OLIVE COOLIDGE Correspondence 1941 Arrival at Pine Mountain 2.

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 09: BIOGRAPHY
OLIVE COOLIDGE
Correspondence
Olive’s Letters to Bob from Pine Mountain
September through December 1941

OLIVE COOLIDGE Correspondence 1941 Arrival at Pine Mountain 2.

Doctor’s Cabin, aka “Little Log,” above pool. Bassett Album, c. 1928-29. [pmss_bas056.jpg]

TAGS: Olive Coolidge correspondence, 1941, Ruth D. Coolidge, Robert (“Bob”) Butman, Pine Mountain Settlement School correspondence with Olive Coolidge

OLIVE COOLIDGE Correspondence 1941 Arrival at Pine Mountain 2.

CONTENTS: Olive’s letters from Pine Mountain Settlement School
[Found also on pages for letters between Olive (“Oggy’) and Bob.]

OLIVE (“OGGY”) COOLIDGE to Robert (“Bob”) Butman. En Route to PMSS via Bristol, September 9, 1941
1. OLIVE COOLIDGE to Bob. Arrival at PMSS September 13, 1941, Pine Mountain. Olive is settling in and learning her responsibilities and the advantages and disadvantages of her job.
2. RUTH D. COOLIDGE to Bob. September 19, 1941, September 19, 1941, welcoming him to family as a son-in-law.
3. OLIVE COOLIDGE to Bob, September 19, 1941. Postmark PMSS. Olive is learning to enjoy times with the staff.
4. OLIVE COOLIDGE to Bob. October 2, 1941. Postmark Harlan. Olive’s thoughts concerning whether Bob should change jobs.
5. OLIVE COOLIDGE to Bob. October 8, 1941. Pine Mountain. Olive writes about her talks with Aunt Og and PMSS guidance counselor, Malcolm Arny.
6. OLIVE COOLIDGE to Bob. October 15, 1941. Pine Mountain. Olive describes her relationship with Miss Grace Rood, head nurse, her idea of a good job for Bob, and Mountain Day.
7. OLIVE COOLIDGE to Bob. November 13, 1941. Pine Mountain. Olive suggests friends that Bob should contact.
8. OLIVE COOLIDGE to Bob. December 9, 1941. Pine Mountain. Olive bemoans the uncertainty that the war has caused. She’s considering a change of jobs.
9. OLIVE COOLIDGE to Bob. December 30, 1941. Medford, MA. She talked with her family about whether to return to PMSS, marriage, and studying secretarial work. Olive plans to consult Wellesley about taking a secretarial course and to inform PMSS that she’s still undecided about returning. She describes an emotional talk with her mother. She expresses her love and loneliness for Bob.
10. OLIVE COOLIDGE to Bob. December 30, 1941. Medford, MA. In a letter to Bob Butman, Olive encloses a letter that she received from Bob Robbins in which he sent congratulations on their engagement.

TRANSCRIPTION: OLIVE COOLIDGE Correspondence – En Route to PMSS

Sept. 9. Oggy to Bob

Monday Afternoon
En route to Bristol, –

Well, darling, I’m lonely and bored so I might as well start a note to you – though there are plenty of people that I should be writing to. Well, I wanted experience and I sure am getting it. I wonder if it’ll be worth it. Of course it will – but now I know how you felt when you started for Florida – not knowing anybody and feeling very much alone. I’d much rather be getting my MR degree in experience, that’s the penalty for loving you I guess. Yes, for the first time, I’m beginning to realize how really lonely you were. But at least you weren’t scared – a boy can go anywhere. I have to be careful who I look at.

You can see how my train of thought runs – I guess I’ll stop writing and continue in Bristol – it doesn’t help to write to you – I just want you more. Think I’ll write to Fran and tell her something I’ve been wanting to for some time. OK?

I’ve been thinking all day what fun it’ll be to fix an apartment just the way we want it and to have time no longer an evil. Boy, what time we’ll have – and we won’t be blind ? as some people are.

Hotel Bristol
Bristol Va. – Tenn

**********

Tuesday Morning

Happy birthday to you this morning I’ve been saying to myself. Of course, I realize this will be there too late – it’s just what I’ve been thinking. You know I completely forgot about your birthday til yesterday. I’ve been so rushed one way or another that I hadn’t had a chance to think of it – and I have given you my presents. On the train, I woke up with a start so when I got here I sent you that night-letter. I hope you didn’t think I was too goofy. I thought it was rather clever.

