CHARLIE AND JOYCE WHITAKER Correspondence Set 2

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 09: BIOGRAPHY
Staff, 1956 – 1965
Community School
Charlie and Joyce Whitaker

CHARLIE AND JOYCE WHITAKER Correspondence Set 2
November 30, 1959 – May 24, 1966

CHARLIE AND JOYCE WHITAKER Correspondence Set 2 ; CHARLIE AND JOYCE WHITAKER Staff

1811 Mrs. Whitaker and two students dancing. [58_Life and Work_Children and Classes_030]


TAGS: Charlie Whitaker, Joyce Whitaker, staff correspondence, PMSS Community School teachers, Burton Rogers, school schedules, REA, Hill House, Boy Scouts, Farm House, the Conleys, the Feldes, Alice Lloyd College, Pauline Huff, Mildred Mahoney, The Workmans, Brit Wilde, playground


CONTENTS: CHARLIE AND JOYCE WHITAKER Correspondence Set 2

[Note: Office letters and memos in the PMSS Archives are usually typewritten carbon copies intended for the office files. Letters from the Whitakers are handwritten or typewritten originals. The following list of contents is in chronological order and not necessarily in the order of the image numbers.]

1959 (Continued)

050 November 30, 1959. Note to Mrs. Whitaker from “BR” (Rogers), scheduling a meeting with her.

051 December 11, 1959. To Rogers from Joyce Whitaker, asking if he would bring her sister, Elizabeth Anne, to PMSS, when he returns from Berea.
052 DUPLICATE OF 051

053 December 11, 1959. Memo to Joyce from Rogers. Mr. [Bill] Hayes may be able to bring her sister back from Berea.

054 [No date] An unsigned handwritten schedule for a week, including teacher meeting, folk dance, Boy Scouts, and “B” team. 055 [Continuation 054] “Uniforms…new playground” with measurements for an official court and goals.

056 [No date] To Rogers from Joyce, who appreciates his offer to her and Charles to attend the Christmas Country Dance School, but cannot leave her daughter Patricia. She asks if it’s feasible for her to rent an apartment. She asks for a schedule of the program. [Notation in right margin: “Told CW they could get an apt for 6 days, if possible. Have no schedule.”]

057 [No date] To Rogers from Joyce, asking if part of Charlie’s classroom allowance could be used to buy a phonograph needle. She asks for a bill for the tank of gas from West Wind.

1960

058 January 14, 1960. Memo to the Whitakers from Rogers, agreeing to their use of Charlie’s classroom allowance for a phonograph needle, but prefers that it is a “special expense” instead. She should get a bill from L.P. gas.

059-059a [No date] Two-page letter to Rogers from Joyce, who asks if REA could be contacted to check the voltage in their house, which may be too high.
060 January 29, 1960. Memo to the Whitakers from Rogers. The REA will check on their voltage problem. They should remind REA that “…Matt Boggs’ house is also on your same transformer and both of you are cooking by electricity.”

061 February 13, 1960. Memo to Charlie Whitaker (Copy to Gerna Campbell) from Roger, asking them to watch for broken parts on the hurdles. The insurance safety engineer noted that some of the hurdles are in need of repair.
062 DUPLICATE OF 061.

063 April 11, 1960. Memo to Charles Whitaker from Rogers concerning log seats, fence posts, and leveling the new baseball field by Brit [Wilder]. 

064 April 24, 1960. To Rogers from the Whitakers, asking to meet with him about moving to Hill House next year.
065 April 28, 1960. Memo to Mr. Whitaker from Rogers about meeting with him.

066 July 19, 1960. To Rogers from Joyce in Nashville, TN, asking for the “extra $100” that was due them after July 1 to pay for graduation fees. “Our checks from the VA are always later than we like.”
067 DUPLICATE OF 066.
068 July 25, 1960. To Mr. and Mrs. C.L. Whitaker in Nashville, TN, who just returned from a stay with the Scouts at Camp Sequoyah. He encloses a $100 check and wishes them a good summer.

