HOWARD BURDINE Correspondence

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 09: BIOGRAPHY – Staff/Personnel
Series 19: Students
Howard Burdine Correspondence 1934-1937

Howard Burdine Correspondence, 1935-1939. [burdine_005.jpg]

Howard Burdine Correspondence

Student, 1925
Farm Manager, June 1935 – July 1937

TAGS: Howard Burdine Correspondence, Glyn Morris, PMSS students, Berea (KY) College, farm managers, farm programs

HOWARD BURDINE CORRESPONDENCE provides a list of contents, images and transcriptions of letters from Howard Burdine, a PMSS student who worked as a PMSS farm manager from 1935 to 1937. The correspondence, from 1935 to 1939. is primarily with then Director of PMSS, Glyn Morris, 

Howard Burdine was first a student at Pine Mountain Settlement School, graduating in 1925. He continued his education at Berea (Kentucky) College following graduation. He later returned to become the farm manager at the School in 1935 at the request of Glyn Morris. His journey was in keeping with the basic philosophy of the School and of Glyn Morris. Morris encouraged the development of Howard Burdine’s skills and interests and, when possible, he promoted his career after graduation.

The following correspondence traces Morris’ support and the eventual flourishing of Burdine’s career. The correspondence also demonstrates the strong commitment Morris had to the farm program at the School.

CONTENTS: Howard Burdine Correspondence 1934 – 1937

Howard W. Burdine ; Glyn Morris ; invitation to visit ; Dr. Weekes ; commencement date ; Hubert Burdine’s expulsion ; Christmas stay ; Edrye Burdine ; Bill Dawn ; Oscar Kneller’s accident ; Berea (KY) College ; Burdine accepts farm position ; Arthur Dodd ; travel arrangements ; Alice Cobb ; housemother position at Farm House; little black book of rules ; Mrs. Faulkner ; spirit of Pine Mountain ; responsibilities ; welcome note ; Sol Day’s hogs ; Boys House assignment ; salaries ; Edrye’s operation ; Mr. Curtis Wilson of the Intermountain Coal and Lumber Company offers free manure ; salary concerns of Joan Ayers ; John Spelman’s grandmother ; Mr. W.C. Wilson, Assistant State Supervisor of County Agents, offers position ; Smith Jones ; Burdine sends tuition for Mary ; alumni news ; Burdine offer to help Bill Hayes ; Morris confirms Burdine’s PMSS dates to Robert S. Ryan, Regional Personnel Adviser, Farm Security Administration ;

GALLERY: Howard Burdine Correspondence

TRANSCRIPTION: Howard Burdine Correspondence 1934 – 1937

Images of correspondence from the PMSS Office depict unsigned carbon copies of typewritten letters. The original typed letters were signed and sent to the addressee. Non-PMSS correspondence is either handwritten as indicated or are typewritten originals.

Transcriptions are in chronological order by the date on the correspondence. The text has been slightly edited.

[burdine_001.jpg]

Berea, Kentucky
April 28, 1934

Dear Mr. Morris:

Dr. Weekes gave me your invitation to come to Pine Mountain a few days ago. I did not write you at once because I was not sure then as to the exact date when I could come. Now I should like to come May 8, if it is convenient for you. Dr. Weekes mentioned the fact that your commencement is to be held soon, but I did not get the exact date. If it is more convenient that I come this week I will do so, but it would be more suitable for me on May 8.

Yours truly,
[signed] Howard Burdine

[burdine_002.jpg]

May 2, 1934

Mr. Howard Burdine,
Berea,
Kentucky.

Dear Howard:

We shall be very happy to have you come here on May 8. Our commencement is on the 11th. Please let me know exactly when you will arrive, so that I can be here.

Sincerely yours,
Glyn Morris
DIRECTOR

[burdine_003.jpg]

November 21, 1934

Mr. Howard Burdine,
Berea College,
Berea, Kentucky.

Dear Mr. Burdine:

I am sorry that I had to send Hubert [Burdine] home this morning. he has not kept his promise to refrain from smoking, and the other night did not come into his house until nine o’clock.

I hope that sending him away will not seriously impair any possibilities which he might have had, and that he will be able to find a place somewhere else. I regret very much to take this step, because of my warm feeling for you, and because of your very sincere interest in Hubert. if there is anything I can do to help please let me know.

Sincerely yours,
[unsigned]

[burdine_004.jpg]

December 13, 1934

Mr. Howard Burdine,
Berea, Kentucky.

