Stoud Family Newsletters

Stroud Papers, Ms 429, Boxes 2-3
Notes by Juanita Stroud Martin (at top); newsletters January-May 1958 transcribed by Sarah Ichinose, 2026

January 30, 1958
Pages 1-14: Rosa Stroud Gillespie writes about mental health and Stroud history. She includes Kimbal Stroud Goffman's notes written in 1938. (NOTE: Albert (Ben) Stroud appears to keep the family in contact, to include their cousin, Mabel.)
Pages 16-18: Ben adds positive comments regarding Bobby Stroud Bourgeois, Nina Stroud Pellerin, Jack, and Billy Goffman (son of deceased Kimbal Goffman) and his step-mother, Maude Goffman.

May 26, 1958
Page 1, paragraph 3: Dolphus explains that his absence from newsletter contributions is due to tax season, during which he prepares a large number of tax returns.
Pages 2-3, paragraph 4: Jack submits an angry diatribe, agnostic views, and threatens to withdraw from the newsletter.
Page 5, paragraph 1: My sister, Doris Marilyn ("Chic") Stroud Turner writes about her new job, which involves "...typing reports on the known communists in the U.S, and sending and receiving FBI rpts."
Page 9, paragraph 2 to Page 10, paragraph 4: Jack shares his view about their father's decline and the effect it had on some of the siblings.
Page 12, paragraph 5 to Page 14, paragraph 1: Maude Goffman shares her disenchantment and angry defenses regarding past newsletter comments appearing to refer to her. (NOTE: Maude prospered in Denver, Colorado, by investing in real estate; and Billy became a millionaire-through inheritance-- when she died.)
Page 15 (top): Nina writes of the Colorado Springs Elementary Schools music festival, which was under her direction.

October 29, 1958
Page 6, paragraph 1 to Page 8: Tandy suggests the establishment of a Stroud Foundation.

November 30, 1958
Page 2, paragraph 4 to Page 6, paragraph 1: Jack comments on population increases and concomitant resource demands, planet exploration, gravitation, and magnetism.
Page 6, paragraph 2: Ben rebuts Jack's explanation of the Fourth Dimension.
Page 7, paragraph 4: Nina recounted my visit to Colorado Springs en route my travel to my new naval duty station.
Page 9, paragraph 1, line 8-9:Ben writes that he believes Rosa Stroud Gillespie's marriage to Alger Gillespie occurred on September 19, 1958
Page 12, paragraph 2: Ben voices his extreme past concern about Nina's welfare and states that she is better.

March 19, 1959
Page 1, paragraph 1: Ben speaks of Jennie Mitcheltree, Lulu Magee Stroud's clairvoyant sister and benefactor). He includes her contact information in Arkansas.
Page 1, paragraph 2 to Page 4, paragraph 2: Jack and Albert debate Albert Einstein's contributions and those of others in the field of science.
Page 9, paragraph 6: Ben relays to his nephew, Welvin Stroud, the Chicago address of Mahalia Jackson.

October 8, 1959
Page 1-2, paragraph 4: Ben expresses his view about Khrushchev's visit to the U. S.
Page 9, paragraph 3: Nine year-old Percy Pellerin, son of Nina Stroud Pellerin, writes to the newsletter about school, sports, and the coming holiday.
Page 9, paragraph 6 to Page 13 top: Jack discusses social improvements for Negroes, while expressing his doubts about the effectiveness.
Page 14, paragraph 3: Ben states some agreement with Jack regarding urban renewal.

March 16, 1960
Page 2, paragraph 4 to Page 4, paragraph 1: Jack discusses factors that led to Stroud business failures.
Page 7, paragraph 2 to Page 9: Ben offers a rebuttal to Jack's criticism of Ben's Express Moving Company.
Page 11, paragraph 3: Ben comments of the civil rights movements in the south.
Effie Stroud Frazier's of January 1, 1960, is attached.

April 27, 1960
Page 1, paragraph 2 to Page 2 (top): Nina writes about her frustration with public schools offering the offensive Stephen Foster songs as part of music courses.
Page 2, paragraph 3 to Page 3: Nina is seeking a subject for her Master's thesis and finds extreme bias in the assessment of musical talent.
Page 14, paragraphs 1-2: Jack opines for his departed sister, Kimbal, who revolted again Republican stances; and he expresses his disenchantment with voting trends.

June 21, 1960
Page 1, paragraph 3: Eight-year old Leslie (Toby) Lusanne Turner, daughter of Doris Marilyn Stroud Turner (Chic) writes her first letter to the Stroud Newsletter.
Page 11, paragraph 5 to Page 12, paragraph 2: Jack shares information about his published research paper co-authored at the National Bureau of Standards.
Page 14, paragraph 2 to Page 20, paragraph 1: Ben prints information from a newspaper article about Adrienne Bourgeois' piano recital at the Fine Arts Center. Adrienne is Bobby Stroud Bourgeois' oldest daughter.
Page 14, paragraph 5 to Page 20, paragraph 1: Bobby offers her strong opinions on a variety of subjects and defends her views and values.
Page 22, paragraph 4: Jack recalls his brother Ben's stating that there were benefits from slavery. (NOTE: Sadly, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis mistakenly echoes this today.")
Page 27, paragraph 1, lines 14-16: Ben counters Jack's arguments with the rationalization that slavery prepared us (Negroes) for character improvement. (NOTE: I question Ben's view of the indigenous people of Africa, whom the Western world cannily projected as heathens and savages-as they also did the Native Americans. This was a tactic, a strategy to assuage one's conscience while perpetrating dastardly acts on other human beings. That Ben would agree with this stance is disheartening. In later Stroud Newsletters we find that repressed feelings and ideas are expressed during the urban uprisings of the 1960's, when many people gave voice to the dissent they had feared to express without a fearless "brotherhood." In union, there is strength.

August 27, 1960 letter
Page 1, paragraph 3: "Chick" (aka "Chic") is my oldest sister, Doris Marilyn Stroud/Turner/Casanave
Page 1, paragraph 4: James Hagerman (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._J._Hagerman). My cousin, the late Carl Bourgeois (son of Bobby (aka Bobbie) Stroud, youngest child of the Stroud's) bought this estate. (https://obits.gazette.com/us/obituaries/gazette/name/carl-bourgeois-obituary?id=35945372)

October 15, 1960 letter
Page 5, paragraph 5: Toby (aka Leslie Lusuanne Turner) is Chic's third child.
Page 6, paragraph 4: Michelle (aka Michaela Stroud Turner) is Chic's fourth and final child.

November 21, 1907 letter
Page 4, signature: "Bunk" (aka Kelley or Kelly Dolphus Stroud - my father)

January 14, 1961
Page 10, paragraph 1: Bobby's name is Bobby Rosanna Nell Stroud
Page 11, paragraph 4: An aside: I was surprised to find agreement between my father's view and mine that what secures a nation is not gold, but rather the confidence of the people that the nation will endure. He specifies factors; I generalize.

April 28, 1961
Page 8, paragraph 2: Nina (aka Number Nine) Stroud Pellerin's discourse on local schools.
Page 11, paragraph 2 (last para., line 4): This could read, "They may" or "Then many" - unclear...
Page 13, P.S.: "...,nature has been good to us...."

September 4, 1961

Page 3-4, paragraph 2: Nina Stroud Pellerin's account of a Negro float in the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Parade. This surprised me because I thought that our float (Black Beat Productions) in the 2006 Veterans' Day Parade made local history as the first all-Black float. Live and learn!! (At the least, do your research.)
Page 5, paragraph 3, line 6-7: Nina Stroud Pellerin reports her IQ as 145 when tested at Bristol Elementary School. Also, Nina elaborates on Richard Walker's investment clubs. (https://www.evergreenfuneralhome.org/memorials/richard-walker/4376487/)
Page 11, paragraph 2, line 2: I think this should be "..., and while sincere...."
Page 13-14, paragraph 4: My father reports that he pitched once to Satchel Paige 9n 1931. (Wow!)

October 31, 1961
Page 3-4, paragraph 3: Nina Stroud Pellerin reports on her thesis being assigned as learning material for public school students

January 20, 1962
Page 3, paragraph 3: My father's account of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speech in Portland.

February 28, 1962
Page 1-2, paragraph 7: My uncle, Jack Stroud, reports on his involvement with the Apollo space contract. (Some omissions are within Jack's letter.)
Page 8-9, paragraph 2: Ben Stroud discusses early Colorado Springs and rampant racism, including the taunting of my father as he excelled in racing.

May 27, 1962
Page 4, paragraph 5: Welvin Stroud, my cousin, is the son of Tandy Stroud.
Page 6, at top: "ADC" is Aid to Dependent Children (aka Welfare)
Page 7, paragraph 3: Ben's prophecy regarding principles and righteousness.

July 7, 1962
Welvin Stroud's letter from Japan. (NOTE: Welvin is Tandy Stroud's oldest son.)

September 3, 1962
Welvin Stroud's letter from Japan.

September 16, 1962
Page 4: Fannie Mae Duncan reference and Morgan wedding at Shove Chapel.
Page 11: Fannie Mae Duncan's loss of ownership of her business.
Page 12 (last paragraph)-13: Nina's letter that includes the alleged Chester Morgan incident.
Page 14 (last paragraph): Nina decided to write the Stroud story. This did not materialize; however, she was interviewed on videotape by Welvin Stroud (son of Tandy Stroud). DVD's of the taping will be submitted to Tutt Library for archiving.

October 25, 1962
Page 1, 2, and 3: Tandy's view of the lasting effect of the severe undermining of the Stroud family by society's destruction of the father image.
Page 9, paragraph 2 (sub-paragraph): Percy Pellerin's (son of Nina Stroud Pellerin) submission of the Viking school song of North Junior High School. It is not clear that he knew that his Uncle Jack Stroud co-wrote the original song.

December 19, 1962
Page 3, paragraph 1-4: Jack's account of co-writing the North Junior High School Viking song.

March 21, 1963
Page 1-2, paragraph 1: Ben's business difficulties and plan to incorporate
Page 2, paragraph 2 and page 3: An update from maternal cousin, Mabel
Page 3, paragraph 2 to page 5, paragraph 4: An update from my sister, Doris Marilyn (Chic) Stroud/Turner/Casanave

July 2, 1963
Page 3, paragraph 1 to page 7, paragraph: Nina suggests that Stroud history should be preserved for the 2nd and 3rd generations. (NOTE: Lu Lu Stroud Pollard often stated that by the 4th generation, the bloodline had dissipated.) Nina includes a lengthy response regarding Jack's diatribe and a defense to her and Bobby's recording of Kimbal Stroud's religious song. (Nina's singing and Bobby's playing of the song is included in the Welvin Stroud/Nina Pellerin interviews.)
Page 7, P.S. at bottom: Lu Lu compares gospel music to rock and roll. (NOTE: It seems that some of the Stroud's rejected what they considered negative stereotypes applied to the "Negro" race, while simultaneously adopting and defending many characteristics-particularly when the violent racial activism embarked on the national and international social scene. It is logical that this gave them (and others) voice to express the repressions they had endured for half a lifetime because they were fortified by strength in numbers. I feel that some aging people often see their twilight years as the end of all existence (subjective idealism), as inferred in their predictions of a "judgment day" experience. This may not only be the fruition of the hope of righting wrongs, but may also be a validation of their having existed.)
Page 8, paragraph 2: Nina relays the home birth of April Nelson to proud parents, Bobby Stroud Nelson and George Nelson.
Page 14, paragraph 7 to page 15, paragraph 1: My father expounds on civil rights struggles in the south and in Chicago. (During this time period, many of us struggled with our allegiances-particularly those who had positive affiliations with military service. We resisted the continuing oppression based on race, but we had a lifetime of involvement with others across racial lines. We had to admit to a "love/hate" with our environments and struggled with this duality. The poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar, summed it up succinctly in "We Wear the Mask." https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44203/we-wear-the-mask
Page 19, paragraph 2: Jack Stroud attributes rating and salary increase to the racial unrest in the country.
Page 21, paragraph 6 to page 22, paragraph 3: My father comments on social situations in Portland and the fears of de facto segregation. (NOTE: Negroes love their people but seem to fear a predominance of them. An evolution of the evaluation of this changing social scene seems to be occurring.)
Page 23, paragraph 1 to page 28, paragraph 2: Ben copies a letter from a St. Louis woman (non-Stroud) who works from him and includes a recommendation (which my sister, Constance Arlene Stroud/Loury supported) that this woman-Shirley Stewart-for "membership in the clan." Ben seems entranced by this apparently seductive woman. (NOTE: I do believe that I could discern some foreign substance hitting the fan.)

October 9, 1963
Page 5, paragraph 3 to page 6, paragraph 2: My sister, Chic, comments negatively on MLK, James Baldwin, and Dick Gregory.
Page 13, paragraph 1 to page 14: Shirley Stewart's humorous and sincere negative impression of the Stroud's.

December 29, 1963
Page 1, last paragraph: My father (Bunk) and his son, Gary (Tuffy), won the City of Portland Father and Son gold championship in October 1963.
Page 2-3, paragraph 4: Ben shares his opinion of the late President Jack Kennedy.
Page 4, paragraph 5: Jack Stroud urges the family to get tested for the genetic glaucoma trait.
Page 5, paragraph 5: Ben Stroud relays Kimbal Stroud history regarding glaucoma.
Page 6 to page 8, paragraph - Ben discusses Chicago's disintegrating societal situation regarding Negroes, as caused by power structures.
Page 8, paragraph 1: Roll Call; i.e., names, birth places, and birth dates of the original Stroud's.

April 18, 1964
Page 5, line 25: "Jack's Father, Kelly Dolphus Stroud...." Should be "...Kimbal Dolphus Stroud...." Kelley Dolphus (aka Kelly Dolphus) is my father.
Page 6, paragraph 1: Ben recounts my father, Kelley Dolphus, running up and down Pikes Peak and setting records in refuting brother James' argument about the superiority of contemporary athletes.

July 4, 1964
Page 1, paragraph 6: Dolphus Stroud discusses freedom from issues of discrimination and segregation in Portland, Oregon.
Page 2, paragraph 7: Nina is entranced with Berkeley, California.
Page 9, paragraph 1 to Page 12: Ben expounds on theories about geological history and Biblical accounts of "the last days."
Page 12, paragraph 6: Jack discusses the Republican Convention, politics, and his disenchantment with his job.

September 22, 1964
Page 5, paragraph 3: Ben comments on Nina's enclosed publication, "The Measurement of Music Achievement With a Unique Evaluative Instrument," which is archived in the Colorado Journal of Research in Music Education, Volume 1 (Spring, 1964)

December 25, 1964
Page 6, paragraph 5: Dolphus encloses a 1933 letter from Jack (page 9) while Dolphus was working in Georgia cotton fields, discusses the historical factors leading to the U. S. war with Tripoli, and the current civil rights unrest.
Page 9, paragraph 2: Ben asks Dolphus to consider joining him in the trucking business. (NOTE: Ironically, Ben surely had feelings of contrition about his having left his father, Kimbal Dolphus, to relocate to Chicago when Kimbal was going blind and was in such great need for help with his trucking business.)
Page 13, paragraph 3, line 3: "...both terms are synominous." NOTE: Ben's copying of Stroud letters are replete with spelling and grammatical errors, as he admits ; however, he is at a great disadvantage with regard to poor equipment, the need to type a sufficient amount of letters, fatigue, and the deficiencies of aging. He certainly deserves kudos for this long-time, monumental task. Some newsletters may be missing from my late sister's collection.

April 16, 1965
Page 3, paragraph 3, line 5: "...'Hound -Dog' millile contract expired," should be "...missile...."
Page 6, line 10: "...Jack would have went into...." should read "...gone into...." (...revealing one of my pet peeves)
Page 6, paragraph 2, line 3: "It is rather or not...." Ben may have intended "...whether or not...."

August 25, 1965
Page 1-11: Nina describes and extols the advantages of Berkeley, California.
Page 11-14: Jack discusses the pros and cons of the Poverty Program.

November 3, 1965
Page 1, paragraph 4, line 6: Lu Lu and Leonard Pollard met with James and Lily Stroud. Lu Lu notes that Lily is white. It is not clear if they are married.
Page 3, paragraph 3-4: Jack encourages younger Stroud's to attain PhD's.

January 20, 1966
Page 2, paragraph 4: Dolphus airs his disenchantment with the Vietnam War.
Page 3: Ben reminisces and lists a "roll call" of the original Stroud's.

April 1, 1966
Page 6: My poem, "Acceptance," submitted by my late sister, Connie Loury.
Attached is the March 20, 1966, handwritten letter from Effie Stroud Frazier.

April 18, 1966
Page 1, paragraph 4 to Page 2, paragraphs 1-2: Jack details his contributions to the Apollo project
Page 2, paragraph 4 to Page 3, paragraphs 1-2: Jack discusses civil rights and, briefly, the Watts' Riot.

June 4, 1966
Page 1, paragraph2: Dolphus lists the names of his 13 children.
Page 3, paragraph 3: Ben predicts extreme trouble in Chicago's future. (NOTE: Who knew my uncle had a crystal ball???)

July 19, 1966
P. S. Again!: Ben includes four of my poems: "Ode to the Wind," "Colorado," "The Choice of Man," and "My Plea." I was very grateful that my late sister sent these to Ben.

October 11, 1966
Page 3, paragraph 3 to Page 5: Jack questions Ben about historical events and Ben responds in detail.

November 21, 1966
Lu Lu recounts the death and funeral of James Stroud. (This may be the first newsletter that I received directly.)
Page 10: Ben proposes an ongoing family group insurance plan to cover the cost of funeral expenses.

January 19, 1967
Page 19, paragraph 5: Kimbal Dolphus Stroud grew up in Corsicana, Texas.

March 20, 1967
Page 2, paragraph 2 to Page 3, paragraph 1: Jack describes job change and lists hopes for the future. (Ben responds from a religious point of view.)

April 21, 1967
Page 1 to Page 6: This is the first letter from Lulu Stroud, my father's daughter from his second marriage. During the civil rights struggle, Lulu was a secretary for Stokley Carmichael, who spoke at Bell's Nightingale Club (now defunct) in Colorado Springs. Lulu accompanied him, and I met with Lulu at the club.

June 5, 1967
Page 1 to Page 4: My father recounts the ups and downs of life in Portland, Oregon.

June 29, 1967
Page 2: Tandy's children.

August 23, 1967
Attachment - Fieldstondale News, New York, profiled Clark and Effie Stroud Frazier, pages 2 and 3

October 25, 1967
Page 3-4: Ben's description of early Colorado Springs racism and the KKK, along with painful discrimination in sports
Page 6: Ben states that Urban Renewal in Maywood, Illinois, is a ruse to "...run the Negroes out of Maywood."
Page 7: Ben jailed for hitting a policeman for "...riding people too much...." during urban unrest.
Page 12: Ben decries the lack of Negro History being taught in schools. (NOTE: A contemporary issue - CRT-Critical Race Theory)
Page 15: Lu Lu Stroud Pollard expresses her thanks for her siblings and her parents for contributions to her development.
Page 22: Ben posits that whites have engaged in "in-breeding" to their detriment. (NOTE: Interestingly, the late Carl Bourgeois wrote a story-to be the basis of a movie script-about this practice producing genetic deficiency. I do not believe that Carl was aware of Ben's position. Logically, the same view could be true of those descended from slaves in that there were breeding farms that pair male and female indiscriminately and based on what was perceived as desirable qualities in their issue; i.e., progeny.)

December 18, 1967
Page 1-2: Jack displayed his agnosticism and about racism, along with his pessimism.
Page 14: Ben counters with his view of documentation that Jesus "...must have had a lot of Negro blood...." and references Biblical descriptions.
Page 25: Alfred Stroud (my brother) very colorfully describes in detail the Detroit riots in July.
Page 37, paragraph 1 (bottom): Ben mentions Dolphus' ability in coaching basketball.
Page 39 (which actually is Page 38), paragraph 2: Ben lauds Dolphus' fears in challenging Pikes Peak in a track suit during inclement weather. (NOTE: My father was trying to compete with the all-white AdAmAn Club, which ascended Pikes Peak on New Year's Eve to light fireworks. Dolphus, by his account, arrived fifteen minutes before the club members appeared at the top. His story is included in A Taste of Life: Prisms-Through a Glass Darkly by Juanita Stroud Martin.)

January 26, 1968
Ben suggests improvements in the Stroud Newsletter, group insurance for the original eleven, an annual award for an outstanding contribution and/or accomplishment, group travel in place of the rejected family reunion, and an upgrade in equipment to create the newsletter.

April 22, 1968
Ben addresses the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the resultant urban violence.
Page 4, paragraph 4: Nina expresses intense worry about Vietnam

June 15, 1968
Page 4, paragraph 1: Ben lauds Jack's "...good works," which is a facet of Ben's diplomatic personality, in that he and Jack often seem to be at odds.
Page 4, paragraph 3 to Page 5, paragraphs 1-2: My father, Dolphus, comments on possible racial conflict on predicts the outcome of the coming Presidential election. (NOTE: I hope he did not bet on this.)
Page 6, paragraph 2: Dolphus lists "...effects of Martin Luther King's assassination...(in Portland)."

June 19, 1968 (attached to the June 15th letter)
Page 16, paragraph 2: In response to Bobby's letter, Ben states that the first Stroud Newsletter was dated June 17, 1953. (NOTE: This was following the death of their mother, Lulu Rosanna Lucinda Magee Stroud.)
Page 17: Ben recounts the foregoing event and family history.
Page 18: Ben describes his mixed emotions about Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak, "...Our (the Strouds) Mount Zion!" He appears to consider the mountain an inspiration to all Stroud's.
Page 20: It is attached at the end of the newsletter.
Page 21: Ben writes that my ex-husband and I were engaged in studying Sociology and were "...cutting some records with an instrumental group." (NOTE: Correction. My ex-husband, the late Alvin Martin, was pursuing a degree in Sociology. I attended the University of Pennsylvania, School of Education and attained a Master's Degree in Elementary Education. We were not making records, but were performing wherever called upon to try to impact Black people's feelings of shame and the misunderstanding of the coded communication of Negro Spirituals. Our motto was "The Original Slaves sing today what our fathers could not say." Our five-person group consisted of four singers (Al, Juanita, and little Linda Martin, and Karen Jordan-unrelated-- and a pianist, Alfie Pollitt who played with Teddy Pendergrass for years.)

September 12, 1968
Ben expresses utter frustration and macabre solutions to the issues of the day, arising from urban unrest, police brutality, and the Vietnam War.
Page 2, paragraph 2 to Page 3: Ben compares the struggle of Black people to the Mau Mau uprising against the British in Kenya. (NOTE: The Mau Mau, indigenous people, were united, entrenched, and motivated to free their land from colonizers. Negroes were imported to America solely for slave labor and were never embraced as citizens. I feel that Ben made an inadequate comparison and expected far too much from Black people, who were psychologically conditioned to fear white people and to engage in in-fighting.)

November 13, 1968
ERA OF FRUSTRATION:
Page 1 to Page 3: Dolphus expresses futility of past efforts that didn't take root in the following generation. He appears to find religion at fault and seems thoroughly discouraged.
Page 5-6, paragraph 2: Jack comments on the Olympic games and Black excellence. He is disenchanted with voting and the inadequacy of Presidential candidates.
Page 6, paragraph 1: Jack comments wryly on inane issues of some in the Black Power movement, such as insuring that there is soul food in the cafeteria. He discusses the origination of soul food as discarded food that lacked nutrition.
Page 7, paragraph 1: Jack advises that young relatives be prepared for employment in technological fields.
Page 9-10: Lu Lu discusses education and the Black Power movement. (NOTE: It appears that Lu Lu viewed some Black leaders as lacking vision and as void of plans for the future. Perhaps the hope was that this extreme "rebellion" would not be simply symbolic.)
Appendix 1: Ben recalls early racist songs.
Last page: "Wanieta" is how Ben spelled my name (Juanita) for some time. I thought it quiet clever.

*January 15, 1969:
Page 1, paragraph 1: Ben is proud of Jack's being involved in the Apollo project.
Page 3: Ben discusses the disadvantages of Social Security and engages in dire predictions.
Page 5 (last line) to Page 6: Ben discusses early Colorado Springs memories.
Page 7, line 15 onward: Kimbal Dolphus Stroud (my grandfather) found a fossil in a gravel pit and kept it for years.
Page 8 to Page 13: Early Stroud history in Colorado Springs.

*March 12, 1969:
Page 1-2: My father appears to have existentialist leanings and muses about his poverty-ridden past and the love of the children for Kimbal Dolphus and Lulu Magee Stroud, who provided examples of strength in the face of deprivation.
Page 3, paragraph 2: Dolphus presents his prediction regarding "inter-stellar" travel.
Page 4, paragraph 2: Dolphus recounts the sparse early environment of the Stroud's and the adaptations that were necessary.
*Page 5, paragraph 2-4: Albert comments on Dolphus' academic record and counters specific statements by his memory of their childhood home.
Page 17, paragraph 6 to page 22: Jack writes a lengthy letter about his employment problems and seems to harbor anti-Jewish sentiments. He encourages Black youth to pursue technological studies.
Page 23, paragraph 1: Jack writes of an EEOC investigation of the aerospace industry,
Page 24, paragraph 3: Jack states that the aerospace industry "...was exposed as an open 'law breaker' as regards Civil Rights non-discrimination laws."
Page 27, paragraph 1: Tandy defends their father, Kimbal Dolphus Stroud, who was deemed a failure in a previous letter.
Page 28-29: Tandy expounds on "...a quality of joy." He describes his father's acceptance of imminent death.
Page 30, paragraph 4: Ben rebuts Tandy's description of their father's attitude when dying.
Page 31-44: Kimbal's 1938 notes of Stroud history.
Postscript, paragraph 3: The Gazette Telegraph article of Dolphus' scaling Pikes Peak in the snow was included in this newsletter.

May 24, 1969
Pages 1-4: Lulu Stroud, my father's daughter from his second marriage, writes of her being a secretary to Stokley Carmichael.
*Page 8, last paragraph: Ben quotes an "old black woman" who seems to posit that our music ("saddest and most beautiful") derived from slavery. (NOTE: This is almost akin to the contemporary claims of Florida Governor DeSantis that slaves benefitted from slavery. Are we to accept that our music and other talents were dormant in Africa and came to fruition in the Western world? I think not!)

July 8, 1969
*Page 1, paragraph 3 to page 3: My first letter to the Stroud Newsletter introduces the family to our family performance group.
Page 7, paragraph 4, to Page 8: Ben suggests that the contamination of the earth may be related to lunar exploration.

August 18, 1969
Jack discusses space exploration and submits a letter by Juan Reid, Director, Alumni Affairs, Colorado College, who encloses a copy of the letter of recommendation to UCLA.
Page 11: Nina shares her view of the capitalistic system.

October 9, 1969
Pages 1-2: Jack relays some Stroud maternal history.
Page 3: Melvin Turner (aka "Chucky"), my oldest sister's only son and oldest child, sends his first submission to the Stroud Newsletter. He is a junior at the University Ibero-Americana in Mexico City. He discusses his concern about the Vietnam draft, his future plans, and agrees with Nina about the positivity of integration, but differs about Black Power.

December 9, 1969
Pages 1-7: Marilyn Stroud Turner (aka "Chic") discusses the exhausting travel and job analysis duties that she performs in several poverty-stricken areas of the country, courtesy of the OEO (Office of Economic Opportunity.
Page 9, paragraph 1: Ben describes tensions related to segregated schools.

March 17, 1970
Ben contemplates ending his business, social issues, and pollution.

April 23, 1970
Page 1, paragraph 4: Jack engages in wry humor to relay that he was laid off from North American Rockwell.
Page 3, paragraph 1 to Page 4: Ben describes the Tom Skinner crusade at the Coliseum in Chicago. https://tonyevans.org/celebrating-black-heroes-tom-skinner/
*Page 5, paragraph 2: Lu Lu Stroud Pollard mentions Tandy and Bernice Stroud's trip to Europe and the Holy Land and Effie's 1969 trip to Europe. (NOTE: Trips of this sort seemed to be of great importance to the Stroud's, who had tendencies to engage in self-analysis and in comparisons of their early poverty to their later financial security.)
*Page 5, paragraph 3: Lu Lu commends Ben for "...keeping "the letter" going."
Page 7: Lu Lu describes the Pollard's rustic life.

Undated letter:
Page 9, line 20: Ben relays his negative opinion about Elijah Mohammed.
Page 11 to Page 16: In rebuttal to Jack's agnosticism, Ben includes "The Plan of Salvation."

