Mrs. Schultz wants me to wash my hair every week

Lincoln, Nebr.

June 13, 1955

Dear Marie - 

I hope that you received my letters. I have been waiting to hear from you. Why don't you write? Your wrote a nice letter dated May 16, 1955.

I was so glad about Martin. The birthday card you sent him I hope was received. The letters and handkerchief I sent him was not returned to me so he must have received them. I surely hope Martin will help me. I wish he would write to me. I hope that it cane be arranged that I can go out to Seattle if I don't go out to Phoenix where you are. I am waiting to hear from you in answer to my questions. Excuse me for repeating anything in my letters.

When the social worked was here she said she would see me in 2 or 3 weeks. And it was 3 weeks ago yesterday since she was here or 4 weeks next Wednesday.

I have had some nice letters from the case-worker in Omaha. I wish I could talk to her but she wrote "that it was un-likely that she could come to Lincoln to visit me." I think that is the way she worded the sentence.

Marie you know I wrote that I would like for you to put in writing "that I may be released from the State Hospital." I would like for you to come to Lincoln and see about me being release if it is necessary. If you can't come perhaps it can be arranged for Martin to come here.

I can't explain how difficult it is to work here. Mrs. Schultz wants me to wash my hair every week and talks about having my hair cut and curled. My hair is coming out and is so thin now. But Mrs. S. just goes on and on about the different things she wants me to spend money on. Please, please help me. I have been thinking that I would call up Frank's parents in Omaha and ask if they have heard anything from you.

There are several reasons why I don't like it here so it would be the best answer to leave here.

In the letter I had from Lottie dated May 3, 1955 she wrote Quote "How are things going now where you are working? Write again. If you are still unhappy there, I see no reason why we can't write to the social worker to see if she can find another job for you. Sometimes a change is good for a person." Un-Quote.

I cam enclosing a letter I received from my second cousin Anna. You don't need to return her letter.

Hope you like the clippings. And please write soon and answer questions.

Excuse mistakes and any un-neatness. Best wishes.

From, Mother.

He has made progress in being self-supporting and holding a job.

Phoenix, Arizona

Dec 1, 1955

Dearest Mother,

Thought I'd drop you a few lines this morning before I get busy on my work of the day. It has been a long time since I've heard from you. I got to wondering if you had moved & may not have received my letter.

Mrs. Durand wrote that you had phoned her regarding your wanting to leave your present place. Have you asked your Social Worker if she can find you another job if the present one is not satisfactory? Martin is on the move so much that it hardly seems practical to try to locate with him.

Mrs. Durand indicated that you would like to have me accompany you to Seattle to locate Martin. Yesterday I got a note from Dora. It said, "Martin's new address is General Delivery; Norfolk, Virginia, but he expects to ship out soon as hard tell where he is now." So you see even if Martin has good intentions it would be difficult to organize one's life and situation around him. It would be a waste of money (which we honestly don't ever have) to travel so very far without assurance that satisfactory arrangements can be made there. Martin is still young. He has made progress in being self-supporting and holding a job. It may be that his next step will be to settle down and establish a residency. Do you write regularly to him? I think it might be well if you did.

The Durands are now living on a modest retirement income. They can not send us money.

Let us hear from you. We wish you the best this holiday season. I hope you can get out to some services and hear some of the lovely Christmas music. Also there will, no doubt, be some good television programs. The children are already making Christmas preparations at school.

Love,

Marie & Family

Included in the envelope:

The Dean's List and Three Awards

(click to enlarge)

...and be sincere dear

Aug. 17, 1952

Dear Marie -

I received your welcome letter a few days ago and I will now answer it. I have been writing to Lottie and I will write parts of my letter which I wrote to her, to you also. Hope you take it good naturally.

Marie I am so disappointed that Martin had gone over to Seattle. Please will you call Lottie by telephone and find out if he is still there. Then please write with-in 3 days to your mother as perhaps Lottie may not be prompt in writing. I also sent Lottie a paper about Teck High school to her and I haven't heard if she received it. I wish she would send the paper to you and if Betty hasn't seen it, send the paper to her. I have not had any company to-day. I could cry when I read your letter. Being I am here I wish your letters were written more often. Why didn't you write before that Martin had gone to Seattle? Why can't we have more of an understanding? You know Martin don't care to write and you should have written to Lottie in my interest that she should let me know about Martin which she hasn't done so far.

I thought surely Martin was still staying with Lottie and Bob. At one time when Lottie or Bob wrote to me it was mentioned what work Martin did and I was glad that he could help about the place, and do out-door work that is necessary where they live.

Marie I would be pleased if you could write 1 letter and not mention your family, or work for a chance. The next to answering my questions is if you would write that you wish we could meet and have a pleasant visit. Then I wish you would write to the Dr. and say you are interested in my welfare and that you would be glad to know that I may be dismissed, which I may, when some-body comes for me. And next how I wish you would write something along religious lines. And next instead of buying a greeting card with a nice verse composed by strangers you would write a few lines equally as attractive as the words in-side a card. Oh and then as long as it is written by you I can not help but think it is meant just for your mother and be sincere dear.

I am looking forward toward being released real soon so I would appreciate if you will write as I have mentioned before. I hope you are in a good spirit.

I am writing this letter wearing the same glasses which give me a head-ache.

I wrote this letter while there was talking so excuse writing.

Best wishes to all the members in your family. Remember to send your sisters a birthday remembrance.

Mother.