069 August 9, 1960. To Rogers from Joyce in Nashville, TN, with plans to return to PMSS on August 18. [Also, image of address side of envelope.] 

070 August 10, 1960. To Charlie from Rogers. The Felde family has left Hill House and it is being remodeled so that the Whitakers can move in. Mentions the Scout merit badge counseling request that Charlie received, the certificate Charlie will need for lifesaving, dance, swimming, and games parties.

071 August 12, 1960. To the Whitakers from Rogers, who suggests that they stay for graduation in Nashville until Hill House remodeling is completed. The Conleys arrived, so the Whitakers’ possessions were moved to Hill House.

072 August 15, 1960. Two-page letter to Rogers from Joyce, who states that they can stay at her mother’s until Hill House is ready.

073 August 15, 1960 (page 2). Mentions having visited the Kincers in Bowling Green; Charlie now has senior Red Cross certificates in both lifesaving and instruction, so he can work with the Scouts.

074 August 22, 1960. Memo to Rogers from Rogers, concerning the electric range and dryer cables in Farm House and Hill House and which of them belong to the Whitakers.

075 September 14, 1960. To Rogers from Joyce, asking about the ton of coal they left at Farm House; they now need replacement.

076 October 26, [no year]. To Rogers from Joyce on “Council of Southern Mountain Workers” letterhead. She agrees to help in the library.

077 IMAGE ERROR
078 [No date] Note to Rogers from Joyce, reporting that “Roger Scearse will be working for us today.”

1961

079 March 20, 1961. To Rogers from Joyce, expressing appreciation for his check, a “gift for Recreation.”

1965

080 [No date] Note to Joyce Whitaker from [unsigned], asking if she would teach first-second or third-fourth grade room. 

081 January 8, 1965. To William Hayes, Director, Alice Lloyd College (ALC), Pippa Passes, KY, from Rogers, providing information about Charlie Whitaker who is interested in a position at ALC. 

Charlie Whitaker has done a splendid job here, for nine years if my memory is correct. He has developed an excellent approach to and manner with our young people. He is firm in discipline while at the same time being very relaxed with them, and their response is excellent. He has their respect. His relationship fosters their best self-development and self-control. … Mr. Whitaker has done an admirable job with the physical education portion of our summer pre-school for four-and-five-year-olds, and he has been a completely cooperative member of the staff group on this program. As we have worked out this phase of our community service for the first time these past two summers, he has done his part beautifully in working out the pattern of useful activities to implement our basic purposes. ….[H]e has played a leading part in general recreation services for youth.

Mrs. Whitaker is also a skillful teacher who has worked here with various age groups very successfully. She is imaginative and conscientious. 

Because of their able and unique services, we should be very much the poorer to lose the Whitakers, and you would be fortunate to gain them. It would seem especially appropriate for them to be called to the service of their alma mater, if Pine Mountain must lose them.

082 February 16, 1965. To Charlie Whitaker from Rogers. ”Mr. Cawood told me he would be quite agreeable to have you take charge of coordinating the public school affairs at Pine Mountain without having a supervisor like Mr. Lewellen (Louellen) in the picture here.” Charlie would be paid a “supplementary bonus” if he is interested in the work.

083-085 [No date] Three-page letter to [truncated] from Joyce, [083] describing their preparations to move out on June 10 and asking advice. [084] “We are looking forward to our new assignment at AL [Alice Lloyd College] but our regrets at leaving PM overshadow any joy we feel toward our new job right now.” [085] “…I don’t think that I’ll ever again allow myself to become so attached to any place as I have PM. It’s just too hard to leave.”

086-087 May 10, 1965. Two-page letter to Rogers from Joyce, updating on their plans to move to Alice Lloyd College. Mentions the potluck supper schedule and location.