Well, I’m all dressed now – it’s 7 – packed, ready to really start off on my adventure of a year. The bus leaves in ¾ of an hour – I must breakfast etc. Last night I wrote a long letter home and then fell on the bed and went sound asleep. I was so tired.

Well dearie, wish me luck. I wish you all the happiness one could ever have on your 21st birthday and after it. I hope I have given you happiness in the form of myself.

I wonder how I’ll like it tonight. I’m kinda excited now – my first job.

My first job before that though is loving you. I think I do it rather well – too well sometimes. The rest of your life dear after 1 more year will be one of happiness with me. And a beautiful life too.

Always – Oggy

GALLERY: OLIVE COOLIDGE Correspondence – En Route to PMSS

TRANSCRIPTION: OLIVE COOLIDGE Correspondence 1941 Arrival at Pine Mountain 2.

1.OLIVE COOLIDGE Arrival at PMSS September 13 1941 Pine Mountain

Postmark: Pine Mt Sept 13 Friday Eve
9:45 approx

Bob darling, –

Here I am sitting in my cabin [Doctor‘s Cabin, below the Infirmary?], in pajamas and my heavy [?] coat, on the edge of the day bed with a table pulled up in front. It seems so good to write on a table for a change – it must seem good to you, too. I wish I could fix the lights in this place so I didn’t need to use the overhead one and so that I could read in bed. The real bed is out on the “sleeping porch” – a tiny room off this one – with one big window. I suppose that is done to keep this room warm. No central heating here – just a coal electrola – right out in the middle of the room – people are so dumb. But when I get some college [?] spreads and stuff , it’ll look better – even good. It really is a cute place and I like being alone and not in [the] Infirmary. Infirmary – you are never away from it all. Here I am – more like college .

I have got to get me some good books to read. I’m lost at times and I’ve always wanted to read and now’s the time. Anything you’d like to suggest for the betterment of your future wife’s mind? Something to make her understand you better? – Spill it, then.

So, you only thought my telegram was cute! Ha! You didn’t even take in the tender sentiment I bestowed upon you. You didn’t think the partnership idea was a permanent one – oh – well, Butman, you’d better do some fast thinking very fast.

I’m getting more into the swing of things now. I feed babies, change diapers galore, help with feeding pneumonic baby, do gen’l housework etc. Last night I had a super talk with Dr. Good (?), I do like the man. (married). Honestly he is just the simple old Country Dr. stuff. Says he doesn’t care what he gets for money as long as it’s enough. He wants to work where a Dr. is needed – and is he worked to death. He has a devilish smile and twinkle in his eye and orders you around. He’s been swell to me – telling me not to worry I’d [?] in – it’s all common sense anyway. He is a fine man and no mistake. The kind you can’t help admiring. We discussed everything last night – labor, group medicine, birth control, all his medicines, etc – made me feel much better.

I have [figured?] out there two main disadvantages to this job for me –

  1. Too confining – really have to be in the Infirmary practically all the time. Of course you do get out – we alternate going down for meals – but it’s limited.
  2. People’s acquaintance is limited. and nurses are only people aside from [those?] you really know well. And they are good people – excellent. Of course you do see some people outside in the community who were in and that’s interesting. But it’s impossible to get to know other faculty members well cause you don’t have time. They are a fairly ossified bunch anyway and pretty shy. Of course, there are some [?] young ones – but nobody goes out of their way to help you out. Tonite at staff “outing” all was very stiff – I felt like loosening up and giving them a good time. I finally skipped out to give [hamburger?] to Miss Weaver (MABLE WEAVER nurse) and nobody noticed! Everybody’s pleasant enough – but not particularly out-of-the-way friendly.

