the US; 23,000 Detroiters participate with over 1500 individual gardens. Keep Growing Detroit, a nonprofit  with  goal of promoting a “food-sovereign city,” operates the Detroit Garden Resource Program, which provides seeds, soil testing, and tool lending libraries, together with the Grown in Detroit co-op, which sells locally grown produce at the historic Eastern Market.

https://urbanland.uli.org/industry-sectors/public-spaces/growing-city-detroits-rich-tradition-urban-gardens-plays-important-role-citys-resurgence/

https://detroithistorical.wordpress.com/2012/12/04/thrift-gardens/

Family life went on, however.

Helen is married

Helen and longtime boyfriend Everett Booth are married in the back yard in June 27, 1931 and live at their own place. There are frequent visits back and forth. Her income and help in the house are no longer available.

She gets homesick and comes home for a weekend. Bob to Roberta  July 13, 1931: ”Helen and Everett are established in their new maison. Being homesick last weekend, they occupied my room while I was away.”

The remaining family pitches in to run the house

Although there is no mention of the departure of live-in domestic Eva, it would be have been impossible for WHA and FGA to have live-in or outside help with the financial pressures they had in 1931. This means that FGA, WHA, and the family at home needed to do all cooking, cleaning, gardening, and chores. When Bob, Dick, and Bill were at college, that left FGA, WHA, Alice (age 14), and Eleanor (age 11) at home.

As you may recall, it was a large house: living room, dining room, kitchen, screened porch, and library on the first floor. There were four bedrooms on the second floor, with  a sleeping porch and full bath. The third floor had bedroom/sitting room, bathroom and attic. There was a large backyard with garden and a smaller front yard.

Alice, the next oldest girl, is pressed into service. WHA to Bob Sept. 28, 1931 “Alice is housekeeper and doing a good job, too.” FGA to Bob Oct. 29, 1931 of Alice, who is planning a Halloween party for her Girl Scout troupe:  “She is a genius at doing very nice things at very little cost.”

WHA notes leaving work early to do chores. Since there was less work at the office, he could do this. He mentions painting, putting screens up and down, and gardening.

WHA has work sporadically & steadily promotes for more

WHA to college boys, Oct. 16, 1921 “Had a new little job today, court case, building supposed to have been injured by digging a deep sewer alongside. Made the inspection, reported to the attorney that he had no case for extensive damages and had better accept any reasonable offer of the City…earned $30.00”

Bob to Roberta  Sept 17, 1931: “Dad is a fine, even a brilliant engineer, and his wide reputation serves inestimably. This year one job has been practically all the work in the office and that earned only $1500. To us that sum seems large, but so are our debts.”

WHA to college boys Nov. 5, 1931. “I have put in some hours on the Salvation Army job… Have put in a number of hours on the attempt at securing from the State Securities Commission some of their appraisal work. Thinks I have an excellent chance…”

Bob to Roberta Sept. 17, 19341 “And the very latest!  Two nights ago Dad came home seeming unusually cheerful….” The Detroit News wants to send WHA to survey the Wabash River tributary to see if flood control by delayed flow was feasible. “In a long standing controversy, the US Army engineers have held out for levees; most other engineers favor dams in tributaries flood control.”

WHA & FGA are resourceful

WHA builds a walkway from salvaged materials. WHA to Bob Oct. 8, 1931: “Yesterday I dragged in from the alley the three-ton load of fragments of cement sidewalk which the DPS had dumped and arranged a garden wall, which I will construct by sinking the pieces flush with the lawn. This morning I finished relaying the brick walk on the east side of the house, around to a juncture with the walk from the front door to the street…”

FGA returns to canning.  May 1, 1929 WHA to Bob said “Mother and I canned 16 quarts of pineapple Monday night between eight and eleven o’clock. When you were all small, we always did our canning after you had all gone to bed. Many a night we peeled and canned a bushel of peaches or more that way….We used to can 300 quarts of fruit a season. Then the farms themselves brought in fresh fruit and there would usually be a brief time for each kind when one could buy in quantity at a low price. That is now no longer so…”

WHA to Bob May 6, 1930: ”Owing to changes is marketing there are many more fruits available in winter than formerly. Last year we did not can any fruit.”

Conditions seem to have changed. FGA to Richard, Sept 26, 1931 wrote that Everett and Helen had driven her to a farmers’ market  She canned “a bushel of peaches, half a bushel of plums and made jam of both kinds and canned pimentos, in all fifty jars of assorted sizes.”

The college boys all work while going to school

-Bob paints the local schools again between his senior & post grad years

Though the prospects had been slim due to the large number of unemployed, now highly experienced Bob lands the job again for the fifth summer. He trains the new workers and tried to read as much English literature as possible in his off-hours to fill in his substantial gaps. He writes longing letters to his girlfriend Roberta, who has a summer job looking after the children of a professor’s family at their summer place in Maine.

To Roberta August 16, 1931 he reflects that he owns FGA and WHA $1400 (for his education) “and I feel like Sisyphus of old, ceaselessly shouldering the eternal boulder up the interminable mountain in Hades….”

Bob to Roberta  Aug. 11,1931: ”Tomorrow I must clamber among a veritable ..labyrinth of pipes, engines, pumps, boilers and flues to spray-calcimine a boiler room.”

Bob to Roberta, Aug. 16, 1931: He is saving money and has $200 set aside “for this year in which I must be self-supporting.  Mr. Jeliffe who secured me a scholarship, is my present god in the Oberlin academic Olympus. Otherwise Bob might be shoveling coal or slipping into the river in dark despair this fall. I do hate mercenary life, yet I enter..heartily into the present business of money grubbing that freedom of thought and comparatively of action may later be secured.”

In a letter to Roberta August 22, 1931, he says, ”Oh, how tiresome and drudging the daily round becomes…The men who work with me never think about their daily work except as it furnishes a steady return. Mentally they are stagnant, every one…”

He is very glad at the prospect of post-grad study:  Bob to Roberta, Aug. 26, 1931: If ,,I knew that I might only look forward this fall to a “job”, that soul-dulling tedious entry into business slavery, I might have gone half-mad at times…”

-Bob works at Oberlin to finance himself post-grad

He comments how many have returned for graduate work. Bob to Roberta Sept 24, 1931 ”Half the class seemed returned for graduate work It is become comical and a standing joke…” It appears that many families think going to school is a good investment when jobs are scarce.

Bob is waiting table at the Theology Building to earn his board and finds out that he is the only one not living in the dorm there with a board job. He writes, ”the inscrutable Goddess Fortune is inclining to me.” (Bob to Roberta Sept. 24, 1931) “…I shall work from 7-9 every weekday morning and an hour at noon weekdays. At 40 cents an hours 18 hours = $7.20. Board is $6.50. According to the system, a man puts in about 18 hours a week…I shall try to run up a reserve for desired furloughs”(To Roberta Sept. 25, 1931)

In addition to his board job waiting table, Bob lands a job as a sports reporter for the Ohio Associated Press. He had planned to correct chemistry notebooks to pay for his room “odious work at 40 cents/ slow hour..(letter to Roberta of Sept. 20, 1931)  “I was given the Oberlin assignment for all and winter athletics.!  ‘’I am to cover all homes games…50-75 words daily 100 words and line-ups for conference games; more for special games of unusual interest.” He earns several dollars a week for this.

