[Letter to Clara Breed from Fusa Tsumagari, Poston, Arizona, January 27, 1944]

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[Letter to Clara Breed from Fusa Tsumagari, Poston, Arizona, January 27, 1944]

Maker Tsumagari, Fusa

Date1944

Mediumpaper, ink

DimensionsH: 8 in, W: 5.25 in (sheet); H: 3.75 in, 7.5 in (envelope)

ClassificationsArchives

Credit LineGift of Elizabeth Y. Yamada

Object number93.75.31IL

DescriptionTranscription: Jan 27, 1944/Dear Miss Breed,/It was extremely thoughtful of you to send us the two boxes of clothing. We certainly can make good use of them. I was quite surprised to see two boxes and a letter awaiting me when I came home from work. Thank you very much./I intended to write to you much sooner than this, but old man flu caught up with me. First mother got it, then about a week later I got it. Just about everyone in our neighborhood has had a touch of it./It is raining outside and the cold damp air makes us feel really alive for a change. Since we now have gravel in our block in front of the barracks we don't have to worry about slushing about in the mud. When we first got here it was really terrible, but now there is gravel and asphalted roads which help a great deal./Today Mr. Duncan Mills, our new project director and Mr. Dillon Myers of the W.R.A. arrived and are being given a royal welcome. I don't know the cause of Mr. Head, our former director's, retirement. All that ever came into contact with him tell us that he's a very understanding and admirable person./I'm glad you liked the doll I sent you, although I'll have to confess I didn't make it. It is a handmade doll, but not by my hands. I enjoy doing that type of thing, but somehow I don't have the artistic touch and the faces never never come out halfway decent. You've named the doll by now, haven't you? If you haven't I thought PADDY might be cute. This is the way I figure it out:/P is for Poston/A " " Arizona/D " " dolly/DY are so she'll have a girlish ending. What do you think of that? Or have you already given her a name? (Oh yes, she's well padded, too!)/I've been trying to give myself an American name, but try as I do, I don't seem to be able to find a suitable one. The only one that appeals a little bit is Jan. I want a short name, but not harsh sounding. Some gals call me Mabel--and I answer to it, but I don't like that name. Maybe you can help me pick a name otherwise I'll have to keep calling myself nameless!/I just finished reading "The Human Comedy" by Saroyan and enjoyed it very much. There is a big lesson of happiness in there for us./ Thank you, once again for sending the boxes. We really will see that they are used to best advantage. Thanks also for the dolls bobbie pins, etc other nicknacks./Please take good care of yourself and mother./Sincerely/Fusa;1 letter and envelope from Fusa Tsumagari to Clara Breed.