Dear Howard:

Will you make arrangements to spend one night, between Christmas and New Years, here at Pine Mountain. I should like for you to come, and bring your wife. Let me know the day.

Sincerely yours,
Glyn Morris

[burdine_005.jpg] [handwritten]

[letterhead] HOWARD W. BURDINE
BEREA COLLEGE
BEREA, KY.

Dec. 22, 1934

Dear Mr. Morris;

This is the third letter that I have written to you in answer to your invitation to come down to spend a night during Christmas vacation; the others of which I, due to forgetfulness, did not get mailed.

I will be delighted to spend a night there next Friday, December 28. Edrye will be teaching and cannot come, but my friend Bill Dawn wants to come.

I was very sorry to hear of Mr. [Oscar] Kneller’s accident. Due to his temperament, the results of it will be hard for him. I admired him very much. To use…

[burdine_006.jpg]

2.
[letterhead] HOWARD W. BURDINE
BEREA COLLEGE
BEREA, KY.

..a southern expression he certainly was a “white man”. faithfulness was his religion.

I was very sorry also to hear of Hubert’s expulsion. However, if he would not “play the game”, there was nothing more that you could do. I am grateful to you for your patience with him thus far. He has written me wanting me to try to get him accepted here, but somehow I am afraid the same thing will happen here. I hardly know what to do.

I will be over the mountain sometime next Friday.

Sincerely,
Howard Burdine

[burdine_010.jpg] [handwritten]

[letterhead] HOWARD W. BURDINE
BEREA COLLEGE
BEREA, KY.

Jan. 9, 1935

Dear Mr. Morris;

As both Edrye and myself are anxious to come to Pine Mountain next year, we have definitely decided to accept your offer. I should have known that when I was there, but for some inexplicable reason I felt just a little uncertain. Now that I am away and can get a perspective, I know that we would like to be located there more than anywhere else.

From now on all my plans..

[burdine_011.jpg]

[letterhead] HOWARD W. BURDINE
BEREA COLLEGE
BEREA, KY.

…and activities will be carried on with the intention of being connected with Pine Mountain next year.

I will run down between semesters, Sunday to Tuesday Jan. 27 to 29 inclusive, and work out the planting schedule with Sam for this year, to be carried out until I come about June 4.

Expecting to see you before long, I am

Yours Truly,
Howard Burdine

[burdine_012.jpg]

January 10, 1935
Mr. Howard Burdine,
Berea College,
Berea, Kentucky.

Dear Howard:

Since time is an important element, should you elect to take a position other than the Farm at Pine Mountain, I am anxious to hear from you. Will you let me have your decision at your earliest convenience.

My best to you and your wife.

Sincerely yours,
[unsigned, probably Glyn Morris]

[burdine_013.jpg]

May 13, 1935

Mr. Howard Burdine
Berea College
Berea, Kentucky

Dear Howard:

Since I am leaving here on Sunday, May 19th, I would like to hear from you before I go, about the date when you expect to arrive here to take up your work.

I hope that all is going well with you and that the press of examinations is not too heavy. With best wishes to Edra (sic) and you, I remain

Sincerely yours,
Glyn Morris

[burdine_014.jpg] [handwritten]

May 17, 1935.
Berea, Ky.

Mr Glyn Morris
Pine Mountain, Ky.

Dear Mr Morris;

I’ve wanted to come down to Pine Mountain all semester, but it seemed that I just could not leave on the dates I would plan. I wanted to go back with Mr. [Arthur] Dodd and his group when they were here, but I found I could not start as early as they had planned so I gave up the idea. However, I hear that everything has been going well considering the adverse weather conditions that we have had this spring.

Edrye and I plan to arrive at Pine Mountain on Wednesday, June 5. If we can get everything in shape and arranged we will arrive in Harlan June 5, at 3:45 P.M.

We have some luggage and I wonder if it could be arranged for the truck to meet us and take us over the mountain.

I’m pretty sure this is when we will arrive. If there happens to be any change in date it won’t be more than one day sooner or later, and I’ll write…

[burdine_015.jpg]

…Miss [Alice] Cobb if there is any change.

I’m mighty anxious to get into the harness. All I want to do now is sit and think of it, which makes it mighty hard to study or to write term papers. However, it isn’t long now so maybe I can stand it.

Sincerely yours,
Howard Burdine
[2]

[burdine_016.jpg]

May 18, 1935

Mrs. Howard Burdine,
Pine Mountain,
Kentucky.

Dear Mrs. Burdine:

I am sorry that I am not here to initiate you into the duties of housemother, but will leave to Miss [Alice] Cobb the task of getting you started. Much of the work must be left to your own judgment. The most advisable thing for me to suggest now is to read very carefully the little black book of rules, which you will secure at the office.