Bob comments on the contrast between his life and the outside world; Bob to Roberta Sept 21, 1931: “The contrast between secluded college life, where even the most desperate struggles are glossed over and the outer world just now is a glaring one, It seems unjust that many should live in plenty here, even in modest luxury, whole thousands are near the borderlines of starvation”

-Despite working, Bob frantically juggles his bills

Bob to Roberta  Oct. 4, 1931;”Dean Coles called me in the other day and informed me that I must pay my first semester’s tuition, whether or no I received the scholarship, in this case being a refund of the semester bill in February. I had hoped to defer the bill altogether, You see, I came with just $150.00 and I now have remaining about $110—half of my room rent as well as books etc. yet to be bought. Ergo, I cannot pay the tuition entire. I shall pay 50% as evidence of good faith—postpone the rest until the semester’s end and then try to keep the bills in mid-air, juggler fashion, over the few mid-semester days. I suppose I must find someone who can lend me the money for four days…with the possibility that I might be unable to repay the loan at once. If the scholarship was even withheld for one semester and granted the second, it would be useless.  I would go a-packing. Further obligations begin in December 1^st when I must commence repayment of a $250 loan from the college at $5.00 per month. Atlas with the world on his shoulder seems kin to me just now…”

Bob to Roberta Oct. 7, 1931 He wants to visit her in Chicago to see her (Roberta graduated and is living at home with her family). Too broke to take the bus, he is planning to hitchhike. ”…I paid 40% tuition in response to Dean Coles’ desire. The remainder I postponed, $50.00, to Dec 19 and the rest until Feb. 7…I cordially agreed to defer $50 to Dec. 19 when (tho I haven’t old him) I shall request the deferment in toto to Feb. 6. I hardly see how he can refuse, do you?”…The college will pay me $150 on Feb. 8 and all will be well, but a dreadfully close squeeze until then…”

By Dec. 4, 1931, Bob has to make an emergency call to WHA and FGA for some financial help to tide him over.

-Bill plans to make serious money playing in a band at Oberlin

Bill writes Dick August 14, 1931: ”Right now my big interest is in what I think to be the biggest break I have every got and as you’ll probably guess, I mean jazz. George Brandon has been so dissatisfied with Ready’s band that he has organized another, and I am going to play tenor sax. And if you don’t think we are going to town, just listen to these plans:

1. George is going to finance the band, that is, he is going to get hold to two baritone saxes, square collapsible racks (wood), drapes for the racks, and a banner with our name on it.
2. We have all the best players in the old orchestra and one of the poor ones. We have Hoelk, Bill Stocker, Glenn Morgan, Paul Finkelhouser (2^nd trumpet) and practically clinched Ready for trombone, Wilson for piano, and a pal of Ralph’s for trumpet (who is the best Oberlin has ever had, according to Hank). We have dropped Hubbard, Sando, and Lightner, all undesirable.
3. In Cleveland there is an old high school pal of George’s who has said (I saw the letter) that he can book us (he is a booker for orchestras) every Saturday and Sunday night in the year if we are good. Now you can see that this means money for us. It is our break. Also George has one other booker signed up. So it looks like we’ll have plenty of jobs.
4. We’ll play formals, all college in Oberlin, but no recs because they don’t pay enough. There is bound to be another orchestra there, run by Hal or somebody else, and they can have rec jobs

We are out for real money and it looks like we’ll get it. Our band will be large enough to play anything (nine pieces) and not so larger (as it as last year) that we don’t each get a fairly large individual swath…We already have all the freshman dances signed up for, so that will give us something to start on. How does it sound?”

Both boys hitchhike rather than take the train to save money to see friends or get back to Oberlin.

-Dick gets a scholarship & a board job at Oberlin waiting table

The $100 scholarship Dick got in February 1931 was good news. WHA wrote Feb. 24, 1931, “Particularly fine in its recognition of good work…as I understand that need is a long second to merit in these awards.”

FGA to Dick Oct. 29, 1931: “I am sure your dining room work is tedious sometimes. Do your best. I know you do. There are lots of snobs in the world It is an inferior attitude as well a disagreeable.”

WHA juggles the finances amidst bank closings, loans, & a canceled project

An overdue account pays. WHA to Dick Oct. 29, 1931: “…a long overdue account somewhat unexpectedly yielded some cash last week so we can breathe a little easier.. Paid our 1930 taxes. this a.m., a load off our minds.”

A big project is canceled. WHA to Bill Oct 26, 1931: WHA reports that the City decided not to build the high school this year that was one of his main projects. “It cut our this year’s earnings or receipts about a thousand dollars.”

Banks of relatives willing to loan WHA money have closed. “Then Aunt Myrtle’s bank closing cut off what looked like a sure credit…Your Cousin Paul wanted to loan money. He had it in two Building and Loan Companies…Both actually refused to give up the money when he applied for it. He’ll probably get it out sooner or later and will loan it to me for your educational loans….” [Note: There was no FDIC yet.]

“Here the banks have been very considerate. My loan that was to have been paid by the money I was borrowing from Aunt Myrtle has been renewed without difficulty…”

WHA is financing loans with life insurance as collateral. “My life insurance is my principal problem. I have arranged quarterly  payments on all of it, but it takes a good deal of money to carry the amount of insurance I now have….For every $100 one pays for life insurance premiums, one can borrow back about $50 if necessary…But the main value is as collateral.”

“It looks as though we will have to borrow to meet your needs. Would it be possible for you to secure a loan from the college on notes, either with or without my endorsement? Remember, you have a good life insurance policy of $2000 [that Bill can use as collateral]”

Note that a mortgage on the house is never even considered. With their farm backgrounds, WHA and FGA had to have a keen understanding of the value of owning your own property.

A project should pay by early 1932. “We are now fairly actively working on the big Salvation Army Building and will probably realize some funds from that source by the first of the year….”

It appears that the cottage at Kingsville is sold. WHA to Bob Dec. 9, 1931: “Some prospect that Potts will pay up his mortgage very soon…it is payable in Canadian funds, now extremely low exchange rate (probably why he is paying up).”

WHA uses his extra free time to read & write

WHA has extra free time and fortunately, FGA and WHA enjoy each other’s company.  FGA writes Richard, Oct. 7, 1931: “Dad’s next job hasn’t started and he has been around home about half the time. We have been having fine times together.”

WHA to Bob Oct. 8, 1931 “Finding my desk clear – not an unusual condition, alas! I will while away an hour at the keyboard.” In a letter to Bob Oct. 27, 1931 WHA quotes extensively from six books he has read.

