In previous posts, I wrote about my great grandmother Mae Arla (King) McKenzie and the letters she wrote to her daughter Cora.
As in everything, timing and context are important when analyzing the lives of our ancestors. To catch up on the life of Mae and her family thus far, take a moment to read my previous blog posts.
I have also included a timeline of the events in Mae's life, in the left sidebar or at the bottom of the screen if you are using a mobile device.
This next letter was written on March 11th, 1943, 11 months after the last letter I shared, which was written on March 29th, 1942. It was written by Donna McKenzie to her older sister Cora.
In the first part of this letter, Donna speaks about how wonderful it was to get a letter from her sister Cora.
However, the letter doesn't stay positive for long. Donna quickly begins to relay news about their father Orlie Charles McKenzie
I suppose you have already heard that dad is home again, got a job but didn't keep it.
---Donna McKenzie
In my blog post Thriller Thursday: The Tragic Death of Orlie Charles McKenzie I wrote about my great grandfather Orlie and his troubled life.
Orlie was a WWI vet. His struggle with alcoholism after the war eventually led to his tragic drowning death on July 30th, 1948.
This letter provides us with an interesting insight into how his family felt about his ongoing struggles to find and keep steady work in efforts to support the family.
My heart goes out to his children. It must have been very difficult to see daily the impact that this had on their mother Mae.
In the next part of the letter, Donna talks about the blouses that her and her mother made. Mae's blouse was yellow and Donna's was green.
Although, we don't know exactly what the blouses that Mae and Donna made looked like, they may have looked similar to the styles shown here that were popular in 1943.
Donna goes on to talk about their brother Garnet.
We haven't heard from Garnet since he went back but Johnny (?) got a letter from him.
---Donna McKenzie
At the time this letter was written Garnet would have been a few months shy of 17 years old.
I'm not sure where Garnet "went back" to. I know that he had not yet joined the military and by this time the C.C.C. camps, that I spoke about in my previous blog post, were no longer in operation. Could he have been working away from home to provide additional income for the family?
Donna makes reference to Johnny, could this be the Johnnie that we heard about in the letter from my last post?
Donna also asked her sister if she has heard from Fred yet. I have not yet figured out who Fred is. However, in some later letters there is mention of a Fred Milliron. Could this be who she is referring to?
In this part of the letter, Donna talks about the recent weather. As typical in northern Michigan, it can change at a moments notice.
Gee it snowed here all day and was it ever warmer. A nice day for once, Hope it rains tomorrow.
---Donna McKenzie
In this part of the letter, Donna talks to Cora about school.
Our school gets out the twenty ninth of May. When does youre's get out?
---Donna McKenzie
At the time of this letter, Cora was 21 years old and Donna was just shy of 15. Donna was probably attending the local high school. Cora, who had received her teaching certificate the previous year, was either teaching at a local school in Gladwin, Gladwin County, Michigan or continuing her own college education.
Somethings in Michigan never change. As a parent from Michigan, I am very familiar with late winter / early spring flu season.
Here Donna talks about flu that is making the rounds at her school. Luckily it is only lasting a couple of days.
Seems as through every one is having the flu around here. It only lasts for about one or two days. Almost all the kids in school have had it.
---Donna McKenzie
Donna closes her letter by telling her sister that she was listening to the radio while writing the letter and hopes that Cora is able to read it.
Hope you can read this, as I am trying to listen to the radio too.
---Donna McKenzie
The letter was written on a Thursday. The image below shows the possible programs that Donna may have been listening to while writing to her sister.
The Radio Guide / Movie Radio Guide published listings network radio programming schedules and programs with articles about the stars, stations, and networks. Issued weekly from October 30, 1931, to February 1943 and then monthly until November 1943.1
It is very interesting to browse through this guide. The effect of the war on everyday life is obvious.
I find joy in reading the words of my ancestors. It is like listening to them tell me their story.
Although these letters may not have any significant historical value, they allow me a peek inside the daily lives of people that I barely knew, but because of their daily survival in tough times, I am here today to be able to share their stories.
I am thankful for the little pieces of history that they left behind for me to find.
This is beautifully laid out; absolutely lovely. I have no letters from my family, but I have one or two from my husband’s side. They have to do with his uncle who was killed in action in WWII. You’ve inspired me to give those letters some attention.
Thank you for the comment. I have been doing my best to analyze the letters and bring historical information in to the post. I spent a lot of time on the layout. I’m glad that you are considering taking a new look at the letters about your husband’s uncle. It has been so much fun analyzing these letters and I still have more to come.
I too admire your presentation of these family letters, your comments and questions. Here I love that you suggest what radio programme might have had Donna’s attention while she wrote. Can’t you just see her writing – maybe at the kitchen table.
Thank you for the compliment. My favorite part about writing is trying to bring the little hints to life with historical context.
Excellent job of unpacking this letter and all of its details — right down to the radio show schedule! From what you write, I can’t help but think that your veteran great grandfather Orlie may have been self medicating with alcohol in the days before PTSD was understood, let alone treated .
Thank you, Molly. I also agree that Orlie was most likely suffering from PTSD. I wrote more about that in another post about his death. I do my best to tell the story while highlighting the possible reasons for his struggles. We are all human.