Mrs. Faulkner will pass on to you whatever hints she will think advisable, and I am sure that Howard is trained well in the spirit of Pine Mountain, and can help you a great deal.

The important thing, of course, is to remember the responsibility we have to those in our care, and our responsibility to our contributors and our neighbors. This of course means that we must use care and diligence every minute, so that nothing happens which will reflect on the character of the school.

Howard has told me that you are a good disciplinarian so I will not worry about your having the boys get to bed on time every night, or about the order in the house.

I go away feeling very confident that everything is in good hands, and that you can carry on without any difficulty.

Sincerely yours,
[unsigned, probably Glyn Morris]

[burdine_017.jpg]

May 18, 1935

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Burdine:

This is just a little note to welcome you to Pine Mountain. We have waited some time for you to come and hope that your stay here will be long and pleasant. I am looking forward to seeing you and hope that things will not be too hard on your for the first few weeks.

Sincerely yours,
[unsigned]

[burdine_018.jpg]

Memorandum      August 31, 1935

I saw Sol Day at Putney and was telling him about his hogs tearing down the corn. I told him that we would shoot the hog and eat it and pay him for it what it was worth — no price was made but he said he would be reasonable about it. I told him also about the pig that was shot the other night which belonged to the sow and I told him we caught another last night. He said Ludie wanted two pigs to keep but I told him there would be only one because there were only two including the one we shot. He said go ahead and let justIce take its course, or words to that effect.

Howard Burdine

[burdine_024.jpg]

March 15, 1937

Memorandum
Several days ago I talked with Howard Burdine. He and Mrs. Burdine informed me that they are willing to take over Boys House next year. I suggested a salary of $140.00.

[burdine_020.jpg]

April 15, 1937

Mr. Howard Burdine,
Berea, Kentucky.

Dear Edrye:

Yesterday morning we got all the news from Howard about the operation. We are glad to know that everything is well, and that you will be back with us before very long. We miss you here, and the little boys at Farm House, although they say nothing, look as though they miss someone.

Cordially yours,
[unsigned]

[burdine_019.jpg]

April 21, 1937

Dear Mr. Burdine:

Mr. Curtis Wilson of the Intermountain Coal and Lumber Company has informed us that we may have as much manure as we want from the camp.

Sincerely,
[unsigned]

[burdine_021.jpg]

May 24, 1937

Dear Mr. Morris:

I do not wish to bother you, but I have just been thinking about your wish to pay Mr. Burdine for May, $90.00, vacation, $90.00, and Christmas vacation, $45.00. I do not think he is entitled to it. If I am right in presuming that he works 11 months with 1 month’s vacation, then I am sure I am right. In fact we should not pay him for [this phrase is crossed out] he would need to have one week’s pay deducted from his vacation pay, for he went away for a week at Christmas time. You see, if he takes any vacation at Christmas time, that time should be deducted from his summer vacation, in which case I know you can see that we owe him only for this past month and one month’s vacation. At any rate, just check the answer you wish to send on the enclosed card, and I shall do as you desire.

Everything is fine. My best to you all,
[unsigned – evidently from Miss Joan Ayers]

[burdine_022.jpg] [reverse side of post card]

Please pay Mr. Burdine as I instructed you to.

It will be alright to pay Mr. Burdine for one month’s vacation, only, plus May salary.

Further instructions —

[handwritten] It figures out right. He has worked two years, had two weeks vacation. Sending this in envelope so postmaster’s curiosity will not be aroused.

We are having a lot of fun — doing nothing….

[burdine_023.jpg] [front of postcard]

…leaving tomorrow for we know not where. Will write to P.M. when we find a desirable shipping place. Regards — G[len] M[orris].

[Address:]
Miss Joan Ayer
Pine Mountain
Kentucky

[burdine_025.jpg] [handwritten]

13/6/37 3:20 P.M.

Dear Mr. Morris:
You will probably think strange my writing you this note but as you have been too busy all day for me to see you I’ll leave this on your desk before I go over the hill to bring back Mr. [John] Spelman‘s grandmother.

Saturday I received a telegram from Mr. W.C. Wilson, assistant state Supervisor of County Agents asking me to meet him in Corbin at a Soil Conservation meeting on Monday July 12. I saw him and he told me he had a job for me in probably the last mountain county in the state for such work, as assistant county agent, saying that just as soon as I had completed my training I would probably be placed immediately as county agent.