WHA to the three college boys Nov. 5, 1931: “Took back a lot of books to the Main Library yesterday and got new ones…:Some very good reading at the Atlantic for November…”

Bob to Roberta Sept. 17, 1931: “…on occasion Dad turns newspaper featurist. Two weeks ago, he had two full columns (and his picture!!)…in the News upon an economic question, a figuring of the community effect of holding up construction of a $900,000 school. He figured a turn-over of four million dollars was stopped…”

FGA attends church & peace-related meetings

FGA attends the Methodist Women’s Foreign Missionary Society at Metropolitan Church and hosts an aunt who has come to town to attend. FGA to bob Oct. 15, 1931: “Hundreds attended. It was quite the most impressive missionary meeting. I have attended. Missionaries were there from Africa, India, China, and the Phillippines…It was the simple story of bringing to needy people everywhere a life more abundant spiritually and physically…” FHA has been involved many years with this group.

Bob to Roberta, Aug. 30, 1931: “Mother abandoned us this morning for some religious conference at a nearby lake. Consequently, Dad, my two remaining sisters, and I repasted upon…boiled potatoes and weiners.”

WHA to Bob Oct 27, 1931 Tonight there is a World Peace meeting—140 such meetings are being held all over the country.”  FGA reports on Oct. 29, “Thursday evening Mrs. Beckley and I went to The World Tomorrow Peace meeting at the Woodward Avenue Baptist Church. Twelve hundred attended.” There were several speakers on events in the past have led to wars and the preachers’ responsibility to preach peace …I do hope you are a member of the Oberlin Peace Society.”

WHA & FGA have a social life & entertain

Meetings of their social club The Wranglers continue. They have friends to dinner and attend social events.  “Mother and I are invited out to dinner (yacht club)”, WHA writes.

Relatives visit. WHA to college boys Nov. 5, 1931: “Mother [meaning FGA’s mother] and Aunt Myrtle are expected here this afternoon for a week of quilting” The women would quilt and chat together. These quilting sessions seemed to happen once a year or so.

FGA & WHA focus on one day at a time

FGA to Bob, Oct. 29, 1931: ”Mrs. Elmer told me once it was facing life as an adventure that often saved the day for her. Well, I face each day as an adventure and so it is seldom a day is stale.”

WHA seems also to concentrate on each day. In a letter on Nov. 5, 1931 to the three college boys, he quotes a poem from a trade journal and suggests that they memorize it:

Make this a day. There is no gain
In brooding over day to come;
The message of today is plain,
The future’s lips are ever dumb.
The work of yesterday is gone —
For good or ill, let come what may;
Make this a day.

Though yesterday we failed to see
The urging hand and earnest face
That men call Opportunity;
We failed to know the time or place
For some great deed, what need to fret?
The dawn comes up a silver gray,
Make this a day.

FGA continues her trips to Bowling Green to see her family for 2-3 days at a time

These trips lift her spirits and seem to be necessary for her. They are an accepted part of the family’s life. She visits with her mother, sister, and other relatives nearby and gets a break.

Sept. 28, 1931 FGA writes Bob from Bowling Green: “Your grandmother [FGA’s mother] was 81 and many relatives came by. In the afternoon, she was taken out to the farms. “The children of both families are so nice. Maud and Fern were picking tomatoes to can. Aunt Bida was helping Uncle Silas in the corn. A lot of pigs were out and I joined in the chase. I would love to have stayed a week down there…Dad and the girls are keeping house alone, which is quite an experience.”

FGA continues her public speaking at churches & community groups

FHA to 3 boys, Oct. 20, 1931 :”This afternoon I talked about Chinese Friendships at the North Presbyterian Church and later gave a Mountain talk at Cass [Community M.E] Church.

Cass Community M.E. Church. Many members had moved to the suburbs by 1928. The congregation decided to remain and minister to the changed neighborhood. During the Depression, the church ran a soup kitchen and sent volunteers to drive to rural areas & bring back trucks of food for distribution. 

FGA to Bob April 30, 1931 reports that she addressed two women’s clubs at Romeo and spoke at chapel to the girls at Paton Hall where she will speak again at the Mother/Daughter Banquet. “I understand I am to be paid expenses and something more.”

FGA to Bob Dec 2, 1931: “I was given ten minutes at Scott Memorial Schur (Negro M.E) to discuss Friendship House” [Note: Friendship House was a residence for African-American girls run by the Methodist Women’s Home Missionary Society.] WHA on Nov. 29, 1931 to Dick describes FGA as “a sort of publicity man for the institution”

WHA to Bill Oct. 26, 1931 says, “Mother spoke at the Woodward Ave. Presbyterian Church at Young People’s meeting.”

WHA to Dick Nov. 24, 1931″ “At noon she spoke to the Junior Dept of our own Sunday School soliciting Christmas aid for the poor children in the Appalachian Highlands….You ought to hear her. She has developed into quite an orator.”

FGA and WHA enjoy each other’s company

“FGA to Dick Dec 4, 1931: “Dad and I are having lovely times this winter reading by our fire and visiting.” They read aloud Willa Cather’s novel, Shadows on the Rock among others.

Bob & Roberta announce their “informal engagement” by December 1931

FGA and WHA promptly write Roberta lovely letters saying how pleased they are.

Roberta is working eleven-hour shifts as a sales girl at Marshall Fields Department Store in Chicago since her grandmother released her from the promise to teach school in exchange for paying her college expenses senior year. Teachers were not being paid or being paid in paper IOUs called scrip in Chicago at that time and a teaching post no longer seemed the secure position Grandmother Bates had envisioned. Bob is struggling along at Oberlin as a graduate student.

The engaged couple cannot set a date or make any solid plans. Roberta is invited to visit in Detroit over the Christmas period.

* * * *

Everyone is hustling and working hard. WGA and FHA are remarkably steady, balanced, and calm, often noting how beautiful the day is or which flowers are blooming. Their strong Christian beliefs appear to play a role (more on this later) as well as their childhoods on farms. Farmers are accustomed to dealing with the vicissitudes of the weather, over which they have no control.

The family creates and lives in its own world to a marked degree. Although aware of outside events, they focus on doing what they need to do each day.

1931: Financing three in college gets increasingly precarious

Invitation for FGA & WHA’s 25th wedding anniversary party on May 9, 1931 at the home. WHA wrote a poem for the invitation & hand-wrote them.

The positive burst at the end of 1930 quickly fades.

Grandpa has work, but sporadically, and it is getting very hard to keep three at Oberlin. WHA and FGA pursue all forms of student aid, student loans, and personal loans and become highly leveraged. Grandpa stays on it closely. The only person in the household with a steady salary is Helen, a teacher in local schools.

WHA writes Dean of Men Bosworth asking for aid/loans & follows up with the boys. (It appears that the burden of student loans is not new)

Dean of Men E.F. Bosworth is becoming an important person for the Oberlin students. Oberlin Class of 1916, Bosworth was trained as a Congregational Minister and served as Oberlin Dean of Men 1927-1955.

