On offer is a small archive of two manuscript letters that interestingly connect an ill-fated marriage, child rearing practices in the mid-20th century and polio virus control restrictions in 1945. Both letters are connected to the Stuetzer and Burrows families, specifically to the relationship and marriage of Helen Louise Burrows Stuetzer (later Sleeper) (1922-2008) and Thomas Stefan Neafsey Stuetzer Sr. (1923-1977). Helen was the third child of Ruth Griffin and Harold Melville Burrows and grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia, attending Lane High School and the University of Virginia. Helen was a well-known artist, opening painting studios in Gloucester, Rockport and Newburyport, Massachusetts. She was a Member of the Portrait Society of America and the International Society of Marine Painters, the Dunwoody Fine Arts Association and the Portrait Society of Georgia. Her paintings are being sold to this day. Thomas Sr. served as a 1st Lieutenant in the US Air Force in World War 2. He later worked as a broadcast executive for the Associated Press in Dallas, Texas. Helen and Thomas married in 1944 and had one son in 1945. In 1953, Helen filed for a divorce, citing “desertion” as the reason. Helen went on to marry Jacob Henry Sleeper in 1957. Sleeper worked as a collections officer and had served as a PFC in the US Army during the war. The first letter is written by Helen from her family home in Charlottesville, Virginia, to Thomas Sr. while he was stationed at Moore Air Base during World War Two. The letter foreshadows Helen and Thomas’ future. However, when read without the benefit of hindsight, it simply reads as the letter of a girl madly in love with a boy, and asking the boy to love her back. Dated only “June 8th”, Helen writes to Thomas and asks him why he is continuing to hurt her when all she does is show him love. She is confused as to how he feels about her, and reminds him that she needs to give a month’s notice at her job and will move to be with him if he says yes. An excerpt follows: “Must you keep hurting me with bitter words? You know I can never stop loving you and that I want to be with you more than anything…Each time you’ve asked me [to come see you] I’ve said I would if you’d send me the money. Once you simply ignored it, then the next time you went on a spree…Tell me as soon as you can if you think I’m worth it” The second letter answers any question as to Thomas’ response to the June 8th letter. It is also sent from Helen’s family home. This time it is written by Helen’s mother, Ruth, and addressed to Helen, who is now Mrs. Thomas N. Stuetzer. Helen and Thomas married on August 15, 1944 and their son, Thomas Neafsy Stuetzer Jr., was born almost exactly nine months later, on May 10, 1945. Ruth writes to Helen on July 23, 1945, when baby Tommy (or Tom-Tom) is only two months old. For an unknown reason, Helen is living with Thomas Sr. in his hometown of Port Washington, New York, and the baby is with Helen’s parents. In the nine-page letter, Ruth writes at length to her daughter, Helen, updating her on baby Tommy and the care she is providing. It reads like a high-level overview of popular child-rearing practices of 1945. Ruth also shares details about neighbors and Helen’s younger brother, Harold Jr., who is deployed. As the letter draws to a close, Ruth requests money to help with Tommy’s care, and discusses the current health restrictions related to the polio epidemic and its impact on Tommy. Some excerpts follow: “...[Tommy] is really the most appealing young man I’ve ever seen. I give him the cod liver oil and orange juice and outside of a yell (and a funny face he always makes) he keeps it down and is glad to get to the orange juice. I’ve called Dr. Birdsong only once ‘cause he was having cold feet and he asked me about pajamas. I reminded him the little one was only two months old…he said put socks on him”. “He is asleep now as contented as the cows that give Carnation Milk for him…I know you want to see and be with him and you also want to be with Tommy [Sr.]. I’ve been hoping you both could see your way clear to come down and be with us all some too but it may not be that you can…”. “One of the neighbors and I have our eye on a colored girl we can use between us at 7 dollars each a week. So if you and Tommy can send us 10 dollars per week that will cover all expenses practically?? I want to get…Little Tommy Jr. a Kiddie Korp which will be 37 dollars but he is bound to have that”. “...since you wrote there’s a ban on traveling also the radio is broadcasting its polio epidemic: ‘keep babies away from people, crowds, etc. Swat all flies. Do not go in parks for swimming’. Tommy Jr. is safe. I watch him every minute. No one comes near him”. Taken together, these two letters provide insight into wartime romantic entanglements and the lengths families go to to provide the best lives for their children, both their adult children and infants. The second letter provides surprising detail as to the daily life of an infant in the 1940s under the shadow of the polio epidemic. These letters would make an impactful addition to any collection that relates to WW2, pediatrics, family studies or sociology. Both letters are in good condition, with creases from where they have been folded but no obvious rips or tears. All writing is legible. Both include addressed envelopes but only one has its stamp. Overall Good.
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