“Family Archaeologist” explores a century of family letters, diaries, and artifacts, and how they illuminate history and our shared humanity. To get an overview of the blog, click: “Welcome to Family Archaeologist”
LATEST BLOG POSTS
“We will give you all you need”—Parents of WWII cadet
Letter Chicago, ILL, 8-25-43 My Dear Ebner, I am glad your cold is better. Please take care of yourself. I will send you another $10, but please send a card right back and tell us only that you had received and how much you got. You don’t have to thanks for the money. That is Pa’s wish--he told me to [...]
Cost of living high in World War II Miami Beach
The young cadets in Miami Beach may have been serving their country, but that didn't exempt them from keeping their uniforms clean in the sweat-inducing, broiling Florida heat—at their own expense! Frank writes a soulful letter to his mother on his monetary woes, and making a good case in his need for CA$H.
Bratty kid ruins Chicago outing
A bratty kid can ruin any excursion. When Frank was stationed at Truax Field near Madison, Wisconsin, Vera, a friend of the family, took Frank on some local outings. So naturally when Vera and her son, Chuck, came to Chicago to visit, my grandparents want to show them a good time as a thank you for being kind Frank. They really outdid themselves, taking them to many of Chicagoland's treasures: Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Brookfield Zoo, and a kid's delight, Riverview, a famous amusement park from Chicago's past.
World War II Air Corps cadet’s confidence builder
Frank writes to his Mom the same night he wrote to Will about how tough the training is in Miami Beach. He shares a very intimate thought with his mother, about his oldest brother that surprises me, but perhaps it shouldn't coming from a sibling eleven years younger than his very obedient, high-achieving, driven oldest brother. As in the last [...]
World War II—an Air Force cadet’s determination
Frank writes in colorful language to his oldest brother, Will. Now where is it they're trying to stick that umbrella? He tells Will he's "CQ," which stands for Commander of Quarters. Frank doesn't go into much detail, but I found this description of CQ duties in a personal remembrance of another Air Force cadet: The CQ spent "the evening in detachment headquarters with a list of names and numbers to call if something went wrong. The CQ was given an alarm clock to awaken him; then he had to wake the detachment."
Martin Luther King’s Dream and Chicago’s West Side
Fifty years ago today, on August 28th, 1963, millions of Americans heard Martin Luther King’s poetic demands for racial justice. Whites throughout the country tuned in to listen or watch the March on Washington, either rapt in the power of his metaphor or furious and disdainful of his dreams. J. Edgar Hoover, head of the FBI at that time labeled King “the most [...]
Miami Beach—World War II hangouts
I love these vintage, gloriously colored post cards from decades past. I'm posting two here, showing places where Frank hung out during his basic training as an air force cadet in Miami Beach, Florida. Only one is dated, written on 8/25/1943, to his mother. The other is addressed to his dad, but you can be sure both were shared avidly among the family.
World War II soldier’s Mom’s letter of love and money
What eighteen-year-old kid hasn't lost money? Wasted it, spent it, been careless with it, overdrew the checking account, and so on. And what parents haven't been ready to rip out their hair as they tried to explain to the kid to be more careful. So it was with my grandmother. Although she had little education, she was smart enough to hold off until later in her letter to give some gentle advice and admonitions to her son about taking better care of his money. She front-loaded her letter with appreciation for his latest letter, home-front updates, and a sincere desire to know more about his life in Miami Beach.
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