I have promised you that I will stay this year. If you consider it a promise that should not be broken, I’ll not accept his…

[burdine_026.jpg]

…proposition. If however you would just as soon get a fresh man, I would like to be released.

Your proposition at noon[?] has been one of my pet schemes ever since I took a Cooperative Marketing Course in college. I think something affecting the economic conditions of these people is perhaps the only way to approach them. However perhaps a fresh man with the same philosophy would be your best bet. I, having been here two years, am beginning to feel stale and for the good of everybody concerned feel I ought to change.

There is a boy living in Harlan County I don’t know exactly where, I can find out if you wish, by the name of Smith Jones, who is a graduate of Berea, the class of 37, majored in agriculture, getting a B.S. degree, who might be the one you want. He is only a suggestion.
Howard Burdine

[burdine_027.jpg]

July 13, 1937

Mr. Howard Burdine
Pine Mountain Settlement School
Pine Mountain, Kentucky

My dear Howard:

I have thought carefully over the matter about which you wrote me this afternoon. If you were desirous of staying at Pine Mountain you probably would not have written me explaining your present situation, so it seems to me that under the circumstances there is no other course other than that of leaving Pine Mountain as quickly as you can wind up your affairs here.

Sincerely yours,

Glyn Morris
Director

Dictated by Mr. Morris but signed in his absence.

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[letterhead] COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WORK IN
AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS
STATE OF KENTUCKY

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE, COOPERATING

EXTENSION SERVICE

Inez, Kentucky
January 26, 1939

Mr. Glen A. Morris
Director Pine Mountain Settlement School
Pine Mountain, Kentucky

Dear Mr. Morris:

Please find enclosed a check for twenty dollars ($20.00) to cover Mary [Burdine?]’s tuition. I regret that this has been unpaid as long as it has but I guess you will be glad to get it even if it is long past due.

I regret that I was not able to attend the alumnae (sic) banquet, and hope I may be able to do so next year.

Anytime you send out circulars or news bulletins concerning Pine Mountain I would be glad to be on your mailing list, as I am very interested in Pine Mountain and the work you are doing. If I can be of any help to Bill Hayes, I would be glad to have him write me at any time.

Give my regards to any of our old friends at Pine Mountain. With sincere wishes for the success of the work you are doing, I am

Cordially yours,
[signed] Howard W. Burdine
Howard W. Burdine

[burdine_008.jpg]

January 30, 1939

Mr. Howard W. Burdine
Inez
Kentucky

Dear Howard:

I am glad to have your letter of January 26th and the check for twenty dollars covering Mary’s tuition, a receipt for which I am enclosing.

I hope that you are happily situated and that you are enjoying your work.

We are placing your name on our mailing list so that you may receive all of Pine Mountain’s literature, including the Alumni Bulletin.

I hope that you can plan to come to Pine Mountain for the Alumni meetings as we are anxious that this group be as active as possible.

Remember me kindly to your wife and with best wishes, I remain

Very sincerely yours,
[unsigned, Glyn Morris]

[burdine_009.jpg]

March 27, 1939

Mr. Robert S. Ryan
Regional Personnel Adviser
Farm Security Administration
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Raleigh, North Carolina

Dear Mr. Ryan:

Your letter of March 7th regarding Mr. Howard W. Burdine arrived at Pine Mountain while I was away.

Mr. Burdine was employed at Pine Mountain from July 1935 – 1937. he had charge of the school farm and his salary was $100.00 a month. He left of his own accord. I am enclosing a filled-out form on Mr. Burdine.

Sincerely yours,
[unsigned]

See Also:
EDRYE WILSON (BURDINE)
HOWARD BURDINE Biography

Title

Howard Burdine Correspondence

Alt. Title

Howard Burdin ; Howard W. Burdine ;

Identifier

HOWARD BURDINE CORRESPONDENCE

Creator

Pine Mountain Settlement School, Pine Mountain, KY

Alt. Creator

Ann Angel Eberhardt ; Helen Hayes Wykle ;

Subject Keyword

Howard Burdine ; Howard W. Burdine ; Pine Mountain Settlement School ; Howard Burdine Correspondence ; Glyn Morris ; PMSS students ; Berea (KY) College ; farm managers ; farm programs ; sweet corn ; gardens ; farms ; farming ; agriculture ; soils ; celery ; corn ; potatoes ; fertilizers ; vegetables ; vegetable varieties ; plant diseases ; plant pests ; Florida Everglades ; organic soils ; organic gardening ; soil conservation ;

Subject LCSH

Burdine, Howard, — b. 1910.
Pine Mountain Settlement School (Pine Mountain, Ky.) — History.
Harlan County (Ky.) — History.
Education — Kentucky — Harlan County.
Rural schools — Kentucky — History.
Agriculture — Kentucky.
Schools — Appalachian Region, Southern.