May 16, 1970
Pages 1-11: Bobby relays her children's higher education involvements; how Stroud siblings helped her; her stance against materialism; her definition of success; and questions the legitimacy of the Bible.

August 3, 1970
Page 1, paragraph 5: My father describes his paper route, which provides therapy for his ankle.
Page 2, paragraph: Dolphus predicts an American revolution in the summer. (NOTE: Thank God this did not transpire. However:
"The 1970 Asbury Park race riots were a major civil disturbance that occurred in Asbury Park, New Jersey between July 4 and July 10, 1970. The seven days of rioting, looting, and destruction left more than 180 people injured, including 15 New Jersey state troopers, and resulted in an estimated $5,600,000 in damages.")
Page 4, paragraph 2: Jack predicts that Asia's booming nationalism will depress the U.S. economy.
Page 4, last line to Page 5: Ben ruminates about Chicago violence, poor housing, and overcrowding.

January 25, 1971
*Page 4, paragraph 2 to Page 8: Rosa Stroud Gillespie engages in memories
*Page 10, paragraph 2-3: Rosa tells an amusing story about the baptism of Kimbal Stroud Goff man's sons, Paul and Billie (aka Billy).
*Page 14, paragraph 2 to Page 15: Ben realizes that he is "old" and analyzes his life.
*Page 18, paragraph 2, line 10 to Page 19: Ben remembers the beauty of Colorado Springs.
*Page 20, paragraph 4 to Page 22, paragraph 3: Jack describes the California earthquake of February 9, 1971.
*Page 25, paragraph 2: Lu Lu Stroud Pollard updates all about her and Leonard's jobs. Lu Lu created a retirement course that the Department of the Army adopted for implementation world-wide.

July 17, 1971
Page 10, paragraph 3: (Chic's letter) My sister commends my family and me for educational achievements.

February 7, 1972
*Page 1, paragraph 3: My father refers the newspaper, Muhammad Speaks, in exposing Ron Karenga as a CIA agent.
*Page 1, paragraph 7: Marvin Stroud, my father's youngest son from his second marriage, was jailed for possession of a gun.

April 6, 1972
*Page 1, paragraph 1: Ben thanks the family for support following his stroke.
*Page 2, paragraph 3: Ben relays that Tandy suggests a Stroud affair to include Oklahoma and Texas Stroud's. Ben mentions the House of Lords in England and their grandfather Stroud's connection.
*Page 4, paragraphs 2 and 3: Ben compares California and Chicago Baptist churches.

April 27, 1972
Page 1, paragraphs 1-2: Jack suggests that a younger family member take over production of the Stroud Newsletter and he comments on the high cost of living in California.
Page 3: (Effie's letter) Effie Frazier relays details about the European tour that she and her husband, Clark, are enjoying. At the bottom of page 2 of her letter, Effie compares the luxurious accommodation of their Sorrento hotel to the Colorado Springs "forbidden" Broadmoor Hotel. (NOTE: The enduring frame of reference for the Stroud's appears to be their early poverty.)

*June 1,1972
*Page 1: Bobby Stroud Nelson (aka Bobbie) writes of changes in Colorado Springs and her plan to pursue her inner self.
*Page 2: Ben's poem, Colorado, describes the beauty of the state.
*Page 3: Genealogical materials from Effie Stroud Frazier are attached.
*VIA DOLOROSA
Ben writes of the death and funeral of Bobby Stroud

*June 15, 1973
Ben writes passionately about Mr. George and Mr. Leften (the Stroud family horses).

October 31, 1973
*Ben sends a story to the "original Stroud's." The Sharecropper's Share

March 1, 1974
Effie write to defend Ben's character and to counter the attack that the family had failed. Ben attaches A Parable - Uncle Joe Climbed Pikes Peak

March 24, 1974 - FINAL LETTER
Ben writes that his health problems are increasing and includes an original poem, "The Hill of Pride.

May 20, 1977
Jack writes that his brother, Albert (aka Ben) is now senile and residing in the Elmwood Rest Care Home.

THE HILL OF PRIDE

By Albert "Ben" Stroud
When in the Autumn twilight, time stands still
And brown and crimson leaves of memory are drifting down
A small forsaken town beneath a silent hill
From whence arises life's sad voices all around
The voices read the record there of many years gone by
The record of my disappointing untrue life is spoken
Of how I failed - accusing words I hear that weep and sigh
And rise from sacrificial hearts of love I've broken

The lonely vaulted dome of mystic night
As curtains open on the starlit scene
Fantastic, awesome, terrifying sight
The heavens are so far - so calm - serene
So far away from me!

Up here I stand alone with little lights below
And count the cost in precious wasted years
I'm haunted here - remembered sins I know
The deepening shadows frame my deepening fears
On sacrificial lives I've formed my heedless path
I've broken hearts of love along my selfish way

And now alone I stand to face the night of wrath
I cannot reach the stars yet vanished in my day

The lingering voices near - the dome of night around
They speak: as certain night - so certain is my end
This hill of pride I fain would wander down
And find - just find a friend
In yonder little town?

Stroud Family Newsletters
Transcription by Sarah Ichinose, 2026
This is a PARTIAL transcription only, covering January 1958 - October 1962 and focusing on the Colorado Springs Strouds

January 30, 1958

To The Strouds:

Here it is the 30th. So far I have received two letters, one from Mabel, which I received today. The one from Rosa May was written as of December the 31, 1957. It is intensely interesting, so I know it is time for you to read it:

Dear Ben and Strouds:

I am at work being part of a skeleton staff while the rest of the office is off for New Year's Eve. Our job is to handle emergencies that might arise. I manage always to work in an office that has to be open in order to handle possible emergencies. These same emergencies are handled by the police on weekends when the office is closed. Around the holiday season the mental patients become much more disturbed and we have had to send several back to the hospital. Friday I had to make an emergency call to a voluntary patient. A voluntary patient is one who goes to the hospital without being legally committed. If they become very disturbed again when they are out on leave, it is more difficult because the hospital does not have the authority to order them back into the hospital. If they are committed by the court, the hospital sends a wire to the sheriff who then goes out to the home and picks up the patient and returns him to the hospital. This particular patient was a woman whose husband works all day. She refused to return to the hospital voluntarily and so her husband was supposed to go to the District Attorney's office for commitment. I didn't get any place with her. She plead like a little child to get to stay at home and not to have to go back to the hospital, [crossed out] I stopped by there yesterday to see whether she had gone back into the hospital, but the screen door was locked and I received no response to my knocks. I presume she is still at home and wasn't about to let me in or answer the door. I just now received a call from the mother of one of my teenagers. The child is seventeen and has been on leave from the hospital for about four months now. She has an appointment with me for the ninth of January but must come in this week because the child is very disturbed again. The girl is schizophrenic, and from talking with the mother one can see verry well why the child is psychotic. She has a three year old asthmatic brother. The mother brought him in for the last appointment because she is very proud of her baby. The child is what we would call pre schizophrenic. One can just look at him and note his responses and see that his child has a 90% chance of being in a mental institution before he is twenty. Because of religious reason, this woman has six children and will have more. She sound have never had one because she hates them so. She is completely unaware of her hatred of her children, but as she talks all of this hatred comes out. These women who are wonderful, self sacrificing, burdened, self righteous, mothers who have had more children than they ever wanted and who sometimes consciously have an unborn child, feel so guilty about this hatred that they have, that they repress it into more socially acceptable ways. Sometimes they turn the hate inward and let the world know how they are sacrificing in order to punish themselves for this unacceptable hatred they feel toward their children. At the same time they actually do make tremendous sacrifices in order to punish themselves for this unacceptable hatred they feel toward their children. The children are also made to suffer. They are made to feel guilty because they are the cause of this sacrifice the mother must make. Little accidents sometimes happen to the babies. They are sometimes dropped, don't get fed on time, or are nursed when the mother knows full well that her milk is insufficient and that she is in reality starving the child to death. This woman in my particular case has heaped so many coals of guilt onto her child's shoulders that the child has had to retreat into insanity to avoid suicide or to make living bearable. I can tell now that the child is going to have to return to the hospital and there are two more of the six children that will eventually end up there. My responsibility with this case is to attempt to get the mother to gain some insight into what she is doing to her children. If I can succeed here I may be able to prevent an overt psychotic break in the other two border line children. I am not the least bit hopeful however. This woman is too defensive. She is completely unable to see herself in any light other than a self sacrificing, religious woman who stays at home, takes care of her family, and is a good mother to her children. Her husband is the less guilty of the two, but she refuses to discuss at all her part is the psychosis of her daughter.

More and more children are showing these psychotic symptoms and more and more of them are actually having breaks which means they must be hospitalized. I have five teenagers in my case load now. One mother is such a rejecting mother that she did this to her son: She took him out of the hospital, works her fingers to the bone in order to seek expensive medical care for him; refused to let him go back into the hospital where there was a chance that he might be helped; shopped around until she finally located a doctor in Los Angeles who would perform a lobotomy on the child. She then took him to Los Angeles and had this expensive brain surgery performed. In this way she punished herself by incurring a very heavy bill and making her child's chances of recovery very remote and at the same time did the utmost in expressing her hatred of this boy by having him deprived of his mental capacities. She is a very intelligent, well educated woman who knows that they are discovering new medications every year and that they might be able to help her son recover sufficiently to get along all right in this world. However, she saw to it that by surgery he would not ever have this opportunity. Now she can go through life blaming him for the sacrifice she must make for the rest of her days. Of course she could never express this even to herself, and she could not help doing these things.

Speaking of surgery, I fail to understand why Ben and Dolphus speak of surgery and contraceptives as though they were the same thing. I fail to see what surgery has to do with the use of contraceptive devices and what a fetus has to do with it? If the ___? devices were used no fetus would be conceived. I am quite aware also that there might not have been a form letter or a number of younger Strouds had our parents not had so many children. I do not believe the world or the parents would have lost much had there been neither. I also believe that had there been two or four children as Mama wanted, these four might have been emotionally mature people, whereas we had eleven extremely immature individuals who cannot possibly adjust on anything like their chronological or mental levels. Many of us cannot even enter into a marital relationship upon any basis. Ben mentioned some time ago the high divorce rate of the Strouds. Every girl in the family except Kimball has been divorced and the only two boys who could manage to get married had from eight to ten children apiece and gloried in this very different kind of family. From self examination and from observation I would say we are largely emotional wrecks, and when we deprive ourselves of the everyday comforts of living and our families of these same comforts we are meeting our own neurotic needs.

I would suggest that anyone who might be interested in family genealogy might write to one of the research firms. They trace family names, you know, and you could very well get leads there. Mabel has also given leads on Mama's side. One is free to write to this bureau of vital statistics in any county for certified copies of birth certificates provided the records are on file which might be true in Illinois. These records usually mention the race of the child and of both parents. I have those notes of Kimbal's also which might give some clues. Since it is time for me to leave the office, I'll have to copy these notes in long hand. I had a very nice Christmas and I hope everyone else did too. I do not intend by the above remarks to imply that our particular family is worse or different from other families. Biblically speaking, the sins of the parents shall be visited upon their children even unto the fourth generation. An emotionally deprived child develops into an adult who has very little to give his own child. This child in turn has even less to give. The children of the succeeding generations have progressively less to offer as parents. It has been said that it takes four generations to produce a murderer. I personally think all of the pathology we see now is symptomatic of a dying civilization.

These are Kimbal's notes written in 1938. I believe some of you read them at the time of Mama's funeral.

"I am the oldest of 11 children, 5 boys and 6 girls. I will have to tell you something about my father and mother before going into the immediate family. Father was the second son in a family of 11 children. His father was Louis, the son of one Mandrith Stroud who owned a large farm or plantation near Corsicans, Texas. We do not know who his (father's) grandmother was. He was born a slave. Mandrith Stroud, a cotton planter. Father's mother was the daughter of two slaves - who were brought to this country from Africa. They were named Kimbal - Kymbahl - They were also slaves on the Stroud plantation. Mother was a field hand and her family lived in a hut on the plantation. Father was a house servant and because he had no mother was reared up in the house. When Emancipation Proclamation was made - Louis Stroud had nothing. Mandrith gives him start. Not a good manager - lost - returned to Mandrith - always got along grand until Mandrith dies. Louis to Okla, - in Logan County - close to Guthrie - Mother dies there.

Mother's family - the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. John McGee - McGee old family of Illinois - always freedom - McGee originally Irish - Father, John, youngest of his family - spoiled - black sheep of family -

Mother, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bouldose - Mrs. Boulduce full blooded Greek Indian - father a Negro - little known of history - Johnny McGee and Carrie Boulduse were married. My mother was born in Jersey County, Illinois, the youngest of family of three. Father and mother parted before she was born. One sister and one brother. At three mother taken into Missouri. Later moved to Ft. Scott, Kansas. Mother died when she was six. Was reared by her grand parents, Mr. and Mrs. Boulduse. At ten moved to Oklahoma. Grandparents wanted children to marry natives. Grandmother wanted them to know Indians. Hard time in open country. Grandfather died when fifteen. Grandmother died 9 months late at 16. Worked for Crosby. Left in Okmulgee. Caught train back to Alton, Illinois. At 18 sent to Topeka Instituite (boarding school) by sister.

I now have my mother up to 1898. About the year 1898 my Father's family were in Oklahoma my mother in school in Topeka, Kansas. My father as a boy received very little education. He was forced to pick cotton to keep the girls in school. He did study, however, and liked school. His sister, Susie, whom he called Dutch, married a Mr. Perkins who was a school teacher. My Father was taught a little by him and his sisters. He finally saved enough to enter Langston University. History, Civil Government, and Arithmetic became his favorite subjects. He was able to finish his course and came out of school with very high grades. Oklahoma was only a territory and as the election of 1896 came on the Stroud family were all interested in the Okla. politics and were dyed in the wool Republicans. Negroes then controlled and especially that which is now Logan County. My father and his brother, Young, who was then deputy sheriff of the county plunged into politics. He was then 24 years of age; his brother 6 years his senior. The Territorial Convention met in Guthrie. My father was a delegate. He knew McKinley would be elected president and was behind McKinley's man. The rest of the delegation was behind the opposing candidate. The votes were called and the chairman reported all against McKinley's man. Father was very angry but did not have the nerve to stand up as one against the solid vote. The entire delegation went solidly wrong and McKinley was elected. Although the family remained politicians for a number of years after that convention, my father was too disgusted to remain an active politician. For a few more months he studied law with R. E. Stewart, a leading Negro lawyer now in Oklahoma, but he was too poor to finish his law course. He was offered a job in Lincoln County as a school teacher and accepted it. He stood high as a school teacher in the County and was always called upon in political campaigns to tour the county.

In 1899 my mother who had been in school since September returned to Chicago. So did the boys from Cuba to the tune of "There'll be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonite."

There was nothing unusual in my Mother's history - just a maid in a private family. In 1900 she returned to Sweet Home, Oklahoma to visit her sister. During this visit, she met the young school teacher at Sweet Home. She returned to Chicago. A correspondence was begun and kept up until March 1904, when she returned to Chandler, Okla., my father being moved to this location that year. She arrived at 6 PM, and at 8:30 my mother and father were married by Rev. Westbrook who is now a leading Baptist minister of the Baptist (I can't make out the next word)

Father was receiving a salary of $50.00 at that time a very good salary. I was born Dec. 23, 1904. Father was always called upon to tour in interest of the Republican party during campaigns. In 1900 the question of statehood had come up in Okla. My father was bitterly opposed to Statehood. Okla. was below the Mason Dixon line. It automatically meant segregation. He had lived in Texas. His father and mother had been slaves but most of the Negroes who had settled Okla. had been freedmen. Okla. had been an open country. Indians and Negroes had mingled and lived together and the few whites in the country had found their place among them. Father argued that the whites would accept the Indians but never the Negro. From 1900 until 1904 it was bitterly fought, the opposing side always coming out the winners. In 1904 Statehood won the election. In June, 1906 Statehood was approved. Oklahoma became a segregated state. In 1907 schools were segregated. Street cars, trains, eating places, everything excluded the Negroes. Indians and Negroes were not allowed to marry any more; former relatives became enemies. My father decided to move. Negro schools had become second rate. My mother's sister had moved to Colorado in 1904. Our family increased to 6 in number and Father said he would not rear a family in Okla. Politics had lost their interest completely. He began a correspondence with my Mother's sister who was at the time considered to be a full blooded Indian and married to a white army officer. They had an apartment above what is now the Colorado Springs Sporting Goods store. She was a clairvoyant and was scooping the money from the Colorado gold fields. Many a man had followed her advice and struck a good investment.

She mailed the money, and the family then consisting of two girls and two boys boarded a train for Colorado Springs. She did not meet us. She had not known what her sister's family looked like and could not afford to lose her position in the town. She had rented a house at 414 S. Wahsatch and sent a coach (at that time coaches were used) to meet us at the depot. I can't remember what time we arrived, but it was in the morning on May 10, 1910. We were in a new country and new surroundings and I was 5 years old to be 6 in December. That afternoon I was taken by my mother in a coach which had been sent by my aunt to our house, to my aunt's apartment. The conversation between my mother and her sister was almost completely in Indian - so I do not know what was said. A few days later I overheard the conversation repeated to my father at home. My mother was to be only a half sister to my aunt. Her husband was to meet the family. My aunt would supply all funds until my father was employed. My father would have a lot of trouble in Colorado. Negroes were mostly servants or did hard labor. My father had done neither. The only thing possible in a profession was preaching. My father might get a chance in politics, but her experience with Negroes of the city had been disappointing. They were not politicians of the caliber they were in Oklahoma. He might try. She would set him up in some sort of business if he wanted her to advance the money - she would do it, but her husband did not need to know about it. Those things were discussed. The appointed evening arrived and we went to her office and apartment. We were introduced to her husband. He was very nice and his racial difference did not seem to interfere in his attitude toward us. Father was then and always has been independent. Her assistance in establishing him in business was refused. It might some day cause her a family discord. He would find something. He had always been a man and he would be one now. She kept the rest up for us, furnished the food, in fact everything from May to September. My father had found nothing to do. He went to Denver. He landed something but I have never known to this day. We would not depend on my aunt any longer. $16.00 per month was too much rent for us. We must get a smaller house. We found one on Fountain Street stayed one night and didn't like it. The next day we moved to 701 N. Spruce St. at a rent of $6.00 per month. The house contained 3 rooms. I entered Bristol School a few days later. The then Etta Martin who is now Mrs. Etta Colbert, wife of Jessie Colbert accompanied me to the school and enrolled me into the first grade by telling the principal, who at that time was Miss Leech, that I was six years old when I was really only five.

My aunt began to be restless. She didn't stay in town all the time anymore. She'd be in Cripple Creek this week, Leadville next week, Central City the next week etc. only returning to her apartment one or two days out of the week. In the late fall or early winter she decided to give up the office, and we accompanied her as far as Denver enroute to Salt Lake City. She never lived in Colorado after that.

Father's employment was out in Denver. He was offered a job shoveling coal in the coal shute in Roswell. He accepted it. The job was hard. The hours were long but it was either accept it or starve. He took it. In M, 1911 Tandy was born. Father never had a day at home. He worked from Sunday to Saturday from 7 in the morning until 5 in the evening every day. In order to get to Roswell he'd get up at five, build the fires and eat breakfast and be ready to leave at six. We'd never see him until 6 P.M. As a rule he'd come down with the engineer on the train which arrived at the station at 6 P.M. He made enough to keep the bills paid and buy the necessities of life, and we got along quite nicely. After Tandy came it was apparent the little 3 room house was too small. That was the beginning of grief. We found the landlords in Colorado Springs were not interested in children. We looked at a lot of houses but that was as far as we could go. We were told always we don't rent to persons with children. Finally we found a house at 825 N. Walnut Street vacant. It was owned by a Negro woman who was working in Denver, and was handled by a white real estate man. Mother liked the house and wanted to rent it. She contacted the man. He said, "I am sorry, but the lady who owns the house told me she did not want any children." Again my mother returned very disappointed. A few days later the woman who owned the 3 room house (and by the way, she was also a Negro) came to collect the rent. She was very much surprised to hear we had no hopes of moving when we had notified her a month before that we would move. Mother told her the whole of her difficulties. After listening our landlord told my mother that she personally knew the woman who owned the house at 825 N. Walnut and she would write to her in Denver. A few days later we received a letter from Denver. A day or two after that the real estate man who had charge of renting the house at 825, appeared at the door and told my mother she could have the house at $10.00 per month. We accepted and in 1912 we moved to 825. Ten dollars per month was quite a raise and we met a little difficulty in meeting the bill sometimes. However, we did not get behind. One day a lady appeared at the door. She was the owner of the place. My mother and she talked for some time. Mother told her of her experiences with the real estate man and in the course of the conversation the lady told mother that she would pay the rent to her from then on as she was going to be employed in the city. She told her she expected $8.00. That was a very unexpected break and one that was to be greatly appreciated. That summer father made such a little at the coal shute that it was all we could do to pay rent. Sometimes he made only $25.00 per month. Things went worse and worse all the time. We barely could pay the rent. To top it all off the landlady told Mother one day that her mother and father were coming to Colorado Springs to live and they might want the house. Five children and we knew it was next to impossible to find a landlord who would rent to children. However, we began to look. We looked and looked. One day about the 1st of April, 1913, the people across the street at 810 N. Walnut moved. They had children and had lived there a year. Mother called the real estate agent and rented the house April 15 for $8.00 per month. Only a few weeks after renting our new house, the crash came. Father's check dwindled to less and less and he was finally discharged on the grounds the company could only pay one laborer. Jack was born May 3, 1913. Six children, no job, and no money. He had made application for a job with the City Street Department. He applied again for work. Sometime that summer he was put to work with the Street Department at $2.50 per day. Things began to brighten but we had incurred some bills and he could not make enough to pay on back bills and keep up routine expense. We owed grocery bills, doctor bills, drug store bills. The only thing we had kept going was rent. In Nov. the city began to lay men off. Father was one of that unlucky number. Dec. came and the post office rush came on. O.W. Ward was postmaster. My father had passed the examination for clerk some months previously and stood no 1 on the register with a grade of 98 but was not called for duty; so he went down to the post office. He was given a temporary appointment for a few days. He soon went to work for a Mr. O'Brien. O'Brien operated a tourist hack business and hauled ashes and trash along with it. He employed father to haul ashes on a 50-50 basis. In other words he furnished the horses, wagons, and work and father did the work. During the winter months we survived very nicely. War had been declared in Europe and things were going higher and higher. The summer of 1915 came on and the ashes began to get scarce. The less ashes there were the less money Father could make, but everything had to be divided. Father began to reason and think. Mr. O'Brien was hauling baggage, moving people, and driving tourists through the mountains, but he had other men for that work. Money could be made hauling ashes only during the winter. Could he have been transferred to one of the other phases of that business things could have gone along all right. But no - he studied and deeply at night. On Saturdays he used to figure and talk about trying to save money enough to buy a horse. James was born July 15, 1915. It wasn't very much later that Mr. O'Brien sold his business to another man. Father was out again. However, he applied for a job from the new owner of the business and was employed. This man never made a success during the 3 or 4 months Father worked for him. Some of Mr. O'Brien's customers turned to other men engaged in such a business. In the early part of 1916 Father ran across a man - Mr. Jones who wanted to sell his horse, wagon, and what work he had. This man I have thought many times since was our hero of the hour. We had gotten to the place where we couldn't pay anything we owed. Even house rent was not being paid. We had a total of 7 children and nothing. Had anyone been interested in the place we were living in we would have been put into the streets. The house seemed to be owned by no one so there just wasn't anyone interested enough to kick us out. Mr. Jones worked with Father for one day and made the following agreement. Father would have the horse and wagon without any down payment - pay $10.00 one month from the day he drew up the agreement and $10.00 every month after until a total of $105.00 was paid. He must keep the horse and wagon in Mr. Jones' barn at night until paid for. The bargain was made and work began for the 1st time since arriving in Colorado. It didn't take us long to pay for the horse whose name, by the way, was George. We began to do things. Father hauled anything anyone would hire him to haul and when ashes dwindled he could always supplement. In March, 1917, Lula was born. It was also in 1917 that we bargained to buy the house instead of rent. Someone had foreclosed on someone else and this new owner became interested in the place. We either had to pay rent or find another house. Past experience when new had 4 children had taught us we couldn't move with 8 children so the easiest way out was to buy the place at the lowest possible figure. The owner came over and they reached an agreement. $600.00 was the total price - $50.00 down and $10.00 per month. That was sometime in 1917. War was declared also in 1917. Prices began to soar and Father's work began to increase. He had so much work he bought another wagon and horse and put another man to work. Six dollars was the daily average coming in. In 18 months the house was paid for and we were beginning to catch up with old bills. Some of the grocery bills were being paid by working them out. By 1919 we began to see daylight. I was then 15 years of age in high school. A girl whom we named Number Nine was born August 28, 1919. I was employed during the summer months. Albert & Dolphus were always on one of the wagons in the summer. If not on the wagon, they were caddying on the Broadmoor golf course and Effie worked always in the summer time. Since Nina, as we call her now, was born, we have had two more additions both girls which brought the total number of children to 11. All eleven graduated from Bristol School. Three attended the old Lincoln Annex. Six have finished N. Jr. High School, one being there now, and 10 have attended Colorado Springs High School. Eight have graduated from Colo. Spgs. High School. One is still in North Junior High School. One is attending High School and one boy, James, just wouldn't finish high school. Two are graduates of Colorado College - two others have attended Colorado College. Another went to Prairie View College - a Negro College in Texas, and one is still in College at Colo. U. in Boulder. We have had only one death. My father died last February on the 17th - 1938.

Father moved to Langston, Okla. at 19 yrs. in 1891 - helped build Langston U. Entered politics in 1896 at 24. Father's brothers and sisters - Dutch, Young, Irena, Edna, Lena, Dolphus Cora, Tandy, Kelly, Section, Hutto.

That's all of the notes. Before I sign off I'd like to say Dolphus' idea of a Stroud investment sounds good - at $10.00 per share. Perhaps other members might have further ideas. I believe Jack might be in a position to investigate and make profitable investments. What do the rest of you think. The Negro Bank in Denver started with contributions of $2,000.00 per director. Some paid $200.00 down and $25.00 per month. I'll make my contribution shorter next time. Regards to all -------- Rosa.

As I said at first that Rosa's contribution was intensely interesting. Maybe I should say, Kimbal's contribution. I had never seen the notes before. Since they are notes we could not expect them to detail some of the very deep pathos, friendships, and emotional aspects of this record.

Once Jack mentioned in a letter about whether or not animals go to heaven. If there is a heaven for animals I would certainly nominate some of those that are connected with our family. I'm thinking of our little dog, Red and our horse, Leften; but most of all of old George, the greatest horse I've ever known - he really saved our lives - and Oh! How much he suffered. Of course notes could not go into detail of friendships like Sister's, nor the Hagerman's, nor the changing aspects of human relations - for instance the racial questions and attitudes that so affected and moulded our lives.

Rosa raises the question of the valuation of a human life to civilization, society, or his own family. I'm afraid that most all people fall far short, and our family is no exception. Kimbal's notes show that we were only the second generation from illegitimacy on Father's side. But also a great many of the outstanding characters of the Bible came from incestuous and illegitimate unions. In Noah's time God said, that it repented him that he had created man. Mankind seems to be a loss - our pleasure is in disobedience and corruptness. Yet Christ died for us - when Rosa hints that our contribution is very little, I think of the words of Jesus in speaking of a certain person: "It were better for that man if he had never been born."

I have another very welcome letter from Mabel. Some of you have told me of how much you enjoy hearing from her and what she has to say - Its just a note this time, but here it is:

My Dear Fine Ben:

Please pardon my delay. I am like Lulu, your Mother. My eyes have become so "stickey" and thick I can hardly see. I don't feel like writing so neat, I'd rather write with a pencil than a pen. I was so glad you visited your Bro's and Sisters. I do hope you've seen all of them. I know they were happy to see you. I hope all had a very nice profitable Xmas. I was very glad and surprised to hear from your Bro. in Oregon. I answered his Xmas card. Of course Effie and I always exchange cards. I appreciate hearing from you often. All my family join me in the best of wishes for good health - Wealth - Happiness - and Contentment. Bye for now. And may God Bless and keep all from harm or danger. Your Cousin Mabel.

P.S. I hear from Omar regularly - He and his wife are O.K.

I know you all join me in wishing the same for Mabel and Omar and their families.

