Search results | Digital Grinnell

Title: Lucille Ley to Jimmy Ley - December 31, 1943
Description: Jimmy's mother sends a letter postmarked from Lakota again instead of Fort Madison. She expresses pride in Jimmy's Air Medal award even though postal mixups have delayed the news's arrival. She sends news and warm wishes from various parties including Bobbie, Della, and the Buckels. She laments Jimmy's nine-day hospital stay, wishes him a Happy New Year, and tells him she is praying for his "courage and safety and well being[sic]." She asks whether he has received the photograph of her and a sweater from Ruth and Bill.
Date Created: 1943
PID: grinnell:26471

Title: Lucille Ley to Jimmy Ley - February 1, 1944
Description: Jimmy's mother congratulates him on receiving the Oak Leaf Cluster medal. She tells him she has enclosed news clippings and intends to send snacks to him soon. She updates him on friends and family, notably "little Sue" who has been hospitalized with pneumonia. Lucille relays to Jimmy her intention to "dig up" donations for soldiers in Algona and expresses her hope that Jimmy has enjoyed his furlough.
Date Created: 1944
PID: grinnell:26476

Title: Lucille Ley to Jimmy Ley - February 10, 1944
Description: Jimmy's mother tells him about the forecasted snowstorm and about her research on Lincoln for the Aid Society. She describes recent visits from Rosie, Ruth, and the Johnsons--who visited unexpectedly. She informs Jimmy of the injury Harold Johnson sustained while playing basketball, which set him back on his cadet training. Mr. Harvey Johnson works as a repairman and Betty Johnsnon works for Senator Wilson in Washington, D.C. Harold is training to be a pursuit pilot. Lucille gossips about other young soldiers and updates Jimmy on the family's activities and work. She expresses how much she looks forward to building a garage after the war, and that she hopes, as ever, to hear from Jimmy soon. She encloses some local news clippings.
Date Created: 1944
PID: grinnell:26482

Title: Lucille Ley to Jimmy Ley - February 2, 1944
Description: Jimmy's mother informs him that she has sent the snacks as promised and enclosed photos of his young nephew Steve. She muses about the mundane--newspapers she has received recently and bridge club--and then updates Jimmy on the health of various family members. She expresses that she is far more interested in her work for the Red Cross than in her writing for Acorn Club. She mentions briefly that Sid has returned from boat training before signing off to visit Janette and Joe.
Date Created: 1944
PID: grinnell:26477

Title: Lucille Ley to Jimmy Ley - February 4, 1944
Description: Jimmy's mother requests an update on his furlough. She tells him about Vic's recent active duty placement as a skipper on a landing craft in the South Pacific islands. She says that Vic met up with Art's brother Lloyd and entertained him for a night. She updates him on local high school basketball and on Sue's health, which is improving. Meanwhile, she says, Cherry Lou is in the hospital for Strep throat. Lucille and Ruth continue to volunteer for the Red Cross by sewing pajamas, while nephew David gets in the way.
Date Created: 1944
PID: grinnell:26478

Title: Lucille Ley to Jimmy Ley - February 7, 1944
Description: Jimmy's mother writes about a dinner party. She continues to talk about mail delays and her excitement to see photos of Jimmy in uniform. After talking about David's cold, she wonders what Jimmy did on his furlough. Briefly she discusses the political situation in Italy then relates changes in voting laws for servicemen in the United States. Lucille has bought Jimmy another bond and plans to send him a box of chocolates.
Date Created: 1944
PID: grinnell:26480

Title: Lucille Ley to Jimmy Ley - February 8, 1944
Description: Jimmy's mother writes about improvements around the house and Billy's new car. She worries about the political situation in Italy and relates a conversation she had with an acquaintance about Jimmy. She feels that tradesmen treat the war differently.
Date Created: 1944
PID: grinnell:26481

Title: Lucille Ley to Jimmy Ley - January 18, 1944
Description: Jimmy's mother is overjoyed to have received a letter from him and suspects the mail service is improving. She describes the beauty of Iowa sunsets in winter and tells Jimmy that the good weather at home continues. She describes newphew David's rapid growth and Jimmy's father's return to good health. She also assures Jimmy that anyone in the family will gladly send him a sweater to replace the one lost in the mail, should he express the need for one. Again, she wishes him a good furlough, which is scheduled to begin the 27th of January.
Date Created: 1944
PID: grinnell:26474

Title: Lucille Ley to Jimmy Ley - January 20, 1944
Description: Jimmy's mother tells him about the local high school basketball games where she encountered Mrs. Powers. She fills Jimmy in on Bill and Steve Powers's military placements and then does the same for a John Wortman and an Andy, who has just recieved his draft call. Lucille updates Jimmy on the reopening of the local theater and on nephew David's continued growth. She reminisces about the times her children used to play with the same baby carriage(?) David has now inherited. She closes by griping about her frustrations with the government but expressing her faith in the American people. [Letter appears to cut off--missing page?]
Date Created: 1944
PID: grinnell:26475

Title: Lucille Ley to Jimmy Ley - January 4, 1944
Description: Jimmy's mother recommends old fashioned "sulphur & molasses" for the ailment that caused his his hospitalization. She mentions the good weather and updates Jimmy on the goings on at home including New Year's celebrations, his grandmother's planned visit home during the summer, and the used car business. She sends well wishes for him on his furlough.
Date Created: 1944
PID: grinnell:26472