I think I’m going to get bored with the routine – and simple housework – but then maybe I’ll get to like it. I never have had to do it before. But I really think this job will conquer my fear of sickness – this year is well rewarded. [?] Already my mind is easier. Seriously darling, as you well know, nothing could be better for the rest of my life – our life – then my having lost that. And nursing is a good asset to have. As for babies – care of mine will be like rolling off a log. Darling – did you realize what an asset your marrying – well – you’d better! (ahem!) –

Boy, I wish you were marrying the asset sooner. I get awful lonesome up here – you know how hard it is for me not to have friends. At night, after supper, esp. tonight – I get so lonesome for you I nearly die. When I think of all the days that have to pass ‘till Christmas and then to Sept. again – and maybe I’ll see you a week in all, my heart just sinks. This “growing” business is a fine thing and I think I agree with it – but it’s an awful hard way to grow when you’re in love. You know I want things the way they are – “you can get married anytime “ – but my heart, my emotions, and parts of my mind – say I want you – not a year of growing. Gosh, dearie, what a life we’ll lead. I only hope it will be as delightful and as fine as we can make it. I want people to know the “young Butmans” – (wow!). – as an excellently suited couple, lots of fun, yet considerate, thoughtful, and always in taste[?]. Have you gathered from this – that I love you with all my heart? Doing routine work – I think about lots of aspects of the thing so much! Somehow tonight I want to rave on about what we can do with our lives. It’s not fun [?] that I want –rather a joy of living – and helping others to enjoy it.

This seems to be getting to be quite an epistle. But I haven’t been able to write you the kind of letter I wanted to for quite a while. I want to add to the former paragraph that the physical relationship can add greatly to the beauty of married life – not something to shy away from.

Please, darling, don’t forget to get 2 enlargements of the Maine picture of us. Doris [and negatives/] and Aunt Og and me want one – I think family might too. Say, do Doris and Mae know yet?

Also I’m sending 2 films along. I don’t dare have them developed here. But I will pay. Am I ever going to [cling?] to my money. Maybe I’ll get enough to help buy my trousseau clothes – I hope. let’s see how much we both can save by Christmas – boy, what an objective!

As for your running around with a married woman, I’m jealous as all get out. – But I’m glad you’ve got company and are having a good time. Put me on the seat, tell me you love me, say “hello” – and we’re off.

I’m getting cold as I was cold last night so I didn’t sleep so much – I think I’ll nap off.

If you ever were in love dear – you know how I feel – you want to say everything that’s in your overflowing heart but it isn’t possible except by transmission of spirit. So all I can say is that I can hardly wait ‘till we’re together “until death do us part.” In other words, I’m yours for life.

Oggy

2. Postmark: September 19 1941. To Bob from Ruth D. Coolidge, enclosed in Bob’s letter to Oggy.

Note at top of letter – “…thought you might like to read this – Bob”

On board the Naushon
En route to Nantucket
Sept. 6 – 1941

Dear Bob,

You’ve been a part of our family life so much this past year that it’s not going to be hard at all to welcome you in as a permanent addition – I suppose the addition will have to be more or less in theory than in practice if you take Oggie to Florida or elsewhere. But will have? To have you as an incorporated part of our widely scattering business.

I can safely say also that I can trust her to you for understanding, love and companionship. You have a flair I think for enjoying life and refusing to be downed by the reverses and you’ll steady Olive’s nervousness and her occasional fears. – I know that she will give to you what she does to all of us , – a breezy enthusiasm, – a conscientious thoroughness, and never failing interest in human life.

I admit I’d like to hang on to her a little longer, but I want her to have what makes her happiest and early marriages may develop a great companionship and understanding. –

Meanwhile will try to keep the secret – that is pretty well guessed by most of your friends. We had a nice call on your father last night. He admitted he missed you, but said he was delighted with the news. – I hope will see some more of him in time.

Meantime, I know you are making good on your own line ? and I believe you will rise fast in a coming form? of world importance.

Best wishes to my future son – in – law.

Ruth D. Coolidge

3. OLIVE COOLIDGE Arrival at PMSS September 19 1941 

Postmark Pine Mtn Sept 19

Darling –

Just a note is all I have time for. – Had a swell time last night – party for Miss Weaver. [Mable Weaver, assistant to Grace Rood, R.N.], Afterwards Dr. took us for a ride in their “new” 1930 Ford he got [it] to save his run on these roads! I have never laughed so hard!

The staff is really getting better. Played ping pong last night. Really, I’m having a better time!

So, ———

Washed 60 million diapers yesterday, did everything. Well? Dearie, I’ll be so versed in the household arts – it’ll amaze you.