-In a letter of Jan 23, 1931, to Dean of Men E.F. Bosworth, Grandpa writes:
“William writes that you need a letter from me in regard to his proposed borrowing from the Student Loan Funds.

Owing to the great shrinkage in the value of all securities, the funds which we had set aside to education have been greatly diminished and it is not possible to realize upon these securities. I borrowed on them as collateral to the limit and have also borrowed on life insurance as far as I can go.

It is necessary to William and Robert to find some other source for a loan to complete this year’s work. William will need to borrow about $400 and Robert about $500, part of it being for balance of the present semester’s tuition accounts.

Both these boys have life insurance policies, $2000 each, which they would be at liberty to sign as security. I would also be lad to endorse their notes if such is desirable.

It would be perfectly satisfactory that any borrowings the boys make from the Student Loan Funds will be repaid to the College Fund before they repay other sums to which they are indebted to us.

We gave the boys their first year’s expenses and are carrying as a loan to them later moneys advanced for their education.

In ordinary years it would have been possible for us to keep them going without assistance, but this is not an ordinary year and there is practically no work available in my line.  It is hoped that you will be able to find some way to meet their present needs.”

-Letter of Jan. 23, 1931 WHA to Bill:  WHA has enclosed a copy of the letter to Dean Bosworth. “If you cannot borrow as much as $400, it might be possible to get along with $300 and I may be able to dig up the difference.  I am assuming that Richard would not be able to borrow from this source and that we would have to finance him through the year…”

-WHA to Dick Feb. 6, 1931: “Robert and William seem to have found some financial aid that is going to make it possible to finish out the year. How are your prospects? Are you going to get a board job? I recall that both Jack and Bob thought that enough seniors would relinquish their hold on such employment so that you might get one. How about that scholarship aid? Any other? Not seeing you marching home, we concluded that you had found some way for this most difficult year.”

-WHA to Bob Feb. 13 1931: “ The terms of the Miller Loan fund are very favorable and you and William had better complete the arrangements at once to borrow $250 each from this source. Any borrowing must provide for repayment. The moderate terms of the Miller Fund requirements – what are you afraid of?

Helen has been paying back $75 a month (bold mine) What makes you think you couldn’t pay back $5 a month for months 6 to 18 and $10 a month thereafter? At any rate, if you couldn’t, Mother and I would have to pay it. You’re doubtless be a long time getting clear of debt – most college graduates are under that load for a long time. (bold mine) You’ll simply have to budget your income with that in mind and defer unnecessary expenditures and investments until you have met your obligations.

Presumably Helen’s aid to (to us) will stop this year and very soon. [Helen’s engagement to longtime boyfriend Everett will be announced in May.] Even if she teaches next year after marriage, they will probably need her earning unless business changes marvelously…”

WHA & FGA feel it is better to get loans & finish college now than to earn money & wait to attend

 –WHA in letter to Bob Feb. 13, 1931: “Every graduate or research man you are apt to know will have the same problem except a few who were born with a gold spoon in their mouth or some who wait going to college to earn their expenses first. We considered that. It would have meant several years of low paid and aimless work prior to college.

We feel sure that at 25 or 30 you’ll be further ahead by the course you have pursued that if you had done as I did – taught school until I was 23 before going to college and entered college an old stag. What kind of college life would a man of 23 have entering Oberlin in a class with average age 17? We considered all these things.

Perhaps our decision was not wise, but it is, in a way, irrevocable. You’ll face life at 21 with college behind you and quite a debt. The other way you would come to 21 with college ahead of you (if?) and money in your pocket to pay for it unless, indeed, you had not already lost the urge to education at all.”

WHA gets another loan, got a small job, has a larger job in view & can send some money

-WHA to the three college boys, Jan. 28, 1931:  “We have a little money available, possibly could meet one tuition account, but should know exact requirements. I succeeded in making another insurance loan during the month, about the last I can make…got the good news today that the Detroit Board of Ed has finally purchased the site for Redford HS so we’ll probably be buzzing soon or we hope so.

Had a little estimate job for a contractor. Was also subpoenaed Monday to testify Tuesday (yesterday) in a case originating in NY touching the Toledo Great Lakes Terminal …Was on stand about three hours yesterday and have another session this p.m. No expert witness fee, however, just $5.40 takes all.”

-WHA to college boys Feb. 27, 1931: He sends $50 each. “Let us know as soon as you can when you’ll have to have more. We understand Bob and Bill cannot borrow more than $250 each and it is evident that Bill will have to have other funds. Also Richard. Dick. send me a tentative financial budget for the balance of the year as soon as possible.”

There is a discussion of which son would be asked to drop out if needed

-Feb 13, 1931, WHA to Bob: ”Mother and I both think that if one Noyes scholarship is available and William is eligible, it should go to him. it seems now that he can graduate in June 1932. At any rate. I infer that that might make some difference in the decision.

Basing on that assumption, it would be more harmful for William to have to drop out with but one year to go than for Dick with three, if both cannot be kept there. Please have William perfect his application…”

Bob gets a student loan to WHA & FGA’s great relief

-WHA to Bob Feb. 5, 1931: “You’ll never know what a relief it was to get your letter telling that you will be able to get a student loan. I’m afraid that some of you would have been packing up to come home otherwise. We are so thankful.”

FGA tells the boys to ask her for money & not run up bills & debts at Oberlin

-FGA to Dick Jan 26, 1931:” When you boys need something, write to me, I would rather you did not run any bills around town or borrow from the boys.”

At this inopportune time, senior Bob wants to change his major from chemistry to English, which means going to college another year to graduate as an English major

Bob (my father) told me how his English professors took a personal interest in him whereas the chemistry professors did not. As he contemplated spending his working life in a lab, he become disillusioned with chemistry.

-WHA to Bob March 1, 1931:  “You are face to face with one of the great problems of life. Fortunately, you do not need to consider an early decision irrevocable…Don’t forget that I taught school between 18 and 23 and only then decided on engineering….”If I had any advice to give, it would be to give more weight to the type of man you will work under than to any other characteristics of a proposed opening. Get a position under a real leader. A top-notcher if you can. Don’t think that you can possibly make the progress under the spur of your own initiative that you can make under the eye of a real leader in any lieu you may elect to work in…

The world of letters offers many advantages. There will never be “over production” in it, that is, a work of merit will always find a market. Yet even there the routine of business crowds in and those who observe business laws profit thereby.”

Prospects for summer work painting the Highland Park schools does not look good, WHA reports, as the foreman will favor out-of-work men with families. The schools cutting summer school and the janitors released will go to the summer repair program.

-Letter to Bob from what appears to be family friend John Hugh Johnston Mar 10, 1931: ”Your father was telling me about the change in your feeling regarding the sciences…Rae has always bet on you, Robert, She thinks you have it in you and will make a success of life. I think the same. Go to it. God bless you.”

