Schlesinger Library

ALBERT MORRIS 176 Hillcrest Road Needham, Massachusetts [Sept. 16, 1966] 02192

Dr. Miriam Van Waters Framingham, Mass

Dear Miriam; I was delighted to hear from you the other night. More often than you may imagine I continue to draw upon the remembrance of your wise counsel and it does my heart good to be aware that you continue to use your talents so well in helping those who so much need both help and friendship.

Your two letters were on my table when I got home from Boston about half an hour ago and I hasten to get this reply in themail tonight in the hope that you will receive it on Saturday. Why you first letter was returned I do not know inasmuch as I have been in residence here since August 30. Perhaps it has something to do with our new mail-man and the fact that the routes have recently been redrawn.

Of course I do not know Walter Hayes or his problem, myself but I have just telephoned the UPA Office and asked them for a report on the case and I hope I may have it before I finish this writing. Unfortunately for this immediate purpose, Henry Mascarello is out of town for a few days and I cannot talk with him directly.

While I am waiting or the report let me say that although our financial situation led to our discontinuing direct financial aid which had been running as high as $11,000 a year, we have certainly not discontinued personal services and we regularly counsel with those who hcome in. We have also made arrangements of a new and more effective sort with several other agencies who accept referrals from us. Even though we have discontinued routine financial aid we do keep a very small sum available for real emergencies. As you perhaps know we are also running a legal service for prisoners under the direction of an able and respected Attorney, Louis Nordlinger. It is only financial assistance that we have discontinued and we would not have it otherwise because, quite apart from the primary object of helping those who need it we need this sort of contact to give us a view of what goes on in the institutions that we cannot get from other sources and what is a necessary supplement to these other sources.

The report on Walter Hayes has now come in. I am told that he has visited the UPA off and on since 1948 and has received a total of $74 in direct financial help during that time. He last came to the office on June 24, 1966, the day after he was released from Walpole and he asked for financial help saying that he had no money. After some further discussion he said he had $50. The UPA worker subsequently telephoned Walpole and was told that when he left the institution the previous day he had $100.05. The UPA worker, after Hayes admission that he had $50, agreed to explore other sources of financial aid and to help him find employment. It is reported that Hayes did not seem greatly interested in either but did accept a referral to Walter King of the Mass. State Employment Service.

I appreciate you suggestion about using volunteer counselors and I shall bring it up for discussion at the UPA and see what we can do about it. Please accept my thanks for your welcome and valued interest.

With kindest regards, Sincerely yours,

Albert Morris P.S. I have just had a further report that on June 27, 1966 Mr. Hayes (over)

ALBERT MORRIS 176 HILLCREST ROAD NEEDHAM, MASS 02192

November 12, 1966

Dear Miriam

Your devotion to the cause of those who need help most and who are the least likely to get it is a source of never ending satisfaction to me as well as an inspiration. I am glad that Hayes has been given a chance and that he seems likely to use it to advantage. For some time I was quite undecided whether to mention narcotics in my report to you and I switched positions in my own mind three or four times before deciding that I had better do so because it would be awkward for his lawyer if the opinion that was expressed to me were to come up unexpectedly in court.

As you may know, I was formally retired because of my great antiquity - we have compulsory retirement at 65 at Boston University - and then they asked me to continue full time, which I am doing. My teaching, however, is limited to three seminars, two of which are open only to graduate students. My very able assistant, Sawyer Sylvester, who has a law degree as well as graduate degree in sociology and an undergraduate major in psychology, has taken over the basic courses in criminology.

However, I also find myself caught up in a new responsiblity as Director of the New England Correctional Manpower and Training Project which is a child of the New England Correctional Administrator's Conference and the New England Board of Higher Education Until next May I can give only part time to it which means that I have the glory and the responsibility and others do all the work. Fortunately I have Edwin Powers as my chief assistant and we are currently doing day-long interviews with Commissioners of Correction and Wardens as one small part of our study effort. If you have any ideas as to how to shake Massachusetts loose from its Alice in Wonderland personnel practices You might write me a book about it.

With all good wishes and warm regards

Albert Morris