A lamp has already been bought – thanks just the same. I drove Miss Motter [Margaret Motter] to Harlan and picked me up one. Not [one] of the most expensive – I’ll admit, but it serves the purpose well.

Wrote Ritter Lu [?] and told her the news! – A la well!

I love you dear – like anything –

Yours , Oggy

4. OLIVE COOLIDGE at PMSS October 2 1941 Postmark Harlan

Postmark Harlan, Ky Oct 2, 1941
Wednesday evening

Bob darling, –

As usual I’m sorry I said anything about my worries in this morning’s letter. I always get[?] up – this time they have only been very slight, and way back in my mind. The fact that they are there and you don’t know bothers me the most. I must get over that – is terrible for you. Anyway, after I’d written the letter and after I began to think Washington thoughts – everything became OK. I suspect you know me well enough not to let it bother you – but I want you to know that your fiancé is still yours, always yours – I hope in another form, however.

I also feel much better, too because I got the nicest letter from Doris today.

It sounded a lot like June and as it is the first word of commendation from your family direct to me, I certainly cherish it. I am beginning to think your family didn’t give a darn who married you. Characteristically – it would be Doris to write first – I always have liked her – and I guess she me! Anyway I was glad to get the letter – I’m silly I guess – but it’s nice to have those things. Ah well!

Your letter sent me into a stream of thoughts and into kind of an excitement. Tonight coming home – the big fall moon put that old familiar ache in my stomach(e) – gosh dearie, I would love to see you. Are you surprised?

Anyway, my reactions are these. Its hard for me to say exactly how I feel as a couple of issues are confused. I think it’d be exactly what you’d like to get out, see things, and do something new. It really sounds wonderful. And I think you’d just revel in it. After all, I’ve had travel and you haven’t. It’s an awfully hard thing to go right out of school into job. I think it’s really bad – you need outlets. The ideal way would be to travel for a year! So if you can combine job and that – all the better. So say I – go ahead and do it if you want to. Honest, I think it’d make you feel a thousand times better, less pent up too. It’d also give you experience – travel experience – grows anybody up – makes them more interesting, SO darling, I’m in ??!

Other considerations of course, as you point out, come into the picture. As for leaving Pan Am. Co. – if you feel it only leads to that new development stuff and no further – I’d say fooey to it. I want you in something you can get somewhere in. Frankly I’m not crazy to marry a man who’ll stay in a lab all his life and get nothing from it – no advancement I mean. I admit I’d like a little adventure. So I wouldn’t worry about getting back into Pan Am. And I wouldn’t worry about you getting another job –after 4 or 5 years. An engineer – esp. in radio line – can always get a job. You’d have no trouble – and you’ll have such a competent wife – she could support you (Happy life that would be.)

Of course the one big hitch I see in the thing – is marriage. I do not relish the idea of you being off a week, here 3 days, then off another week. And I’d probably worry! But, dearie – you’re young and I expect we could postpone some – although I wouldn’t like it. If we did get married and that was your job – sure as shooting I’d have a job too. I just wouldn’t sit home and do nothing. Well dearie, there’s my opinions. In all but the last – I really like the idea. You need it all right – I hate to have you settle down having had no kick out of life. Find out how long and on what trips you’d be. If you really would have to stay 4 or 5 years, and [???] Pan Am if you wanted to return. I ain’t crazy about Florida – but anything as long as we’re married.

Dearie – guess I’ll hit the hay. The whole thing fascinates me! My reaction is to think about it hard. Then act! After all – now is your time to live. And if we had to wait a year and ½ – it might be worth it for your sake– just think you could jump with no strings attached. A free man! Awful ain’t it? I want you to do what you want. I want you to be happy and travel would do wonders for you. Make you a much happier husband! You need a little beer drinking, a little[?] with other men, a little more thrown together with people. You need a bit less conservatism and more confidence. Yes, it’d be good – and don’t put me in your way. That’d be the last thing I’d want. –

I do want to marry you sometime though – no fooling! I kind of like the glamour of a flying husband – really. (should be good pay, too!) I’ll love you no matter what you decide – I’ll always love you –

Yours, Oggy

5. OLIVE COOLIDGE at PMSS October 8 1941 Pine Mountain

Postmark Oct 8 1941 Pine Mountain

Bob darling, –

I’m afraid this letter won’t go out as planned this morning and you’ll be darn glad to get it when it comes. Right now you are a little annoyed and slightly worried at me and about me. Too many of them in the past week. You are wondering, too, – especially about me.

