Miriam Van Waters Papers. Reformatory for Women at Framingham, 1876-1970. Subseries 3. Student correspondence, 1936-1971, n.d. Correspondence: D, 1936-1971. A-71, folder 290. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

[return address: N.Y., N.Y.]

June 22, 1957

Dr Van Waters nurses and Hospital Staff

Please accept my humble thanks for all of the Kindness you gave Sarah during her Illness. To all of you I hall be forever grateful

Sincerely, Eloise [Dufau?].

207-3 MADE IN U.S.A.

[upper left] Ida B. Duffee 100 Lincoln St., Stoughton Mass.

[upper right] Stoughton Mass. [Feb?] 5th 1950

[added in pencil at top of page] HMO please [??]

[body of letter] Dear Dr Miriam Van Waters,

I arrived home safely and mighty happy also. What a pleasure it was to be in a home once more and be with real people again.

I will admit that the experience's has done me the world of good of the seeing with my own eyes the suffering and torture that liquor will cause a person to go through specially while I was in the hospital on my special duty for your dear friend Mrs Castle. at the time that I took care of Mrs Castle the dear old soul, I saw what I had never seen before and that was women being brough there with D.T. really Dr I saw them women climing walls and holloring and seeing things on the walls that just simply horify them and it just about frightened me to death to really see there condition and the cause of it all

It was then and there that I fully was determined never to indulge ever again in my life for I can truthfully assured you that I would never want or wish to be be in such terrible suffering's for the sake of that liquor which now I will call poison The people I now am with do not indulge ever and it makes it so nice for me to be in surroundings as such. They are so good and kind to me and always looking for my welfare and future. I will again thank you with all my heart for all you have done for me including your check and also the Reverend. and I am glad and happy to know that you choose me to take care of Mr Castle of all the students there I felt quit proud of it and you surely was gratefull to me in return. You are a grand, competent and sweet lady and you surely deserve all the credit that any one might pass your way. For your responsibility are so great. You do wonders for them all. Will write again soon God bless you and keep you

February 13, 1950

Mrs. Ida B. Duffee 100 Lincoln Street Stoughton, Massachusetts

Dear Ida:

I certainly was pleased to receive your nice letter. I am so glad that you are settled with good people in a nice home.

Mrs. Castle misses you and often speaks of you. You did a fine job taking care of her, and we all appreciate it.

I do hope you will continue to do well, Idea, and you know it also helps the other girls and encourages them to do the same.

Thank you again for thinking of me, and I wish you the very best of health and success.

Sincerely,

Miriam Van Waters, Superintendent

MVW/hmo