I had the finest Christmas in many years this time. It would take another newsletter as large as this one to tell about it. I was treated as royalty by the pollards in their very nice and cozy home. They have a wonderful philosophy of life and I hope them all continued success and happiness. I'd like to spend a lot of pages telling about them but I'll just have to say a little about them from time to time - I'd like to say a lot about that nice home with the comfortable modern furnishings, the modern kitchen where Lu does such good work with food, the way the basement has been improved and the thermostatic controlled gas heat. The large yard with the special tree that bears so much each year till it breaks its branches, the new automobile. I could say something of Leonard's hobbies and of his studies in electricity especially in the home appliance field. They have fishing tackle and guns for hunting but this Christmas they have a motion picture camera for home movies. And we certainly enjoyed the pictures of Bobbies family.

And I guess I could spend another letter telling about Bobby and her wonderful fine looking family. And naturally I'd like to say something of the great party we had over at her house with the children - I guess I need not say anything to you about how Bobby can cook: I have to take my hat off to Bobby for the great job she is doing - You just have to go crazy about that talented bunch of little Nephews and Nieces that all of you have - By the way Bobby has over 40 piano students - She has improved her house - Its paid for - Well, anyway Leonard and I got some fine pictures - and Percy Pellerin was in the Pictures - and that brings up perhaps the most talented music teacher in the grade schools of Colorado Springs - Nine Pellerin.

Nina's room was just about full of gifts and cares from her pupils, all of whom are white. We had another big party over at Nina's large fine home. Everything was so delicious till we ate ourselves sick. Nina's programs for Christmas were so outstanding till she was on T.V. and in the papers - For the first time some of the residents of Colorado Springs found out that the teacher whom their children was bragging about so much was colored. She teaches children from North Cascade, Wood Avenue, and Tejon - and at another school the children with hill billy parents - I will have to mention from time to time the many new aspects of racial relations and the other tremendous changes taking place in Colorado Springs - There just isn't room to tell all. Percy is growing fast and has recovered from his operation - Nina works too hard - She always did drive herself to the limit - but from what I saw there - There are no lazy Colo. Spgs. Strouds - It made me feel very much ashamed. Nina took me for a drive to see the growth of the city - It is astounding - Its disorganized - and to my way of thinking, water may be the crucial problem, I could go on and on -

It was certainly enlightening to visit Boulder and the Bureau of Standards - To see the high scientific layout - to see the equipment and to understand just a little of the technical scientific data that Jack has to deal with and the problems he has to solve - A person needs a B.S. degree just to understand a little of what is going on there and the problems and projects that Jack and his young friend, a young colored physicist, Bunche, have to solve.

In Denver, I enjoyed another great feast at the fine home of Maude Goffman with Billy. The graciousness and generosity of Maude Goffman is beyond compare. She really has done a remarkable job in business and in contacts in Denver and nationally. Not only that, but Billy has suddenly become mature. I have little doubt that when Billy completely makes up his mind to work for important things that he will make a lot of us very proud.

I'd better close - I just can't find words to thank all these fine people and I will never forget this Christmas.

Perhaps some of you will remember T.Y. Watson. His house in is where we had the dinner and Mama's picture was taken with some of us and the Hathaways and Mrs. Doboins niece. He died last week - He was 87 years old. He had our pictures prominently displayed in his room.

There is a lot more to be said - But I am closing -

Best wishes to all

Ben

November 30, 1958

To the Strouds:

Our first letter is from Jack dated Nov. 12, 1958 I might say before I start that I enjoyed a visit from Jack very much before he went back. I understand that he was here several times before he caught me in. Juanita Mae was also here: but at the time she came I had a very bad cold, and I know I did not do justice to the visit of such a lovely young couple. Connie and her gentleman friend accompanied them out here to Maywood that night - I'm sorry I was so far below par when they came. Jack's letter is as follows:

Dear Family:

Albo's pictures and work is very interesting and fruitful.

The last News, although long awaited for, was rather skimpy. That is, it was skimpy as regards the number of contributors. Since August I have visited Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Chicago, and New York.

Mrs. Marilyn Turner and Mrs. Constance Glover and daughter, Jacqueline, accompanied me on my trip from Chicago to New York. They promised to describe the trip in the News letter- so I suppose all will look ahead to hearing from them.

I can say only at this time, that I was very disappointed not to be able to spend a longer period of time with those relatives whom I visited. I also am dejected that I did not see James in L.A. - nor could I get to Portland to see Dolphus.

By way of the Newsletter, I wish to thank my two nieces, as well as my grand niece for showing me a wonderful time during my very short stay in Chicago. I also wish to thank them for assisting me in driving to New York. Actually, I suppose we enjoyed the drive' more than everything else. This time we saw little of New York because of the very short stay there, and because I had to return to work so soon.

Now - to leave this in the hands of Chic and Connie for better treatment, I must add to Dolphus' comments that I also look forward to the News. I think - however - that we often demonstrate a 'blind spot' in our attempts toward worthwhile communication. For example, if one, rather hurriedly remarks: "Now, we older Strouds have, in Welven, a nephew whom we can all be proud of!" It should not be the least bit disturbing if another one of the younger relatives remarks: "That means, I suppose, the rest of us ain't worth a damn!"

In fact - we might, as we grow older - become concerned over whether or not the nephews - or nieces, consider their aunts and uncles to be worth much.

Colorado still grows: Denver is estimated, now at 850,000 persons. But - the modern trend is for cities to spread out - rather than go up.

Sometime ago, I mentioned that the impact of population increases would be felt more so in the next decade than they had been felt in the 100 years previously. Immediately I was pounced upon for making a rash statement. Well - this should now be obvious. In fact - It is quite simple to understand when one realizes that the earth has a relatively constant area when though of in terms of population which is a variable increasing quality.

At present, there is no 'Black Death' around to kill off about 1/4 of the World's persons. There is also some doubt that the weapons of warfare - including the nuclear fission bombs, can do the job effectively. Perhaps these devices can do it - but there seems to be some reluctance on the part of nations to employ them.

With the evident increase of world population, the demands for water and edibles will increase. So - more persons will be demanded in areas of scientific research. Within the next 5 years ocean water will be processed cheaply enough to be sold or transported as drinking water. More and more efforts will be made to solve the riddles of inner planetary exploration. And - of course to keep up with these changes. The Bible, which is revised only about once every 100 years, will have to be revised every decade.

There are a few of us - but I am certain the group is becoming increasingly large - who feel that the rocket - propelled methods will never be satisfactory in opening up our Solar System to human travel. Some physicists hold that modern scientific advances have been from steam to electricity to atomic power. For effective space communication the problems associated with magnetism and gravitation will need be better understood.

So - about 10 years from now - when these things are beginning to be activated by slow moving congressional allotments - let me point out - that, at this stage of the game, electronics' is on a high scale of development, while magneto-nics' has been ignored. By understanding 'wave theory' and the performance of 'electric fields' man has devised instruments such as telephones, radio and television. These devices take care of communication, directivity, and facsimile. But - it does not take care of 'displacement.' In brief, we transfer a voice, a pulse, a picture, within a fraction of a second over long distances. But - these methods came about by investigating the electric vector - or the 'electric field.' It is my opinion that - understanding of the performance of the 'magnetic field' will result in the directed 'displacement' of objects - or bodies, that man now attempts to do, and very awkwardly so, by pulleys, steam power, rocket power, and atomic fission. All these developments are costly, and destructive of the needed forces of nature.

There is no reason to believe that the magnetic field' cannot be utilized as well as the 'electric field.' The two apparently have a functional relationship - which is demonstrated by Maxwell's equations in vector analysis. The electric vector is shown to be perpendicular to the magnetic vector. We have further research methods to demonstrate that 'electromagnetic waves' are independent of gravity. That is to say - that, unless a radio wave is forced back by some atmospheric phenomenon such as a cloud layer - or temperature inversion layer - it will go on out into space - independent of gravity.

Making a long story short - then - I see a time when we will have magnetic devices to tease out unwanted gravitational pulls - just as we now have radio sets to tease out unwanted stations that is, other frequencies.

So - if we wish to go to the moon - we will simply climb into our inner-space-capsule, tease out the gravitational pull of the Earth and - of course - go to the next strongest gravitational pull. Of course - this is a very over-simplified explanation. Actually - the dials, instruments etc. will be attuned in such a fashion as to release the gravitational pull of Earth as slowly - or as rapidly as possible. One might get out of the Earth's atmosphere at a very slow speed - then, after he is up about 20 miles, he might decide to set a dial which would release him from all the Earths pull until he got within 200 miles of the moon. Here - it can be seen that he could travel as rapidly as 'gravitational pull,' then, slow down within a given range of a prescribed planet, and float down, slowly, like a big soap - bubble.

This, of course, is food for thought. My present work involves gathering reports from as many sources, as possible, throughout the world, and figuring field strength' values for all these different transmission paths - or Radio links. In other words, I determine the ration of power for a given transmitted source to a given received source. This is expressed in terms of 'power loss' - or 'transmission loss' between any two given points. Actually - considering all the different variables such as terrain effects, distance, atmospheric conditions etc. - I feel as though I have accomplished something when I can sit down with pencil and paper - read a report on the transmission of radio waves between Nova Scotia and Thule Greenland - then, come up with the right answer for amount of signal strength one may expect at Thule, for a given power transmitted at Greenland at a given frequency: This is much of my present work.

I hope that these comments of mine will give some of my younger kinsmen things to think over - and that they will organize their education in order to learn something worthwhile in relationship to ever-changing trends in the World's History.

Good Luck - Everybody

Jack

I think Jack's letter was very interesting and will doubtless open up new areas of thought and imagination. It seems however, that he is approaching the conclusion that I threw out some months ago. Waves of radio, electricity, magnetism, or light moves at approximately 186,000 miles per second which, according to Einstein, is the limit of speed. Therefore since speed and time are the same the limit of speed would also be the limit of time. Therefore the time barrier would be broken and space would probably cease to exist at all as we think of it now. A body travelling at 186,000 miles per second would become two - dimensional and a person travelling on such a ship would perhaps become of an entity of a different wave length from material matter. We then perhaps would enter into the realm of the spiritual where distance, time, and space would certainly not mean the same in the material sense. Perhaps some would call this the fourth dimension. Having once crossed the barrier from the material to the spiritual, it would be impossible to get back to the material. Actual space travel may have to cross such a barrier. I heard a preacher say last Sunday: "The fourth dimension is God."

Has science now advanced to that point: Has science come to the verge of the great barrier where all waves of energy become static - where molecular and atomic motion ceases, and where further movement or progress is impossible except through God. To go further science must seek the intangible invisible forces and powers that are released in the exercise and utilization of love and faith. These powers are accessible and available to humanity thru Christ and can give man power to fly beyond the material limitations - beyond the stars.

We have next a very interesting and informative letter from Nina:

Dear Strouds:

It has been some time since I wrote a letter, and I think I should contribute now. First of all I think Ben should be highly commended for having kept the newsletter going for so long a time. Is it five or six years that we have been writing? Of course there must be contributions or it will cease to exist, and I, too, should like to hear from some of the second generation.

Juanita Mae Stroud Cousins came through Colorado Springs just a few days ago on her way to Washington, D.C. She was driving her own car alone: My what courage! She had breakfast with me and we visited for awhile. She is still in the Waves and has married a sailor. Isn't that nice? I wish I had had that much sense when I was twenty-two. She is a very lovely young lady, and I'm very very proud to know her and know she's my niece. This past summer I had a chance to visit with Welvin Stroud for a short time in Chicago. I was almost overawed by him - he has such tremendous personality and he is so intelligent. Again I am very very proud that I know him. So you see, I for one, should like to hear a lot more about and from my various nieces and nephews. I think all of us would like to actually hear from boys and girls like Dolphus' Ernie and Joel and Tandy's Joseph and Bobby's Adrienne. I am glad, too, for the suggestion that the list of names, addresses, dates of birth, etc. be kept up - to date. I have nothing new to contribute. I am still Nina Pellerin at 618 N. Corona in Colorado Springs. My only child, Percy Pellerin Jr, is now 8 years old and was born July 20, 1950. I was born August 28, sometimes I wish we had some sort of treasury, than I'd love to be courtesy chairman and send cards or gifts to everyone at Christmas time and on their birthdays. Most organizations have an arrangement like this, and it really is nice to be remembered. I know when I was in the hospital 2 years ago both my schools sent flowers and also my bridge club. It was really nice.

I notice from the last letter that some of you are still interested in forming some sort of organization for investment purposes and having some sort of reunion. I can see your ideas clearly and I know that in union there is strength and that $1,000 invested brings much more of a return than $100. I also know that there can be much good fellowship in spending a few days with one's own kinpeople. I think your ideas are very good and a reunion could be a very nice thing but I still have very grave doubts about the Strouds. Cooperation individuals, and when I see men over 40 who still criticize one's religion or politics I have very grave doubts. And when I find men over 40 who have absolutely no respect for another person's feelings or opinions I have graver doubts. The thing that depresses me most is that so many of my brothers and sisters - and that includes me - don't seem to care how much or in what way they hurt each other, and some seem to go out of their way to try to belittle someone else or make him feel badly.

But anyway if you still think in terms of reunion you'd better start planning now. I have a very sarcastic suggestion to make: Supposing Jack and Dolphus and Albert and Tandy and James get together, then the reunion can succeed (smiles). I had thought by now that Rosa would have written, but she hasn't . She told me, however, that I could publicize this 'news,' so for those of you who don't know already Rosa was married to Alger Gillespie of Detroit, Michigan on September 19th, I believe. They live in Sacramento, but I don't have the address. I'm sure a letter sent to her last address would be forwarded.

Percy is growing very very tall and is rather slim. He does fairly well in school and could do much better. He draws very well and does quite good work with clay - the kind you fire for pottery. He has just completed a bust of George Washington that is really good. I should take more time with him to develop his talents and that is my New Year's resolution. He also takes piano lessons from Bobby, but his heart isn't in it. On our last trip to the Doctor, who is a white man, he told us that Percy's eyes were working together' now for the first time since he was 2 years old. We hope that in six months time, Percy will no longer have to wear eye glasses! Great Day! I believe in giving credit where it is due. This white man was not fighting a disease not an accidental condition. For the past two years she has been fighting a hereditary condition that is a result of generations of in-breeding on the part of Percy's father's people. The Pellerins have a long history of crosseyedness.

There are two or three other white people in this town for whom I have the utmost respect. One is Father Jepson of St. Mary's Catholic Church. For one solid year he gave me the finest psychiatric treatment without charging me one cent. This is why I am a Catholic. I am quite certain that I would have been dead or in an asylum now had it not been for Father Jepson. As it is, however, I haven't even missed a day at school although I have gone through the worst emotional crisis of my life. In fact life looks pretty good to me now, and I can look to the future with reeal pleasure and even hope that some day, not too far wary, I'll meet some one right for me to spend the rest of my life with. But even if I don't, I can see where I can live a very full and rewarding life. I sing in St. Mary's Choir every Sunday morning at high Mass. The music is extremely difficult and of course all in Latin. It is very stimulating. On Saturday nights I play at a local restaurant and lounge. I bowl every other Tursday with Lincoln School bowling team. I keep up with Percy's activities - Cub Scouts, Art lessons, Music, and Dancing lessons, his neighborhood pals, occasional parties, school work (I should do better here) P.T.A. etc. I teach school, do my housework and take care of my rentals. Believe me - I don't have much time for brooding. A year ago I was in the depths of despair - so don't be too rough on the Catholic Church or any church for that matter. They exist because they fill a human need. And they will continue to exist as long as lide is like it is.

The Air Academy here is really shaping up. I went to Denver about 3 weeks ago and went through it a little. A tremendous amount of money has been poured into it. The buildings and grounds are truly awe - inspiring. It must be important. I had a lovely visit with Maud and Bill. They are both such grand people. How on earth can Maud do all she does? She can put out more work than any 3 men I know. I really enjoyed being with them.

I guess I'd better stop now, the letter is too long and I want to go to the Air Academy football game this P.M. Kind of debating whether or not I ought to spend the money, but it's a lovely lovely day and there's no use in wasting it.

Love to everyone ------ Nina.

I know you all enjoyed this letter - so I think I should close here - Today is the 2nd of December - I was trying to get this out in November - but a few things came up - The people with whom I have been living for some years, The Edwards, sold the house and moved to Los Angeles. So, therefore, I moved out, and I haven't exactly got adjusted yet. Business picked up a little and although I seldom go on a truck now - it still demands attention - quite a lot of it. Beside this the Sunday School asked me to help out on a Christmas exercise the Saturday before Christmas. This called for a great deal of typing - More than this News Letter is taking.

I am glad that Nina has become much better adjusted. When I was there last Christmas I thought she was under terrific pressure and I was afraid she might not make it - or would perhaps become an alcoholic or a derelict. I was wondering if she would be able to hold her position as a teacher - In fact I prayed for her myself - This summer she seemed much better - There is a song they sometimes sing at our Church - "It is no secret what God can do. What he's done for others, he can do for you."

You have had this list before but since you think we need a roll call - We'll start with this over again:

Kimbal Dolphus Stroud was born Dec. 28, 1872 Vasco County, Texas Lulu Rosanna Lucinda Magee Stroud was born Jan. 13, 1882 in Jersey County Illinois

Kimbal Stroud was born Dec. 23, 1904 in Lincoln County Oklahoma at 8 A:M Friday

Albert Lord Benney Stroud was born March 28, 1906 at 7:30 P:M in Chandler Lincoln County Oklahoma on Thursday.

Helly Dolphus Stroud was born Sept. 17, 1907 - 8:30 A:M Tuesday at Chandler Oklahoma Lincoln County.

Effie Florence Edner Evelyn Stroud - born July 26, 1909 at 4 A:M Monday in Lincoln County Oklahoma

Tandy Louis Welvin Stroud born May 14, 1911 Sunday 3 A:M in Colorado Springs El Paso County.

Charles Clay Jack Hogan Stroud born May 3, 1913 Saturday 6 A:M Colorado Springs Colorado El Paso County.

James Hagerman Stroud born July 15, 1915 6 P:M Thursday Colorado Springs, El Paso County.

Elinor Ann Lillian Elsa Sarah Lulu Stroud born Sunday 6 A:M March 18, 1917 Colorado Springs El Paso County

Number Nine Stroud (Nina) Stroud born August 28, 1919 Friday 3 A:M Colorado Springs, Colorado El Paso County.

Rosa May Stroud Born Sept. 19, 1921 in Colorado Springs Colorado El Paso County on Thursday

Bobby Rosana Nell Stroud born Sept. 23, 1924 in Colorado Springs Colorado, El Paso Counnty.

Latest addresses of these that I have who are living follows: K. Dolphus Stroud 2436 N.E. 12th Avenue, Portland, Oregon Rosa May Stroud 1326 Street, Sacramento, California Effie Stroud Marcellus 1113 Warburton, Yonkers, New York. Tandy Stroud 3045 Kelly Hayward, California. Billy Goffman 2516 Franklin Street, Denver Colorado

Nina Pellerin 518 N. Corona Colorado Springs, Colorado

Lulu Pollard 315 Center Street Colorado Springs, Colorado

Jack C. Stroud 713 13th Street Boulder, Colorado

Bobby Bourgeois 814 S. El Paso, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Maud Goffman 2516 Franklin Street, Denver, Colorado

Mabel Fields 3964 W. Belle Place, St. Louis Missouri

Constance Glover 4655 Lake Park Belvidere Apts. #410 Chicago Ill

I have talked to my Metropolitan Insurance agent Mr. Bill Ahern about the feasibility of Insurance on the Tribe basis.

He advises a straight life policy preferable to endowment plans because for one thing the premiums are cheaper. Also the purpose of the policy is to invest back into the foundation rather than to take the proceeds at the time of death of the policy holder. For instance a ten thousand dollar policy written on each of ten older persons would yield $100,000 at the time of death of these older originals. This money could go into the foundation. At the time of death of one of the original policy holders $10,000 would go to the foundation. The deceased's son or next in line would take his place as a $10,000 dollar policy holder by paying premiums and thus keep 10 persons continuing the $100,000 dollar potential of insurance in force. With the $10,000 paid on the life of the deceased given to the foundation used either as a reserve fund for educational purposes for the younger members of the tribe or parts or all of it could be used to pay premiums for the increased amounts on one or all of the ten who hold $10,000 policies. The percentages favoring a sizable profit of course are great because undoubtedly one of the ten will probably not be around too along - this is not to encourage murder you understand - of course disability and other benefits could be included - Mr. Ahern thinks that this is about the best set up if our primary interest is in the future generations.

If there is no objections I should say that

Nina is the Courtesy Chairman. Now of course I know that saying it like that would not be considered democratic. But just how long would it take to elect people to chairmanship positions thru the mail. Why not just assume that someone who is willing to act can have the position unless there are objections from the others.

Well, this letter is getting long so I think I'd better sign off

So Adios to all

And best wishes

Ben

May 26, 1958

To The Strouds:

Its been quite a lapse since the series of very interesting letters that some of you have written. I think some of us have become overloaded with other responsibilities - Also I think there has been a little reluctance in expressing personal feelings for fear of hurting someone else - In my opinion this attitude does not add to the interest of the letters - I like those biting criticisms and snide remarks that some of you Strouds are such past masters in using. These news letters certainly can quash over rated egos and prick inflated ballons of pride.

Dolphus first letter of April 25, 1958 explains why he has been slow in writing.

Dear Albert,

Am enclosing five dollars for family letters. I've enjoyed them all more than any other reading matter I ever receive. And I believe I find them most informative. I will write when I a fully relaxed from the strain of the income tax season. I do hundreds of returns every year - many of them complicated business returns and I have to conserve my eyes, mind, and writing muscles for that work exclusively between Jan. 15th and April 15th each year. When the season is over I'm always glad to get away from all that approaches figures and words for a while.

Thanks for the letters and best wishes.

Bunk

As of April 14, 1958 we have this fine letter from Jack:

Dear Strouds:

I just finished reading the last newsletter. I thank Albo for it.

I mentioned to 'withdraw'., in a letter to Albo. Concerning my suggested status. Remember, Rosa first suggested me.

Now I hold this 'withdrawal' is a matter for the Strouds to accept or reject.

Personally - in answer to Nina directly - and Tandy indirectly, I am not concerned with salvaging the Strouds emotions - or to make amends before any supreme tribunal - in the so - called person of God - in my relations with Father and Mom - nor do I see where any of the rest of the siblings should carry an 'albatross' around their necks because Father stated: "My children don't love me!"

As far as I know - children are never allowed the privilege of deciding whether or not they want to be born. Also - the accident of birth is not a necessary reason to believe that love is the necessary consequence of it.

But - if sentimental concern must remain - it is always a remarkable fact that guilty feelings iin a person may have some reason - or basis in fact. You see, family, - if Nina is so concerned about her relative emotional status she might examine the fact that she might often be responsible for herself creating the 'emotional area of dissent' among the Strouds.

By the same token - it is not necessarily of any consequence to us to say that Elder Morgan and Stroud finally recognized a 'common ground' - as Tandy would have us believe. But the 'psychological position' to concern my brothers and sisters - is why cannot Tandy - at this age - see his error in creating a situation wherein K.D. Stroud was forced to meet Morgan on a plane of so-called 'mutual agreement.' Cannot Tandy understand that Father was in a relative state of helplessness - had to rely on Tandy for some degree of physical support and, for this reason - had to compromise much of his beliefs by belittling himself in the presence of a small-time religious hustler like Morgan.

Actually the thing Tandy is pointing out is that Father - in his situation had to recognize defeat from Morgan, as well as defeat from Tandy! Of course, Tandy in his half-matured state - then - could not see Father's point of view. But - if he was so interested in Father's love - he might have better committed it by tolling Morgan to keep his religion - his weak minded disciples, and worry about his own sons and daughters.

Nina - seemingly - has been most concerned about the overall emotions. In short - one who is not concerned with others emotions might, very likely, be the one who is certain everyone is as emotionally distressed as the one who offers the accusation.

I have - in the past - questioned religion in the Newsletter. I still do it. I am not trying to modify my position in this matter.

Personally - I feel that the old Baptist thing around St. John Church a much saner thing for our family than the Holy - Roller outlet or the Catholic Church. I do not think Nina or Bobbie have 'gained' anything by sending their children to St. Mary's School. As a practical matter, Garfield school is about one block from Nina's house - Helen Hunt School is about 3 blocks from Bobbies house. Also, the Strouds have made a scholastic reputation in the C.S. public schools, and the little ones would be able to profit from the previous records made by previous Strouds. In the long run - they would probably get homme-run grades, in the public schools of C.S. - Where no the so-called 'Sisters' are giving the little ones C's and B's and D's - with an occasional A. Actually if there is anything on the face of the earth that is a complete fake it is the bastard son of the blue eyed - called the Catholic Church.

The weather continues very great here. We have had a March and April of life-giving moisture - the streams and reservoirs are full.

I ran into old Dillard Collins in Denver - He asked about Dolphus. He says that Ulie Andrews is now San Antonio Texas. We discussed the modern type of touch-foul basketball - with its high scores - and with the fact that if breathe on your opponent he is awarded a free throw. If he makes the first one - they seem to think he has accomplished something wonderful - so, he is given a reward. That is, he gets another shot. How silly can you get?

Well - this thing multiplied a billion - fold - is the reason that Russia would whip Uncle Sam's ass if the two ever get mixed up in a war.

Well - goodbye

Let's have more comments - also - some token of appreciation to Albo for keeping the News going for six years. Perhaps we can chip in and by a 'Stroud Typewriter'

Oh: I love every damn one of you!!

Jack.

I censored the word Jesus in Jacks mention of the Catholic Church above - the divinity names are due all reverence - In the original he used the capital "J" for Jesus - This of course makes reference to the divine Jesus.

I do not think that Jack will find true Bible scholars that would insist that Jesus had blue eyes - of course no one knows for sure. If Jack will read the best seller by Jim Bishop - "The Day Christ Died" - he will find that Jim Bishop speaks of Jesus as having brown eyes and being of dark complexion. I imagine most races identify with the Divinity with themselves.

Marilyn Turner writes interestingly as follows:

Dear Albert:

It was pleasant visiting with you again and I must say that you appear to have lost quite a bit of weight.

Your civic program interested me and I do wish that we might have stayed longer and discussed the urban renewal more thoroughly.

Thanks for the January Newsletter. Connie and I both enjoyed reading very much. Rosa May writes very well and draws vivid pictures of her work with well chosen concise words, making a dull sounding social job live and breathe excitement. Frankly, I almost envy her.

Since last writing to you, I've had a change of jobs as the old position played out, - the result of new army district changes. The new job is much more interesting in one way and exceedingly boring another. My work consists of typing reports on the known communists in the U.S. and sending and receiving FBI rpts. on same. All strictly hush, hush, confidential. I work in a locked cage where none but [CIA?] employees are permitted. Not even the janitor is allowed until we open "the cage" each morning. Then for fifteen minutes we stand around while he sweeps.

I have the reputation of being the first and only Negro to have held this position. My fellow workers consist of older women, a foreign interpreter, and five CI's who are professional (lawyers, psychologists, and doctors) in civilian life.

The boring aspect is the "dyed hair." "grand-children." Dr. Scholls' shoes' conversations that are held.

My first week here was shocking as I found myself unwanted and accepted as inferior, qualified only for the subservient type work. Impulsively, my first instinct was to quit. but good old Stroud - superiority took over and I knew that success would be mine along with respect for my person. The end result was a verbal discourse during which I related my feelings as to "my place," maintaining that each of us had a "place" at our respective desks from 8: oclock A.M. until 4:30 P.M. for which pay was received and aside from that. "my place" alien to me. Also I informed the "enemy" that I was qualified and had the ability to do the job for which I was hired and anything less than that would have to be completed by someone only capable of physical labor. The whole picture is different now and I have been invited to their homes and to lunch with them.

The children are fine and Connie's daughter has received a double promotion in school. Chucky (my son) is taking Spanish in school and can write and understand it well.

It's getting late and I must get back to the "Communists."

Best Regards, Marilyn

P.S.

It would be nice if others of the third generation would contribute an item or two as we older ones will have to continue the tradition of the Strouds. Someday, and in the meantime, I would like to know about my cousins.

This one from Marilyn was very interesting and I'm sorry that I became so involved in the Civic Crisis of Maywood - Urban Renewal until this letter is so late - Marilyn's letter was dated way back April 17, 1958.