Well, darling, if this letter does what it should do it’ll stop all that. It should convince you that I love you – down deep and all over – that I want to marry you – now and next September.

I have been wondering, darling yes I have. And it all came to a climax this weekend when I saw Aunt Og, realized what a marvelous piece of work she was doing, and how I was going to settle down with an engineer and perhaps do nothing glamorously exciting together to help humanity (or something). Don’t laugh or get mad – wait a minute. I kept wondering even as you do – if you want to sit in Pan Am lab all your life or whether you are going to have the stimulus to get out and do something better. I wondered if you were enough interested in my educational humanitarian interests to keep me satisfied, If our ideas are broad enough to suit each other. Don’t blame these things on Aunt Og – she said nothing about them.

What she did say , however, was to realize how important small things turned out to be. A steady sniffing, for ex., will get on your nerves – quicker than lacking companionship, for ex. Of course I immediately thought of your shaving – which you always laugh at – but which bothers me no end as you well know. It’s funny but before I see you I always wonder how you’ll look – if you’ll be really clean shaven – and so few times you really are –yes, it bothers me. And you’re so darn good looking – I hate to have you mar any looks at all. The same applies to blackheads – I have a much worse complexion than you, in fact right now I’m sick about it – but yours could be so good with just a little more care. Please darling, don’t be annoyed – these are the only little things about you I don’t like and they can so easily become big in my mind. You wouldn’t want them, too, and I don’t. It’s up to you – about that !

Now let’s go back to the other things – the bigger ones I brought up – that mean nothing in my mind now. Let me go back a way – yesterday after I got your questioning letter – I felt sick. I’ve been cogitating all these things for a couple of weeks, telling no one, and to get your letter – scared me! What can I tell him? If I tell him I am doubting he will get upset and I know it’ll pass – but how can I conceal it – I won’t. My mind was a turmoil.

In that frame of mind I went down to see Malcolm Avery [Malcolm Arny – Guidance Counselor at PMSS] ([??] to you). I had to go on an errand but he could see something was bothering me – typical me! Little by little he got an inkling about it and completely stopped my mind from worrying. He says it’s all Pine Mt. – and I’m not kidding. This is such an unnatural pent-up existence here – apart from normal relationships – that emotional thinking is absolutely impossible to do in a clear way. Things are blurred and prey on you – that in a normal situation would quickly pass off because you could get them out of your system. Here you have no outward means of escape – no friends to confide in and as you work the ideas keep culling over in your mind. Pretty soon they are warped ideas! He said don’t make any emotional decision here – it can’t be done and they won’t hold outside. I know, he said from my own experience and I wish I never had. (He is reported to be engaged.) He said if Pine Mt is going to break up a relationship [?]. if I can’t take it – I’d get out of Pine Mt. – because I see now! And I really think it’s true. This place is isolated, narrow, and unnatural. Your thinking becomes biased.

So, dearie, I reviewed all we went over in Washington and I know it’s OK. I know you and I understand and complement each other perfectly. I know that I’d rather live a happy married life – than have a brilliant? career – as Aunt Og said she would too. I think you’ll have the capacity to get out and do new things, especially with me behind you, and I think as we live together our ideas will verge more toward a common point – even as they have in only a year. I don’t want to be held back by your conservatism – and I mean in ideas – and I wont be because we’ll both change.

What I meant by that horrible remark – you didn’t bother me then – was this. I found myself thinking about things the way you did them last year, the same type of thing that bothered me say at Thanksgiving – then I would say – back here, that was a year ago –remember Wash. – how you felt – remember June, remember the summer. That’s all I meant by that, dearie, and I apologize. Honest, I do! I didn’t mean to insult my future husband – because I happen to be very fond of him ! Its just that I need to see you more but I think we can accomplish more by letters than we have been!

Darling, there is the bell – I must go! How I wish this was already in your hands. But I wanted it to say what I wanted it to rather than to be rushed off.

