January 16, 1977 (Letter from Bev)

Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford

Sunday, January 16

Happy New Year!  Hope you enjoyed your holidays and your vacation from work.  I'm really sorry that you couldn't come in December, but the Brandywine River Museum and Longwood are still her and can be visited when you can some.

I don't remember how much I told you about my new job, so forgive me if I repeat myself.  I started working with Wyeth on Dec. 6th and so far, am quite pleased with the position.  I have a clerical assistant who is invaluable.  I don't think I'll ever take a job again where I don't' have some help. This library is smaller than my former library, but is used much, much more.  There's always someone in doing research or just reading the journals.  The big problem is space and I hope to alleviate that a bit by weeding the collection.  I just got some new stacks and this will help crowded conditions somewhat.  It's going to be a real challenge to get the place in shape and have it running my way!  My predecessor was not a trained librarian and had run the library for 25 years using some very strange methods.  You should see the card catalog!  I was so confused the first time I looked up something.  The filing was really screwed up and the cards are arranged in a most unconnected way.  Some don't even look like catalog cards!

The Wyeth plant where I work employs over 1,000 people and most of these work in the plant on the line.  Since such workers have to run on a very regimented schedule, the rest of the employees, office workers, etc., are also subject to the same rules and regulations as are the plant workers.  I didn't like the regimentation at first, but have adjusted now.  I have to take my break at 9:30 & 2:30 and lunch at 12:30.  Where I worked before, I went for coffee and brought it back to the library whenever I wanted to.  I guess I was truly spoiled.  Now I'm not even allowed to eat at my desk, which really is reasonable.  I go to the lunchroom now for breaks and lunch and do enjoy getting out of the library and talking to other people who don't drop into the library.  The food in the cafeteria is all subsidized by Wyeth and is dirt cheap.  Everyday you have your choice of a platter or casserole or 2 different kinds of soups, sandwiches made-to-order, various salads and desserts.  Platters, which consist of meat, 2 vegetables, roll & butter, cost $.70.  Not only is the food cheap, but it's good.  If they're serving something that I really like, I eat my big meal for the day there and just have a salad at home for dinner.  It really saves money.

The whole plant shut down for the week following Christmas and fortunately for me I was able to move then.  I moved here on Dec. 28th and am so glad to be living so close (2 mi. away) to my job. Moving was no fun!  I never realized that I had so much stuff.  I had boxes and boxes and boxes of odds-and-ends and made countless trips up and down the stairs.  It really tired me out and I'm so glad that I had the entire week off to get moved and settled.   Two of my friends from the hospital used a U-Haul trailer to move my furniture.  They didn't have a difficult job and in less than 3 hours I was all moved in here in West Chester.  My apartment is so much bigger than my former one.  I have a nice sized living room,k dining area, kitchen, bath, bedroom, and 3 huge walk-in closets. I'm on the 1st floor and also have a small patio.  I have room outside to plant flowers around the apartment and am looking forward to the spring.  Luckily for all my plants, I still get a lot of sun and didn't have to get rid of them for lack of sunlight.  The only problem with them is space.  I used to have very wide windowsills, but now I had to buy a little parson's table to accommodate the plants. My father is also making me another table so I can get the remaining plants off the floor.  I hung two plants by finding the beams in the ceiling.  That was an education in itself!  The only problem is that the beams re not in too ideal of a location for sunshine.  When the builder constructed this apartment he did not have plant lovers in mind!

Diane is coming to visit next Sunday, if it doesn't snow.  We have had a very bad week weather-wise with a lot of snow and unusually cold temperatures.  I guess you've had your share of now, too.  I'm quite ready for spring and I know that I haven't even seen the worst of winter yet.

My parents gave me money for Christmas and I'm planning on buying a bicycle.  Then when the weather gets nice I can ride it to work. The exercise will be good for me and will be a change from jumping into the car and driving off.  I might even try walking it some Sunday to see how long it will take me to walk 2 miles.  That would be great exercise!

I'm sure that I'll like living in the West Chester area, once I learn my way round.  Chester County is full of historic spots and I'm still quite close to Philadelphia.  I hope you can come sometime in the near future.  Let Diane or me know when a good time would be.  It might be best to wait awhile since the snow is so unpredictable.  Give it some thought, okay?

I hope you're getting along okay and are braving the winter.  Keep in touch.