WHA suggests ideas & contacts for jobs so Bob can work to finance his new direction

-WHA to Bob Mar 10, 1931: WHA proposes that Bob get an instructorship in Chemistry at a college and pursue English studies on the side at the same school. He suggests several smaller liberal arts– colleges Albion, Alma, Olivet. Another proposal is teaching science in the high schools and colleges of Puerto Rico or Philippines where teachers are needed. Puerto Rico and the Philippines are under the War Department where WHA has an old friend.

WHA says that Bob needs to move fast for a job in industry.”…if you are going into industry, you should get in line early. All the large corporations will have their scouts out in the colleges very shortly now looking for good men…There are doubtless well known channels at Oberlin leading to all these openings. If you want to apply here [in Detroit], to either Edison or Bell, let me know and I will learn the ropes for you.”

-WHA to Bob Mar 11, 1931: WHA has written to an old friend, who said to send Bob over and he will help him get a job.

-WHA to Bob March 12, 1931 “In reference to possible interviews with prospective employers during the Spring Vacation, better bring along your good suit and a hat…This morning I dug up out of my memory a man who is high up in the Michigan Bell Telephone Co. Through him I can easily get you a good contact there.

All these are on the third alternative: the supposition that, being not entirely decided as to your future, you work to earn money for a year or so. Planning to take up additional studies if and when a decision is reached. Of course, there is always a possibility that you might find work so congenial that you would decide you had found your niche…On the other hand, if you have a tuition scholarship at Oberlin, can earn as much during summer as you did last summer, and could get a board job, you could about finance yourself through a year at Oberlin.”

Patience fraying, WHA says that they could use some help: “One of the advantages of the work-a-year plan is that you could help us a little. You’d probably earn more than enough for a subsequent year at college so you could repay some of your loans and possibly help with the younger boys.”

-FGA to Bob May 20, 1931: “We have discussed your letter from every possible angle. We do not see now we can advise you in any way as to the course in which you wish to specialize nor do we think it at all serious that you should consider changing from one line to another.

When this college year ends, we shall have had the equivalent of one student in collage for twelve years, a somewhat herculean task, anyone would admit. That is just the half way point in educating our children or assisting them through four years of college each. We have tried very hard not to worry you boys unnecessarily this year about family finances. It was one thing to do it when business was good, quite another when we have to borrow on our securities, now greatly reduced in value, on insurance and on our personal notes. Twice a year we must meet a payment of interest on our house, and Dad’s life insurance and the insurance for you boys. Taxes here and at Kingsville amount to about $425 yearly. Our loans must be reduced if we are to preserve our credit.

We have had almost no new clothing in a long time. Your father must have a suit before long. Helen had paid us about $1000 on her college debt in these two years. What would we have done without her?

After graduation this year, we cannot finance you for further education You must now face your problem and think it though. There is no way in which we can back you next year. The other children must be helped.

My calm judgement is that if anything is offered you at Edison or elsewhere, it would pay to drop out a year, earn some money, replenish your clothing, and be ready to start post-graduate work in better shape. Most young mean in moderate circumstances have to do that. Willard taught a couple years and worked some in a factory. Paul also did, earning, I think, his entire college expenses.”

FGA shows signs of stress

-FGA to Dick, April 1931:  “We face greater financial difficulties this spring than at any time during the year so far. Every single dollar counts.” She suggests that he postpone a proposed trip to Chicago with a friend for later on when times are better.

-FGA to the three college students, April 17, 1931:  Of Helen: “She does not yet know about her contract. It will be a great relief to us all when that is settled.”

Helen writes the boys on April 26 that her contract has come through, “and payday will be Friday so the family’s extreme penury will be at an end. I am finishing the month with .29 in the bank.” (bold mine)

-FGA to Bob May 20, 1931: “Quite honestly, Did and I are often at our wits’ end. It is a very disturbing fact that mid-May is here and business still sluggish in every line.

You will remember that when we planned on college, Dad and I agreed that the first year’s expense was to be a gift to each of you. The balance to be repaid if possible; if not, to come out of your final portion. Dad and I feel it will be a good deal to postpone any return of this amount from you in present circumstances.

We do feel that you can reach almost any goal on which you set your heart and for which you work with determination. Uncle Harry went to Johns Hopkins with $30 only in his pocket. We are proud of your ambitions We delight in your attainments. We would be so happy to see you a college professor someday…”

Bob lands a graduate scholarship & an Oberlin job to finance himself for a post-graduate year in English at Oberlin

-WHA to Bob May 23, 1931: “Mother just telephoned the gist of your letter that you will probably get a graduate scholarship in English and a definite offer of work in the Theology Building.

Bob (my father) told me that his English professors helped him get the scholarship and that he could not have done it without them.

In a later letter in August 1931 to girlfriend Roberta Bob mentions taking two years and getting an MA in English.

It appears that the cottage at Kingsville is rented out

FGA put the cottage up for sale in May 1930, but as paying taxes on it is mentioned, it appears not to be sold. It seems to be rented to a Miss Williams.

In a letter to her brothers of May 17, 1931, Helen writes of a trip she, Everett, and Alice made to Kingsville in Everett’s car. Of Alice, she writes, “I am under oath to tell her all the stories of everything I can think of — she really feels bitterly defrauded that she got so little of the life there compared to what the rest of us did….We’re giving Miss Williams food to get started until the stores open. You know how Kingsville is on a Sunday. ”

Alice is deeply into Girl Scouts, busy attending meetings, earning badges, and selling cookies.

WHA gets what will probably the last loan he can get on his life insurance & can pay this year’s college bills.

-WHA to college boy. May 29, 1931: “Great are the advantages of life insurance. By making a further loan on two of my policies, we can send you the necessary funds to clean up the years bills…The big Redford HS job will not pay before July….”

Note that there is no mention of a mortgage. WHA and FGA bought the land and built their house when times were good and have no mortgage on the house.

* * *

By the end of May, WHA and FGA can breathe a little

It is not all struggle & financial worries

The family acquires a radio

Typical radio c. 1931. This model was called a cathedral radio from the design of its case.

-WHA writes in a letter to the college students, Jan. 16, 1931 that the family has bought a radio.

One of the first programs the family at home hears is a concert from Oberlin, mentioned in a letter from FGA of Jan. 19, 1931. Helen hosted 36 Oberlin alumni at the house and the entertainment for the evening was a concert broadcast from Oberlin on the new radio.  “…the Oberlin concert came in beautifully. It was a delightful hour. We heard the clarinet solo splendidly. And the marching band music almost lifted us off our chairs. When the final “Oberlin Forever” song came in, everyone stood up and sang…”

From 1920 on, Detroit had radio stations that broadcast news, sports, and programs such as “Amos ‘n’ Andy.”

• WWJ:In 1920, the Detroit News newspaper launched WWJ.
• WCX:In 1922, the Detroit Free Press newspaper started WCX. In 1925 the station  changed ownership and  became WJR/WCX, then WJR.
• WGHP:In 1925, owner George Harrison Phelps launched this station with his initials as the call letters. It was a charter member of the CBS network. In 1930, it changed ownership and the call letters became WXYZ.