May I tell you, dearie, that your future wife will love, honor, cherish, and obey thee, will respect you, will give you inspiration will follow you in all things great and small. And no matter how much I annoy you – I’ll always love you and this side of life will pass. They always say the engaged period is the hardest! But just think what the married period will be – love, understanding, companionship – all these in any quantity at any time! Whatever love is, dear, I have it in my heart for you. A heart which always aches to see you —

Yours, Oggy

It’s now 10 – and I’m dying of sleep – but I felt as if I wanted a word with you. After reading this over – I feel it does say what I wanted it to. I hope you get it.

AS for you wanting to wander – I’m not being noble – I want you to. It does my heart good to hear you say you don’t want to do the prosaic thing. I love you for not wanting to. I want to have an un-prosaic life – as full of eventful and unusual doings as we can have. I don’t want you to sit in one job all your life. Look at Brad! He was terribly self-conscious when he went to Japan – and now look at him. Getting around does anyone a world of good. Of course the rub is that you are tied down in a way – by me! (Tough luck.) If you want to have a good fling before settling down – OK- I guess I can wait. Or if you want to take a job in some wild place – OK, too, if I can accompany you. Don’t do one thing ie radio op – because that’s something different. Really look around and see what there is. Why there might be something absolutely fascinating somewhere. It might be feasible to contact Tech – they might very likely have a line on offers. I’m not surprised at your attitude about this job – I’m highly pleased. I was bothered at times that you wouldn’t push enough – settle down and that’s that. Now I feel differently. You don’t know how happy it makes me.

I’m behind you in anything you decide, dear, but don’t put “us” off too long. I’m dying right now. If you think you ever get sick of your job – think of me – I get fed up as I am tonight. At least you can go out to a movie – not me! Gosh I can’t tell you how much I want to see you – it’s impossible!

Anyway I love you tremendously and I miss you like HELL. Yes I do –Oggy

Wednesday morning

I’m still tired – I wanted to go to bed early the night before but the Dr. got started in a long harangue and I couldn’t leave. He needed a listening ear so I gave it to him! He is now beginning to see all the drawbacks in this job – quite discouraging. So I got to bed at 12:15 discouraged with that.

Sometimes I get so sick of this place. All I do is what someone else tells me to. Miss Rood is a good egg and all that but she likes me right under her thumb and that’s where I am. If I could only use a little initiative – but I can’t. Oh well, I hope things will change. Right now I would like nothing better than Miami, you and a wedding ring. The devil take experience and the infirmary. I’d much rather be tending our babies. You’d laugh at my motherly instincts – they come pretty strong sometimes. I feel what you might call a little (ha) cooped up.

The ring question I see this way. I would prefer to get it with you. I want something simple and I can’t tell till I see it. So I say let’s wait ‘till we get together and pick it out. I’m going to see you Christmas whether it’s Boston or not – so let’s wait ‘till then Also you ought to know by then what you are planning to do – so we can tell if any postponing needs to be done. ( I hope not). Right now I wouldn’t mind marrying you at Christmas -Say Coolidge, that’s not so bad. Have I by any chance intimated that I love you and am sick of this? Yes – why I’m surprised.

Well, dearie, this is already a volume and other people need attention – But I happen to love you most.

Always and even forever more

Oggy

PS – I miss you.
2nd PS – I’d like to kiss you.
3rd PS – Come up and see me sometime.
4th PS – Tell me I’m wise to be here – I sometimes doubt.
5th PS – I’m you fiancé – me

6. OLIVE COOLIDGE at PMSS October 15 1941 Pine Mountain

Postmark Pine Mt. Oct 15 1941 Wed morn

Hello darling, –

Boy, I’m tired today – yesterday is my bad day. Miss Rood’s Day Off and so I’m on straight duty from 7:30-9:00 PM. And believe me that’s tough. Not that the work is so bad, it’s the responsibility and the steadiness of it all. It keeps you going anyway. In a way I think Miss Rood is rather selfish – but then it doesn’t do any good to think so I suppose. She has been teaching me more lately – so I feel better but I’m still awfully guided. However, I suppose any job I was in would guide me.

Why, darling, it doesn’t bother me one atom to have you going out with Kitty.

It never even sinks into my [?].I guess I’m just conceited enough never to worry about your liking me. I never conceive of your liking anyone else. However, – go out all you want to.