Right after I mailed the March letters on April 8th I got a letter from Jack in protest against a revolution of his unique letter to James and other interesting items as follows:

"After exposure of my last letter, I beg to withdraw from my financial position:

The 'exposure' was not intended my me. However, it was facts but no one wants facts. So - I withdraw. I thought, perhaps, Albo would inform Strouds of James' address and predicament - then forward letter to Rosa as requested.

I do not think investments to be of any consequence unless a person has enough to invest. It seems $5000.00 would be a sufficient savings account before anyone thought of taking chances. $5000.00 is needed just for the simple day-to-day emergencies and expenses.

The sensible investor can find the 'stable stocks' simply by reference to any newspaper. For sound advice one can go to any representative of Boettcher & Company. The most stable bonds - or stocks are:

1. Municipal Bonds - the guarantee here is about 5%

2. A.T.&T.: The guarantee here is from 5% to 6%

3. General Motors: about as stable as A.T.&T.

4. U.S. Steel: Also dependable

5. Standard Oil: Good, but slightly flexible.

6. Coca Cola

7. Bank Stocks

I do not own any shares of any stock. However - I am always being contacted by these investment salesmen with their guarantees of 9% to 10%. Completely ridiculous.

I believe the last quotation of American Telephone and Telegraph was about $195.00 per share. Actually - the above mentioned stocks are world wide - so if any particular country collapses the investor still holds his shares. Also - these companies finance our Government. Alert stock holders believe it better to have money in the above named corporations rather than in government securities, or in banks.

I mentioned the need of $5000.00 back log. If one does not have this amount to fall back on - he is too much in need of everyday 'on-hand' cash to worry about stocks etc..

Before- I said a restaurant. For the reason that this furnishes income as well as jobs. But - we need to talk some big monied person into financing and stocking it for us. If it goes down - we could, at least divide the food.

The Air Academy looks very, very elegant. It is of the modern box shaped architecture but, its pale blue and gray mixture with a bit of auburn certainly looks beautiful against the background of the blue mountains.

Colorado Springs and Denver are getting bigger all the time.

Boulder was 19,000 when I came here in 1954. It is now estimated at 40,000.

People like me here in Boulder. I get along quite nicely. My credit is good. Last summer I got $300.00 from the First National Bank. They charged me $5.00 for it over 6 months. I was just testing to see what they would do.

Well Adios------

Jack

P.S. Master was nice in C.S. The children all looked swell. They are growing very very rapidly.

Jack wrote a follow up letter, as follows: -- However, Jack asked me to censor some things that he had written in this letter so I shall leave those things out, in spite of the fact that I thought they were interesting and informative.

"I have been writing quite frequently to the 'News' since Rosa's suggestion was made. After this letter - I am going to wait for about two months before I write again.

It was good to read the most recent practical letter by Tandy. His reference to Father should be thought over. Between the lines - he evaluates both older and younger Strouds. So - instead of us deciding which side is best to be on - we might decide not to take much stock in either.

The 'breakdown' of Father hit Tandy and I and James much harder than anyone can suppose. It caught Tandy right at a time when he had to make complex adult decisions. As he pointed out: 'The older kids were just not around: It is a very very, harsh effort to be required to 'hold Father' while some poorly qualified doctor like Brobeck is torturing his eyes. The answers were not to be for a boy of about 17 or 18 or so - to know anything about.

I have often felt as though I should have murdered Brobeck - because, after a while, I became of an inmate consciousness that Brobeck did not know what he was doing. He seemed to puncture Father's eyes with no reason whatsoever. But - as always - poor folk have little to depend on for making decisions.

I think - the final result has been that Tandy and James sought certain different avenues of release because of this 'hopeless' torture Father was subjected to. In other words - Tandy having the major good of family responsibility took on a life of 'accepted martyrdom' or physical mortification.

James sought other avenues to blot out this memory. Nina - not remembering the era when Father used to write plays for St. John and preach in his stiff-starched white collars at Trinity, developed an almost degenerate frustration and ati-male complex which she does not yet understand. She grew up when Father was going down hill.

Of course the protestations of Albo, Effie, and Dolphus - as to their ministering to the young-uns seems almost to be a pitiable comparison. When I see Effie, Bunk, and Albo - I see three very hard-working well-mannered healthy person who have relatively wholesome lives because their 'inner-strength' has not been distorted.

So - for me - and Tandy - and, perhaps James - the slowly burning up and going blind is as vivid to me right now as it was 25 years ago.

And, before Nina damns the so-called emotions of her brethren she should remember that Father, to appease her (-----------------Censored at Jack's request -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------)

My - what woe-begone soul has ever offered so much - and received so little from his children!

And as he most prophetically said, through the lines little Effie used to quite:

This on my memory - fresh and bright

It seems it happened just tonight

Both day and night - it haunts me yet

I regret - I can't forget!"

Whether people think so - or not - I cannot forget - and never will.

So - with these words - Albo - I trust your religious outlook will grow to a stature above the Bible. I confess that my religion is such that I do not want to be forgiven of my sins. I want to live with them. Otherwise I would never have had any inner desire to want to 'return home' when Mom had a stroke. In fact - I doubt if I would have desired to push myself to a position at the Burau of Standards if I know a God was going to forgive me for my past mistakes!

As a final note - I think that Nina - or whatever son or daughter it is - should appreciate the attempt to participate in any Family venture

Sincerely, Jack

P.S. I am in my plush offices and should be working instead of writing. But the weather is so wonderful. All week - clear bright skies - 60 to 70 degrees.

This letter from Jack brings back deep recriminations and self conviction - I think it is one of his most sincere - I won't attempt to comment.

As of Tuesday April 2, 1958 - Mabel wrote as follows:

Dear Ben:

I received your lovely intelligent letters. Dear, I hate to write with a pen, most especially since this cataract is growing underneath my right eye. My vision is gloomy. I remember Lulu telling me what a terrible expensive thing this was twice. I believe she had several operations with expensive glasses. Well, the Doctors tell me there isn't much that can be done. Mine would be very dangerous to operate, as it is growing underneath. Our cousin Maud Washington had two, one on each eye. The doctors do not know the cause. So you pray for it to disappear. I'd rather die than to go blind. Of course I know God's will must be done. So much for me.

Now for you. I am very proud of you. In fact, all the brainy Strouds. But the best of all you are devoted Christian. That is a great work. Sorry you didn't have Omar's address, you were there once. I asked you when you were in Chicago to go see Via, Omar's wife who was convalescing from a serious operation. Human beings are like vegetables, when a defected spot occurs, it must be cut off and thrown away. Love you all,

Your cousin

Mabel

P.S. Omar is doing nicely - has been to church 2 or 3 times. He looked fine the day I went to see him at the hospital - He has every sense - I have never seen anything like it a 74 year past - 1883 - October 13 - You see the years are shorter now than when I was a child - I was 66 last month - April 14, 1958 - from April 14, 1892.

The weather is lovely real Spring. I think it best for all Strouds to be together on your special reunion perhaps next year - would be better. The country, I hope will be in harmony, better in all respects. Many people are out of work. 4 man roomers here in this one house are $60.00 behind with me and etc. I am a Christian - I can't put people out for this - I put a drunkard out - she stayed in arrears - too much wine.

We should make a note of Mabel's birthday - I am sure you all join me in best wishes and many more happy returns. Also, I do not think a cataract is too serious now - with modern methods and research - We all hope for the best.

Our next letter, rather a note, is from Dolphus explaining why we haven't heard from him for some time: This is as of April 28, 1958

"Dear Albert:

Am enclosing five dollars for family letters. I've enjoyed them all more than any other reading matter I ever receive. And I believe I find them most informative. I will write when I am fully relaxed from the strain of the income tax season. I do hundreds of returns every year - many of them complicated business returns - and I have to conserve my eyes, mind, and writing muscles for that work exclusively between Jan. 15th and April 15th each year. When the season is over I'm always glad to get away from all that approaches figures and words for awhile.

Thanks for the letters and best wishes

Bunk

At last we hear from Maude Goffman - I know you will all be interested. This was written May 17th:

To the Strouds:

I must say I am hurt over some of the news letters. They don't refer to me by name but please remember Maude is nobody's fool. Jack says Bill has no family. Now Jack don't you feel that is a raw expression to make? Bill has more of a family than you have and one who loves him dearly. He knows I will go my death limit for him. I think all of you will truly say that I come first in his life. True Kimball birthed him in this world, but she wasn't anymore a mother to him than I am and always be. Bill will tell any of you he feels as close to me as he did to her. Bill started to write this letter but he decided he may say too much. Jack, I bet one thing. Bill will never make the nasty remarks about me after I am dead that you have made in the news letters about the darling Mother you had. I don't see how you could. I have always tried to treat each one of you as a brother and sister, making you welcome in my home night or day, not realizing until Jack's letter how some of you felt about me. There have been several slight remarks referred to me. I wouldn't say anything, but this one riled Bill and I up a plenty, so we just had to let you know how we feel about it.

I guess you all are unaware of how the Stroud's family history came into Rosa's hands - ask her - if I wasn't the one who gave it to her? Bill had all those pictures and lost more stuff piled to burn. I checked over and found that which Kimbal had collected about the family history. I called Rosa and gave it to her. The Stroud family seems to be so proud of it now. Jack says Bill gave Bobbie the Buick. Rosa and Bobbie know it was I who gave the car to Bobbie. Bill was going to trade it in. Ben, you know I had got Bill to agree to sign his interest of the Stroud Estate over to Bobbie. But some one influenced him not to. But I feel now with the car and some other nice things I've done for her, it comes out about the same. Well when you Strouds started talking about a family reunion I told Bill we were the Strouds and if they didn't stay but 2 weeks it wouldn't cost one of the one dime. If they had cars and could commute to C.S. Bill told me No, he wouldn't allow me to - So I didn't tell Ben.

Lots of slight remarks are made to Bill about me - well he comes and tells me and laughs about it - "Say Mama, don't get mad - you know a person can take just so much. Well, if I didn't love Bill as dearly as if I had birthed him in this world don't think for one minute I would keep his future first in my life in every way. I have even taken care of him after my death - Not by a will but by deeds to all my property - so he won't have to give half of it away in court. Bill and I are very happy over our family. He seems quite proud to always call me, Mama - and I am to call him my son. He refers to all my people as Aunt or Uncle. How many of you all does he call Aunt or Uncle? Stop and think which one he feels the closest to. I am so glad Lulu had sense enough to keep her happiness. Jack, we are big enough to take it ha! ha! Now don't misunderstand - I love each one of you and you are always welcome - Bye Bye

Maude Goffman

Well! I think we all got a good spanking from Maude this time but I'm sure she understands the Strouds well enough to know that they aren't going to pay no attention to no spanking from Maude and that we will continue to love her all the more - We all know that Maude is one of the very finest! Maude knows she shouldn't pay no attention to what the Strouds say about people whom they think a lot of deep down in their hearts. And if Jack has said or done anything to Maude that might in anyway jeopardize that fine hospitality and wonderful eating that is so graciously extended to all of us anytime we are in Denver - Well - We should be kicked off the News Letter or scandal sheet - what ever it is! Well, That's That!

Our next letter written May 5, is from Nina, and is interesting:

Dear Ben:

Ever since the last issue of the newsletter I have been trying to find time to write you, but have been busier than I've ever been before, and so tired that when I do get a little chance to rest I simply go to sleep. You see, its been directing the Elementary Schools musical festival this year which is participated in by all 21 schools. It is a very very large program. This year 400 Children participated so you can see what a job is involved. We started working on it last year before Christmas, but finally we have finished - It was presented last night, and I think everything turned out all right.

Now this is why I am writing: Since it is so late in the year to try to do anything about a reunion why don't the Stroud siblings do this: Any one who wants to and can afford it should come to Colo. Springs in August, say or July or whatever dates can be set. Then let those people discuss the pros and cons of all the questions that have been brought up currently in the newsletter. Let them make up a report of their conclusions and recommendations and send them out to every member of the clan. Each "Clan" member can then accept or reject membership in an organization stemming from the group metting this summer. I still don't think a Stroud reunion should be attempted at this time, but I have been wrong before and can be again.

Very Very sincerely,

Our next letter is another communication from Dolphus:

Dear Albert:

It's evident now that a re-union will not be held this year nor in foreseeable future years for us older Strouds. Moreover, no cooperative economic venture is likely to materialize. But I do have a venture in mind that those of us who have children certainly should support. I can't predict the attitude's of my childless brothers and sister.

The plan is that we contribute to a summer vacation fund through the year that will be used to send a deserving second generation or third generation descendant of Kimbal D. and Lulu Stroud on a summer trip to the domiciles of distant family members. Upon completion of this trip, the young traveler would be required to write a frank article for the News Letter disclosing his honest impressions of the relatives he visited and his interesting experience during the trip. I believe the childless Strouds should act as the selecting board to choose a trip winner each year and to decide the manner of making application and submitting material by the applicant.

Since Jack believes I am seriously planning to scrap the Arabic system of notation tomorrow, I suppose I'd better preface the following with the statement that this is speculative mathematics. The arithmetic we use now is not exact; but it has been of use to us so long as we are earthbound and accept such mis-statements as: "All that goes up must come down." The true fact is that all that goes up continues going up unless compelled by a greater force or forces to come down. But there is a concept utilized to explain an observed phenomenon just as "ether" used to be the medium that supported every inexplainable movement of energy through space.

Time is the basic ingredient of all our math. One thing is bigger than another because it takes longer to travel around it with the eye- the hand- or the foot step. One thing is heavier than another because it takes longer time for a given force to move it. Two is greater than one because it takes us longer to handle two things of a given kind than one.

All our mathematical equalities are basically equalities of time and our inequalities are differences of time. In our mathematics we do not have an exact time measure. The Solar year (the time it takes the earth to go around the sun) is less exact than the sideral year. For travel and activity beyond the earth and moon the sideral year, the time it takes our solar system to swing around the North Star, will have to be employed. That, of course would scrap our minutes and seconds and hours and days and weeks and months, and year. All velocities would have to be re-calculated. This suggests that an erroneous methods of calculation of time can serve us so long as we believe that it is correct. "Witches are real if everyone believes in witches." And if an error is too deeply embedded those who recognize that it is an error find the task of correcting it so awesome that it is better to live with the error until a stone wall is encountered. The flat earth encountered such a wall Columbus sailed to America. And our zero concept, our 2 time 2 and 2 plus 2 equal 4 and our time will meet such a wall when we leave the confines of our over tolerant earth and noon.

If civilization upon the Earth endures another hundred years, present day mathematics text-books will be collector's items and children will marvel that their great grand parents were so stupid as to employ a cumbersome system of notation (known variously as the decimal or Arabic system) to make calculations. And they will question the integrity of a government that permits the value of its dollar to fluctuate by more than 150% within a space of thirty years.

Levitation defies our present day science, although scientists are beginning to tinker around now with its possibilities. Within fifty years one will probably be able to sit in his living room and call for what he wants from the refrigerator by name (say a glass of milk) and have it open the refrigerator door, and come to him of its own volition. Within our own bodies and minds and upon the Earth there is everything required for us to walk on the water or to fly through the clouds without aid of water skis or wings. But the simple and direct way to do such things has escaped most of us.

I'd like to read an account Melvin's experience in Africa last summer. I'd also like to know how he came out this year in the NCAA Boxing Finals. I read where he won the Pacific Coast Crown.

Thanks for the newsy news letters, and best of health to you.

Love from Bunk for Family ------- Bunk

We all know that Dolphus never did conform to other peoples ideas on many things - His letters are interesting and intriguing - I suppose people with superior mental gifts would not accept many things that the average person takes for granted. But I imagine if we prove or disprove anything we will find millions and millions of unsolved mysteries still awaiting us.

Our next letter is another from Jack dated June 4, 1958

"We had a hot May for Colorado and it is beginning a hot June.

On Monday - June 2, I again participated in the qualifying round for the National Open. The district qualifying rounds were held at Cherry Hills C.C. in Denver. The Denver district includes the states of Colo, Utah, Wyoming, and, I believe, parts of Arizona and New Mexico. Bill Johnston won the qualifying test with two rounds of 71 - or 142. He is the present Texas Open Champion, and, also, went to the semi finals of the P.G.A. a year or so ago.

Next score was 144 posted by a Pueblo pro. He was tied by 3 top amateurs. Then, there was a score of 145 posted by a Denver Pro.. There were a few scores of 146. I was next - at 147. There were no ties at 147. I felt pretty good about this. I might say that I had an out of bounds penalty which cost me 2 - strokes in the morning round. Beside this, I accumulated a total of 4 double bogies - or, 4 holes in which 1 was 2 strokes above par for each hole. I offset this by a total of 8 birdies out of the 36 holes.

Cherry Hills played very difficult. From the 'championship tees' it measured about 7000 yards.

Tub Morris was chairman of the tournament committee and seemed much better adjusted to me this time then he was when I showed up at Denver C.C. in 1956. Last year the S.S.G.A. sent back my entry fee, and said that they had not received it in time. This year, I mailed it in a registered letter with a receipt. The two whom I was supposed to qualify with evidently did not care to be paired with me. In other words - I read between the lines when Tub Morris informed me that he had selected two other persons for me to go out with. I won't push the matter - since the entry blank specifically states that any selected club for the National Open try outs can accept, or reject, an applicant at the Club's discretion. But one of the guys (Dr. Valuck) turned in a qualifying score of 144. Since he was originally paired with me, it seems that his score is legally contestable. However, I am certain that Valuck is one of the big members of Cherry Mills. Besides - there were only 5 places allotted to the Denver district, and there were about ten persons ahead of me.

I am explaining all of this so as to give you some idea of the 'sneaky' things that still go on. Personally - I doubt that the boy shot a 144. I am sure that if he had been playing with me he might have blown-up. So - I stand in good shape. I noticed that there were only three Colorado pros with better scores than I had. With this as a support, I shall now apply for membership in the Colorado P.G.A. I don't think they will be able to refuse me. Most of the Colo. pros are in favor of it anyway.

Incidentally Rip Arnold, who is the pro at Cherry Hills had a score of 152.. My pro - here at Boulder - did not even finish. The pro - from Colorado Springs, Art Seferson, had 151.

Since I only chase myself as a part-time golfer, I think I have a vocation to look forward to when I retire from HHS.

After the qualifying rounds - I was accorded pleasant service in the lunch room and bar at Cherry Hills.

Next year - I think I will qualify for the National Open.

I did not intend to write so soon - but I was certain that this might be of some interest to the family.

Cheerio ---- Jack

So this brings this news letter to a close - It is interesting and makes us proud to hear of outstanding achievement by any of the Clan. I am sending the newspaper clipping of Jack's achievement to Effie first with the thought that she can send it along to one of the others after she has read it.

It has taken a long time to get this letter out for the reason that I got overloaded with some civic work. This was in connection with the Urban Renewal program set up for the Central District (Negro section) of Maywood. There have been meetings on top of meetings. For instance the Village president Mr. Trumball has been in my office for two hours somewhat on the spot. The white real estate brokers have had our executive board down to get our cooperation in inspecting and appraising the homes of Negroes who live in this district. Of course they did not get any promise of any such cooperation. We have had meetings with trustees of the village. All the Negro ministers have called the village president to a meeting and have really laid it on him - There has been quite a little tension and bitterness - and - I imagine that there is a 50-50 chance of violence if these people do not see much better than they can see at present that Urban Renewal is not being used as a weapon against the Negro population of various cities. We think the bunk will stop here in Maywood. We hope Urban Renewal will be stopped here before anyone gets hurt. Since I am the president of the Central Civic League, naturally much of this tension, bitterness and threatened action is forced upon me - Naturally I do not feel capable or strong enough for so great a task or such leadership - I believe God will resolve these things and carry us through. We solicit your prayeers and advice. It would take a letter as long as this letter to explain all the meetings, speeches, etc - implications and ramifications here about this evil program - so-called Urban Renewal - but, you can see why this letter is so late

Best wishes to all

Ben

October 29, 1958

To The Strouds:

Since the last letter I have received two letters from you. First I have one dated Oct. 12, 1958 from Mable:

Dear patient Ben:

Needless to say that we do enjoy your informative letters. Don't think because I am becoming more delinquent that I am not concerned, because I am. My folks were in Chicago over Labor Day. Your NAACP is fighting hard for that L. Rock case. So many sinners say they don't see why God allowed such. Mercy, do they think they shall have a separate heaven. That Faubus should be burned at the stake. Hello to all you nicely educates - [illegible]

Via Arbuckle was buried two months ago. She was the oldest 93 and blind. I am nearly so in my right eye. So you keep sending but forgive me, when I can't answer by return. ---Mabel.

All join me in best of luck for good health, wealth.

I was over to see your cousin Lulu in Lovejoy. She is poorly. Mercy, her open leg looks so dangerous - is almost to the knee. Dr. wants her to go to the hospital, but she won't. I told her that she'd better for that is the place for all diseases.

Write soon-Bye-Love to all the Dear Ones. I see you have BEN'S EXPRESS new- envelopes. So you must be starting all over again-Trucking?

This was a nice letter from Mable - I am not sure she meant for it to be in the News, as the last paragraph I believe mean't that I should not use Ben's Express envelopes for this News Letters. Her letter had such important information, however, that I thought you would all like to know about - The death of Via Arbuckle - and her own trouble with her eye - We hope this will not be too serious as much progress has been made in the treatment of these disabilities since Father's blindness. We hope for the best for Mable and family - I am sure you all join me in this.

Its been almost a month since I received this letter from Dolphus dated September 9, 1958 - His letter and Mable's were the only ones I had received until the other day when Tandy wrote. Dolphus write as follows:

Dear Ben,

As I sit here awaiting the start of the third game of the World Series, there is time to write a letter. The news letter is a great thing. It interests me more than other reading matter I receive. Two weeks ago one of my best friends in these parts, Leland Chin, left for the re-union (or convention- there are several hundred members) of the Chin family in Cleveland. Leland is president of the Oregon Restaurant Association, owns several Chinese - American Restaurants in Oregon, and is builder and owner of two buildings constructed in Portland's Hollywood District, during the last ten years.

The Chin family has become so powerful that these family reunions are occasions for transacting millions of dollars worth of business as well as occasions for social contacts. They believe that there is strength in unity. I have a profound regard for the sagacity and industry and integrity of the Chinese people. They account for almost fifty per-cent of my trucking business and none elder and Mrs. Morgan visited us last week. They are remarkably well preserved persons and brimming with enthusiasm for life. They seemed just like members of the Stroud family to me. - and they really brought a breath of Colorado's fragrance to me.

(Just interrupted by the morning's first customer. She looked at a beautiful Duncan-Phyffe dining table I am featuring today for $20.00. It should sell quickly as the same table costs from $50.00 to $80.00 in all stores but mine.)

Havana's Uncle and his wife visited the first part of this week. They are from El Paso, Texas. He (Mr. Smith) is a retired railroader and they travel all over, the country. Jesse Tarrart was here early in August. He is well and active and enjoying life fully. He was here for the Western States Golf Tournament.

Ernie, now a junior at Benson High School, bought a Ford car after the beginning of the school term. Joel goes to Grant High School. Since their schools are a matter of miles from our residence, Ernie's car comes in handy for both of them.

Havana and the children are all well.

As business conditions worsen around Portland, fires become more numerous. Within the past few days there have been three major fires completely destroying three big businesses. Maybe it's all coincidence.

It's time for the Series now. Regards to you all and congratulations to Jack and Welvin for the outstanding records they are making

Bunk.

This was a real interesting letter from Dolphus. Of course we all know by this time that the Yanks won. I think if Dolphus has that fine table that it perhaps was a mistake to sell it so cheaply as people want to pay high prices for a 'named' object - otherwise it is considered common-place. It is now election eve and all reports show that business is picking up - yet I believe that it will be a Democratic landslide - I think that the lesson Negroes should take to heart if this develops, is to realize that a great part of this Democratic landslide will be caused by a large segment of the white population both North and South are choosing this opportunity to rebuke the Supreme Court and the present administration for their strong stand on integration, in other words when the chips are down, most white Americans are behind Faubus and a Democratic landslide will prove it. The only regrettable thing is that the Negro Americans are naïve enough to believe that white Americans are in favor of integrations - and so will go right along and vote for Faubus and his party, the Democrats.

Our next letter. Is a fine one from Tandy: This is dated 10/26/58

Dear Ben,

May God bless you to continue your good work. I am always deeply joyed to receive the Stroud letter. Please keep them coming.

We enjoyed Jack's short visit. I wish we could have had a day together to talk and reminence about the former days and then to speculate on the future. Jack looks well getting a little bit soft around the mid section. He should spend a little more time at golf and not allow that mid section to get out of control. He has a good mind and is honestly inquiring "the way home." I wish I had the answers.

The platitudes and dogmas of stereotyped "Christianity" is not the answer. In the message of the Man Christ Jesus there is a reality that tho "Christian" world has not grasped. The naked truth of the Spirit of Holiness is intolerable to greedy Ian. The Spriit of Christ, the Holy Ghost, would wreck all our "Christian" organizations; so He is no more welcome in our Pharisee and Scribe set up today than he was in the time of Pontius Pilate. He, Jesus the Christ, has the answer. His answer is not in weak words but in mighty power. We who claim to be his representatives draw back in fear at the awfulness of that power and prefer to grovel about in the familiar half-light of part-time devotion and self-pampering license. To purge out all filthiness from ourselves is too painful to the ego; so the Christ still pleads without.

Jack's quest for the TRUTH can be satisfied in the fire of the Spirit of Christ.

Yes, I am proud of Welvin as any parent would be. God has favored us with a blessing in him. The long pull is yet ahead of him. The right marriage, the right studies to pursue, the right courses to take, the right decisions ahead of him must be made. Pray for him. So many talented gifted children do not live out successful lives. So often the inward surrender to God is not sufficient to meet the mighty temptations that come to those who "know much." Of him that knows much is much required.

In life's school of hard knocks he who moves forward to victory over sin and the approval of the One who knows all is he who can meet sorrow, defeat, annihilation of self because inside his heart is the joy of the eternal. Life beats all of us in some way. Without the knowledge of the eternal we would be as Paul says: "of all men most miserable." In life's school we meet our heritage, our environment, our talents, our gifts. We employ our possessions to the direction of our heart-set. Some's goals are greed; Some's are pride; some's are physical comforts; some's are gratification of the sex urge. All our possessions, our talents, our gifts are used by us at the direction of our heart-set. "I, the Lord search the heart and try the reins ---- Search me, Oh God, and try my reins."

Our time is fast running out. It is time to provide an estate. A Stroud Foundation must be made. You who are victims of excessive income taxes pour the maximum into this foundation. Put one member of the Stroud Clan in charge of this foundation. Let every member take out $1000 of life insurance and assign it to the Foundation. Those who can assign a 20 year endowment policy taken out on one of the one year olds. Insurance policies figure out 3% to the holder. As the 20 year endowments mature re-invest these funds to educational loans for future youth of the Tribe or use the accumulated loan values for such purposes.

At age 45 to 49 if I take out $1000 20 year endowment for a child age 6 years that will be paid up in full in case of my death or total disability, it will cost $11.14 per year or $1.00 per month. Obviously, we could afford to take out 100 such policies and assign all of them to the Foundation. The money so given to the Foundation would be deductible from income. Have the By Laws of the Foundation so drawn up. In twenty years or less the By Laws of the Foundation so drawn up. In twenty years or less the Foundation would have $100,000. Continuing this type of investing throughout the family would make the Foundation a million dollar fund within our life time.

For amassing a little money to earn us all money. Real estate is the best venture. Buying second mortgages is the fastest legitimate way to accumulate money. Example: I bought my present home by getting a mortgage from a building loan association and paying a down payment. A first mortgage is usually 60% of the value of property.

The seller took back a second mortgage for the difference between the purchase price and the money I put in. We will use hypothetical figures. House cost say $10,000 - 7,000 = 3,000 1st loan down payment Bal of purchase price $6,000 - 1,000 = 7,000 total money put in purchase

$3,000 second mortgage would be held by the seller. Usually to make the second mortgage saleable, it is from 3 to 10%, has a prepayment penalty clause, an acceleration clause, and a due date. Leaving these three out for later discussion, the $3,000 second mortgage held by the seller is usually sold for 50% of its value. Thus the seller of the home takes $1500 cash for the $3,000 worth of paper. The person who buys this $3,000 second for $1,500 doubles his money when the $3,000 is paid off and gets the interest on $3,000 while it is being paid off. Thus he not only gets double but interest on double his money. By putting a 5 year due date in a "second" it means it must all be paid off in full at the end of 5 years thus making the buyer of the this "second" sure to double his money in five years plus double interest. The market in seconds around here is becoming gutted and the attorney general has made certain restrictions so that the racketeers can not use this device to practice usury. The legitimate purchase of good seconds is a good sound fast way to accumulate money.