WHA & FGA celebrate their 25^th wedding anniversary with a big party at the house & announce Helen’s engagement at the event

FGA prepares for a month for the party and Helen buys a beautiful new dress for the occasion that she calls “THE DRESS.”    Longtime boyfriend Everett Booth is often mentioned in the letters and is often at the house. He drives Helen around town in his Packard and they attend plays and other events.

-Helen writes April 26, 1931: “Friday night Everett and I – he did the heavy part- stirred and mixed 14 pounds of wedding fruitcake. Mother hoped that that would be enough for her party and mine too, but on baking it observed sadly that it would only be enough for one occasion …as they are expecting about 75 folks there. Accordingly, this week we expect to mix up another batch…”

WHA is cheered by his garden

WHA to Dick April 22, 1931 “The first tulips are out – makes eight varieties of flowers in bloom so far. The warm days and a good rain yesterday made every growing thing speed up.’’

WHA to the three college boys, May 18, 1931 “…Pansies are giving us lots of cuttings….Early tulips are out, done. Darwins in their prime. Lilacs all along the street are in full bloom..Iris will be in bloom in a day or so..Daisies will follow. I doubt if we’ll be out of lowers from now on till winter. The ferns from Beckley’s woods last fall are coming up nicely and will make a good showing by the time you get home…” [Remember, WHA grew up on a farm.]

Darwin tulips 

WGA plants steadily. In a letter to the boys of May 17, 1930, Helen notes, “Dad has planted eleven new kinds of roses of several colors–red, pink, lemon deep yellow, and white so our rose garden should be lovely when June is here.”

On May 8, 1930, he writes the three boys: ” Flower seeds sown Saturday in the ‘hot-bed’ are coming up. Have had the glass off most of the time, but had the seed rows shaded with building paper.”

Helen prepares for her marriage

Helen to her three brothers, May 17, 1931: She reports that she picked out fabric for her wedding dress, bought a blue coat, and thinks she found her dishes.  ”They certainly are pretty – just a tiny floral pattern, rather old-fashioned, but really lovely.”

In a January 28 letter to the three boys, Helen tells of buying sheets, pillowcases napkins, a tablecloth, bath and hand towels, washcloths, and kitchen towels at the Hudson’s White Sale.

FGA and her mother visiting at the house have worked making patchwork quilts for Helen and others, enjoying visiting while they sewed.

Helen certainly knows how to cook, handle children, and run a house; she has been FGA’s No. 1 assistant.

 FGA & WHA have an active social life

There are visits to/from relatives & friends. WGA & FGA appeared to often invite guests to Sunday dinner. There are regular church events and meetings of The Wranglers, the social club to which FAG and WHA belong.

FGA goes quite often by train to Bowling Green, OH, where her mother lives with a sister to visit for several days at a time. Bowling Green is a 1 ½ hour drive from Detroit and a short train trip.

WHA attends many lectures either at the City Club, Trinity Church Men’s Club or through engineering groups & does some public speaking himself

-WHA letter to Richard Feb. 6, 1931: “My Grand Rapids address is all written–am having 12 copies made by ditto process. Seven go to newspapers. It is is published, I’ll send a copy.”

In the same letter, WHA mentions a speech he is making at The Wranglers on a comparison of the lives of Disraeli and Gladstone. [This would be based on his reading of biographies of these men.]

-WHA letter to the three college boys, May 18, 1931: “Yesterday I gave my talk on billiard balls to Trinity [Church] men. It was really on Action and Reaction in the field of personal influence….

Last evening I journeyed to Conely Baptist Church and talked on school matters…We have a hot fight on and altho I am not a candidate this year…,I seem to be the storm center. Came out 100% victor in the matter of cutting school expenses — and six weeks ago couldn’t get a second to my motion in that direction.”

1930 ends on an upswing for the Adams family

The Carnegie Library at Oberlin c. 1930. WHA & FGA made strong efforts to keep Bob, Bill, and Dick in college & the boys all worked PT as well. 

Kettering Hall of Science c. 1930 where Bob, a chemistry major, doubtless spent a lot of time. Kettering has been rebuilt & modernized several times since then. (Sorry, cannot find a larger photo.)

Dick is gotten off to Oberlin despite tight finances

Bob writes to Roberta Sept. 10. 1930: “Dick is going to Oberlin tomorrow! …Financially we’re pretty badly off, but we hope to scrape through.”

Bob and Bill are hitchhiking back to Oberlin and sending their trunks. Bob thanks Roberta for offering to go Dutch on their dates. “I guess this fall the girls who go about with me will have to be very fond of conversation, not to mention plenty-long hikes.”

In a letter to Dick on Oct. 2, 1930, WHA writes: ” Glad to know that odd jobs are occasionally available…There is a limit to the time you should spend on work….not more that eighteen hours a week and do not take on enough work so that study hours are unduly shortened….Did you succeed in getting tuition payable in installments? “

In letter to Dick of Oct. 20, 1920 WHA writes: “You mentioned that your getting scholarship aid depended to some extent on your scholastic records. The aid will mean so much to you that nothing should be allowed to stand in the way of your school work. If one of your jobs conflicts with study, try to get one that does not. If you can’t get one, better let some other fellow carry on until the marks are in that will decide the matter…

In a way, the aid is probably not given except to follows who have also demonstrated their need as well as their capacity, the latter both for self- help and for scholastic work.”

Letter of Dec. 11, 1930: WHA to three college boys: They are to bring home their account books over Christmas vacation for review and comparison with the budget WHA drew up in September.

Bob gets student aid

In a letter of Oct. 3, 1930, to Bill, WHA writes, “…Mother phoned an hour ago and read parts of Bob’s letter…Fine that he landed aid and his feeling that Richard will probably get aid soon gives renewed hope.”

WHA Oct. 23, 1930 to Bob Grandpa looks ahead for Bob for further help: “Any discussions yet as to possible openings where you could take your Master’s degree work and teach while doing it?”

Grandpa lands two solid projects

WHA in a letter to Dick Oct 2, 1930e mentions the Ypsilanti Union Building job “Last evening we worked late and finished…in record time with a smaller amount of lost motion and changes than any other job of magnitude I have ever worked on. Mr. Farrell gave me good help, checking my work at a minimum cost…”

To Bob on Oct. 10, 1930, WHA writes, “The good news of the day is that Mr. Eurich was today awarded one of the 21 new school jobs just decided on—580 pupils, entirely new building on west side, for immediate work (on some of the 21, the job will be delayed to get a new site.) In the ordinary course, I’ll land this – can scarcely fail to – as he hasn’t time to move right now. Everything is smooth anyway so it’s probably as good as landed.”

Oct. 31, 1930 WHA to Bob: The school job is landed and WHA is busy working on it “Some interesting problems in every job. Ypsi Union job will be let tomorrow with very little change from our design. Had to cut the cost, but did it by postponing finish on some parts.”

WHA to Bob Oct. 14, 1930 writes details of the school job: “Pasteur School…just north of University of Detroit, is to house 580 pupils and cost $175,000.”