May 4, 1976 (Letter from Connie)

So good to hear from you.  I tell you, I looked at that letter and thought, Springfield, Mass - ? What is Paul doing in Springfield, Mass?  Well, it seems you're doing very well indeed.  I couldn't be more pleased!  And close to Boston and New York -- I could choke you.  Denver is close and Denver is OK.  But it's not Vancouver or San Francisco or Seattle or Boston.  Grumble.

And I really know what you mean about having your own place again.  I get along well with my mom -- but not constantly.  She came out for a week in March and it was really good to see her and gab for just hours without having to worry about Ma Bell.  But evenso -- and as much as I like her there were times when I was tense with her around all the time.  Guess I've been out too long to go back to living with Mom.  It was nice though -- she cooked me dinner and even did the dishes!

Went to the Wyoming Library Association convention.  I'm in to going to those things - -but it was a drag.  Going to the Special Libraries thing in Denver in June -- should be good.  Looking forward to that.  Oh -- and you're a "special librarian" now too!  I tell you, it's the only way to go.  SLA is a good group -- miles above ALA or any of the local groups.  You might look into it.

We finally got moved into our new building.  Would you believe I have like 200 boxes of books and no shelves.  I'm literally buried in boxes -- some stacked 8 boxes high.  Theoretically our shelves should be ready tomorrow (or the day after, or the day after that, or...)  Someday soon.  Or so we're told.

Finally got around to going to the doc and found out that I almost have an ulcer.  Out of pure vindictiveness I'd like to think it's all LaVern's fault.  But I have a sneaking suspicion that it comes from all my Wyoming partying -- not the booze, but the 7Up I mix with it.  Gonna have to get used to Bourbon and water.  Better for the health!

I tell you, this has been a terrific day.  Been toying with the idea of buzzing off to Europe.  (I know I've bored you with that before.)  But lately I've been getting cold feet, should I, shouldn't I, do I really want to go?   Anyway, Saturday I went to a travel agent and found out I could go by charter from Denver to Frankfurt for $399 round trip!  I couldn't believe it!  That's half the regular fare.  So today I ran over, plunked down my money and got all confirmed and everything.  And I leave July 6. Unfortunately I'll be here for the 4th.  Had dreams of spending the 4th out of the country -- say drinking a toast to the good ol' U.S. of A. from the  Champs Elysee.  Could not be.  Going with my friend Anke from Seattle -- she's German and speaks German (of course) and French.  Had hoped to go with Ginny Shoens (remember the Sunday morning waffles), but that's an on again off again thing.

I've really got this thing about planes it seems.  Flying off to Seattle for Memorial Day weekend.

Heard from Lynne Stevenson.  All at MSL is the usual shambles.  Lynne's resigned -- either to go back to school (in Sacramento) or to take the biomed job at Carroll College.  Whichever comes through.  Basically just sad stories from there.  So glad I got out when I did.

And all goes on the usually same sameness have.  Cheyenne's ok -- and you just wouldn't believe how happy I am with my job.  Especially now that I almost have shelves.

Take care, and keep in touch --

November 5, 1975 (Letter from Connie)

Uh, well, you see, it's like this -- I'm not in Montana anymore.  Got back there in September, gave my notice, packed my bags, and split.  I was scared -- I had no idea what I was getting into -- but it turned out to be really terrific -- about the smartest thing I've ever done!

I don't know if I told you about it in Seattle, although I didn't know much about it then.  Anyway, here I am in Cheyenne, setting up a library for the Department of Economic Planning and Development.  So far, I am back in my cubbyhole cataloging all day long -- and loving it!  It's all technical reports and government documents, just the kind of stuff I really like to work with.  I tell ya, this special library bit is really terrific.  Would you believe this is the first time I've not worked in a library per se, and that really is one of hte best things about it.  I'm the only librarian in sight, I don't get flack from anyone -- just pure cooperation and a lot of good vibes.  I'm totally my own boss, at least I made (essentially) all the decision about the library.  And when I need policy decisions I get them -- quick, clear, consistent, and livable.  The contract with the state library is really unbelievable   I've been here 3 weeks but it seems like I've always been here, and that' whole thing back in Helena just a bad dream.

It wasn't all bad -- I made some good friends there, and it was hard to leave them.  (But good news -- Lynne is driving down this weekend.  We're going to goof around in Denver.)  And then I miss my gorgeous apartment.  I'm in a one-bedroom basement -- yech -- small and gloomy.  But it's decent, unlike others I've seen here, and cheap.  And at least I have someplace to stay while I'm looking for the "dream place".

