Miriam Van Waters Papers. Male Prisoner Correspondence, 1927-1971. Correspondence: M, 1938-1939. A-71, folder 614. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

Censored 5

Reformatory for Women Jan 4 1938 Framingham

To: Name Dr. Miriam Van Waters Street & Number Box 99 City Framingham State Mass.

BOX 1112 Joliet, Illinois January 9, 1938

Dear Dr. Van Waters,

Your letter came as I was preparing to write. I gather from it that you have had a busy time. Your card and check arrived christmas eve.It was a surprise coming so soon after the other one. I feel like a parrot thanking you so often. I spent only two dollars and have a ballance of fifteen. I am getting to be a capitalist. For some reason, hacing a little money makes me feel more like a human being. We had many good things to eat, in the all, of course.

I thought Mr. Moundins too old for that sort of thing. This may interest you: Patsy blushingly confided that she is anticipating another bundle from heaven. Our [painsethias?] were not very good. In fact, they were terrible.

About that interview, Doctor, I don't think Mrs. Sayles will visit me. She probably would if someone talked to her and explained our side of the case thoroughly, but Mr. Knight well knows that the well has been pumped dry. I feel sure I could get her good wishes if only she would come.

I am glad your little girl was home for the holidays. Don't you think there is something fascinating in opening Christmas packages? That is, unless you peek beforehand? We had lots of church, but I never attend. Miss Binford advised me to go. Perhaps I will when the new seats come. We have a new chapel, and I haven't even been inside of it.

Do not mail currency- Money Orders and Checks accepted. Foodstuffs and packages are not accepted at any time.

Visits every two weeks by relatives only.

Almost every one wrote to me for Christmas. I mean my friends. There are some very good people in this old world. How is Mrs. Thompson? Strangely enough, I have been thinking of her and what she did to help me. Taking it for granted that it will be alright, I send her my good wishes.

The Illinois Democrats are fighting amongst themselves. Apparently, somebody isn't getting his end. I hope the next election turns out favorably for us anyway.

I have spent some time trying to write an article on juvenile delinquency and its association with crime; why some children are delinquent and, if possible, what causes them to do the wrong things. It is not an easy task. I have my ideas, but writing them down coherently is hard to do.

Here I go again. I am going to find out whether I can get some law books from the library. If so, I shall study law for awhile. I was critizing my sister for not knowing what she wanted! Anything that keeps my mind pleasantly occupied will do me some good, don't you think?

The New Year finds me owing everybody a letter. The question is, how am I to answer so many? I write again the 16th. Taking a match box, I flip it into the air; heads it's [yan?], tails it's not. This works out pretty well as both sides are heads.

You must be good and writeme a nice letter when the rush is over and the household is back to normal. It is really none of my business, Doctor, but I am curious to know what you recieved for Christmas.

Thank you for your blessing and good wishes. I send you mine in exchange. Sincerely, Russell McWilliams 5661-E

January 5. 1938

Professor P. J. Fitzgibbons, Superintendent of Education, State Penitentiary, Joliet, Illinois.

My dear Professor Fitzgibbons: I am interested in Russell McWilliams, #5661-E.

I am trying to get him interested in courses of study along any line of his abilities.

Would you be kind enough to tell me if I am permitted to send books (from the publishers) if they are on your approved list? Would it be possible for him to secure an extra writing privilege?

Thanking you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Superintendent.

MVW/K

January 15, 1938

Russell McWilliams, #5661-E, Box 1112, Joliet, Illinois.

Dear Russell:

Your letter of January 2nd was fine. In a small space you tell me what I want most to know. I have written to the warden to ask permission for you to write more letters. We will see. I wrote also to Professor P. J. Fitzgibbons, to find out if there is anything more I can do for you in the way of books. I thought it would do no harm to make the most of privileges.

I believe niether one of us wants to ask for special favors. If the Professor answers my letter I shall be grateful.

In one of your letters you mentioned a picture I promised. Tell me what it is and I shall send it.

It is good news to know you have a balance of $15.00. You mis-spelled "balance", putting in one too many "l's". I know you once thought I mis-spelled skii. I am very likely to.

Buy all the things you need as well as plenty of eats, for I really don't know what you are allowed to possess. You are not an asking sort of person. But it would give me happiness to supply any of the articles you are permitted.

My students always want material for hand work. They like sweaters too. I let them wear sent-in sweaters, sometimes shoes and belts; and neck scarves, mittnns, in fact anything that is harmless and I can keep track of. Also, they have books, pictures, and somethings to fix up their rooms. The only things I ever gave you were a dictionary, Bob, Son of Battle, and a fountain pen. It is time to be thinking about what you want for your birthday: and there is Easter.

The box you made me is on my bookcase. I

-2told you I keep my car key in it. When anyone borrows my car they have to put the key back. The box is under an original etching by Remington, of a mountain pack-train of horses going down the trail in moonlight. There are stars shining, an old man on the while bell-mare is slouching along toward camp. Col. Thompson, Mrs. Thompson's husband, gave it to me before he died.

Mrs. Thompson frequently asks for you. She is glad you sometimes think of her, as a friend.

You ask what I recieved for Christmas. First, there were the many cards and hand made gifts my students sent, little things that showed much thoughtfulness. Sarah gave me a set of red pottery Mexican baking dishes, my brother Ralph two prints of Leonardi Da Vinci's Head of Christ and the Last Supper. He waxed the paper surface until it looks like painting on linen canvas. He sent to Maine to get wood for the frames. Certainly I appreciated this gift.

Our woodcarver Mr. Glen Miller made me a big Plaster plaque of the Last Supper also. This I put in the institution. He also wrote me a letter explaining how when Christ said "One of you shall betray me" each man showed his character by the way he acted at table, especially in the gestures of the hands.

Judge Shontz from California sent me a Mexican blanket hand woven in dark orange wool. Then I got some good vases for flowers. Mr. Mandino and wife gave me a heart shaped cake, pink frosted. Sarah liked that! It was filled with preserved fruit.

I also recieved a new fangled muffin warmer of spun aluminum. Anne Gladding gaave me a Vermont soapstone pan-cake griddle. I made pan cakes on it. I wish I could have baked you one.

You must not thing of Mr. Mandinn as old. He has curly black hair and a boyish smile. I think he has four children. He must be around thirty. He can sharpen axes as well as grow flowers. He fixed a new handle in mine and I cut a week's kindling and a maple root. Sarah cut her finger a little. (Serves her right, she said it wasn't sharp. I tied it up. She doesn't like fuss). She goes back to school January 22nd.

About Mrs. Sayles, I'll se her when I come out. I have an idea I can chase the shadows away. If only she knew you, at least you would be in her eyes something different from the newspapers.