Aren’t you using the country club any? I keep wondering about the boys in the lab or any that you’ve met. Don’t you like them or don’t you care about making their acquaintance. Oh well, I’m no one to criticize so I won’t. I’ll bet in any other job you might get (we hope) that the people might be more congenial – esp. a gov’t job.

You know the idea of a new job – peps me up no end. Yours I mean. I think that’s one of the main drawbacks of “us.” I can’t get all wrapped up in your work, encourage you and stuff because I don’t know it and it isn’t the type anyway – like a doctor, or a teacher or something. But then if you had a really good job – boy wouldn’t it be wonderful. I don’t know what – anyway I somehow don’t like the idea of you being stationed at some [?] factory of something. Lets do something new and different. Yes, I’ll trade security for that – as soon as you’re absolutely sure of yourself. I agree with you there, too. I’d rather wait to find out if you are – how long I want to wait is the question. Not too long.

Say, dearie, how about one of those pictures for me – I do want one and I will pay you – honest!

Today is mt. day – if it doesn’t rain. Hike over to a place about 6 mis. distant, cook dinner and hike back. Fun I think. I hope the ankle stands [?] – its all cured now – I think my infirmities are about cleaned up. I feel good. But by your next letter I’ll no doubt be needing sympathy again, yes I will. Right now it looks funny but I guess will clear, [?] maybe.

I’m also OK mentally – in fact have been having quite a bit of fun one way or another.

Well, dearie, I have to go to infirmary to find keys, mail this, take Mrs. Nutter some clothes. Then get ready for hike. Golly day, if we were only going together what’d fun it would be. We will when we’re Mr. and Mrs. won’t we? We’ll do [?], then. Love Oggy

7. OLIVE COOLIDGE at PMSS November 13 1941 Pine Mountain

Postmark Pine Mt Nov 13 1941

Hello Darling,

I’m still here but maybe I’ll be up tomorrow – maybe! Golly if I don’t get up soon I’ll never be able to see you Thanksgiving and that, my dear, is a horrible thought.

Your place does sound good. Don’t forget to [go] out and see Deo and Lauch – Mrs. Currie – they’ll really show you around. Also Lois Bacon who lived in Arlington, Va, I forget the address –in telephone book. You really should see them. They’re swell! Also a swell girl at school married a man names Scud [?] Parker who is some senator’s secretary. They are a swell newly married couple and would love to see you. Her name is Bets (nee Holden). You might have met her – she is just as cute as she can be.

Aunt Og will be at Lois’ next Friday – the 21 – and wants to see you – if you’re not other places. I have the address down in the cabin – but of course I’m not there now. I’ll write you what it is – but you’d better plan part of that day with her – unless of course you are here. I sure do want you to come here – I’d like to have you see the place and meet the Nutters. I’m getting more and more sold on the idea of having him marry us if the family didn’t object.

I’m going to write Deo and Lois and Lauch and tell them you’re there – because really you’d enjoy them no end – and they’d give you a super time. Don’t live like a hermit, darling.

Well, all for now, I hope I’ll be out of here presently!
All of my love, –

Oggy

8. OLIVE COOLIDGE at PMSS December 9 1941 Pine Mountain

Postmark Dec 8 Pine Mtn. Tuesday

Why dearie, I didn’t mean to be impersonal – it was just that I was trying to get a letter off, and after listening to a woman’s pain all night, and trying to write while students milled around – no wonder. But take no offense my pet – “I still think it’s a good idea to get married” — poof, poof!

Well, we may sing another tune now that the war has begun – you just can bet we’re going to see plenty of trouble but now Canada has declared war I doubt you’ll get drafted. But that isn’t the point – it’s the uncertainty of it all, the feeling we never know where it’ll hit next – can hardly believe we are at war. I don’t mean as far as marriage is concerned – not at all – it’s just that we’re entering a new phase of life.

Yes, dearie, I trust you implicitly on the ring situation – implicitly – all I ask is that it is simple, not a lot of junk, and gold. Your judgment is just as good as mine and whatever you choose – I will wear. Isn’t that nice of me? What a martyr I am! –

Well, dearie, all for now – except I’m thinking about this job quite seriously and if I should hear of another – well you never know – I’m getting enough of it.

