Images(7)

[Letters to Clara Breed from Louise Ogawa, Poston, Arizona, November 14-15, 1943]

Maker Ogawa, Louise

Date1943

Mediumpaper, ink

DimensionsH: 6.25 in, W: 8 in (sheet) H: 10 in, W: 8 in (sheet) H: 3.5625 in, W: 6.3125 (envelope)

ClassificationsArchives

Credit LineGift of Elizabeth Y. Yamada

Object number93.75.31EZ

DescriptionTranscription:
November 14, 1943/Dear Miss Breed,/Hurrah, I've finally found my way out of the wilderness of our belongings--my, what a wilderness that was!/While going through the process of trying to make unit 9-D into a home, I seem to have completely forgotten the thing called correspondance. When I came down to earth, I found exactly one dozen letters to answer./How have you been Miss Breed? Is the cold weather creeping up on you? It certainly is in Poston! The morning and evening temperature seem to disagree with my toes. We are gradually pulling out our sweaters and overcoats to welcome old man winter./Did you have a happy halloween? I don't imagine there was the usual gay celebration. Poston experienced a very quiet halloween. All the old folks stayed home near the oil stoves and the little children sound asleep, while the young folks enjoyed an evening of dancing./Now, I shall try to dig up some Poston news. Be patient with me because this is a very hard task! Let me see, the swimming pool was finally completed. But does anyone go swimming. NO. In the first place it is too cold and the second reason is that it is not as yet filled with water. At the present time the children's wading pool is being completed./The adobe school building is almost completed. I am waiting very anxiously for the completion of the administration building. I am enclosing a few of the school paper--I thought you might enjoy them. The school is so much nicer this year that I wish I didn't graduate so soon./The school is going to be so well equipped that I envy the students. The home economic classes are having sinks and stoves installed. Already a shipment of kitchen utensils, pots and pans, china dishes have arrived. The agriculture classes are going to provide the vegetables./The science classes this year will have lavatory equipments for experiments etc. The auto shop classes are getting model-T fords. Miss Cushman, the principal, is going all over Parker buying half-broken down cars from the indians. The boys seem to be having a grand time taking the old cars apart./The typing class this year has several typewriters though most of them need repairing. Last year the students had to bring their own typewriters. Yes, the school has made a wonderful improvement. We already had our first football game. The "C" team played against the Camp I "C". The large crowd was disappointed in the outcome for we lost but it was a wonderful game. The Arizona State inspectors arrived today to inspect the school to see if it can be credited to the State of Arizona Board of Education. The results are as yet unknown. I certainly hope it will be credited for the benefit of the students./I'd like to go through my senior year all over again, even in camp. I am just green with envy when I think of how lucky these students are this year--they have a new school, many young new teachers, loads of equipments.

November 15, 1943/My goodness, your letter is still lying on my desk. I'll try very hard to get this in the mail before Xmas! /The atmosphere of the office certainly had changed this year compared to last year! It seems like an office, yes indeed! We now have name plates sitting on each of our desk. Mine reads:/Stenographer/Miss Y. Ogawa/It makes me feel so proud! People tease me and say, "Gosh, now I can't come into the office any more--look what glares at me." /Thanksgiving is just around the corner now! I imagine you have already heard the gobble gobble of the nice fat turkey. Well, a happy Thanksgiving to you!/Mmm, my little dictionary is out of words so until the next installment please keep well and here's great hopes in hearing of your work and yourself very very soon./Most sincerely,/ Louise Ogawa;2 letters and envelope from Louise Ogawa to Clara Breed on "Colorado River War Relocation Project, Poston, Arizona" letterhead.