088 June 17, 1965. To Charlie at Alice Lloyd College from [truncated], who talked with Pauline Huff about attending Alice Lloyd College; asked Charlie to send her an application and information about full scholarship. He writes about missing them; “It has not seemed right to be starting Little School without you. I was very pleased to see Vernon and Paul getting off to a good start….’

098 June 17, 1965. Memo to “Marilynn” from Rogers, who encloses Joyce’s check to the Cumberland Valley RECC to hold until the REA monthly payments are due. The Workmans [Jerry and Eleanor Workman] should not have to pay the entire electric bill because electricity is being used by Brit [Wilder]’s maintenance men.

093-095 June 27, 1965. Three-page letter to Mr. and Mrs. Rogers from [truncated, apparently Joyce], writing that [093] after two weeks at ALC, “we think we are doing a good job of adjusting ourselves to our new situation. Pat and Suzy are having a wonderful time because there are so many children on campus….When I went to school here there were no youngsters.” [094] She encloses a brochure on an ALC workshop; sent Pauline Huff material about ALC to encourage her interest in the school. She is “working part time as assistant to the Dean of Students.” [MISSING PAGE?] [095] She describes the summer visitors from outside the state. “We are among the few native Kentuckians who make up the staff. I think there are perhaps 3 others besides us and we’re all alumni of this college.” Will pay their Blue Cross insurance through the PMSS group this summer. She hopes to visit soon.
096 July 1, 1965. Note to Charlie and Joyce Whitaker, acknowledging Joyce’s letter and check and welcoming their upcoming visit.
097 [No date] Handwritten note to Rogers from “Marilynn,” requesting permission to ask Joyce to void her incorrect check to RECC and write another one with the correct amount. [Notation: “No.”]

100-100b July 22, 1965. Three-page letter to Rogers from Joyce, [100] enclosing a writers’ workshop schedule. Tells of a visit by Rebecca and James Ayars and photographer friend. [100a] Will go on an expense-paid trip to Florida in August to attend meetings. She hopes Brit [Wilder] can restore her rocking chair. [100b] They will be moving to another house soon.
101a-101 July [1965]. Two-page schedule of classes and activities of the Appalachian Arts and Writers Workshop at Alice Lloyd College, with names of the presenters.
099 August 4, 1965. Note to Joyce Whitaker from [unsigned], thanking her for her letter and enclosures; congratulating her on the opportunity to visit Florida.

089 August 29, 1965. Note to Rogers from Milly [Mahoney], relaying a message from Joyce Whitaker of their current location and phone number.
090 [No date] Unsigned note indicating Whitakers’ address at Alice Lloyd College. Some records will be returned late summer according to a June 14th letter.
091 DUPLICATE OF 090
092 DUPLICATE OF 090

102 September 27, 1965. Unsigned note to Joyce, sending her a copy of High Cost of Writing by Rebecca Caudill.

1966

104-104a May 16, 1966. Two-page letter to Rogers from Joyce, informing him that she and others may attend the Chapel concert.
103 May 18, 1966. Unsigned note to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Whitaker, inviting ALC folks to an organ recital, [possibly presented by Mr. [John] Campbell].
105, 105b, 105c May 24, 1966. Two-page letter to Rogers from Joyce, [105] who regrets having missed the concert. Mentions that Patty contacted infectious hepatitis; “The rest of us took shots of gamma globin….” Charlie accepted “the position as coordinator of all Alice Lloyd College’s OEO programs – 5 this year.” [105b] Invites the Rogers to the ALC graduation. [105c] She hopes to visit PMSS.

GALLERY: CHARLIE AND JOYCE WHITAKER Correspondence Set 2


Next: CHARLIE AND JOYCE WHITAKER Correspondence Set 3 – May 25, 1966, to May 29, 1971

See Also:
CHARLIE AND JOYCE WHITAKER Staff – Biography
CHARLIE AND JOYCE WHITAKER Correspondence Set 1 – August 28, 1956, & January 11, 1957, to November 24, 1959

EDUCATION Community Cooperative School