Date

2015-09-21

Publisher

Pine Mountain Settlement School, Pine Mountain, KY

Contributor

n/a

Type

Collections ; text ; image ;

Format

Original and copies of documents and correspondence in file folders in filing cabinet.

Source

Series 09: Biography – Staff/Personnel ; Series 11: Farm ; Series 19: Students ;

Language

English

Relation

Is related to: Pine Mountain Settlement School Collections, Series 09: Staff/Personnel ; Series 11: Farm ; Series 19: Students ;

Coverage Temporal

1935-1939

Coverage Spatial

Pine Mountain, KY ; Harlan County, KY ;

Rights

Any display, publication, or public use must credit the Pine Mountain Settlement School. Copyright retained by the creators of certain items in the collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Donor

n/a

Description

Core documents, correspondence, writings, and administrative papers of Howard Burdine and Edrye (Wilson) Burdine ; clippings, photographs, books by or about Howard Burdine and Edrye (Wilson) Burdine ;

Acquisition

n/d

Citation

“[Identification of Item],” [Collection Name] [Series Number, if applicable]. Pine Mountain Settlement School Institutional Papers. Pine Mountain Settlement School, Pine Mountain, KY.

Processed By

Helen Hayes Wykle ; Ann Angel Eberhardt ;

Last Updated

2015-09-21 aae ; 2015-09-24 hhw ;

Bibliography

Sources

“Howard Burdine.” Series 09: Biography – Staff/Personnel ; Series 11: Farm ; Series 19: Students. BOARDING SCHOOL STUDENTS – A – B and
BOARDING SCHOOL STUDENTS 1929-1949 and
GUIDE TO BOARDING STUDENTS – FULL LIST 1931-1949 [West Wind records]. Pine Mountain Settlement School Institutional Papers. Pine Mountain Settlement School, Pine Mountain, KY. Internet resource.

“United States Census, 1940,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K7YH-ZX7 : accessed 21 September 2015), Haward (sic) W Burdine, Magisterial District 1, Martin, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 80-1A, sheet 10A, family 160, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 1339.

Bibliography

Celery Production on Organic Soils of South Florida by University of Florida (Book). 

1 edition published in 1973 in English and held by 1 WorldCat member library worldwide

Radish response to phosphorus and potassium fertilizers on Everglades organic soil by Howard W Burdine. (Book).

1 edition published in 1967 in English and held by 1 WorldCat member library worldwide

Water Table Management For Organic Soil Conservation and Crop Production in the Florida Everglades by University of Florida. (Book). 

1 edition published in 1979 in English and held by 1 WorldCat member library worldwide.

Horticultural trials with sweet corn hybrids by V. L Guzman. (Book).

1 edition published in 1959 in English and held by 1 WorldCat member library worldwide

Some changes in the celery plant with maturity by Howard W Burdine. (Book).

1 edition published in 1970 in English and held by 1 WorldCat member library worldwide

The development of pencil stripe in celery by Howard W Burdine. (Book).

1 edition published in 1972 in English and held by 1 WorldCat member library worldwide

Sweet corn production on the organic and sandy soils of Florida. (Book).

1 edition published in 1967 in English and held by 1 WorldCat member library worldwide

Studies on the development of pith in Everglades celery by Howard W Burdine. (Book).

1 edition published in 1964 in English and held by 1 WorldCat member library worldwide

Some soil pH effects on soil tests and growth of some vegetable crops on Everglades organic soil by Howard W Burdine. (Book).

1 edition published in 1968 in English and held by 1 WorldCat member library worldwide

Response of escarole to pH adjustment and some other nutritional factors on new sawgrass peat by Howard W Burdine. (Book) 

1 edition published in 1965 in English and held by 1 WorldCat member library worldwide

effect of plant spacing on yield and plant and ear … fshs.org/proceedings-o/1957-vol-70/90-93%20(WOLF).pdf

Emil A. Wolf and Howard W. Burdine … Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations Journal. No. 668. … WOLF AND BURDINE: SWEET CORN EXPERIMENTS. 91.

BURDINE, HOWARD W. & GUZMAN, V. L. Horticultural trials with sweet corn hybrids, Spring 1958. Florida Everglades Report 59—28. May 8, 1959. 13 p.

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