Grandpa is promoting for a Port of Detroit project

WHA to the three college students Oct. 13, 1930: “Have been pulling wires all day in re Port of Detroit and, I think, to good effect.”

There are those who are less fortunate, however

Bob to Roberta Dec 27, 1930: ” …person after person has come to our door, all searching for work, any kind of work at all, but work! And we cannot give them work or loan them money or find them jobs as a rule. Mother is a saint in the way she treats all these poor people. I think no one has ever gone from her door hungry with her knowledge, and many times Mother had made packages for hungry children and wives at home…

I must tell you of a man who came to the door only this afternoon, He was no tramp, on the contrary, he was obviously a gentleman by his bearing and speech. Mother hesitated to offer him food for fear of hurting him. That man was a graduate of Purdue and a trained mechanical engineer! Only by a series of adverse events beyond his control had he come to house-to house job seeking. You should have seen how pathetically eager his was when Mother finally asked him if he was hungry! Hungry? With almost no food in a day and none Christmas day when you and I were replete. Fortunately, he had only his wife at ‘home’ in a single room whose rent was past due…”

Signs of economic strain appear in the letters during 1930

WHA’s office at 2529 Woodward was located at the purple star, now Little Caesar’s Arena, venue for the Detroit Red Wings & other sporting events & concerts.

As 1930 unrolled, increasing evidence of economic distress appears in the family letters.

Self-employed civil engineer Grandpa was ever hustling for jobs, but the ones that came in appear to be small

–WHA on Jan .22, 1930 to Bill: “I have to be in Chicago for a day tomorrow. There seems to be life in that enterprise; I’ll try to nourish it.”

-WHA Jan. 23 to Bob: “The Chicago Produce Terminal job seems to be coming to life.”

-WHA Feb. 12, 1930 to Bob & Bill: “Have been working “pronto” and fast on a new job, a Hot Dog Factory. Nice job, quite a rush. Have also a prospect of a sign job where grief galore has tracked the sign builder. Big sign projecting out from building. Seems good to be busy again. Alma (sp?) job bids are in and are satisfactory so job will go ahead.”

-WHA to Bill Feb. 27, 1930: “Today I attended the hearing at Dearborn re the opening of Oakman Blvd and made my speech. Mr. Bushnell said it was good and me think the bacon will be brought home in triumph…The sausage factory job is about done. One more day will finish it. Today I completed the specifications for the electrical work. Tomorrow the heating and plumbing. We finished the structural … last week.”

-WHA to Bob & Bill March 10, 1930: Grandpa is travelling to New York City, then to Rochester, NY re: some trouble with Masonic Temple.”

-WHA to Bob April 22, 1930: “Finished my cement bin job yesterday, very interesting bit of work. Tomorrow I go on a court case. Sibley School, the old 1925 case. My client wants me to attend the whole case as technical counsel, not simply as a witness one time.”

-WHA to Bob May 1, 1930: “ Did the first work today on the new Grand Rapids Auditorium job, which, however, I judge O & O has not yet actually landed. It will be a fine job, similar in some ways to Olympia tho more like the Cleveland Public Hall in finish and appointments”

–WHA to Bob & Bill April 17, 1930: “Have a new minor job on.”

Grandma mentions friends in need & asks the college students to help

-FGA to Bob and Bill Feb. 7, 1930: “…James wishes, Robert. that you had some old underwear to give him. The suit he has on is his last and only one and what to do when it is to be washed bothers him. He says he has money to buy a suit, but if he did, he could not eat or perchance pay his room rent. I suggested that he buy one at the dollar store. He says he does not ‘care much for the feel of them kinda suits”. If you have time, send home your cast-off shoes. Needs here are appalling…”

”…And if you can spare the time, Robert, write a little letter to Mrs. Elmer—-It would do her worlds of good. They have lost almost everything except their house….”

-FGA to Bob Feb. 10, 1930: Please send me all of your wearable shoes (honorably discharged for course) right away. The Allens are greatly concerned about a young man about your height and size who is desperate for the necessities of life. Maybe he can use some of those shoes.”

-FGA to Bill June 10, 1930: “Bill Graves is home. His mother needs his help and got him out of the Navy. He is having a hard time getting any work, If anything, things seem harder than ever.

Grandpa tells the college students to apply for student aid/scholarships/loans &  board jobs

-WHA to Bill Feb 8, 1930: “We are delighted , too, at your sudden inheritance of a job at Pyle; you like it so well there…The financial help will be very acceptable.”

-WHA to Bob Feb. 10, 1930: “Just mailing Richard’s entrance application that you drop around to the Office of the Director of Admissions….He is applying for one of the Miller Scholarships (full tuition for 4 years) and Miss Babcock said he will be H.P’s [Highland Park HS] single choice…”

-WHA to Bill Mar. 7, 1930: “You should make application for scholarship benefits for next year. Perhaps soon. Find out what are the prospects of student aid , loans or otherwise.  We’ll lend you if we can. It we can’t, you’ll have to borrow elsewhere. Remember you have a $2000 life insurance policy. That is often used as security of a kind.”

-WHA to Bob June 5, 1930: “Found your letter, principally about scholarships, at the office this morning. Good work, making application for Richard and Alice. Better dig into the financial plan of the college further. Maybe we are overlooking something else.”

Upcoming college student Richard may need to attend the local Junior College instead of Oberlin if financial aid does not come through

-WHA to Bob & Bill Mar 7, 1930: “If business is too rotten, we may have to have Richard attend JC [Highland Park Junior College] though it would be very much against our wishes. Might choose CCD [College of City of Detroit] instead as making a more complete break with old groups, a very desirable break at that age…”

Grandpa tells Bob & Bill to apply for summer jobs painting & repairing the Highland Park Schools. As Grandpa was on the School Board, an Adams would have an “in”

-WHA to Bill, Mar. 7, 1930: “Tell Bob there are probably to be some alterations in school during vacation. Works prospects look favorable. I’m going to see Duncan soon about you…”

-Bob to Mr. Duncan, Highland Park School Board, April 11, 1930: Asks for a job for his college friend Harold (Hal) Kaufman. “Looking forward to my work this summer”.

-WHA to Bob May 17, 1930: “..If you happen to be here at the month end, you can see Duncan…However, there are hundreds and perhaps thousands of men out of work in Highland Park. I doubt if he will offer an outsider [Bob’s college friend Hal] a job under the circumstances.”

[Note: “The auto plants had laid off heavily by May 1930. From 1929-1932, sales of new automobiles fell by 75% and automobile companies had a combined loss of $191 million in 1932 ($2.9 billion in today’s money), or 25% of industry sales. This compared with profits of $413 million in 1929, or 14% of industry sales.” Note that the United Autoworkers (UAW) was not founded until 1935, so the workers of that period had no union to work for them. (Excerpt from David Rhodes & Daniel Stelter, Accelerating Out of the Great Recession  as quoted by Boston Consulting Group.)]