I have not contributed money, Ben, because I am always broke. I have lived about 10 years ahead of my salary for the past 12 or 14 years. I may have to go through bankruptcy but hope not. I have not refused to go in debt in the attempt to provide the children an environment conducive to their best development. In providing such a physical environment I have brought about an insecure spiritual environment that is not good. The constant turning off of lights and gas because of arrears, the constant foreclosures, and streams of creditors is not good, but I hope that the Lord will bless us to adjust our earnings to our living this next year.

I have a real estate salesmen's license and an insurance salesmen's license and a minister's license. I long to go out from church to church and create in each congregation the type of endowment fund I have suggested for our family foundation. Such pooling of the financial strength of church congregations would soon put us church supporting Negroes in a position of paying our own way and looking to ourselves to make our way under God's guidance.

It is time again for a listing of Strouds. We must keep a record of the names ages and addresses of all of ours - I believe it is close to a hundred persons already. Love to all -----

Tandy

[undated? not sure where this goes in sequence]

Tandy's letter was interesting - but to me it revealed something of Tandy himself. In reference to his own financial problems - I think the book "The Power of Positive Thinking" is a good one for a Christian to read - It was a best seller, so perhaps he has already read it.

However, a verse from Jesus last conversation with his disciples before Cavalry in the book of John might be applicable: "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. - A sinner can make money and be successful without abiding in the vine - To a Christian this is impossible. - Maybe Tandy should make himself completely bankrupt in every way before God - And then have enough faith and surrender all his financial affairs to God - And then by abiding in His allow Him to manage and run all his financial affairs and solve all the problems. I suggest that he try this sometime - God's power is the power that runs the universe - He is also a very rich man - He is also the Father. I differ a little on the endowment plan for churches - I think that the security that a church has to offer or, I should say The Church is greater than any security of money.

I think the suggestions of Tandy regarding the Foundation is sound and also the listing of the Strouds - I think all of you will have to send in a roll call of your members in the next news letters and I will try to get them in presentable shape.

I am enclosing a recent program book made up by the Central Civic League on the Urban Renewal problem in Maywood --- May interest some of you - Its nearly 11 o'clock - so I'll close - Best Wishes

Ben

We have a letter from Dolphus dated Feb. 18, 1959.

Dear Albert,

I enjoy the family letters always. I'm not a good enough Christian or scholar to comment on the issues between you and Jack. You both express your thoughts forcefully and clearly and I enjoy the interchange.

After a beautiful December and January we're having our worst weather of the winter in February. It has rained steadily and daytime temperatures have stayed between 45 degrees and 50 degrees. It has dropped to a cool 35 degrees one or two nights. What we regard as severe in Portland would be a heaven sent blessing to many other sections of the Nation.

Business is slow this month and I am getting farther and farther behind with my bills. I have to average $50.00 daily to break even. This is Wednesday and I haven't had a moving job this week. About the only income just now is from Tax Returns.

La Verne and Gary had dental treatments last week. Marva has been vomiting steadily since 3 A.M. this morning. It looks as though she'll have to have the doctor as the old home remedies aren't effective so far. Doctors made home calls for $3.00 when I came to Portland, now the minimum is $10.00.

Wages are seemingly high. The average family income for 1958 on the tax returns I have done to date is well over six thousand dollars. But the State and Federal Governments whack off from $1200 to 1500 of this wage for with-holding taxes. Then Social Security, Union Dues, Group Insurances, and contributions to the United Fund (which are deducted from pay roll checks) take another big bite. And the poor wage earner is lucky if he gets fifty per cent of his so-called weekly pay to take home.

Regards to all the family. I hope you are all well. Bunk.

We would like to say to Dolphus that Chicago has been going through one of the worst winters in years - and March is staying with us and going out like a lion instead of a lamb. Many people are out of work - I personally, have been running behind since last November. We hope that good weather will come soon - perhaps things will begin to pick up.

I guess it is belated and I suppose Marva has recovered by now - but we hope this letter finds all the family in good health.

Next we have a very interesting letter from K. Dolphus Stroud dated September 3, 1959

Dear Ben,

I especially enjoyed Nina's contribution to the last news letter. She was 100% right in all she said and is to be complimented on her achievements both artistically and intellectually.

We were favored with a short visit from Leonard and Lulu and their children - Bernadette and Leonard, Jr. They certainly are a fine group - all nice looking, well dressed and intelligent. Their new station wagon is beautiful too. Bernadette could qualify for movie star-dom.

Joel and LaVerne gave a party the night before Leonard and Lulu passed through. They had about thirty-five teenagers here. All enjoyed themselves - and I believe their conduct was somewhat better than that of the teenagers of my generation.

Ernie is seventeen years old today. We celebrated by buying a new refrigerator dolly for handling the freezers and other appliances we deliver. At seventeen Ernie is one of the best and most experienced furniture handlers in Portland.

Whenever Nina and Bobbie complete the recording of "There's No Neutral Gound To Heaven," I'm in the market for some records. (Dolphus continues as of September 14, 1959) I seriously question whether Father or Mama would appreciate having a jazzed-up or rock and roll version of his song published. To me, the prospect of financial gain would not be sufficient incentive to violate what might be regarded as a trust bequeathed to us by our parents.

School has opened since this letter was begun. We have three in high school and four in grammar school this year. Even with a large house and two bathrooms plus a shower in the basement, this means hectic mornings. Once who does not have a large family cannot appreciate the mental, physical, and emotional strains a number of children - each with his own problems, worries, temperament, and needs, can place upon parents. Any child is entitled to at least an hour of his Daddy's time each day. When there are nine at home this means nine hours daily, then making a living and attending one's personal requirements leaves no time for furthering one's own ambitions. One has to admit, more or less graciously, that he has attained all that he will ever attain in knowledge, accomplishments, and wealth and he must expect to sacrifice himself and his possessions for the good of his children. Tandy, Bobbie, and I all recognize and realize that the good of our children must be the guiding purpose of our lives.

Love to all the family, Havana and the children are well and join me in this sentiment. Your brother, Bunk.

Identification for Omar and Mabel: Bunk or Dolphus Stroud was third child, 2nd son born to K.D. Stroud and Lulu Magee.

Next we have a fine letter from the Pollards - I know you'll be glad to hear from them again: This is as of 9-7-59.

Dear Ben:

Back home again. Arrived 27 August after a very wonderful trip.

Though this would be a good way of thanking everyone for their hospitality.

Rosa and Alger were wonderful to us and we enjoyed so much seeing Sacramento and living in the best hotel there for one day. Had a suite of rooms at the "El Mirador" - Sacramento's finest. Very Modern.

In Hayward Chick was a dream. Stayed with her and her husband in their ultra-modern home. They made us so welcome we kept them up till 2:00 A.M. They are a wonderful couple and have a lovely family. Her home is split-level with the bed rooms off the balcony above the living room, etc.

Had a wonderful breakfast with Bernice and Tandy. Met so many relatives, can't remember them all. Course, as you all know, Bernice and Tandy have a very large and I do mean large place. Think there are three or four bath rooms. Chick has 3 so guess Tandy and Bernice have 4. Was so nice meeting part of my nephews and nieces that I'd never seen. Both Tandy and Bernice looked so well and successful. They have 9 grand children with the 10th on the way.

Went over to Oakland and saw June Moss Jackson and family. Then went by and visited the Dr. and Mrs. Charlie Butler. Remember them. He was Mr. Butler's youngest child - they lived in Mrs. Embry's house on the corner of Walnut and Dale and Mrs. Butler had all of that beautiful hair - Well he's a dentist now in Oakland, and married to Ruth Jones who used to live in that big house on Conejos. Think she's Mrs. Bank's daughter or some relation. Was very nice seeing them again.

Went up the line to Dolphus'. He and Havanna, of course, are what I call very well off. They have a large 3 story home like those on Wood Avenue. Havanna was her charming self - and we really enjoyed all of those barbecued hot dogs on our way to Seattle.

Only had a couple of hours in Portland, but Dolphus took us out to the Golf club where he has his membership mostly white I guess, since I didn't see any colored but him and his sons, Joe and Ernie. Went down to see his store and warehouse, which was pretty well filled. He has 7 rental pieces of property plus his apartment house, so to me he is well out there.

Then on up the coast to Seattle, Yakima, and home. Canned for 2 days after getting here, since Leonard's sister and husband let loose with fruit. They have orchards in Yakima and he drives it into Oregon about twice a week. He has several stores in Oregon that he keeps supplied with products from the Yakima Valley.

First of all 6 of the Pollard boys had been together since their mother died, and the first time Leonard's children had met their uncles and aunts - so the party was on for 5 days.

Jack was down for the 5th and 6th of September - Left Sunday evening for Boulder. Guess he'll write about his trip to San Francisco.

We are having some kids over this afternoon for hot dogs. Leonard's getting the coals on the barbecue started now. Bobbie, Nina and families plus Shirley Darden and her son.

Gosh! Is all I can say the first cutting Nina and Bobby have done on "There's No Neutral Ground." It is really good. Nina sings and plays the piano. Bobby is playing the organ. Can't wait for the perfect copy, if the one they have already cut isn't perfect enough. Those two certainly are a team - Love to all

Leonard and Lu.

Next we have the usual interesting well written letter from Jack - As we all know, Jack is an independent thinker. This is as of September 29th:

Dear Folks:

Many favorable comments have recently been made about Colorado in the Newsletter. It is quite true that the social area for Negroes has expanded. Of course, it could not have always remained as it was back in the twenties. But, this is true of most every other place. When Asia and Africa began sending representatives to the U.S.A., the big white boys realized it was against their business interests to shove them around. The American Negro has inherited the fruits of the better treatment largely because of the realization that these representatives of the darker world had to be better accepted. I guess most Negroes feel things are much better simply because they were always denied even the most simple day to day human rights.

However, we must not be fooled by some forms of improvement. The overall standard pattern concerning black and white within the United States has changed very, very little since the twenties. Now - let us take another example: I was in Chicago in 1933 and I believe that Negroes had more social acceptance there at that time than they do now. I was in Minneapolis in 1936 and I know there was much greater evidence of social harmony on exhibition there than I saw in 1957. I believe the same is true of Seattle. We can pick out specific cases and say that this represents the entire U.S.A but I don't think so. As far as Colo. Springs is concerned, it had to get better. It represented one of the most unjust northern locales anywhere in the U.S.A. during the twenties and thirties. The changes, of course, are not as great as we imagine - but - as it mentioned - since we were denied the most basic human rights, a very small improvement seems to be tremendous.

Colorado Springs has improved in these areas: The restaurants, bars, and places of entertainment will accept you and take your money. In most cases, this is true of the motels, hotels, and public swimming pools.

On the other hand, the most important things to a person's existence are relatively curtailed. That is, jobs and residential areas. On the whole, Colo. Springs like Chicago, New York, Portland, or L.A. has areas for Negroes to reside in. True - there are several evidence that this pattern is punctured. But this is also true of the rest of the northern cities. To my knowledge, the job pattern has not shown too much improvement. Nina and one or two others are regularly employed as teachers. A few works in government agencies as clerks, auditors, etc., There are insurance agents, liquor salesmen etc. Sam Hunter Jr. and one or two others dabble a bit in real estate. However, the overall picture is that Negroes in Colo. Springs still work for wealthy persons as servants.

There is one thing true of Denver that does not seem to be true of any other so-called larger city. It is this: the Negro slum area is extremely small in area compared to the entirety of the Negro residential area of Denver. The slum area is on the order of two- or three-square blocks around the 5 points districts. The overall Negro living area is of such an order. Until a person is 'shocked' when he finds out that he has been in a Negro community for several blocks. Negroes in Denver are 'lawn conscious'. The sisters begin nursing their lawns around 5:00 A.M. in the morning. They have bought all manners of 'power lawn mowers', 'fertilizers' - and 'dandelion rejectors'.

The area in Denver where the Negro has taken over is because of lack of foresight in the judgement of Whites. It has always been a standard pattern for whites to begin an exodus when the Negro spill-over into a white community begins. In Denver, however, the homes that whites began to run away from had been only recently built. The so-called new communities where the whites ran to were on the outskirts of Denver and were these ghastly - all - the - same looking - cheaply constructed housing projects. In other words, Denver Negroes began taking over communities that had been more solidly constructed during the late 30's and 40s when the dollar would buy more than a loaf or two of bread. In fact - some of the houses the whites have left behind are only about ten years old. And - these are, in my way of thinking - much better than those being built now. Another thing has been true of the Denver exodus. Not all whites would exit. Many of them were smart enough to see that their solid - relatively new homes - were much better than the new housing developments going up on the outskirts of town. So - they saw no reason to run away from the environment of the City Park lagoons and the City Park Golf Course.

The financial undertaking that Rosa alluded to which the Denver Negroes initiated has taken on tremendous strides. Actually, the overall backing is named Columbine Securities, Inc. There are subsidiary financial areas within, or under this control. The Denver Negro organized and planned the enterprise. The offices are now in the beautiful new First National Bank building. I might mention several persons on the board of directors that we are familiar with. These are Martin Luther King, Jesse Owens, Nat King Cole, Wilt the Stilt Chamberlain, besides the Denver personnel. The board of directors is both white and colored. The Company has already had its first $2,000,000 of stock subscribed to. I bought ten shares at $5.00 per share. On September the first a new stock issue was authorized at $7.50 per share. Elvin Caldwell (Denver councilman) informed me that over $500,000 was sold during the last two days of August. A complete spread of this new 'integrated' financial operation will appear in Life Magazine very shortly. Elvin Caldwell, who attended school with Nina, is president of the organization.

Well - there is nothing more to mention of importance. I shall be in Los Angeles again from Oct. 6 through Oct 11. Litton Industries is sending for me to have an interview with them. They will pay my travel expenses, lodging, and meals. A representative of theirs interviewed me when I was at WESCON recently. So, it seems the Company is interested in getting me away from the National Bureau of Standards. The truth is I would prefer to reside in southern California permanently, but since it is so crowded up - a person needs to go out there knowing beforehand just where he is to live and where he is to work. My reason for preferring Southern California is primarily because it does not get cold in the winter. Also, it is the center of the electronics industry. Another thing that gripes me in Colorado is just that my so-called old friends are a little bit jealous and still think about me as a 'boy'.

Well - this is the 29th day of Sept. I woke up this morning and there was about 5 inches of snow on the ground. So as you get older - this summertime snow gets to be more and more aggravating. Just think, in southern California people are parading around on the beaches right now, just about naked.

Well - this is enough -

Will be seeing everybody again soon I hope - Jack.

A couple of comments:

I think Rev. M.C. Williams - our Pastor, Rev. Hayden's son-in-law started this financial institution that Jack and Rosa referred to. I believe I have read an article in Jet on this enterprise - I will watch out for the Life magazine article.

Not only do I agree with Jack on the threat of segregated housing around our big cities, but also, I think this may be a nationally organized plan against Negroes - Slum clearance, urban renewal, and eminent domain methods of taking property and security away from Negroes - forcing them to move from desirable or strategic areas - forcing them into greater slums or other designated areas, or reducing the citizenship status by forcing them into public housing or other 'controlled, barrack-like institutional type' living situations is the greatest threat to the Negro people and their future development and progress, of our time.

March 16, 1960, Newsletter

Pages 9-12

To the Family:

I have not, as yet, received my record of 'Neutral Ground' but what Dolphus writes seems to make certain that it is a very good composition. Albo suggests that we are getting old. From my most recent physical examination, I know that I am.

Well, I have had to being taking high blood pressure pills.

Last year I was anemic. Now, I have high blood pressure. Also, my eyes are much weaker.

Doc says I show some tendency toward hardening of the arteries - arterial sclerosis. So, since I have to take these examinations quite often - I might serve as a barometer for the rest of you.

Actually, I don't let these things worry me too much, because I have a history of many small deficiencies.

But the blood condition - and tendency toward high blood pressure - is probably a condition all of us have. All I can say - is slow down and be careful.

Although Dolphus has not mentioned it - he does income tax and is probably an expert in it. So - if anyone needs such items handled for them, he does it for a reasonable fee.

The weather in Southern California remains swell.

I plan to make a trip up around San Francisco and Sacramento to see Tandy and Rosa within a few weeks.

I hope this finds everyone hale, hearty, healthy, and prosperous. Very sincerely, Jack

Yep, Jack we are getting up there - I think - I for one have all those deficiencies you have enumerated to a more or less degree - I guess we are just getting old - we'll have to move from our old shacks someday not too far distant.

Next, we have a wonderful letter from Effie - I know you will all enjoy it. She had done the typing herself so that all I have to do is mail the copies she has sent me to each for you. I also thank her for the fine contribution to the Newsletter. It just happens that I was short of funds to send out the letter when this fine contribution arrived. The letter goes to more people now and runs pretty close to $10.00 for materials to send it out each time.

As I have not received my records yet of Neutral Ground I suppose I should include Nina's explanation of the delay -

Here it is:

Dear Ben -

I received the $3.00. I will send your records just as soon as I get them, however this process of pressing records is taking a long time, and so don't look for yours until around the 1st of March.

Love Nina.

In my reference to city bred northern Negro uncle toms and delinquents - please understand that I was not referring to our fine courageous young people of the south who are presently staging the sit downs in those eating place of the south - I think we should support them in every way. Also I think we should support them in every way, and heed the NAACP admonition and boycott Woolworth's, Kresge, Kress and Grant's wherever they are located in our northern cities - We are having pickettlines here in Chicago. Among the leadership is CORE and NAACP. There is a lot more to say but many things that are happening in Chicago and Maywood and these things are parallel to the things that Effie has so well written about that are happening to and conditioning and demoralizing New York - Well, Best wishes to all, Ben

Dear Strouds:

Happy New Year to you all. This is Jan. 1, 1960, at 11:00 A.M. It has been a long time since I wrote you. I have just been too tired and weary. But I must just say if nothing else, how proud of all of you I have been during the past year. It has been heartwarming to know that you have all done so well in your various fields of endeavor, I really wanted to have the newsletters arranged chronologically and marked certain portions which I had wanted to answer. But since I have had to move and my things are all upset, it would take too long to assemble them all. So, I'll just write a general sort of missive and gradually comment on items appearing in previous newsletters as I happen to come across them during the year.

First of all, my gratitude to Albert for having kept the letter going. I know this was no easy task. I know the time trouble, and expense of it must have been enormous. But besides all this, I have sense in each letter his genuine concern for all of us. For this I am even more grateful. Yes, I spite of petty jealousy, quarrelling, misunderstanding, and sometimes downright meanness, we all do have a sincere feeling for each other, and the newsletter has helped to keep alive this common bond.

I would like to say also that I thought the prologue to Albert's play was a masterpiece of poetry. Albert should publish his plays. If the popular periodicals are not interested, the religious publications will be. In fact, all of us have a spark of literary ability. All we lack is the leisure of energy to exploit it. But you younger Strouds who still have some vigor and will power should make an effort to have your writing published before you fall prey to inertia as I have done.

It is now Sunday, Feb. 14. I am now just resuming the letter I began on New Year's Day. It seems that time simply could not have flown by that fast, but it has. It seems that I can never find time these days to do anything I really want to. Thank you all so much for your concern for me. It is always welcome news to know that someone cares about you. I have not been really ill but just suffering from tension and exhaustion. This of course is all my own fault because I constantly try to do more than is physically possible. It's just a matter of over ambition, overcompensation and false pride. Instead of taking a much-needed vacation last summer, I went to summer school, I did this because I lacked 6 pts. in speech to protect the two new licenses I had won for teacher of English in high school and junior high. The School Board exams in New York City are very difficult, there are five different parts, and it takes over a year to complete them. So, when to my surprise, even though I had never had any actual classroom experience, I managed to pass them both, I could not reconcile myself to losing them just for the lack of 6 points. Of course, there was no real reason for me to want these licenses in the first place since my teacher of library license pays the same as the others, but I just like to collect licenses and degrees, and a miser likes to collect money. So that the end of summer school I was worn out and thinking in terms of at least a short vacation when I learned I would have to move. The ceilings were falling, the plumbing was giving out, etc. So, I had to tramp the streets in the terrific heat trying to get located before school started again.

Now for a single woman to find decent, safe housing in New York City, especially if she is a colored woman, is next to impossible. I think most landlords feel that a single woman wants an apartment to use for immoral purposes. We are taxes not for single women. So, when a friend of mine who lives in Englewood, New Jersey offered to let me have her attic for only $50 per month, I jumped at it. You see the average one room (utility apartment) in the City costs at least $100 per month. My friend's attic was similar to that one at 810 N. Walnut St. except that there was no bath. I had to go down one flight to the bathroom which was shared with everyone else in the house. The kitchen was down another flight and completely unheated. Previous tenants had left the place filthy, so I helped redecorate to the tune of $50. The window cord was broken so that the window could not be completely closed, and I found myself constantly in a draft. The oil burner cut off twice while I was there and I got chilled to the bone. Furthermore, since they are adding a new traffic lane under the Geo. Washington Bridge, the regular bus stop for buses to N.Y. was eliminated and I had to walk six blocks to the temporary stop which was just out on a sidewalk without any shelter. So, in spite of the fact that I had $150 to move, I had no alternative but to go to all that trouble of packing again and moving back to Yonkers. This time I have only a room with a friend - the same Mrs. Rux with whom Chic and Connie stayed when they were here. By the way, Chic and Connie made a very good impression on her. Too bad I was not able to make it pleasant for them while they were here. But I was just too tired to do anything. Had just returned from the A.K.A. boule in Washington where I had gotten no sleep at all since my roommate was too popular and got phone calls every hour of the day and night. And I was in school too when they were here. But it was good to see them, nevertheless. Jacqueline is undoubtedly one of the best trained youngsters I have met. By the way, Connie, did she get my Christmas telegram? I know that this is the height of rudeness and certainly I should have acknowledged my Christmas gifts with personal notes which I shall doubtless do sometime in the future, I'd just like Lulu and Leonard to know though that I received the very attractive table mat set, and Rosa and Alger to know that I received the beautiful towels. I already talked with Nina and told her I got the delicious fruit cake. I hope this becomes a permanent institute with her. It was also heartwarming to hear Bobbie's voice on the phone. I do get very homesick for all of you during the holidays.

I have made so many starts and stops at this letter that I am afraid I shall never finish if I attempt to make it sound at all organized. So, I'm just going to say whatever pops into my head at any time. From all the hints at that it's time I wrote, I believe you would rather I'd do this than to wait till I collect my thoughts or look over some of the back letters and answer some of the comments made by you.

It is now Saturday, Feb. 20, 9:00. Mrs. Rux and her cousin, Mrs. Daniel are still asleep. I have just finished breakfast and shall let my room go until I finish this letter. This time I mean to get it off to you.

Ben I'm this money order. Please enclose $5.00 of it in Jack's copy for two copies of his book which I hope he will mail me pronto. The other $5.00 should be sent to Nina for two of Father's records. The rest is for expenses of the Newsletter.

How are you planning to vote this year? I can't see anything but the Republican Party. I remember how stupid I used to think Father was when he insisted on voting for the party of Big Business and rejected the Democrats who were trying to do things for the "common man". But as I grow older, I see how astute Father was. He used to argue with Mrs. Hagerman that an income tax was not necessary for the U.S. He claimed that we were a large country with plenty of resources and that business needed to be encouraged and capital attracted so that more jobs could be made. He said that income taxes were necessary in nations like England because their society was fixed so that it was next to impossible for a poor man to move up; whereas in America a man could advance as far as his ability and effort would let him. He also was bitterly opposed to housing projects. He claimed that these would freeze out private industry since they could not compete with the government and that eventually we would have to vote as we were told if we wanted to obtain shelter. That has practically come true in New York City. The middle class is being forced out of the City. It is fast becoming a place only for the very rich who can afford luxury apartments and the very poor who qualify for the low rent projects. Rent controls are kept so tight on the small landlord that he simply cannot afford repairs to his buildings. So, they become slums and finally urban renewal steps in and builds for the select few whom the Democrats permit to reside here. You would not believe the deterioration which has come to Riverside Drive and Central Park West. There used to be some of the loveliest areas in the City. Can you imagine Columbia University surrounded by slums! Well, this is exactly what has happened. They had mapped out the area for Title III improvement. The contracts were let to know and notorious racketeers and criminals. So, the housing did not get built. Another scandalous thing which happened was that one of our slum areas in downtown New York was demolished to make way for a middle-income project - of course with government subsidies. But the rents in the place average $600 per month. What middle income family can afford that? Graft and corruption have been exposed in practically every department of our city government. The thing that hurt the worst though was when they indicted our Borough President, Hulan Jack, who is the Negro who is president of the Borough of Manhattan. The charge was that some repairs on his apartment were paid for by a contractor who was bidding for the housing project which was being planned for the West side slum area which I mentioned is surrounding Columbia Univ. Of course, this may have been a frame-up and certainly many white people have gotten away with far more, but being a Negro, Mr. Jack might have known his every step would be watched. After all few white people want to see a Negro in such a high position. The job paid $25,000 per year. Too bad also, because he was beginning to spruce up Harlem. Actually the center parking on 7rh Ave. 123 and 130 Streets has beautiful trees now and new fluorescent lights. He actually had beautiful tulips imported from Holland blooming in the center parking until on Mother's day the Negroes picked them all. This made me sick at the stomach. Some of us still ain't ready. Of course all of them are good Democrats. The party keeps them on relief and unemployment insurance because they "ain't about to work" for a living. Ever since the New Deal they have not seen any reason to work. They even defeated a fine young Negro for a permanent judgeship in favor of an Irishman. You see this young man, Judge Pierce, a Phi Beta Kappa, All American football player and war veteran, was appointed by Governor Rockefeller to fill out an unexpired term as judge of General Sessions. The job pays $35,000 per year. The man made a brilliant record. So, when time came for regular elections, Rockefeller wanted him to have the job for a regular term of 10 yrs. He even wrote personal letters urging Pierce's election. But Harlem voted for an Irishmen instead!

So Tammany Hall Democrats have gotten the Negro vote sewed up. They vote for the man whom they feel will do the most for them. They have become such intellectual and moral cripples that they cannot understand the difference between having a mess of pottage like relief or public housing thrown at them and the opportunity of exercising the God given right to do for themselves. It was conceded that Judge Pierce was on his way to becoming the first Negro appointee to the Supreme Court of the U.S. And it is important how the Supreme Court interprets our laws. New Laws to give us our rights are not nearly so badly needed as the proper interpretation and enforcement of those already in the Constitution. Well, it has been whispered that this is what Rockefeller was grooming Pierce for. But Pierce is a Republican so of course the Negroes are going to do as the party which gives them their welfare checks tells them to do and vote for the Democrat even though he is an unknown Irishman. So, it seems to me that Father has certainly been proved right so far as folks' voting their pocketbook is concerned. And I'm also ready to say that he was also right about his rejection of the income tax law. The very right know how to use the loopholes to avoid it anyway. The poor cannot pay, so the load falls heaviest again on the shoulders of the middle class. This tax could certainly be greatly reduced if not altogether eliminated if we would do away with all the "emergency" bureaus set up during the war and New Deal administration. For instance, why is it still necessary to subsidize the farmer? If he cannot make a living on the farm, why doesn't he move to the city and get a job where he is needed? They didn't subsidize teachers when they could find no work in their field. There were plenty of PhD's who had to be porters and dining car waiters, etc. and no one suggested supporting them. The fact is that we do not need so many farmers when we pay a million dollars a day just to store the food. Supports should be slipped out from under everybody except the old, the sick, and mothers with minor children. Everyone else should made to work for a living at whatever he can find to do. An artificially supported economy can never find its natural level and one class of our society is unjustly taxed to support the other. This in turn stifles incentive and undermines respect for the law. It encourages cheating and consequently fosters other more serious crimes.

Furthermore, the Democrats are such a poor risk when it comes to getting the nation into war. It may not be their fault, but just as insurance companies recognize accident prone people, it seems that the Democrats are "war prone!" Call it isolationism if you like, but I feel that if we had stayed home and minded our own business instead of following Wilson into making the "world safe for democracy" we would not have had to get into the 2nd world war. And there was less excuse for getting into Truman's war in Korea than there was for Wilson's. No, I think we should try to make Poplarville and Little Rock safe for democracy before we try to spread it abroad. I realize the Republicans are as a whole not better than the Democrats are concerned when it comes right down to giving us all our rights. But at least we can vote them out of office when they get too raw. You can't do that in the South where the Democrats have always been in power. And due to the seniority rule of the Senate, the vilest Sothern Democrats who head all the important committees are the people who really run the nation. So even though you vote for a good Democrat, you help make a Democratic majority in Congress and thus perpetuate the Eastlands and Georges in their chairmanships.