But on the other hand, I shouldn't be too anxious to move -- I really don't know how long I'll be there.  I'm here on a WICHE internship, and only have 3 months I'm sure of.  I might be extended for another 3 months, and they make noises about wanting a full-time librarian (and I make noises about wanting the job) but no promises as yet.  So I might be back in Seattle in January or I might be here forever.  And of course, as an intern, I'm not paid much, but I'm enjoying it so I don't care. I really thrive on independence -- and that's what I have here.  My boss is a doll, and there are such good vibes (a.k.a. "high morale") here.

Back in Montana I really wondered if I'd ever enjoy working again, if the lib. business was all a big mistake.  Well, Montana was the mistake -- 

As for Montana State Library news -- Dick is leaving at Thanksgiving as you know.  But did you know that LaVern has gone on leave!  From Oct 15 to Jan 1 (irony of ironies -- this was announced after I'd gotten the WICHE offer).  But decided to leave anyway.  No one knows for sure if she will be back.  And then that whole scene was so tense -- so LaVern or no I split.

Lynne is in charge of general services now and doing beautifully of course.

You mentioned the bad weather in Montana -- Montana maybe, but not here -- it's been gorgeous!

And then I finally am able to get channel Z from Denver (and most of the Denver stations).  I've seen a lot of dogs -- but also the fist two Johnny Weissmuller Tarzans.

Cheyenne is really all right -- a nice enough town, friendly people, and close to Denver and Ft. Collins -- what more could you ask?  Well, sail boats, and sea gulls, mist and fog and all that soft greenness -- well, I'm going back there at Christmas, and I rather think I'll live there again some day.  But hopefully not right away.  I like being away.

Well, that's about it -- life goes on, and for me, for now, marvelously.

Take care, keep in touch -- Something will turn up for you, relax till then!

January 13, 1975 (Letter from Diane)

Looks like we left Pgh a little early -- we're missing all that celebrating, rioting and general mania not to mentions the joys of GSLIS.  Of course, if you can't be with the Super Bowl winners, the next bet group is the Stanley Cup winners.

I'm glad that you're enjoying your work.  Mine is coming along slowly but steadily.  Basically the library is a neglected pile of old books and reports with inadequate cataloging.  My first move was to pack nearly twenty boxes of books for discard.  I've also been ordering equipment and basic library resources such as BIP.  Space is a big problem -- I'm overcrowded before I begin.  And I wish people would quit asking me if I came out of the typing pool.  Next month I'm going to D.C. to the Office of the Chief Engineer for an orientation.  I'm looking forward to it since it will give me a chance to compare problems and ideas.  Actually, since I'm really starting from scratch, I'll take all the help I can get.  Last winter, when I was designing a library for Smith's Spec Lib course, I never dreamed that this test would become reality!  I never dreamed either that one of the married men would ask me out the first weekend I was here.  Myer!  ()No, I didn't!)

Where does the money go?  Good question.  There's rent (I love my apartment but it costs), taxes, phone, electric, food, transportation ( I take the train to work), etc.  It's very expensive to set up a household without showers and wedding gifts!  My poor sister found this out the hard way when she came for a week's visit.  She tried making roast beef and mashed potatoes without a browning pan, a roasting pan, a saucepan lid, a masher, a gravy boat or ladle.  Surprisingly enough, it turned out to be quite delicious -- but still improvised.  To buy these things would cost me $30-40.  It's even worse when shopping for furniture.  The sofabed I liked cost $549 -- on sale.  I think I'll have to compromise between taste and finances!  Or go bankrupt 3 mos. after starting work.

I can't believe you hate Christmas.  It's the only time when I find hope for mankind -- at least until I get into traffic.  My decoration are still up because I dread taking them down.  In order to give you the proper spirit next year, I'm sending a package on Sat.  No, I didn't get it at the after-Christmas sale but explanation will be enclosed.

Philly is terrific!  Bev and I went to the Brandywine River Museum to see the Wyeth paintings.  It's a fantastic place -- a renovated mill which suits the paints well.  After all, where else would you find Jamie Wyeth's Pig, Angus, and acrylic sheep.

If this letter sounds disjointed, it's because I've been watching Ford in the White House Library.  It's a nice place.

Take care and keep in touch.