Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 09: BIOGRAPHY – Staff
OLIVE COOLIDGE, Nurse Asst, 1941-1942
Correspondence 1942
Oggy to Family
Also, Glyn Morris to Board, Jan. 19, 1942
(Olive’s departure from PMSS)

TAGS: Olive Coolidge, Richard Bradford Coolidge, family correspondence, Robert Butman, Medford MA, snow, National Defense Program, WWII, Glyn Morris, Malcolm Arny, coal camps

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OLIVE COOLIDGE Correspondence 1942 Oggy to Family

CONTENTS

Postmark: February 9, 1942, Pine Mountain, KY. “Dear Folks, I’m kinda worried I haven’t heard from you for so long….”

Postmark: February 12, 1942, Harlan, KY. “Dear Family, In town to a concert….”

[N.D.] “Dear Moppie, Got a nice letter today – from home….” [This letter is also included in OLIVE COOLIDGE Correspondence 1941 Oggy to Family OCT-NOV]

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January 12, 1942. Carbon copy of a typewritten letter from [unsigned] to “Olive”: “…are sorry to learn both of your illness and that you will not be able to finish the year at Pine Mountain.

 January 19, 1942. Carbon copy of two-page typewritten letter to PMSS Board from Glyn Morris, reporting that Olive Coolidge is resigning from her PMSS position as of the end of February due to WWII issues.

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TRANSCRIPTIONS

[The following text has been slightly edited for clarity.]

PMSS TO OGGY January 12, 1942

January 12, 1942

Dear Olive:
We were glad to have your letter of January 6th which arrived on Saturday but are sorry to learn both of your illness and that you will not be able to finish the year at Pine Mountain. It will be a disappointment to Miss Rood and to Dr. Nutter. But we all recognize that many people are making unusual adjustments now.

In any case we are thankful you will come back for a time and shall hope that we can find some one to take your place in the meantime. We shall be looking forward to seeing you as soon as possible and of hearing from you then all about the forthcoming wedding — about which, of course, we are happy for your sake.

Janet is away for the week, Ruth is busy, and so I’m pecking this one out.
Best wishes,
[Unsigned]

OGGY TO FAMILY Postmark: Feb 9, 1942, Pine Mountain, KY

[N.D.] Monday

Dear Folks,
I’m kinda worried I haven’t heard from you for so long – except for getting Readers Digest which I sure appreciated – I sure did. We’ve had the slightest bit of snow and the place is really beautiful. Mountains and trees just edged with it and yet the place is beginning to seem a bit of Spring. Talked late to Dr. last night – they really are swell people. I’m feeling absolutely OK, now, honest! Well, it won’t be so long now. Bob’s commission didn’t turn out – it seems he couldn’t be commissioned for the job, due to civil service regulations. So we’re holding tight.

Love, Oggy

GALLERY

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OGGY TO FAMILY Postmark: Feb 12, 1942, Harlan, KY

OGGY TO FAMILY: Unknown Date. Oggy to Moppie

[On letterhead for “Miss Olive D. Coolidge, Camp Teedy-USK-UNG, Hawley, Pennsylvania”.]

[N.D.] Wednesday Aft

Dear Moppie, –
Got a nice letter today – from home, saying the arrival of another package – Boy! that will be welcome. Also got [a] swell letter from 2 school pals – Nealy & Kay – which made me quite nostalgic for the old place. Both were very newsy & made me wish I could see some of those kids.

My thoughts have turned homeward quite a bit lately. I see glimpses of the dining room table and all of us enjoying ourselves – it really is amazing what scenes come to mind. How I wish I could come home Thanksgiving. I guess it’d best to come home Christmas – for I doubt you’d ever plan to get to Btown & no doubt Bob will be able to get home a couple days.

The weather has at last really turned cold here – and I keep a fire going all the time in the cabin. It’s not so lonely, really, and I like it exceptionally well – it’s a real retreat to which the younger staff members come quite often. No one to bother me – if I only didn’t have to struggle over fire I’d be happy. I’m not afraid, though, Laddie would be nice company, Malcolm likes him too well to part much with him.

June’s news is very exciting –

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Now Thurs. morning – my pen had run out of ink and I didn’t get it filled immediately. Anyway I am sure I’ll be in excellent training for this summer. You and June can take the whole summer off while I manage the babies single-handed! Hah!

I’m sending you along something you may enjoy for a birthday present – it isn’t much but it is something to show I’m at least thinking of you and I know you’ll like it! Aren’t I conceited? Anyway a happy birthday goes with it. I’d better put that in while I remember it. The next letter I might forget.

I have succumbed for the minute to a cold – everybody else working here has had [?] – now me. Nothing to worry about – no fever – just a sore throat & general tiredness. I guess a bit of grip [sic, grippe]. As I can’t stay very well in the cabin I’m here at the infirmary taking my own medicine. And boy do we have a full house. I’m anxious to be up and around to help and I feel better already.

Janet just lent me her radio for 3 weeks when she will send it back home. I doubt my radio could work here anyway – it’s AC and this is DC. Don’t worry about my taking [?] on Malcolm – he’s a very independent sort and believes in managing the beautiful but dumb type.

Bob does love his job – office & secretary. Next week he really starts in, handling orders – he’s just been getting accustomed to it now. He’s living with a family which live out away & he seems to like it very well.

I hope maybe to go to Wash. for Thanksgiving but if I’m in bed 2 or 3 days I don’t feel it fair to take more time off next week. We shall see – we shall see!

Had a swell time Sunday  – the man who runs the Turkey Farm settlement where we go out to Sunday School – took back the speaker of tent Sunday to Wallins Creek. I went along for company. Jim (his name) works in one of the US Steel capture coal mines – Lynch. I certainly got a new picture from him – my ideas are beginning to change. He showed me Lynch and it really is a beautiful Camp – so clean & all. He says the union is crazy at times – esp. John L. Lewis. So! Maybe I’ll get more conservative!

Well, I’d better stop if this is to catch the mail. —
My love to you both,
Oggy

GALLERY: Unknown Date. Oggy to Moppie

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GLYN MORRIS TO BOARD MEMBERS, January 19, 1942

Page 1 [See image below.]

Page 2

-2-
Mr. James S. Crutchfield, January 19, 1942 [Continued]

The war has made it necessary for Miss Olive Coolidge to resign her position here as of the end of February. Miss Coolidge has been working at the Infirmary, easing the pressure on Miss [Grace M.] Rood considerably. Miss Coolidge’s going will be detrimental to the Infirmary and we fear that at this time it will be difficult to replace her.

I am sure you will want to know what Pine Mountain is doing to fit into the national defense program. A committee of students and staff has been formed for the purpose of studying this and to date it is organizing a program for conserving food, especially milk, and reducing waste. Waste paper and tin cans are being saved, defense stamps sold. Other ways of helping are being explored, but the remoteness of the school makes it difficult at the present time to articulate in any more direct way.

Very sincerely yours,
[Signed[ Glyn Morris

CC to each member of the Board

GALLERY

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Previous:
OLIVE COOLIDGE Correspondence 1941 Oggy to Family OCT-NOV

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

Return To:
OLIVE COOLIDGE Correspondence 1941-1942 Oggy to Family GUIDE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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