-WHA to Bob June 10, 1930: “Well, the unexpected happened and I was re elected yesterday to the school board, so your job is secure for the summer. Brakeman almost nosed me out – only 16 votes behind.”

-Bob to girlfriend (later wife) Roberta  June 20, 1930: Bob, Bill, and friend Hal all go to the HS to start work, Hours are 7-4:30 with a half hour for lunch for about $6.75, 50 hours/week. [Note: Hal stayed at 130 Farrand Park for the summer while working.]

-Bob to Roberta, June 25, 1930: Foreman Duncan almost does not hire Hal because he is from out of town. The issue goes to the Superintendent who rules that Hal can stay. (It was doubtless helpful that Grandpa was on the School Board.)

-Bob (my father) told me that he painted along side older men with families who had been laid off from the auto factories. Dad was hustling and working fast. One of the men said, “Slow down there, young man. This job has to last.”

Human interest note: In letters over June & July to Roberta, we find that Bob’s financial worries were exacerbated by a debt for repairs to a borrowed car that he got into an accident. It appears that he borrowed the car from the Oberlin Club (not sure what that was) to take Roberta out. Bob went to Dean of Men E. F. Bosworth and offered to pay for the repairs, estimated at $50, and is worried that this incident will reduce has chances for student aid.

The repairs came in at $44.69 and Dean Bosworth graciously wrote in his letter of July 3 to Bob.  “This is less than I had expected. I had asked him to keep the cost down as low as possible…Hope you are having a good summer. Will be glad to see you next September.”  Since Bob was making $6.75/day painting the schools, it took him nearly seven days of work to pay this bill.

In a letter on July 14, Bosworth adds, “Don’t worry about your standing with me or my office. So far as I am concerned, this affair is entirely in the dead and buried past. Don’t let it bother you anymore. Good luck for the rest of the summer.”

I don’t know if Bob told FGA and WHA about this incident.

Letters mention poor business conditions

–Bob to Roberta April 14, 1930: “What you say of Marshall Field’s is common news in Detroit now. The depression of the income which has lasted months now seems good for several more. Perhaps a year or so my see the return to conditions approaching normal good business” (bold mine)

Bob recommends that she attend business school during the summer to learn typing and steno “ I am told that able and efficient secretaries who can manage their office well and gracefully are not at all a drug on the market” and that she get summer temp work

-WHA to Bob June 2: Yesterday one of my former employees dropt in. Has been working for Kresge on new work. Last year K. added 125 stores in UsA and 15 in Canada to their chain. This year it was planned to equal the 1929 program Last week came order to drop all expansion work for the season. Doesn’t look so good, does it? The cycle ought to swing up again about the time you are ready to take a hand in the World’s Work” (bold mine)

In a letter to college students Bob, Bill & Dick on Dec. 7, 1930, Helen notes of a shopping trip downtown, “…Lots of lovely things at astonishingly low prices are to be found everywhere in the stores. The crowds are great, but little buying is done. No one seems to have the money to spend, even on little things. ..At that, it does almost commence to look as though business is lowly on the upgrade, for which we all are very thankful.”(bold mine)

Grandpa cannot afford his current office premises & finds another. His landlord comes though with lower offer at the last minute

-WHA to Bill May 8, 1930: ”I’m snooping around for other quarters. My lease expires here the end of this month and unless a whole lot more business comes in, I can’t afford to keep these large wide open spaces. Will be sorry to lose my paneled office. Will salvage the carved name plates and possibly some of the rest. May move a lot of files to the house where I can get at them easily.”

-WHA to Bob and Bill on May —:  “Have continued my search for new premises and today looked long and longingly at a suite in the Architects’ Building, which is just being given up by an architect ..no business. The suite has three rooms and eight windows. The drafting room is on the south and has four windows. The rent is said to be $88/mo (we now pay $135). Rents are coming down and possibly I can get it for less. One attractive feature is that the “front office” has a window and could easily be sublet to one or even two desk-space tenants, thus getting my own net rent down to a still lower figure…The Architects’ Building is but two blocks from the Engineering Society Building, just off Cass Ave on Brainard…the building is seven story and the space is on the sixth floor. The building is planned for architects’ use and is operated by a group of architects. One of our clients, Burrowes & Eurich, PS School Architects, are in the building….this is the best I have seen”  {Architects Building, 415 Brainard St, Detroit, room 602-2)]

-WHA to Bob May 17, 1930: “….The owners of this building made quite a concession if I will stay here, but not enough to hold me, I’m afraid…it looks probably that may the last will see me in new quarters.”

–WHA to Bob & Bill May 23, 1930: “All this week I have been clearing files and getting ready to move. Big job, but not as bad as sometimes….You’ll like my new offices tho we’ll all mourn for our beautiful panel work.”

-WHA to Bob & Bill May 26, 1930: “It looks now as tho I’ll NOT move. The building made me a hard times rent price and agreed to fit up another private office I can rent. Had a fine time cleaning house anyway” So Grandpa got to stay at 904 Hofman Building, 2529 Woodward Avenue, Detroit.

-WHA to Bob June 2, 1930: “Last night I thought I had rented my space to two young men, both the private office and the small room for a stock room. They were to let me know today – may yet as I gave then twenty-four hours. There are in the Ditto business, making duplicates for architects, restaurants, etc.”

The summer cottage at Kingsville is put up for sale

-FGA to Bob & Bill May 14, 1930: She is going to Kingsville, Ontario,  to put the family summer cottage there up for sale. See  The summer cottage at Kingsville, Ontario for more on the cottage.

Bob’s girlfriend (later wife) Roberta may not be able to return to Oberlin the next year due to her family’s finances

Letter to Roberta from her grandmother Mary E. Bates Aug. 15, 1930: Nanno, as she signs herself,  offers to pay for Roberta’s tuition, room, and board for the next year on condition that she promise to become a kindergarten teacher in Chicago public schools on graduation. Nanno considers this a very secure job as the teachers are under civil service regulations.

Desperate Roberta accepts  although she is a sociology major and has never expressed interest in becoming a kindergarten teacher..

* * * * *

Economic conditions are far from the only topics of the letters, however. Grandpa and Grandma write of church events, school events and games (there were three children in local  schools), guests, lectures that WGA had attended, visits to relatives (FAG’s mother and sister lived in Bowling Green, OH, and she often went to visit them), their garden, and evenings at a social club they belonged to called The Wranglers, which met at members’ houses in rotation.

No one mentions a Great Depression, and the Adamses seemed to think this was a temporary setback (see bolded comments), perhaps reflecting the attitude of President Hoover.

”Shortly following Black Tuesday, Hoover remarked that ‘conditions are fundamentally sound.’ Even as late as December 1930, Hoover maintained that ‘the fundamental strength of the economy is unimpaired.’ It was not until 1931, when it became impossible to deny the economic train wreck transpiring, that Hoover began to refer to the economic situation of his own time as a ‘great depression’”.
When Did the Great Depression Receive Its Name? (And Who Named It?), by Noah Mendel.