Miriam Van Waters Papers. Male Prisoner Correspondence, 1927-1971. Correspondence: M, 1935-1936. A-71, folder 612. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

[right] 2

[left] I met Miss [Homons?] only once.

You ask what I am doing. You know more about insts. than most people. I run mine and that takes most of my time. Apart from the Washington meeting of the Youth [Com.?] which took 3 days I have done nothing of importance. June 15th I go to NY. for the day to conduct the abolition of the Death Penalty meeting.

O yes. I found a new cook. She is a very good one, and a comfort. The other one has no free moments now. She is in a N.Y. inst.

I have a new Deputy. She is getting on well. When I see you I'll tell you. I wo. rather do that than write.

As to attorney B. J. Knight I like to think he did the best he could. We can't blame him for a mistake in judgement. I shall see him too when next I get to Chicago.

I hope you get on the ball team. I am glad you told me "stuff" means curves and spreads. My brother Ralph says I don't know much about the game. But I [so?] like to see you do your stuff.

When my women play they wear dark blue gym suits they make here. It is all in one piece, the blouses sewn on to the shorts. A white emblem in worn on the sleeve. They look pretty nice. They never wear skirts when they play or exercise.

I appreciate your wanting to write me a Mother's day letter.

As soon as I can I shall write again. Your letter was lovely. Ever faithfully yours MVW

June 26, 1936

Russell McWilliams, 5661-E, Box 1112, Joliet, Illinois.

Dear Russell:

It's been a long time since I heard from you, and I hope you are well. Of course, I know it is not always possible for you to write when you wish, but I like to have news of you as often as possible.

Have you a garden this year? Ours look so nice - especially the potatoes. We are having new peas quite often now, and they are delicious. Later on we will have summer squash and many other fresh vegetables.

Our girls are starting an orchestra, and are doing very well with it. There about about six girls who play various instruments, and they are making excellent progress. They will play for a dance we expect to have on July 4th.

My daughter Sarah has gone to New Jersey for a few days. We all miss her, but I know she is having a splendid time. My mother is entertaining a friend she has known for many years. She has a responsible position in a library out west.

Write me soon, and let me know how things are going with you.

Best wishes, from your friend,

MVW/K

[left] TO:

Name Dr. Miriam Van Waters

Street and Number Box 99

City Framingham, State Mass.

[right] CENSORED 4

BOX 1112

JOLIET, ILLINOIS

June 28, 1936

ALL REMI[faded stamp] BY CHECK OR [faded stamp]

[left margin] Please return. Not answered.

[left] Dear Dr Van Waters:

I have not written for quite some time. My last letter to you was written April 19th. I thought I might be able to catch up on my correspondence, but find that I owe just about the same amount of letters.

Everything here is about the same as ever. The flowers are doing pretty well despite the draught. When nature wont water them, we do. The grass is about burned up.

Judge Holly wrote me a very nice letter. He expects to pay me a visit soon, along with rest of our good friends in Chicago.

Dad is not working very much now except in his own garden. Mary Bell is going back home to spend her vacation on Aunt Sarah's farm. Mike and Elsie, I have reason to believe, are expecting something in the mail before so very much longer. However, I am supposed to be ignorant of all this. You are the only person I have mentioned this to, so don't let the cat out of the bag.

Is your secretary an inmate or otherwise? I have often wondered who K. is.

Will you tell me the names of your favorite

flowers? I would like to check your taste with mine. I have no experience with orchids, so don't [squelsh?] me by naming that as your favorite. What will be raised in your Green House starting in July until April? You no doubt see your florist daily and I am sure he or she would not mind giving you a rough outline of it. You see Doctor, I am very much interested in flowers and I would like to hear some of your ideas, if you would not mind.

I didn't raise many birds this year. I hope to have a larger crop next year. I have passed many plesant hours with them. Are your girls permitted to have canaries?

I have asked too many questions in this letter. I will try to curb myself a bit next time.

There is no news for me to write but I sure enjoy writing to you. You should understand me pretty well from the letters I have written to you in so many different moods.

I am enjoying my self-declared vacation from my studies. I work late and the weather is very hot.

Wishing you all the fine things in life and sending my regards to Sarah Ann.

[right] Sincerely,

Russell McWilliams

5661-E

July 23, 1936

Russell McWilliams, No. 5661-E, Box 1112, Joliet, Ill.

Dear Russell:

I am so glad to have your letter written June 28th, which arrived here fairly promptly a few days later.

I am enclosing a check in $5. which you may find useful too buy books, eats or other necessities for soul and body. I put your question about the flower garden to our head greenhouse man. His name is Mr. Mandino. He is a regular employee and has been here for some time. In fact, before I came. We have one big greenhouse down by the cannery on a sunny, flat piece of ground. This one is used for various experiments in horticulture and agriculture. It is a practical greenhouse, too, since we start all the young vegetable plants there. When there is time, we grow flowers. I usually have the girls take care of them. I am sending you the little pencil note in your answer to your question, just as it came to me. We have many other placed, however, where we raise flowers. We have a little wooden building which we formerly used as a nursery school, but now use as an Art Center. The girls there have an interesting rock garden with a great many kinds of perennials. I am afraid that your garden has been suffering greatly from the drought, and perhaps you, yourself.

I wish I could tell you how much I enjoy your letters. They are so well written, so well expressed and so real, as if in some mysterious manner you "found yourself". I am glad that Mike and Elsie are happy and in an expectant state of mind, so to speak.

In answer to your question about my secretary, she was formerly associated with the Dennison Manufacturing Company, and has been with me almost since the beginning of my stay here.