I was very sorry to see Rockefeller pull out of the race. I feel that he would make a great president. He has gone about reforming the state government in a courageous and logical way. I say courageous because when he took office and discovered the mess we were in financially, he had the nerve to call for a raise in our income taxes despite the opposition of practically everybody - both Republicans and Democrats. But he put it on a payroll deduction basis the same as the federal and forgave the past year's taxes so that the bite was scarcely noticed. So, although the previous Democratic administration was running us into bankruptcy, we are now on a sound pay-as you go basis with a surplus instead of a deficit in our next budget. He does things in a logical systemic way because he has committees making studies of all these reforms he things necessary so that he has the facts before he acts. Right now he is in another hassle with the people because he wants to require all homeowners and owners of public buildings to build fallout shelters. There is a great hue and cry that people cannot afford it. But they will cost only $200 to $500 and I have a feeling that this is not too much to spend for survival. Many people argue that the prospects of war with Russia have lessened. But who knows what Russia is really thinking. And even though we never have another war, some of our own planes can drop an atomic bomb by mistake, or all this testing of nuclear devices all over the world may make it necessary for us, especially New Yorkers to take shelter at any moment. We are surrounded by atomic making plants. Rockefeller is like Noah standing all alone at the time of the flood, warning everyone, but no one heeding him. He has also made another bold proposal in introducing legislation against all bias in housing including private housing of three or more apartments. He would also make it illegal for real estate agents to discriminate in showing all their listings to people regardless to race, color or religion. He also wants legislation to deal severely with drunken drivers and other careless drivers on the state highways. But even his own party is against these reforms because they feel they might jeopardize their chances in an election year.

Please write letters to your congressmen or the congressional leaders listed on the enclosed mimeographed forms. I am chairman of my sorority's committee on American Council on Human Rights. We are trying to get a million letters coming into Congress from all over the United States asking for a strong civil rights bill. I am trying to be responsible for 1000 such letters. So please write and ask others to write. When high school students risk their very lives in the South to try to get justice, the least we could do is to write. Use your own words, but I feel that anti-lynching and voting rights should be mentioned.

Thank you, Tandy, for your suggestion that I should come to California. I have often thought of it, but do not want to lose my pension rights. I am trying to make up my mind though as to whether I would rather retire in Colorado or California. Any suggestions, Strouds, as to which you think would be the better place and why? I am getting to the place where the cold weather is hard for me to take. I have to take daily antihistamines because I am allergic to cold and get hives if I do not take these pills.

Welvin, how long will your African friend be in Philadelphia. Is he attending school there? I hope so as I have not been able to contact him as yet, and I do want to meet him before he goes back. Rev. Robinson said last Sunday that of the 130 students he is taking to Africa this summer only 30 Negro students had agreed to go. He is very disappointed. Did you ever write him about a scholarship or has your infanticipating prevented your taking another trip for some time? Well, Folds, I'm so tired and sleepy, I think I'll call this the end for the time being. Best wishes and love to all of you.

Effie

April 27, 1960, Newsletter

To the Strouds:

This has been one of the slowest - I should say the slowest winter in my business since the depression. I am not sure whether anyone really understands whether or not we are in for a great depression again or not. Of course, now, there is a little pick up because of construction and some moving about - and less of the severe cold and storms. Well, our first letter is from Nina, as of March 9, 1960. I thought I was slow getting the newsletters out, but I see her record man is even slower. Here's her letter:

Dear Ben and the Strouds:

I have been waiting quite some time for a newsletter now, and it has finally occurred to me that none can be sent until someone writes. (Since that time I have sent the last newsletter) I had hoped to read a letter soon containing contributions from Bobby and Effie. It seems to me that we haven't heard from them in ages. Anyway, I'll write what I can for the next issue.

It is now March 13th, Sunday evening, and I shall try to finish. Percy and his pal, Mike, are watching "Lassie" on the T.V. and I've just put some corn bread in the oven for supper. I'll try to finish this while its baking. Mike is a "Spanish" (as he says) who lives next door, and he's been Percy's best friend for about 3 years now. Today he was humming "Old Folks at Home" - he goes to Garfield School. I asked him how his teacher taught him to sing it. And he showed me with the "d******" in it. How it so happens that the books we have been edited so that the Stephen Foster songs do not contain the offensive lyrics. Our books have - "Oh, loved ones how my heart grows weary etc." But his teacher at Garfield School which is about 1/3 Negro decides to teach it the original way. I give up!

I also must comment on the records. I have received about 15 paid orders for records from some of you and rom some Colorado Springs people. I have been trying since before Christmas to get these records delivered. The white man with whom I am dealing is so incompetent and inefficient that I still haven't been able to deliver these orders. He just doesn't do business and as soon as I can get. Him to deliver the 100 that he promised four months ago, my dealings with him cease absolutely. He is very well recommended, owns a Radio Station in Manitou, is a good technician and made the tapes on which the records are cut, but he is not a businessman! Remember when that term used to be applied so easily to Negro? Everywhere I go and in all of my dealings with whites I find the same sort of inefficiency and incompetence. I don't see how in the world we can live with this incompetence much longer and the Negro here in America should really make haste! These people just can't run things much longer. They're too incompetent.

Things are going along as usual with Percy and me. We're getting along all right - some illnesses - but overall the picture is good.

I have been trying to find a subject for my master's thesis in Education, but so far I've gotten nowhere at all. Now I'm disgusted so I probably won't ever have an M.A. I read a book in the process - you see I had thought about trying to find the relationship between intelligence and musical talent. The thing has been done plenty of times in many different ways. C.C. insists that I do something original. During the process of finding out what studies have been made of the subject I ran across this book by Kwalwasser. He has done several studies on race and musical talent - 200 subjects here, 300 there, 500 some other place - and arrives at all these nasty conclusions! Italians are not as gifted as Germans musically; Negroes are the lowest on the scale excepting for Mexicans. I almost vomited. He goes on to say that some authorities have tried to explain away the lack of talent and accomplishment in Negros by blaming environment and socioeconomic position, but, says Kwalwasser, this is silly. They just "haven't arrived" or words to that effect. "They aren't in the 400 club - I'm not quoting him directly. This Kwalwasser is an authority in the Psychology of Music. His tests are used everywhere, and he is head of the music department of Syracuse University in New York. I'm completely disgusted at the present time so I doubt that I'll ever get the Master's Degree. The only that I am interested in doing now is a study on what's wrong with Kwalwasser!

It has been real winter here for the past six weeks. I'm certainly tired of it. We had about 8 days straight when the temperature never got up to freezing and the nights were all well below zero. It snows continually and this is very depressing. You know our winter started in September this year so now we've had six months straight of this. All Colorado Springs ever did have was climate and when that ends, that's the end! Period.

March 15th, Tuesday. It snowed again last night. We all thought it was going to be a big one and the schools wouldn't open. No such luck. Everyone just had a terrible time getting to school. The streets were slick as glass and our dear Street Department did not put one bit of sand on anything nor did they clear any snow away nor did they salt down anything. This place! The clouds outside look as if its going to snow again tonight. We've lost so many school days this year because of storms that we only get a 4 day Spring vacation - Thursday thru Monday. Of course I realize that this weather is every place and we're lucky in a way that it isn't worse, but everyone here is certainly depressed with this weather. I surely envy you on the West Coast, you don't know how lucky you are!

I really wish I had something to write about, but I don't; so I'll just have to stop.

Love to everyone,

Nina.

(I'm listening to Nina and Bobbie doing "There's No Neutral Ground" as I write this.) I like the way they do it very much - It certainly brings back old memories. I think Nina and Bobbie ought to get together on more old spirituals - They certainly have a distinctive and unusual style that gives the song fine quality and reverence. However, I do not think the person that cut the record did too good of a job. My record player does not replay it or finish it at the right place, therefore, I have to play the record and change it by hand - I think that this is because the record was not accurately cut. But so far as technique and quality on the part of Nina and Bobbie - I think this number could easily become a "hit" so far as Negro churches are concerned - and might mark a change of trend to music of better melody and quality in Negro churches.

It is now May the 3rd at about 11:30 P.M. It leeks like I'll be a long time getting this letter out. Well - we've just had too much moving to do hardly anything else - and of course, after a hard day on a truck - about all a person can do at night is to relax. This work is welcome because the past winter has been about the slowest since the depression: It was a real hard cold winter in just about every category.

This next intriguing and provocative letter is from Jack as of March 25, 1960:

Dear Family:

I wish to use this medium of the Newsletter to apologize to apologize to all my brethren for whatever grief I have caused them; past, present, or future. I wish, further to thank Albo for the different times that I was employed by him.

I often gather that it is good to admit of one's own faults.

To Albo: Yes-you have had many qualified persons working for you, long before I showed on the scene, you had Dolphus, Tandy, Jess Tarrant, James, Art Taylor, and several others who have proved themselves very capable in other areas of living. The reason I probably was around more than Tandy and Dolphus was because they were more positive- stronger personalities. Rather than to fight you, they just walked away. You see, it took me longer, since I was more afraid than they were.

To Effie: Thank you for the five dollars. However, I am returning it to you. I am sending you one of the pamphlets. I only have a couple left which I want to keep for myself. You can secure others by writing to the Office of Technical Services, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington 25, D.C. The price is $2.25 and the information where to write is on the front page of the pamphlet.

To All: Stop crying about how hard it was for you. Actually, some of you go out of the way to have a hard time. One had it just about as rough as another. And, as hard as Mom and Father had it, we had a bed of roses. The older ones did not suffer any more than the younger ones. But please- you guys have lived through one of the world's most prosperous times. You knew how hard it was to get 50 long ago- so, hold onto some of the money you get now. Try to surround yourselves with persons who can help you. Try to surround yourselves with persons who can help you, because-we are the ones who need held. We cannot afford to think we can assist something else. Adios and good luck. Jack

Its mid night now - so I guess I won't have time to finish this letter tonight either. I would take time to answer Jack's aspersions as to my employees but I don't think its worth the time. In fact I did not know that all those persons Jack named were my employees - perhaps associates from time to time might be a better word. Some of the people who were my employees are now too old to work for me- Yet I think they would if they were able - John Roberts is too old- so is Bill Bosley - Oh well why go on with this - If Tandy or Jack or James were here they would work with me too - So would Jesse and Harvey and Art Taylor - and I expect Jack too - If they didn't have anything to do that was more profitable - and that's the way it has always been. Jack's mention of being afraid of me was s uprise to me - however, I have heard people state that they were afraid of Jack etc.

Some of the people whom I had the honor of coming in contact with, however, seem to be making something of themselves - I am thinking of some of the boys in the Scout Troop No 78- Several of them, I believe are distinguished - For instance, Lester McCants - He is now only one step from being a general. Take Luther Sparkes - Successful undertaker. Harold Becker - Head of Gas Association of Mount Prospect, Illinois. Or take my associates in B.Y.P.U. like Dwight Harwell - Ph.D. Chaplain of theological school of France - At present is probably traveling in North Africa. Once I was sponsor of the 2nd Baptist Young People's Choir - I think Jack saw the play we gave about Joseph and His Brethen - Perhaps he remembers our pianist Pearlee Blackwell - If he saw Pillow Talk, a recent movie, I would like to point out that Pearl Blackwell is the same girls that played the piano for our play group. Oh well - so what! But - Jack and I are old bachelors - Jack says none of us can assist anyone. Well- I am sure that I have never really lived - the same as Effie applied to Jack some months ago. I would say this however - If you do not assist anyone in this short space allotted to us called life - than life, indeed is a failure.

I am glad Jack has written - He is a good writer - Here is another one from him dated March 29, 1960.

There is reason to believe that we are entering the period of history which we knew would come. There is not reason for being alarmed. Even at grade school age, most of us knew that racial blowouts were impending.

It is not good for us, now, to categized northerners for their not being the ones who initiated the movements in the South. Traditionally, the problems of the North have never been as harsh as those of the South. However, the North cannot be entirely accused of unawareness.

Thurgood Marshall, Paul Robeson, Adam Powell and others cannot be called delinquents in the battle for rights. Also, many of the college students in such institutions as Tuskegee, North Carolina State, etc., are from such northern places as New York, Boston, etc... Many directly in the battle. Many of them are on the picket lines and being thrown into jail. In 1948 at a meeting of the Progressive Party at the Ashland Avenue Auditorium in Chicago, I met and talked to W.E.B. Dubois. He remarked that the program the Progressives were promoting at that time, would be the order of the day within a few years. He said that many Negroes who were damning us then - would be forced to go along with a forward movement that would certainly come along. Actually, the position that one takes in there matters will have to be one of strength. We can choose to be part of the so-called "Elite" and be removed from direct participation in sidewalk picket lines - etc. or we can be aloof and refuses to admit that this is of concern to us.

What has happened in the South is merely a part of the universal cry of peoples in Africa, Asia, and South America to no longer accept the psychological chicanery of semi-serfdom.

The opposition is tremendously prepared. They are prepared to distort our minds and put the label communism on every move that is not directed toward the path of pro-white domination: It will take a little while longer to understand what evaluation the so-called upper white-ruling strata is placing on the present southern movement. Although the 'Originals' are barking, they are being contained.

There is nothing "childish" about the organization called CORE. It sprang up in the bowels of the two great northern communities of Chicago and New York. The Chicago group was led by a quiet chap named Berald Bullock. When the heat became too intense many of the original group (such as myself) dispersed for reasons of strategy - Bullock became a very important officer in the NAACP and I think is still in that capacity. Some of the little gray girls in the original group married their colored cousins and retired to semi-in-activity. CORE wiggled itself free from too much of a "red label" on the many lists of the Attorney General - and FBI. By including in its structure such things as Catholics, Jews, Priests, union labor leaders, Holy Rollers, and a smattering of impatient Trotskyites and Leninists.

The Bolsheviks, in general, were good talkers and theorists - but when an "action" was called, they were as scarce as "August ice-circles" in Waksahat-chee Texas.

Actually, the so-called communists, who often became members of CORE, along with a boy or two from the FBI, were perplexed to discover that the "thing" they were in was some sort of monstrosity that could not be completely understood. Such outspoken boys like a "cat" called Gus Savage told the white members; "If you expect us to carry placards of Henry Wallace on the Southside, we expect you white girls to carry placards of "Sam Parks" on the Northside." Well - this was unexpected. Sam Parks was a very decided "original Original." He was completely full-blooded. The Communists came in to listen-not to speak to learn and not to advise. When CORE became too outspoken-these persons just stayed away-and returned in spurts. As a result, CORE was neither Republican, Democratic, Progressive, Communist, Catholic, or Protestant. It advocated one thing - and seemingly, still does. That is, non-violent chemical mixture of all racial genes within America. For this reason, even the few followers of Muhammad that attended CORE meetings - often sat silent and uneasy. They could not understand why the white members of CORE could not see that they were inferior to the black members.

No, I am afraid that hose whom I knew in CORE - are not expecting to give in too easily. They may disperse for awhile, then come back stronger later on. Also - I cannot go along with the feeling that they are all followers of the Christian theory. Many of them were (and probably still are) what good society would call semi-juvenile delinquents. Also take it from me- some of them have purposely enrolled in schools of the South to participate in the present unrest.

Well, I hope many letters will be written concerning these problems in the South and in Africa,

Sincerely,

Jack.

The above letter was from Jack as of March 22, 1960. So, by my long delay it may be a little dated. I personally know Gerald Bullock very well - Having worked along with in NAACP at State level, and Chicago Branch level. I met Gus Savage recently on the West side of Chicago - The Greater Lawndale area - About at Kedzie and Roosevelt - He edits a good neighborhood newspaper which does not pull punches. The Lawndale Booster." He recognized me - and reminded me of our activities in the NAACP.

Jack writes again, as of April 2, 1960 - At this time, I'm wondering what we would do for material for the Newsletter if it were not for Jack. Here it is:

Sometime ago I was thinking of quitting the silly writing I was doing to the 'News.' Then, someone cautioned me that it was nice to have an opposite viewpoint from the ultra-conservative approaches that are regularly written down in our 'News.'

It is quite amazing that, from a backlog of ill treatment at the hands of the old Colorado Springs Ku-Klux-Klanoids, we have not become a family of greater skeptics. Often, from what is written, I get a feeling that many of us believe those peckerwoods were right. We are really not much of a family in terms of free-thinkers.

It gets to be a distressing to read the ease in which Albo and Effie accept the standard patterns of religion and politics and do not grasp that neither of these outlets have ever done more than assist, and add to the total weight of white dominance. Actually, the so-called 'Black Moves' for freedom in South Africa are often demonstrated through burning up some of the churches. On the other hand, I would not oppose one's personal religious beliefs which stem from honesty and sincerity. The great dilemma is that combined religious beliefs become dogmatic, and evolve into an authority that becomes increasingly powerful. This authority usually throttles the lives of small people.

There are times when I show a deep-rooted religious trend when I make spontaneous gifts to the Salvation Army: Sown through the years this organization has stood very high in esteem. I suppose I still recall those bleak days, about 40 years ago when I leaned on the front room window still at 810 and hoped the Salvation Army wagon might stop by our house. This was very pronounced with the approach of Christmas.

Even now the Salvation Army has remained a sort of non-descripp organization whose purpose is still to do something, directly, for needy persons. All other religious organizations begin as small insignificant groups, then graduate into wealthy, powerful, affluent, and bombastic orders of society. Then, the members feel their way is the right way. Their obvious success has proved it to them.

In a large - all comprehensive manner - this has become true of Christianity. The beginning was small, and began from a rejected order of social outcasts. But, look at it now. It has become so 'all-involving' until it is the worlds greatest parasite. The Christian says: "It is true because it has lasted 2000 years and is still growing." And of course it is. I say: it is not only backed by God - but is also sustained by superior weapons.

I leave it for your own imagination, dear Kinsmen, to decide if it has done as much good as it has harm. Albo's argument is that as long as it has 'saved souls,' then, it is a wondrous exhibition and proof of Divine splendor. My idea is that if it took such a monstrous thing to save souls, then the souls were better off unsaved. It is just as simple as that.

I often wish Kimbal were around to present her progressive ideas. I recall how difficult it was for her to convince many 'Originals' that there was nothing sacred about the Republican party. Whether it is worthwhile to support either Democrats or Republicans is left to one's own imagination. However, Rosa's answer for Albo and Effie was well-justified when she said: "If Roosevelt was not elected, there would not have been a blind pension - or an old age pension, then some of you good Republicans would have had to leave New York and Chicago and come back home to help take care of Mom and Father." Again - it is just as simple as that. You see, those kinsmen who get carried away with these very good and righteous 'theories of principles' are just not well enough off to afford these theories. You, personally, do not measure up to the luxury of your sentiments.

My voting record has been extremely poor. I have not taken advantage of this so-called wonderful blessing of my 'right-to-vote'. I was not old enough to vote for Roosevelt in 1932, but, when I realized that he was inventing such revolutionary things as unemployment insurance, I got around to voting for his 3rd and 4th terms. Since then, I have not bothered to go through the formality of registering to vote. If these white folks decide to give me Nixon, Kennedy, Stevenson or "boys" like that to vote for, well, I won't bother again. I might vote for Humphrey - but I know he is too "crazy" for the white boys to nominate.

Today is payday - Friday.

So, I have enough to enclose a dollar to help Albo with the expense connected with this enterprise. I find the "Newsletter," a very good instrument to effect lonesomeness. Although I have a new person, who has been a psychological blessing during my periods of illness, my nature yet exudes pangs of lonesomeness. She tends - very nicely - to my ever growing needs, but a great "tragedy" within myself makes it almost hopeless to remain interested in "good treatment" for prolonged periods. So - I guess I am approaching the saneless fruitless convenience of confirmed bachelorhood.

Anyway, this Newsletter has helped the family to keep from forgetting everything about each other. For this reason, it is good.

If Albo has enough room in his letter - he might include a couple of controversial verses of mine:

Well, Nicely, Nicely, and all that,

Jack.

[Note from Juanita Stroud Martin 10/7/2023: Bottom of Page 15 through Page 20 removed]

I think many people rave and rant against churches as if they were the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said: "They shall put you out of the synagogues - Yea whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God a service."

It is also a wonderful thing to live as righteously and holy as possible - But let's get one thing straight first. You really don't get into God's Kingdom because you are good. You are not saved because you do so much good in this world. You see if you were saved and can inherit eternal life from your won good works, it would not be necessary for you to have to accept Jesus Christ as a Savior. The truth is that you are saved because you believe in Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for your sins and you are made righteous because he is righteous and God pardons your sins because of his own Son's offering of his life's blood as a ransom for your sins. Our next letter is a fine one from Dolphus:

This is written as of May 1, 1960.

Dear Ben:

The income tax season is over and I can enjoy writing again. As I grow older I find the last few days of the tax rush mentally tiring. One grows weary of constant speed calculations and writing at high speed in order to keep those in line from waiting too long. People have sat in here as long as five hours awaiting their turn to have their taxes computed. This year I tried to keep nuts, candy, soda water, and music on hand to make their waiting less tiring.

I was elected to the Board of Directors of the Rose City Golf Course at the annual dance held in the Officer's Club of the Portland Air Base last January. Havana and I were the only Negroes present. Now I have the task of handicapping the nearly 500 Club members from the score cards they turn in. This is a time consuming task which has to be kept up to date in order that all members may have a fair shot at winning the tournaments. The Calcutts point tournament, which comes during May and is a handicap affair will carry a first prize of no less than $200: Last year's winner received $282. The exact amount of the prizemoney depends upon the amount bid for the players in the Calcutta stag auction the Thursday night preceding the tourney. I sold for over fifty dollars last year. Wanted to buy myself but wound up with 1/2 of my action. The prize money was split ten ways last year and I finished far outside. A 15 handicapper finished second. I carried a nine handicapp last year-now I'm down to 7. Today I shot a 72 (one over par) with the course stretched out to nearly 7200 yards. My round included five birdies. My best at Rosa City has been a 69 - 2 under par.

The secretary of our board of directors is a Mormon. I am reading the Book of Mormon now. It is done in biblical language and purports to be a canonical work as well Mormons are quite strong through Utah, Idaho, and Oregon. According to the tenants of their faith a Negro cannot hold the priesthood in the Mormon Church. Moreover, one soon discovers in reading the book of Mormon that it is a religion designed for Whites and gives a religious foundation and basis for White discrimination against and persecution of Negroes. In chapter 5 of Second Nephi, verses 21 through 28 White persons are warned against mixing with Blacks lest their off spring be cursed with the same loathsome color and laziness and slothfulness.

The Catholic Church comes in for a terrible scathing constantly in the visions of Lehi and his son Nephi. Nephi is the prophet who leads the Jews to America-the Promised Land. The Mormons have a strong economical organization. They are very industrious-and no Mormon has ever been on relief or public charity But no self respecting dark skinned person could ever accept Mormonism. I like to read about all religions for myself in order to know whereof I speak.

The family are all well. Business is very slow, and I'm having some struggle to keep my head above water.

I enjoy the newsletter very much. And I like too the controversies that occur from time to time. I learn much from them.

Your Brother,

Bunk

Jack seems to be a very busy person - He must be a good golfer to shoot all those birdies and to come in with a 69.

Omar phoned me sometime ago to say that Mabel was mistaken about Cyrus Magee being the first Negro Policeman in Chicago - Omar said he was one of the first Negro Police in Chicago. The Author who wrote the book, however was an outstanding person of whom we can all brag. Well, it's now nearly 12 o'clock Sunday night - It's taken quite awhile to get this Newsletter out. - There was just too much moving at one time. Pardon the mistakes and this skipping typewriter.

Best wishes to all,

Ben

P.S. I just noticed that I must repeat the poem by Jack's "Culture's Creatures. I think the only way you can keep the continuity and rhythm of poetry is to read the whole work as a complete unity - Therefore I am going to write the entire poem over again for you:

Cultures Creatures

I have watched him in his shadows
With the straps about his legs,
And Consulted our great doctors
For the cure our Creature begs.
But, I wonder: "What's the bother?"
For his life must over be
Pangs of pain and horrible hobbling
As he tries to walk with me.

I have watched him in his groping
For his eyes are dim and weak.
I have prayed in endless longing:
"Dear God, please let him speak
A hale, a hearty work or two-
A cuss, a healthy shriek**
Just like Mike across the railroad,
Or Sam across the creek."

I used to think: "How wonderful
My house atop the Hill;
Pure white and Well protected
From the factory and the mill."
Our Culture-My Protector-
And yet He begot for me
A mumbling, stumbling shadow
Cannot walk nor talk nor see.

June 21, 1960, Newsletter

To The Strouds:

First I would like to congratulate our younger set on their school exercises, graduations, and awards: and especially Ernest Dolphus Stroud who has graduated with the Class of Nineteen Hundred and Sixty from Benson Polytechnic School of Portland Oregon. I wish to also thank him for the invitation to the exercises although my invitation arrived too late for me to make the trip. I think all of us -especially the older Strouds should feel proud of our nieces and nephews who advance and receive recognition and education awards.

I think I will include a nice little letter from Marilyn's little daughter who is only eight years old - I hope she reads this and will let me know her name in her next letter - Here the letter is:

Dear Uncle Ben:

How are you? I am fine. I am only eight years old, and I'm in the third grade. Mother told me about you. Everybody thinks I am only five because I am so little. And they think my sister Michelle is about nine because she is so big. I hope I did the best I could- Leslie -I'm sorry - I understand now. I believe the letter is from Leslie - I guess you are a boy - Well, anyway - write again for the Newsletter. We enjoy your letters.

Our next letter is a very interesting and fine letter from Marilyn - I think you will all agree that we really have to respect Marilyn as a writer after you have read this: (This is dated May 23, 1960 Here it is:

Dear Ben:

Being on the receiving end of a somewhat informal promotion, I am now having a chance to see for myself hospital procedure in the rough and to attain the "feel" of the hospital atmosphere. My present position is on the terminal care ward and with this change went an office of my own, bearing my name.

While the terminal ward is depressing, knowing that the patients are expecting and expected to die, it is also noted that these patients are the recipients of excellent nursing and medical care. Most are mentally retarded and are only here because of their veterans standing or are waiting placement in Domiciliary Homes. On the ward above mine is the locked section for any who might become dangerous to others or to themselves.

Sitting here in the office I can look out the door and view them as they restlessly sit in their wheelchairs and stare vacantly into space. It seems to give them some inner peace to be able to sit in the lobby and watch those who pass even though many are unaware of even this minor happening.

I have had time to read through many of the records and have pondered the senseless waste of man in regard to his body. The episodes of alcoholism, negligence of venereal disease and the abstinence from nourishing foods have resulted in these pitiful cases that sit here waiting to die.

There is a term which I have become fairly familiar, "vegetable." This is applied to many of the cases; they have lost all association with humanity and only seem to survive, breathing and taking nourishment and eliminating by products. In this complete state of stupor, nothing has any meaning to them and day and night they moan their way through whatever of existence is left to them. Perhaps the most haunting is the vacancy in the eyes -- those never seeing, always starring eyes.

Even now I can remember my first weeks on this ward and the deep feeling of revulsion I had whenever I came into contact with these human atrocities. My nights were spent in sleepless tossing and turning as the memory of an agonizing cry echoed through my reverie or a disfigured extremity, a deformed limb, or the absence of the limb would dance before my aching eyes. I invented excuses for my abnormal abhorrence of these ---- these things; anything to justify it. The mornings always came, though and I wearily rose and made preparations for the day's tirade.

A badly defaced, wizened, partially paralyzed, little shape with nicotine stained fingers is known on this ward to be able only to utter the word "cigarette" or to utter guttural noises indicating his desire for same. This "dissipation" began to haunt my door and to wait patiently by the elevator door each morning in order to gain my attention and have his want of the tobacco satisfied by my hurried acquience of his cry and gesture. This one I detested more than all the others, he reminded me of everything foul that a human being could become. He became quite inept at guiding the wheels of his chair through the office door without trauma to his dangling, dragging foot or bumping of his twisted shoulder on the door frame. Knowledge of his clinical findings did not help my attitude or alter in any way my opinion of such a creature.

To rid myself of this caricature of humanity, I would hastily give him his cigarette and hasten his slow retreat by a hidden added shove to his chair handle and sigh audibly with relief at his departure.