Hesitate - means to pause in doubt

Lincoln, Nebr.
June 7, 1954

Dear Marie -

Being I have not heard from you since I wrote I will write a few lines. Because I wish to thank you for the pretty mother's day greeting card and the $2.00 enclosed!

Marie, on the mother's day card you wrote that you would write a letter soon. It will soon be a month ago since the 9th of May which was mother's day you know. I am anxious to hear from you in reply to the questions which I asked you.

Vacation time will soon be here. Do you have any plans where you intend to vacation? Do you suppose that you could come to visit me? One time you wrote that you would see me next summer. Do you remember? Please let me know in answer to the questions I have asked you. How I wish you would come to Lincoln.

When I talked to the man here whom I work for about if I could go out West he answered that my children would have to O.K. it first. Remember how when the depression days were, how I went and talkedfor my children about some assistance? Now, when I ask you for assistance you seem to hesitate. It seems no matter how I plead and please in my letters to you, you can't make up your mind. Now please write so I will receive your letter by June 14th. That is the date of my brother Joseph's birthday. I am going to send him a hand-rolled handkerchief and it is also imported.

You know I have 2 spring coats with my belongings and I need a spring coat. I was wondering if you had light weight jacket which you would give me. The lady I work for said I should get one and I told her that I would write and ask my daughter if she had one I could have. Thank you in advance.

I sent you some papers. Let me know how you liked them as I may sent you some more.

I think I would like a place to work on the order of the work I am doing here. I think I would like a place in Seattle, Washington if you don't wish me to come and visit you. So please write and sai it is O.K. for me to go to Seattle. I hope I may be able to find money for my railroad fare.

And if you should have any dresses you don't care for you could send them to me dear. How I wish that you could sew a few dresses for me and those I have need to have alterations. I have so little time to sew and mend here.

Now Marie you are supposed to be religious. Then why don't you feel like doing some kind deeds for me?

I am enclosing some clippings and let me know how you like them. Excuse me if I repeat.

I have now been here over 8 months. I wash the dishes for 15 to sometimes 20 people each meal.

The day I go to the city I don't wash the dishes in the evening. The other days I wash the dishes 3 times a day and the cooking utensils also.

If I bought the goods for a dress for my-self and sent the measurements could you make it for me? I could tell you more about the dress when you answer these questions Marie.

I am so lonesome. Your father I have not seen since I was at the hospital. I am not supposed to write to him, or telephone either.

You may write to me with lead pencil if it is easier for you. Please excuse my pencil.

Please write may I remind you by June 14th.

When I talked to the social worker about leaving here she answered that it was all right for me to make arangements when I asked her. The social worker told the lady I work for that she felt sorry for me meaning about how you haven't helped me to be releaved from here. At one time when I cried because you don't show concern about my wishes the lady here also said she felt sorry for me.

Ever since I went to the County hospital in Omaha I have written to you about some aid from you. And when I have received your letters I would look to see if there wasn't some ray of hope. But I have been disappointed over and over again.

I still wish to see my guardian in Omaha so please write in your own words your consent. Hesitate - means to pause in doubt.

I have been wearing that blue coat all winter and it is now almost too warm to wear.

Please let me know how you like these clippings, I mean don't forget.

And answer my questions when you write so I can tell the lady I work for.

Best wishes to you and all the members in your family.

Again thank you for the pretty greeting card and the $2.00 enclosed.

As ever,
I remain
Your mother.

Truly Missing Martin

State of Nebraska

Lincoln State Hospital

F.L. Spradling, Superintendent

Lincoln 1, Nebraska

Feb. 25, 1952.

Dear Marie -

I received your letter dated Feb. 17 and the last letter dated Feb. 20. I am glad you received the package. I sent Betty a gift too and I had it insured. I wonder if she wasn't at home at the time the package was delivered and perhaps the mailmain took it back to the post-office. Will you kindly write a few lines to Betty at once and ask her to call at the post-office and see if the package is there? Thank you very much. I went to the city with the social worker and I mailed the package then. Also the lady wernt with me to see about new glasses and I now have the glasses on. I am so thankful for the glasses and I must thank you again for what money you have sent to me to make it possible for me to pay for the glasses.

I am still very musch worried about Martin as I have not heard any word about him. Thank you for writing that you would wait until you heard from me about what to do. Yes you may consult the bureau of missing persons or perhaps you could ask the Veterans if they have some way being he was in the service of finding Martin.

But if there isn't any other way then I supposed you and Frank better go together and ask the police to help. Oh I don't want Martin to be scared of any officer you understand. I hope that who does try to talk to him will act like a gentleman.

On Sept. 5, 1952 I had a letter from Lottie and I will copy a few lines and you may show this to anyone who may be interested. Quote "I know you are anxious to hear about Martin, but I really don't know any more than you do. He left here to go to Seattle to look for a job. I heard from him once after he got over there. He didn't stay very long, how ever. Then again we heard about two months ago that he was down in Chehales (Chehalis) a town about eighty miles south of here. I haven't heard any more since then - nor has Betty. When he left, I provided him with stamped envelopes and paper, postcards and pencils. Also a list of addresses of all of us in the family. Martin was not put out, nor asked to leave. He left of his own free will and accord." Un-quote.

Marie start at once to try and locate your dear brother, and my son Martin. I want him to go to Lottie's home and be welcomed there. Please write as soon as possible and thank you for being kind and best wishes.

From, Mother.

P.S. Marie will you first go to see the Veterans Ad., about Martin?