I accept your date [?] – even though it is quite a long one and beginning at an indefinite time! –

Say darling – I’m saving something for you for Christmas ???? – me! –

Love, Oggy

9. OLIVE COOLIDGE at PMSS December 30 1941 Medford, MA

Monday evening 11:15 PM

Hello darling, –

I’ll bet you are just exhausted tonight, came home from work and just flopped into bed practically. I wonder how it went – well I know.

I was so tired yesterday, I went to bed at 4:30, got up to entertain Rowena, who likes the idea, and then went to bed at six. I stayed in bed most of the day, or lounged around, trying to throw this cough. It snowed here today so I didn’t go out to Wellesley – cold being main reason.

Paul called this afternoon, said he guessed it on Wednesday, and he was really very swell. I guess he doesn’t think we’re too well suited but he was very nice.

Had a long family talk tonight. They understood my ideas – pretty well and said they didn’t see any way much clearer through to our being married before July anyway. After all you do want to see about jobs etc. Upshot of it is two ideas.

  1. Go back to Pine Mt. for awhile till April maybe then come back home – prepare for marriage etc and maybe take a short sec. course.
  2. See about sec. course not go back ?

Anyway I am going over to Wellesley to get their suggestions. I’m getting kind of used to the idea of maybe taking a sec. course. It does give an “in” to all kinds of work and would be swell to fall back on after we’re married.

As for working in Washington they both felt it’d be pretty much of a strain on us to get married and I kind of agree with them. They said they wouldn’t mind my getting married earlier if we could see our way clear.

All for now – night darling –

Me

Morning –

Started to go over to Wellesley today but I still feel coldish and the main placement office wasn’t there – so I relax again today. I’m going out Friday to have lunch with [?] and see Placement, too. In the meantime I think I’ll write Pine Mt say I still am undecided – but I won’t be back until the 15th – if at all. Depending on what Wellesley says it might be a good idea to have secretarial work – and if we should get married in July – I should stay home awhile. It’s a slight thing to do for one’s parents.

The night you left, mother came in to talk and she was very tired. I mentioned I thought we might not to wait ‘till Sept. and she was very discouraged. Branded [?] me as selfish etc. I didn’t say anything at all – was very good. But after she left, missing you so, and wishing to hear you thought I was OK, and feeling misunderstood – I broke down. Mother came to say they were going out and found me so – and apologized. She just hadn’t seen it from my point of view and I assured her I wouldn’t back out of the June proposal for at least 1 month. So now everything is rosy – I only long for a letter from you – and here I haven’t done the same. But I did send a telegram Sun., and last night we had that long discussion. I’m sorry there isn’t a letter to greet you today.

Oh darling, I do miss you so. Of course its kind of a perennial state now so its kind of natural. But I just miss you being around. I miss your arms, your quips, your fun of living, your good looks and strength and calm of being. I feel so much a part of you and as if in this weekend we had reached a high level of joyous living even though I do feel as if I nagged you to love me – which isn’t so I know ‘cause you have it to give to me.

I think we better understand each other even better now and somehow we both fit so well – well, darling, I’m just in love and can’t express myself any better. But I have such a wonderful feeling as if I had part of me in another place – but that part was closely linked just the same.

I love the diamond – more and more and it’s nice to have it ‘cause I have something here that makes me feel closely tied. – Yours darling, Oggy

10. OLIVE COOLIDGE AT PMSS December 30 1941 Medford, MA from NY Hotel

[Enclosed in a letter from Olive to Bob, postmarked Dec Medford]

[Notation in top margin from Oggy – “From Bob Robbins – nice etc. – at least some people think you’re lucky! –”]

Hotel Pennsylvania, New York. Sunday Dec 28th

Dear Olive,
We were surprised and tremendously pleased when Dorothy told us why none of the Coolidges of Hastings Lane were at [?] yesterday. Rebecca and I want to send our heartiest congratulations via you to Monsieur Bob. Please send them on to him. He is, indeed, a fortunate fellow.

The wedding yesterday was a most beautiful and festive occasion. We all enjoyed it very much.

Devotedly, Bob [Robbins]

See Also:
OLIVE COOLIDGE Staff – Biography
OLIVE COOLIDGE Correspondence 1941-1942 Bob and Oggy GUIDE