Thoughts of resigning often entered my mind and only the additional reflection on staying home alone and facing endless days of dreary domestic drudgery while the other members of my family developed outside interests and activities, prevented my termination at a heretofore pleasant employment period here at VAH Livermore.

Once the ward routine fell into place and I was able to improve on and add my own technique, I found that there was time on my hands in which to observe the conglomeration in the halls outside the office. Always there were these eyes, the vacant, unseeing eyes --- starring at me. A loose lipped, slobbering mouth would sometimes slowly spread into what its perpetrator assumed was a pleasing smile, but to me was a hideous leer and I would shudder and quickly assume another more pleasing position, seeking distraction from the sight.

There was no staying safe within the office combine and so on a mission, I would feel my hand grasped by a loose-fleshed, moist soft appendage to whom I had carelessly come too close. The top portion of the mass would be lifted to my face, the lips drawn back into a grimace, begging me with animal intelligence to return the affection or add pressure to the grubby membrane clinging to my hand. Oh! the washings my poor rough hands received and the numerous applications of rubbing alcohol that were applied to them. But I could not feel clean after such an engagement.

Once a week as secretary I must go to the individual rooms and judge which of these abominable creatures needed a haircut or money drawn out of a pension check savings. This I think was the most unbearable task of the newly acquired position. How can one judge a bedridden object unless raises its over-sized head in order to view the back neck. The wrinkled old faces, the man-made noses, the sightless and starring eyes, the fat moist hands some with no fingers at all and some with joints missing-mishapen pendages; huge hydrocephalics, and those dropping slobbering mouths whose tongues lay outside the area of the lips and flicked back and forth, up and down over this thick cavity.

The first week - no one received a haircut and very few any money. The second week I was reproached for my lack of competence. The third week every other one had their hair cut and the fourth week the alternates received this service.

Food, about this time took on an unpleasant form and taste. I began to lose weight and spent many tiring hours at the sewing machine taking up this and that. However every time I would sit at the dinner table and view one of Charles' appetizing meals, I could see Mr. Dieryck with the chewed morsels oozing through his pendulous lips, or Mr. Layton putting the cooked nourishment down the fronts of his pajama bottoms and then retrieving them and consuming the savory bits, or Mr. Donohue mixing his own condiments via way of his urinal which must hang on his chair, and his anger at being discovered and forcibly compelled to remove the food from the oral orifice - Charles' efforts went unrewarded and he was affronted.

Even such normal procedures as waste elimination from my own body took on a "new" aspect and for weeks at a time I would suffer for my lack of same.

The locked section on the 5th floor almost had a candidate ------ me!

Those of you who are practical will say that I could see the advantage in affecting a change in my general attitude or you who are religiously inclined may think that God touched my heart and opened my eyes to the suffering of my fellow man-those few of you who have so far picked no side, might say that being a Stroud offspring, one of the lovable ones, my true nature was bound to win out. Nevertheless, I began to look forward to these daily visits with my cigarette smoking friend and began to take a personal interest in these daily cries for "cigarette" and then cause behind the present effect queried my mind and I grasped for knowledge of this case and was rewarded for my change of attitude by my discovery of another human being. Mr. Garvin had regressed to the infantile stage, this was apparent by his adherence to sub-speech, the retention of oral and dependent gratification. The tendency for negativism and dominance of the id over the ego and the superego. All this increased his schizophrenic counterpart. As far back as 1946 he was a normal person and he had been able to inform the Social Service worker of his past history; occupation, farm laborer; education-grammar school; marital status formerly married but divorced and fathering one son whose whereabouts had been unknown for several years preceding this time. He showed a dependency on hospitalization and was perfectly content to be institutionalized, showing no concern as to when he would be released or even the actual cause of his illness. He claimed to have suffered a Colles fracture of the right wrist and had had symptoms of sleepless nights, needing two pillows (pillow-orthopnea) for his nocturnal rest. Occasionally there had been mild indigestion and cramping. A few years later a spot was noticed on his lungs and he was again hospitalized and given anti-tuberculous drugs for a short period of time. During this time it was also discovered that proliferation of the intima had caused complete obliteration of the lumen of the artery (arteriosclerosis obliterans) and treatment was instituted. Just two years later in 1959 he was admitted here unable to speak and being the physical reprobate I have previously described. Since being here he has been judged mentally incompetent and we think, act and do for him, even to the very smallest act. ----- The dissipation of the human body.

Of course there are other cases much more interesting and more pitiful, but this one has become my pet project and seeing him waiting for me at the elevator each morning or hearing his proffered thank you and song singing by request, I never cease to be amazed at dear Mr. Garvin.

Perhaps as Jack said the second generation has done naught with their lives and have made no contribution to society, other than numerous offsprings and frequent alcoholic episodes, have lacked in formal education and are therefore finding it impossible to obtain important positions in life. I sort of look at my generation and feel very proud of their adjustment to their surroundings and am pleased with their healthy and realistic approach to their problems, accepting that they are unable to change and doing their best with what they have, sometimes much better than those of you "better suited to hasten the world's destruction through your advanced civilization."

Juanita who served her country in the armed forces (1st generation?) Billy - by acquiring material security through real estate holdings; Welvin - through travel and the exchange of ideas with those foreign to us and retaining this knowledge and bringing it back to be taught to yet another generation; Connie, beset by this lack of so-called education and yet is competently competing on the very highest levels and coming out ahead, earning for her own child under adverse circumstances and raising a first class citizen; or Louise, Alfred, and those who are still too young to have chosen a path. Success depends on your measuring rod. Because a man marches to a different beat than mine, could be, because he hears a different tune than mine.

By now my family is wondering why I haven't mentioned them in three pages of writings and I shall catch the very devil if something is not done to alleviate this situation, so here goes.

Chucky and Cheryl will be attending five weeks of summer school this year. Chryel, because she refuses to concentrate on any but her chosen subject and a good five weeks will perhaps change her attitude. She has been studying catechism all this year and will soon be ready for her first communion. She is still capable in the kitchen and has added to her skill of cornbread, pancakes, biscuits, cookies, eggs and numerous vegetables and meats, the art the of pie baking. At nine we think she is exceptional. Chucky thinks that without the promise of a long summer vacation on this aunt's farm in Michigan, that he might as well be in school and therefore signed himself up for the summer instructions. He is growing so fast until it's quite impossible to keep him in decent clothing. It's hard to understand his fear of being short when one views his ankles in a pair of slacks recently purchased. His cooking leaves much to be desired so we shall skip that point on his behalf. Leslie is still our elfin and at eight and 1/4, believed that God intended that she be small, so is content with her structure. Her head is always buried in a book and so I cannot speak of any feminine achievements on her part. Her teacher informs us frequently that Leslie is an outstanding student and has actually progressed three years in the one short year at Fairview School. This she believes is further reason for Leslie to receive favoritism and special care. However, this guardian of Leslie's academic training does not follow Leslie home and see the slovenly manner in which Leslie keeps her room or the hit-and-miss method Leslie uses to accomplish any assigned task around the house. Michelle says and thinks that she is now half grown, having celebrated her 7th birthday on the 10th of this month. She is nearly as tall as our 9 1/2 yr. old, Chery,. She is such an active little person until one grows weary and ages considerably just in watching her antics. Charles says that I always ignore him in my letters and that one day he is going to take up pen and pencil --- and that is all ----- and write himself. I shall as usual forget him again as the Dr. has returned to his office and is stealthily peeking at what is in my typewriter.

Love and kisses to all,

Marilyn D. Turner and Family.

Well, Well! This letter is great. How did the rest of you like it? I guess we older Strouds will just have to admit that the younger set certainly are holding their own. Just send us some ore of these fine letters, Marilyn.

Our next letter is from one of the third generation-Chuckie-(Marilyn's)

Dear uncle Ben,

This is my first time writing a letter that everyone of my relatives can read what I say. Mother has been telling me to hurry and write, so now I guess I will write. I'm not use to reading long letters unless they are addressed to me. But I read a whole Stroud News Letter one day last year. I would like to tell all my relatives that I like how they tell interesting things about themselves. I think I like California better than Detroit, although I do miss all my friends back there. But I made more friends everyday. I had a couple of fights in school. The first fight was with a boy named Pete, he was white. I got him down on the ground and kept him there for about two minutes. The second: I fought with a boy named Othello. He can box very well, better than I. That day in school I had a magnet in my desk. Othello came and took it out. I told him to put it back. But he gave it to Fawn (a white girl) I told Fawn to give it or I would tell the teacher. Othello said if I did I would get it from him. So I went and told that he and Fawn had my magnet. She told Fawn to give it back. I got it and went back to my seat but Othello hit me in the stomach. I told him to stop it. When I sat down he hit me in the back of the neck and I got mad (whoo whoo) I jumped him and got him in a headlock and kept him down for a half a min. All the kids in row five and six saw that he started it so everyone was calling fight a fight. The teacher ran over there and held Othello and asked me what happened and I told her, so Othello had to go to the office. The teacher told me to go with him just in case Mr. Coman wanted to ask me something. Now we are friends again.

I will try very hard to write next month.

Chuckie

P.S.

If any of you want a case solved just call me. For I'm a Private Eye. I've been one for a long time now about eight months. I'm ten years old. I'm in the fifth grade.

Thanks Chuckie, that was a good letter and I know all the Strouds will be glad to hear from you again- And since you are a private eye we will remember if anything comes up in which we will need your services. We are glad that you like California and we can tell by the way you write that you will soon have as many friends there as you did in Detroit.

Our next letter is from Jack as of June the 2nd 1960

Dear Family:

For anyone interested, the research paper I co-authored at National Bureau of Standards is published in digest form in the Jornal of Research of the National Bureau of Standards in the May-June 1960 issue.

This issue of the Journal of Research may be ordered from Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D.C.

The price is 70 cents for a single issue of this magazine. I am sure it can be ordered C.O.D.

Order:

Volume 64D
Number 3
May-June 1960
D. Radio Propagation Price is 70¢

My article is on page 255. I was sent only one copy by the Washington office.

It is probably in all science libraries --- or large public libraries throughout the country. I am certain that a person could refer to a copy in a library - However, if you desire one for yourself, you may write to Washington for it.

I like my surroundings at the North American Aviation Missile Division better than I did at Boulder. Since being here, I have received a very splendid offer from the Naval Research Labs in southern California. However, I think my boss is easy to get along with here, plus the fact they gave me a salary increase as soon as I informed them of this offer.

I wish to correct the last News by pointing out that the golf information was from Dolphus. I commend Bunk for being a member of the Board of Directors for a private club.

I also wish to ask Albo to refrain from calling people names. I am neither debilitated, nor degenerated. Bastard is a very legitimate word in the English language and refers to an illegitimate offspring. If Albo is not an innocent growing boy of some 50 years - or so - he should read Shakespear's verses, or, perhaps the 'Children of Adam' from Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass. I am certain that these two are rated worlds above me, or him, in poetry understanding and appreciation.

I think it is a very good idea to live forever. Albo is very limited in his thinking to imply that people don't want to live forever. I would very willingly accept living forever either in spirit - or in body, as long as I was healthy. I wonder what quirk in him assumes people do not wish to live forever - I also wonder why he feels that people have not been exposed to the biblical words he always writes down. All the family heard these Christian precepts from Father, from churches, etc. the same as Albo did. All his brothers and sisters are well versed in them.

What happens in Life is that there are certain 'obstructions.' As far as I am concerned, just comparing myself to Albo, I know I can overcome these 'obstructions' much better than he can. Actually - he, himself, should be better able to direct his own life before criticizing someone else.

Personally, I have no desire to meet certain requirements which he feels are supposed to be some kind of living prerequisites. The ability to control oneself is, I think, of prime importance. Also - the ability to think for oneself should be a thing to attempt to achieve. What Albo would say each night when he kneels down to pray is: "Albo, you can't control anybody until you first learn to control yourself" ----

Goodbye and good luck to all

Sincerely, Jack.

Jack's mention of everlasting life reminds me that one of the greatest promises of God is eternal life to those who believe in Jesus -" "For the gift of God is eternal life."

I think that neither Jack nor I have any real reason to feel that we have faced any real problems or obstructions comparable to those Strouds who have raised families.

I think that lack of self control and self discipline is probably a weakness in all the Strouds - Although perhaps Tandy is an exceptional.

Our next letter is a great one from Bobby dated June 7th. But first she enclosed a newspaper clipping from the Colorado Free Press with two column pictures of Miss Adreinne Bourgeois with following article underneath a caption beneath the picture, reading as follows:

"Mrs. Bobbie Bourgeois will present her daughter, Adrienne, in a piano recital at 3 P.M. today in the Music Room of the Fine Arts Center. The program will consist of favorite piano solos played in the original setting. Adrienne will be assisted by her sisters, Judy and Michelle. The program is as follow:

Prelude in C Sharp

Minor -----------------Rachmanioff

Cumana -------------- Allen

Liebestraume ------ Liszt

Callisho ------------- Chaminade

Nalaguena ---------- Leucona

Vocal Solo ---------- Michelle Bourgeois

Piano Solo ---------- Judy Bougeois

Rhapsody in Blue (complete) ------ Gershwin

Adrienne is 14 years old and a student at St. Mary's high school. There is no admission charge and the public is cordially invited.

I might interject here that Adrienne in the picture is a very lovely person-I imagine the recital was fine - I'm sorry I couldn't hear it. Well to get on with Bobbie's letter:

Dear Strouds,

I am ashamed of not having written as regularly as I should. But I avoid writing as much as possible. However, I really intend to amend my ways. Whenever I receive one of these wonderful "Stroud" letters I always say I'm going to contribute. Then I put it off and another month has gone by - My address is 814 South El Paso - the South is important because the mail carriers always send back any letter that is improperly addressed and that raises the postage. Well anyway since I have spent a precious 5 minutes apologizing, I'll begin: L. Someone mentioned the fact that some members of the family resented being former Strouds - Well I don't - I'm very pleased to have had a very happy and proud association with the name and family - 2. Once Albert mentioned the fact that I give dancing lessons and left the impression that this was sinful - I loved that. Dancing is very important to any child - The carriage of one's body is almost as important as being well groomed when applying for a job. I mean a good job. The modern Negro is entering an age of intelligence as opposed to the age of ignorance that we are reluctantly outgrowing. In order to be a concert singer (not the Mahalia type) that lightly runs offstage as gracefully as any unusually large person can) but the concert type - Mattiwilda Dobbs, etc. who actually must be well trained in the ballet for the sake of stage presence. This is also true of concert pianists - If you ever have any opportunity - go to the ice shows - the Broadmoor ice palace hosted the World Champion Figure Skating 2 years ago everyone of those skaters had had years of ballet. Also, just for the sake of enlightenment as to what the American Negro is up against - It takes conservatively $25,000 in fees and payment for lessons to become a Gold Medal Skater. Because of the desire of Negroes to have material possessions most parents are so busy paying for the T.V. they never have time to watch, the $40.00 pair of shoes, the $300.00 suit of clothing that they don't have any plans to wear, that the home life has suffered unbelievably. Perhaps the grey people can do this because they are long gone anyhow. But the Negro is supposedly grooming himself for leadership - but how many originals know the meaning of preparing the whole self - Unfortunately dancing, the horrible sin, is the beginning of poise - Every child that learns the five hand positions and foot positions in ballet - is cognizant that the hand itself is a thing of beauty - they look up in 5th position into the palms of the hands - if the hand is clean they are radiant - if the hands are dirty - at the next lesson that hand is clean. Have you ever watched the way some people slouch, and drag, and actually give the impression of being paralyzed or deformed. Just a few dancing lessons might have corrected this. However having discussed this at length I shall mention that the Fine Arts Center Theatre - The most plush in Colorado Springs is where these students will present their dance recital this year - There are to be pseudo ballet numbers - none of them having studied long enough to ballet; tap numbers, comedy acts- terrific - choral singing, and soloists - This is an important thing in a child's life - You appear on stage before 400 and know that you too can do!

3. The unfortunate thing about accepting some of these basic principles of the Baptist Church is that they compound ignorance for which the world no longer has tolerance - Don't misunderstand me - I won't limit it to Baptist Churches - after the statements made by the Methodists, I came to the conclusion that it is or will be quite a large sin for me to go into a Methodist Church knowing that one of the bishops is a member of a White Citizens Council in Alabama. I believe the president of it! And to think Negroes will support such a creature. Back to these sins that the white man has made to keep the black world back - it is a sin to acquire wealth - you know if you control the stock market you won't be able to go through the eye of this needle and enter Heaven - How about that? The sins are always black - the angels white - black is bad - white is perfect. They have even misrepresented the appearance of Jesus because the churches are so biased they can't stand the thought of worshipping a black Christ. In fact one Negro said it was a sin to say Christ was black! In fact all the organizations that are not ready it is these bigoted Christian religions.

4. On the subject of business - Most Strouds, I use the term loosely, not meaning to hurt anyone's feelings - but it is easier to put it that way - are probably not too concerned about becoming financial wizards - You know money is but in order to have money that one item must become god. Some people will live with no food and clothing just to hoard money - so don't feel that anyone didn't become a financial tycoon because of the negligence of someone else - No one has so far become one because no one actually wants to. Those who have children would rather have a house with a few modern conveniences than all the money in the world - Those without children are busy pursuing careers and social activities, dressing decently and living - Don't include me in any financial ventures because I couldn't care less. - Sure I am broke and probably always will be - definitely until everyone of these 7 have been given a chance to have 3 meals a day and a pair of shoes and a coat on their back until they are grown. Then I intend to sit down and read a couple of books - When you think about it, is money what we really want? I mean badly enough to get out there and get it? There is one business venture I advocate immediately. Let's all send Albert $5.00 July 1st so he can buy a mimeograph machine. He can't keep typing all this - It is a huge job. If we can just send $5.00 the first of July that ought to at least get one or the down payment. If $5.00 isn't enough let's make it $10.00 apiece or per family or something, but let's see if we can't do that! Imagine us being able to accomplish something along the financial line - Let's not waste time voting about it - it is necessary - let's do it.

Returning to topic No 3 - I have a first class loathing for parasitic preachers. Those leaches that beg to these widows and divorcees, that their wives and children are hungry, that he needs a pair of shoes and won't Sister so and so give him $5.? And also these roaming evangelists who were incarcerated in these Federal institutions for various disgusting charges. Well if there isn't some kind of moral and educational standard adopted for these so-called Churches they'll keep losing the support of thinking people - You do not send innocent children to the practicing prostitutes for Bible training! Unfortunately a Seventh Day Adventist invited us to a service. I hope this offends no one. My daughter and I sat there in torture. Unfortunately she had worn lipstick and I had made the unforgivable mistake of wearing some glittering very small earrings - The poor preacher was so upset! He could talk about nothing but jewelry - as you know, the Seventh Day Adventists don't believe in wearing any form of jewelry - not even wedding rings. As my daughter said what "hams" these are. The sad holier than thou preacher and his equally saccharine wife sang more duets. Well after all - we ought to at least visit all these churches before we feel authorized to endorse any particular one. If you want to initiate a riot visit a Southern Baptist Church a few times - you'll get a real reception! There is one thing that really bothers me - frequently the Bible mentions "Rising again" Christianity can't accept that - they've got to say reincarnation is impossible because "what if you reincarnated in a colored body?

Don't quote Scripture - you know those translators ignore misinterpret, and leave out whenever necessary - and you can't blame the guys for trying to hang on to authority.

5. Home life - Why don't Negroes find some way of life. Don't look to the greys for it. What they've got you don't want! No morality, no pride, no discipline - no nothing. That is what has happened since Negro domestic help became scarce. There was a time when the Negro genius could only serve the white man in some menial positions. These tremendous brains were actually training those children in the fashion of living like a human being - Since the demise of the Negro domestic help the white boy has come into his own element. Now let's not be so stupid we follow his footprints. Improve everything you can - It's the black world now, and if anybody patterns a way of life after these present day whites - well that person is on his way out. I mean way out----

5. I could go on endlessly but I'm tired of writing. Jack is tremendous. We really miss him. When he was in Boulder we saw him occasionally, but he's too far away now. Please don't stop writing Jack. That poem - that had the nauseating, chorus was TREMENDOUS! It should be required reading for every child especially every original. Maybe the chorus was nauseating - but then aren't they? Just associate with them nowadays - You'll agree - and if every little Negro girl and boy knew what to expect they would stop looking for some form of prestige to come from acquiring one of these no good Caucasoid types - Thanks for everything Strouds. I've really enjoyed these letters and look forward to them every month - Albert you've done a terrific job.

Sincerely,

Bobbie and Family -

P.S. Congratulations Dolphus and Havanna ---

I didn't know your golf was that good Dolphus!

Happy birthday Jack in May - Lulu in March and Albert - and who else, Tandy's in May?

Thanks Bobbie for your great letter - We all think you are doing a tremendous job with your wonderful family - We are all for you and them -

I will try to explain some of my criticisms at the end of this letter since Jack has another letter coming.

Jacks letter is dated June 15, 1960, and is very thought provoking.

Here it is:

Dear Folks:

I hope everyone is well and prosperous. The weather in Southern California continues pleasant. No rain for weeks and weeks. But - foggy and smoggy in the mornings.

Nina has indicated that she and Percy will vacation in California very soon.

There is reason for me to believe that California - especially around Los Angeles is about the most expensive spot in the U.S.. I think the cost of items such as food and living is about 1 1/2 times as much as it is in Colorado.

Los Angeles has beautiful residences and nice lawns and shrubbery. Most new buildings are constructed very very flimsily however.

I wish to remark again about the family status, and the remarks made by most of us regarding Christianity. I have said that we should be very cautious about any of our beliefs and attachments to churches, political parties and organizations. This seems logical. Mr. Albert always rises to defense of Christianity. This is shortsighted because it needs no defense. From the time of Charlemagne's defeat of the Moors about 800 A.D., Christianity consolidated and conquered the world. This is just an obvious fact. One reason why the Christian world wide institution of slavery was because so much of its preachments tend to define persons who are not Christians as heathens. That is, by subjecting these millions of people to slavery, they exposed them to Christianity.

I used to listen to Albo years ago when he went into his over long dissertations in defense of Christianity. He also ascribed to the above theory. I mean that he vaguely felt slavery was a means to expose Africa, and other dark skinned area to Christianity. I had never had very much dependence on Christianity to begin with. Then after being exposed to Albo, what little that remained was effectively destroyed.

One great tragedy that comes from Albo, is that he feels there is some correlation between morality and Christianity. Christianity is a religious and sociologic plan that controls behavior patterns. Morality is an ethical arrangement of living habits Morality implies that man has made adjustments through experience. Before the world had every heard about Christianity there were moral habits among men and moral laws of government.

There is reason to believe that in the moral area there are obvious shortcomings in the Christian theory. For example, why is laziness so often evident in the individuals who have become so 'holy' attached to Christianity? I wish someone would go into this rather thoroughly. Again, getting back to slavery, is it not reasonable to assume that a Christian would not have as many 'pangs' of guilt if he believed he was only punishing heathens? He could rationalize and say that the heathens need not complain, because they were being exposed to Christianity.

I once remember Albo stating that slavery was probably necessary so that Negroes would fall into the 'plan of God.' He follows this up by that old worn out cliché that God is no respector of persons. Well, when someone comes upon you with such a travesty of moral thinking, it makes you feel like vomiting.

In other words, God planned that the continent of Africa needed to be utterly destroyed in order for the Negroes to become exposed to Christianity. Albo leans a whole lot on this 'plan of God' idea. If you have talked with him to any extent, you are led to believe that God is playing an eternal game of checkers with human beings. In other words, God gets some sort of inner satisfaction from a schematic way of conducting his own omnipotent nature. If he realizes such things a 'satisfaction,' or has to have such thing as 'plans', then Albo, like other small persons, sees God only as a limited Being. He is subjected to such attributes as 'plans', 'programs,' 'tastes', 'desires', 'evaluations', etc.. That is why you hear from Christians that abominable statement called the 'will of God'.. I hear this over and over from Christians that God 'wills' what? For what? For whom? And why? Does He need some small, insignificant human attribute called 'will'.

If there is such a thing as God - then what we see in nature is just the nature of God. He did not need to plan anything - or to put anything here as a test for mankind or animalkind. It is a matter of the expression known as "it is".

Now, it is not necessary to repeat the Christian theories that supposedly came out of the Bible. I myself, all the family, have heard these over and over. Does Albo narrow-mindedly assume that he is the only Stroud who has been baptized or who has read the Bible? Don't make me laugh. Kimbal was extremely well read in biblical areas., so are Tandy and Dolphus. Kimbal experienced a lot, was very courageous, and had a mountain of weight on her shoulders as a little girl. But what she could see that the correlation between Christianity and White supremacy was more evident than the correlation between morality and Christianity. What I see is something more diabolical. I see Christianity as something that has become almost a growing cancer. I am certain that Christians would not hesitate to blow up the world rather than to live under another form of world control. This is the preposterous thing that Christianity now represents. I think anything can become too big. I don't want to see the day when the whole world becomes Christian. If this is what the Bible desires, if this is the program of Christianity, then Christianity needs to be suppressed. I don't believe in a 'one party' system. If Christ himself told me this was a desirable situation, I would disagree with him.

So, when my beloved kinsman trod along to their various churches come Sunday morning, I want them to think about this. I want them to think about how many prints of African blood were a pilled to use in mixing the concrete that goes into the hard walls of that building where they go to worship each Sunday. I want them to think about the Indian lives that lay buried beneath the side walks and thoroughfares on their way to 'mass'. I want them to think about the atomic bombs that rained down upon the innocent boys, and girls, and babes of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

There is one thing in common concerning the vanquished. There are two things in common concerning the victors - they were Christians and white - skinned. I am not using propaganda. I am stating a fact.

So - Albo - when you try to promote your so-called Christianity stop and think.

And - Effie when you attempt to laugh smugly at Mr. Muhammad - stop and think. Think, that maybe the thing that you accept as unimpeachable truth might be soddy and full of holes.

Well - good luck - everybody

Jack

Since it seems that Jack is in a backhanded way trying to find the truth and since his expressions which are somewhat blasphemous must go uncensored into a family letter, I suppose I must spend a little time to answer this letter. Why should Jack always bring up the subject of Christianity?

First of all I would say that Jack resorts to an old political trick of building up a straw man and then knocking him over. That is, he builds up and entirely false image of Christianity based on blatant untruths and falsehoods and proceeds to knock that image over - and then shouts and gyrates in glee that he has knocked over Christianity.

Now there would be little sense in my presenting the lives and deeds of ordinary Christians and certainly not myself to give Jack a true picture of Christianity. However since Christianity means Christ - like, I think we should take the life and words of the blessed Jesus himself as the true essence of Christianity. I did not want to have to quote too much scripture, but since Jack's arguments are so repetitious and common to agnostics and atheists, I think a simple argument based on the life and words of Jesus should show if His life and works fits in with Jack's picture of the blessed Jesus and His doctrines.

1. Jack mentions Charlemagne as a great Christian but I have found nothing about him in the Bible. He mentions the rising and falling of kingdoms and governments and social orders among men. Christ said, however, that my kingdom is not of this world. Although the Roman government was a great power among men in the days of Christ it is hardly mentioned in the Bible - Usually the kingdoms of this world are rather ignored in the New Testament. The Kingdom of Heaven is in the hearts of men - The Kingdom of God is within you. As for the Kingdom of Heaven sometime dominating all the kingdoms and powers of this world - there are prophesies that indicate such a time. For instance: the stone that Daniel saw cut out without hands that rolled down thru space and time and filled up all the space that other kingdoms occupied and became an everlasting Kingdom that will never be destroyed.

2. I think that Jack has made a glaring mistake in setting himself up as a judge - Jesus said Judge not that ye be not judged - for with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged and with wat measure ye met it shall be measured to you again. Most people are glad that a loving, forgiving, and merciful God is their Judge and not Jack, or any weak and sinful, unqualified, unmerciful, and prejudiced human being.

3. Regarding Jesus' attitude toward slavery and oppression we could take one of his statements from Luke the 4th chapter and the 18th verse: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord, - Of course Jack has ascribed the actions and activities of pseudo-christians, hypocrites, and wolves in sheep's clothing to those who are born of God and redeemed by Jesus blood. This just doesn't work out.

4. The slavers and perpetrators of crimes against nations and races of people will be punished and will have to answer for their crimes - But in spite of their evil deeds God is able to bring good out of the evil that the slavers and oppressors meant to do. Slavery did not destroy the American Negro nor break his spirits - Negroes overcame the evil of slavery and perhaps because of it became perhaps the strongest people of America. There is a saying that "He plants His footsteps on the sea and rides upon the storm." Without the trials, persecutions, and heavy burdens of slavery, could we have been the amazing people we are today? Would the world ever have received the blessing of our patience and humor - our simplicity - our music - our realism and physical strength - our character, and faith, and religion. The bed-rock and fiery trials of slavery has prepared us and never was a nation prepared for the 'large place' and leadership, moral and spiritual of millions of darker peoples.

5. No, Jack, Christianity is not a theory or a sociologic behavior pattern, or an ethical arrangement of living habits - Christianity is life itself - It is being born again. It is not a doing but a being. He that hath the Son hath life; but he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life. Jesus in the 17th chap. of John, 20th and 21st verse said: Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as though, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou has sent me.

6. Yes, God has a will and a plan. In the Garden of Gethsemanae, Jesus said: Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. Jesus often spoke of the fulfillment of the Scriptures in his life and deeds. Also prophecy, nature, and law, point to a time of the consummation of all things - And I am sure that it behooves all of us to study and seek and find the Plan of Salvation - God's Plan.

7. It would be very hard to find a true Christian that is lazy. Some scholars believe that laziness is the unforgivable sin. John wrote of Jesus who was the true exponent of Christianity (Read and reread the life of Jesus; and see if you can see where he lost much time in being lazy) - As I was about to say, John said of Jesus: And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.

In reading the life of Jesus see if you can find where he ever called a lazy man.

8. As far as Christianity destroying unbelievers - There was a time when a city did not receive Jesus and his disciples wanted permission to bring down fire from heaven and destroy these people but Jesus said: The Son of man came not to destroy the world, but to save the world, and to give his life a ransom for many.

9. Jack is wrong about there being morality or law before Christianity for the book of John opens with the words: In the beginning there was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

10. The Christian religion is not a political party and only those who seek it find it. And only those who sincerely want to come into the Kingdom can come. And the Kingdom is not held together by money or voting - but the warp and woof of the Kingdom and the binding power thereof is Love.

11. What Albo, or Kimbal, or Dolphus, or Tandy know about the Bible will not be sufficient for Jack - He has to read the Bible and come to God all by himself and all alone.

12. While Jack is talking of martyrs I wonder if he would reflect that the Christian religion is covered with blood. Only one of Jesus immediate disciples died a natural death. Paul was beheaded - Peter was crucified. There is a long list of those who were burned alive and fed to wild beasts, and tortured and skinned alive. And there is Jesus himself of whom it is written: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. Blood is very much a part of the Christian religion. One of Christianity's greatest songs is: "There is a fountain filled with blood."

Now if Jack will read the 53rd chapter Isaiah about the "Suffering Servant" and try to identify Him with the struggling, the rejection and the contempt of the darker people especially the oppressed American Negro - If he compares this chapter verse by verse with the sufferings of the Negro in America - He will be able to identify ourselves as a people with the Suffering Servant who was Jesus - I think that Jack will find a fellowship there of suffering - May he also find a fellowship in his sufferings, but by going a little farther - know Him in the power of a resurrection. "That we might know Him, in the fellowship of His sufferings, and in the power of His resurrection." The people who are Christians are not citizens of this world, but of a world to come.

I am looking for a letter by Lulu. There was an offering of thanks to Jack for his financial help in the decoration of Mama's Father's and Kimbal's graves. She mentioned how the flowers looked and other things that I am sure you would like to hear. I am sure you all appreciate what they are doing. I've lost the letter, I suppose, but I would like to offer thanks along with the rest of you. Perhaps the next time we will be able to share financially in this blessing-

Well -This is getting to be a very long letter - It is now nearly two o'clock in the morning so

Best wishes to all of You,

Ben.

August 27, 1960, Newsletter

To The Strouds:

I suppose most of us are about ready to settle back for the fall routine of work now that the vacation time is about over. I think we have enough letters now from you to make up another Newsletter. This one will probably surprise you - It is one of those rare ones from James. This is postmarked July the 7th.

How remarkable, so don't drop dead, a letter from James. This letter, due to a paper limit must be brief. I don't know how much the residential neighborhoods have changed in the last ten years in Chicago, but here's what I want: A middle class neighborhood not too far from the loop, preferably the northwest side. You see, I've forgotten the names of all but the major throughfares in Chicago, Remember, this location should be 90% white, featuring apartment houses or house-keeping rooms. Can you find out which gym the first class fighters train at and it's location? Now if you can throw in a couple of real classy night spots I think that will just about do it.

I saw Chick just before I came here and she is really something to be proud of. Tandy is having a very hard time, his wife is sick and can't work so it's pretty tough on him.

Sometime I think I'll write the story of James Hagerman Stroud; Chick thinks it would be a best seller if I wrote it as I've lived it.

One other thing, if you have a news letter, send me one. I would kind of like to read what the spooks are writing.

If it isn't too much trouble send me that information right away, you see, I'll be getting released about the 20th of July,

Thanks a million, James Stroud

P.S. Be sure to send Chick her newsletter on time, she just about dies when she doesn't get it.

James letter came from the Santa [ita?] Rehabilitation Center Box 787, Pleasanton, California - I'm sure you are all glad to hear from him again.

In regards to James' query on housing in Chicago and suburban areas, I would like to remark that housing in Chicago has undergone and is undergoing colossal revolutionary changes in pattern and design of neighborhoods both from a physical standpoint and from an ethnic and racial standpoint. Also some of the great toll ways and expressways are nearing completion. One of these - the Congress Expressway has been fifteen years in building and should be completed by November. Points as far away from the loop of Chicago as Elmhurst Illinois would only require about 20 minutes to reach the loop. Negroes in Chicago now comprise at least one fifth of the population. There is a constant and tremendous tearing down of slums and rebuilding of multi-storied housing structures. To tell the social, political, and economic implications and ramifications of slum clearance and rebuilding would take volumes.

When Effie came thru here a few weeks ago enroute west we had a brief discussion on the merits of these vast slum clearance and rehabilitation programs which seem to be projected on in construction in most large cities of America. This tearing down and rebuilding takes place in predominantly Negro occupied areas. Negroes are replaced into (outwardly appearing magnificent) multi-storied housing developments. Hundreds of thousands of Negroes thereby become public housing occupants and lose some degree of self-respect and citizenship status - Therefore: 1st would such vast projects be necessary if Negroes were given full equality economically and in opportunity to purchase or rent living space wherever such space were available? 2nd, If Negroes do gain full citizenship study and equal opportunity in employment and economic opportunity, and equal right with other Americans to live where they wish, will these tremendous housing efforts in a few short years become vacant wasted monuments to America's policy of housing discrimination? Effie is of the opinion that all these vast efforts and expenditures would be for the most part uncalled for if there were no discrimination in the first place.

Our next letter is from Jack way back as of July the 13th. Time certainly flies - I had no idea that this letter is two months behind.

Dear Family:

I am sitting here in the office this morning. Very little constructive effort is being made. The pending contracts are being worked out, and, I suppose there is some uncertainty because of impending elections.

Nina and Rosa have very recently made visits to Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Both looked very well and capable. Percy was quite charming and intelligent.

At the present time L.A. is going through the throes of its first Convention.

The big NAACP rally was held this Sunday prior to the Convention. This was the first time I ever saw so many L.A. originals on hand at a gathering of this sort.

With both Adam Powell and Luther King on hand the meeting was well worth attending. The most noticeable achievement was that the gray boys had to play a second role to the original orators. Kennedy, Humphrey, Symington, and Gov. Lehman of New York had a few words to say - but when Powell and King got going the gray boys looked like amateurs.

I often wonder just what boy the U.S. will select to face the world during the next decade. I almost pity him. Martin Luther King should certainly be appointed to some major role, that is, vice-president or secretary of state. He might be able to stem the anti-American tide. Well, whatever will be-will be. But - even the most diehard supporters of Eisenhower should surely be dissatisfied by now.

I listened to Humphrey as he spoke before the NAACP. Because he appears to be sincere about equal rights etc. - is the reason he had to be rejected by the Democrats. Also - the Republicans will do something similar. They won't select a person who is really too devoted to human rights.

Actually, I believe the platform that the democrats have adopted will be used for vote appeal and probably for nothing else. Mathematically the democrats have figured out that having the votes of Harlem, the southside of Chicago, Detroit's John R. Street, the black belts of Philly, Baltimore, Cleveland and L.A. will decide the way these states will go. The electoral votes from these states will add up to more than the entire solid south. And, if most of Texas' Negroes are voting by November, they expect to get the electoral votes from this state.

The Republicans will come out with as strong - or a stronger Civil Rights platform for the same reasons. Of course the Republicans will probably allow the golden - voiced Archibald Carey to nominate somebody. In other words they will profit by the mistakes I already notice the democrats are making. So far - the democrats do not have one Negro slated to make a major address. That is, of Wednesday morning, July 13. Perhaps, they may change before the carnival is over.

Right now, I wonder if originals recognize how peculiarly important they are becoming. The speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives was on hand and he said in a few very well placed words:

"We will measure the extent of trust and confidence we place in the United States on the kind of freedom granted to 18,000,000 of its citizens whose origin is in the soil of Africa."

My religion seldom comes down - but I sort of got carried away during the NAACP rally. I think I was one of the first members of the audience to begin booing when some gray boy made the mistake of mentioning the name of Harry Truman. I think the gray boy got a little scared, because the originals appeared to be rather perturbed. He was practically shouted down, and thanks for the quiet approach of Mr. Wilkins who let it be known that "the NAACP must ever protect the right of free speech - and the right of any person to express his opinion."

I just wanted to write these few words about something of interest at this time. I hardly think the candidates in either party can cope with the situations that are developing and will develop. However, I think it is the time for 'originals' to be outspoken and demanding. These gray boys cannot measure up to the new order.

Good luck to all

Jack.

P.S. I will send my $5.00 by the first of August.

Well a lot of changes have taken place, in part predicated by Jack, since he wrote this letter. I imagine it is not necessary to review such things for things are happening almost hourly to focus more and more light and responsibility on American Negroes -- I wonder if we are ready!

Our next letter dated August 6, is from Dolphus:

Dar Ben:

I enjoyed that last news letter very much. I think Chic wrote the most vivid description of the inside workings of a hospital that I have ever read. I had to show her letter to a few friends and brag about her being my daughter. The little "private eye", Chuckie, did a good job too for a ten year old.

Jack, as usual, puts the spice in the news letter. I believe all of us look forward to his contributions. And the letter would lose much of its color and impact if he didn't contribute. I don't assert myself on religious issues because I am totally uninformed in such things. I have only a few pages remaining to complete the Book of Mormon (It's almost as long as the Bible) But I don't feel any spiritual impact from its reading. However, it is very interesting and different. I'd recommend it to each of you for reading - then form your own conclusions.

I qualified with an 18 hole score of 103 in the Portland City championships. That put me in the last flight - I had expected to make Championship - and I was beaten in the finals of the last flight. I lost eleven balls during the qualifying round. On the sixteenth hole, a 168 yarder, I dumped three balls into the lake. That brought me down to just one ball remaining from the dozen with which I started. I figured to hit it into the water too and walk in - but it not only made the green but rolled into the cup for a hole in one - or rather, in seven. That shot got me headlines for the tourney and a write-up in Sports - Illustrated.

Business is fair and expenses terrifically high. The family are all well and send love. Jesse Tarrant was here last week for the Negro Tournament. I didn't compete as I had work for those days - and I don't know who won.

I believe the patriotism of the American Negroes will be put to the supreme test before the year's end when they will be asked to go to Africa and shoot down some of the natives there in order to preserve White Supremacy. I certainly hope no Strouds are that patriotic.

I guess Jack's keeping up so I know he's recognized what's happening to our infallible decimal system in the mathematics of space - and to our 2 and 2 equal 4. It's what I meant 2 years ago when I was harping on math; but I guess my choice of words didn't get the message across.

Your Brother,

Bunk

It seems that Dolphus holds a high position in the city of Portland - He is really making a name for himself. I thought his mathematical discussion of two years ago were very interesting and took quite a lot of concentration and attentive reading.

Our next letter dated August 11th, mailed August 14th is from Nina:

To the Strouds:

I have been meaning to write this letter for almost a month now, but am just now getting around to starting it. I surely hope I'll be able to finish it before August is over. Also, since I am in very poor financial circumstances at the present time, I have no money to send for duplicating machine and I do feel that Albert should have some mechanical help in putting out this newsletter. The job he is doing now is a very tremendous one and all of us should recognize this. I'll speak more to this point later.

Percy and I took a trip to California the last of June and really enjoyed ourselves tremendously. The main purpose for the trip was to find out if we wanted to move to the west coast to live. I had already contacted several school districts and filed several applications, and wanted to follow up my correspondence with personal interviews. My trip was highly successful in this light, and although it was costly, nevertheless I feel the results were worth the price. For my part I am almost certain that I am better off where I am than I would be if I moved to California now. Of course one never knows what the future holds, and if I ever have to move away I'd choose California first of all. The place is simply beautiful and people live very well there. The climate as you know is not so harsh and one does not have the expense of trying to keep warm during a rough winter as we have here. But I realize that I'm too well entrenched here now to make a move anywhere. I hope some day that I can send Percy to Stanford University to school. We were both thrilled at having seen the buildings and walked on the campus. If I had wanted to move ten years ago, then California would have been just the place, but now I'm stuck here and so I'll stay as long as I can.

California is a wonderful place in many many ways but it has, as does every other place, some very definite faults. Some of the things that would be bad for me are:

The cost of living is definitely higher there than here. Wages and salaries are higher but they have to be still higher as far as I'm concerned to make up for the difference in living costs. For example teacher's salaries there are about $600 higher on average than here - in the Bay Area they are a good deal higher than in the Los Angeles area - but I think they should be $1000 higher to meet the cost of living difference. (These figures are for annual salary. I priced a few houses in both areas and found that similar houses here are definitely cheaper. Only in Sacramento did I find the cost of houses somewhat parallel to ours. Food is just as high if not higher, however there is a much greater variety. A car is an absolute necessity and the expense of a car there is definitely above the expense for a car here - gas, oil, insurance, taxes, etc. Taxes there are far above ours and of course, though, the state of California provides more services than does the state of Colorado. Clothing is quite far above the cost of clothing here, but again there are many more kinds of clothes to buy. Since there are more goods and services one naturally will spend more money there than here. People in California have been making money for a longer time than we have in Colorado, so of course they live better. However we have started making a decent wage here and in ten more years or perhaps less the standard of living here should be comparable to theirs - I am speaking of Colored people now. Of course in Denver the standard of living for Negroes is quite high now, just as high, in my opinion as the standard out there, but here in Colorado Springs we still have further to go.

Since I'm not an elderly woman yet ready to retire to a nice warm climate for my remaining years on earth, I'm not exactly sure that I'd really like a place that never gets really cold. This may seem very strange, but all my life I've lived in places where one always looked forward to spring because the winter was so cold. This is of course psychological but important nonetheless.

Colorado is beginning to grow and develop. I feel that California has reached it's maximum growth and will now level off just as New York and Illinois have. There will always be lots of people and lots of industry and opportunity, but there won't be the tremendous chances for opportunity found in a region where growth and development are just starting.

I was a little concerned about the quality of public education there. A region's future citizens, in fact a region's future, it seems to me, is greatly dependent on its public education, since our society is democratic. Some few people can and do send their children to public schools but the great majority of the people are educated publicly. These public school graduates make up the future population and are the people responsible for the kind of society that develops. I mean this in a very broad sense; the officials who govern both nationally and locally, the police department, the fire department, the hospital staffs from the superintendent on down to the janitor, the institutional staffs and administrators, the people in commerce and industry - Bankers, lawyers, brokers, salesmen, skilled and unskilled workers, merchants, etc. etc. are by and large public school trained. Therefore, in America the quality and adequacy of education in California did not impress me. I am speaking of the public schools now and not the Universities. I can easily understand the reason for this, however, because the population has expanded so rapidly it has been almost impossible for the schools to keep up with it. However excellent educational standards have been maintained in the important cities in Colorado for quite sometime and I do know that my child is having the advantage of the very best that our town has to offer. I cannot quite see how I can take him out of this situation now and take a chance of perhaps getting him into a good school. I feel that the future for our children is unlimited if they have been truly educated, and my child's future is of the utmost importance to me.

I found also, that prejudice does exist in California just as in any other place where Negroes and whites live together. It's just a matter of degree. However great progress has been made there and in many places it seems to be nonexistent. I am quite proud of the progress that has been made in Colorado and feel very good about having been a part of this progress. Naturally it is good to watch the "de-prejudicing" of a city, but more than that it is exhilarating to see the opportunity that our parents wanted for us developing for our children right here in the place where they had such a tremendous struggle. I would say without doubt that Colorado is further along the road toward complete integration than any other state I have been in.

While on our trip we saw all our relatives excepting James and we were quite impressed with the number of Strouds now living, in that region. I will not attempt to try to name them or enumerate them but realizing how many people are involved in the newsletter, I feel that it is time now to think of putting it out in a large scale in some way. Once Ben suggested publishing it in magazine form. I think this would be a good idea because then pictures could be included. I saw many in the homes of my relatives that I think all of us would enjoy seeing, and I have several here which I would like to share with all of you. Also, I think that the cost of Ben's effort should really concern all of us and that something very definite should be done about it. Also, I feel that this newsletter is becoming a very public thing rather than a private correspondence among the "original" Strouds. A good many people read it and discuss it with other people and this is good because I feel some of the things in it should be shared with anyone interested, but since it is a public vehicle rather than a private one, I think all of us who contribute should write realizing that people we do not know at all and who are not relatives of ours in any way may read what we write. If Ben were to put the letter out on a subscription basis he would be compensated (I hope) for the expense and time he has invested in it for all these years. Also other people who would like to read it would be able to, and I do feel this is important.

I have a good deal more to say about general issues, about the coming election, the Congo situation, and the world situation in general, about my job, about the news in Colorado Springs, about the Negroes' fight here in America for integration, etc., but my back is getting tired now so I'll have to stop and rest. I never was a very good typist anyway ad this letter is probably long enough now. I should like to say before closing that all of my relatives in California treated Percy and me royally and we enjoyed being with them very very much. We were very much impressed by how well all of them seem to be doing - we are still poor here in Colorado Springs - and we were very proud to be one of them. I can't begin to tell you of all the nice things they did for us, but I can assure you that none of it will ever be forgotten ---- Love to All - Niney

P.S. I'll write another letter when I have the time to include some of the things I've mentioned above.

This was a very interesting letter from Nina and I have often considered the necessity of trying to make a much larger and more commercial type publication that would carry features, special columns and interesting subjects, and would appeal to selected advertisers for products that could be sold to a tight group of clients on more or less of a personal appeal. I think I mentioned it before but there was immediate criticism because of the increased costs it would necessitate.

We have another fine letter from Mabel, here it is This is dated Labor day.

Dearest Ben:

Pardon delay but I am kept so busy, I don't use glasses as they have grown him to my eyes since my eye operation. Dear, I always enjoy the wisdom of all the Strouds and ancestors. There's nothing I can say - I can't compete. I love to read about all the doings of all - You are dears. It took 3 weeks to read that 30 pages. I was in Hot Springs the month you sent it. All my family extends their love and Best Wishes to all.

Brother is graining a little weight. He and wife enjoy your news letters. You see Omar with his glasses. You are to be commended - How many of those 30 pagers did you write? I went to Hot Springs June 26th returned July 22nd. Floyd's wife went to California, June 2nd, returned with daughter and daughter's husband August 2nd. Floyd did a good job keeping house and wrote all of us regularly - Will write more news next time. - From you Cousins- The Fields.

We all appreciate these fine letters from Mabel and we are all glad to understand that Omar is improving.

Vacations are now about over and the schools are reopening. I suppose we can not settle down for a long siege of hard work until - let's see: Thanksgiving day - yes - and then Christmas - almost here again already!

That song, Neutral Ground - Seems like Nina and Bobby should fill it up a little more - The refrain seems to be a kind of a skeleton of the entire melody. If I remember Father came from the North bedroom that morning - happy and shouting. I think he said a choir of Angels were singing - He caught the refrain and words of Neutral Ground. I wonder if Nina and Bobby could somehow get the great melody of Angelic Choir with a parallel melody that would fill up this skeletal refrain that they have made a record of --- believe this would give more power and fullness -more glory to the song; and would better interpret the glorious Angelic Choir that sang to Father that night.

I too have a lot more to write about - But I'm going to stop now.

I wonder if Welvin can explain what happened to his friend, Ray Norton, in the Olympic Games. I guess we all were a little disgusted about Charles Thomas failure in the high jump. However we have given a good account of ourselves as Negro Americans in this Olympiad - especially when you consider the tigerbelle girl Wilma Rudolph.

The American Negro is entering into that "large Place" for which slavery, hardships, and persecutions have prepared him. It is important that America - if America is to survive - use the talents and strength that God has given the American Negro to win over the rising darker world. America must be so guided by the 16,000,000 darker Americans that she can become the partner and civilizing or educational influence to salvage and offer the best features of the dying Anglo Saxon civilization - that is, the commercial and industrial achievements - the educational and social advancement and the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this surging rising darker world racing into the twentieth century. In the light of international policies and in the critical balance of survival itself - America's most deadly and terrible sin is discrimination and persecution of Negro Americans - segregation and discrimination must be abolished all over America at once.

Colored Americans must realize, also the awful responsibilities incumbent upon them as they enter into this large place. An era is upon us when we will be the most sought for to fill positions - high positions of world importance as ambassadors between the West and Africa and Asia - Not only, political ambassadors, but also ambassadors of trade, commerce, industry, and business and social enterprises and institutions. The question: Are we ready? Will our young people prepare themselves? The greatest idolatry - our greatest sin, would be to idle to waste our opportunities, to continue seeking pleasures and entertainment and degrading activates in the face of a world in turmoil - A world that so desperately needs the talents and strength, the long suffering and patience, of the American Negro. In this war of ideals and powers - In this struggle for the minds of men, the greatest asset of the West against Communism is the full stature, complete equality, and full utilization and compensation of American Colored people in America - and as representatives of America abroad.

Maybe one reason why its hard to find competent Negro help in my business is because of general conditions. (Jack may not like this) - In one month's time in America we spend more for alcoholic beverages than is spent for and given to all the churches in the United States in one years time.

I know there is a lot more to be said - but I guess I'll close now. I started this on August the 27th - Then we got real busy moving furniture - Then the weather got extremely h9t - Then the holidays - Effie phoned on her way back but I was gone so the recording system took her message. Juanita was by with her fine little son on the way to California - Connie and I were at the Union station with them for awhile. All of them looked fine

Hope this finds all well and prosperous

Ben

October 15, 1960, Newsletter

To The Strouds:

Time is flying- it is now October 15th and I have received only two letters- One from Marilyn and one from Jack. I suppose I'll just have to send them out-They are interesting-but I thought perhaps some of you others might contribute something also.

Our first letter is from Marilyn-Here it is: (As of Sept. 18)

Dear Ben,

I'm sitting here supposedly composing a speech outline to be presented in class tomorrow. The requisites would at any other time, seem pretty routine. (1) The speech may be serious, humorous, fictional, actual, contain enough material for a three to five minute oration, and be ready for presentation at 10:00 on Monday. Somehow or another the only registering fact is that 10:00 isn't very far away. All the doubts and fears concerning my mental abilities are flaunting themselves before my numb brain a tauntingly echoing - 'I told you so,' I told you so.' Charles sitting across the room glances up, seeming to sense my deliberation and remarks casually, 'Chick if you didn't know so much about which to write, we could catch a late show." Guiltily now I began again to write-----but to you, not yet the speech.

Dear old wandering minds, crippled bodies and kind-hearted patients whatever possessed me to leave the security of your welcome smiles and smelly bodies to compete with those as physically fit as I'm supposed to be? -For what normal being does not look and feel superior to a bug on the wall, a creeping worm or you loathsome vegetables. While bidding you last farewells my head had been a bit giddy as I realized that I'd placed myself on the threshold of new experiences and unknown challenges. Some of you had cried not that you altogether understood why I was leaving or where I was going -you had, however, grasped the finality of the good-bye and the strange suspicious gaze had come across the iris of your eyes and you shrank from the hand of the stranger I had with me and refused to acknowledge her presence as your "New secretary." You had clung to my arms and asked me not to go. My heart saddened as one by one I loosened the fingers you'd entwined on my person, but overshadowing my sorrow was the joy I felt at having assumed such an important place in you meaningless world.

On my last day, you, Mr. Garvin to whom I could not even say good-bye clasped my arm long after we'd put out your 'cigarette' and you'd said "yes sir." Your eyes looked at me and in them was all the devotion of an animal for it's master, a master who has for the first time spoken harshly to the beast, and even tho it wills its tail to waggle, the little appendage droops along with the usually perky ears, and then drags as the hurt one slinks away. I cried when I patted your head - for this was all I could do for you. The new secretary was so terribly afraid of you all and positive she'd never be able to reach any of you. To JoJo I promised that I'd think of him whenever I drank a glass of kool-aide, as this had been our personal joke - wine versus kool-aide. Oddly enough, Joe, I've thought of you and smiled as I recall your beast of drinking 4 quarts of wine daily since the age of 16. - Poor Joe. Good-bye to you gave me and shared with me - good bye. Gust Johnson has since passed and while I wasn't there, I can see the endless line of one-eyed weeping, vulturous relatives anxious for you, Gust, to draw your last breath, hating you for lingering and clear-minded enough for all their sorrow to appear at all times burdened with grief. You pretentious ones, if only you realized that the spectacle you presented did not draw from the staff the sympathy you thought. They've seen your kind whenever the bird of death has cast it's dark shadow on one of the vegetables. They've seen you in the days, months, and years, when you didn't answer the inquiries concerning your dear one, ---------------- They've seen you in the emptiness of visiting day and in your constant legal efforts to have the patient's small disability check transferred into your clutching hands. No, relatives, the sympathy is non-existent. What did they do to you, Gust? Did they invade the flirtatious silence of the only accomplishment that you had to make did they raise cries of anguish momentarily interrupt your progress thru the darkness, drawing you back by their moaning only to have the dark shadow flit in a bit closer and call for you to retrace your steps? Even in this, Gust, you were denied your right as the human you'd been born, and so died the vegetable you'd become. When their load echoing thought of "hurry, hurry, rush, rush," could no longer be heard, Gust, were you at last beyond their reach-? Goodbye to you Gust, goodbye.

While I see the beauty in the sloping hills, the green grass and the structural building designs, I tense up realizing the vastness I see in all this beauty goes beyond that which can be seen or even touched. There's the vastness of knowledge that must burst open the dam of my mind, the vastness of that which shall never penetrate because of my limitations, the vastness of concept - mine and the instructors - the vastness of college to me at my age and to the younger students who fall naturally into the scope of campus days and feel sure that this too is only four years to endure in order to hand the degree alongside of the diploma - and then there's the vastness of life - life as I see it, life as I live it and live as I know it should be lived. And me so small a pebble in the vastness until I cannot even cast a shadow.

Here and there in my wanderings I'll see other lone, older students, a look of serious interest, so aloof from the girlish giggles of boys, sororities, and other pre-adult activities. In the class room a nearly grey-haired man will rise and give his answer, incorrectly to a question which will be corrected by a smug-faced, dimpled youngster wearing too much make-up. There's so much everywhere to open your eyes to the years you've missed in hastening maturity and you sigh realizing the vastness of it all.

In all the preamble preceding the present paragraph I've attempted in my round about way to inform you, Ben and family of my resignation, enrollment and stupidity. Because I was so long with my adieus I registered late and am only carrying 10 1/2 units (the 1/2 unit of all things being folk dancing) and that added to a previously acquired 4 units will require my taking a 1 1/2 unit in summer session so I can keep a 16 point semester each fall.

Now like an ----, I sit befuddled over a 3 to 5 minute speech outline. I've racked my stationary, minute brain for a subject which will while being of interest to me, interest others. What could that be? -Growing up-Double Identity (getting married) - Baby Makes Three - Me and The World (first job) ??? -You name it, I've thought it.

Well, I can't put it off forever, so best of everything to each of you.

Love

Chic.

I think all of you will agree with me that Chic is a real good writer with interest holding techniques and style. I think she should seriously take up writing.

The next letter we have is from Toby Leslie Lusan Turner:

Dear Uncle Ben,

Whoever typed the Stroud News Letter omitted some of Chucky's letter. I am not a boy, I am a girl. I have two sisters, they are Ceryl and Michelle. I had a fight once. It was with a boy in Detroit. It all started when we were in the room. The teacher's name was Miss Peas. (a white one)

We were in the room when he started to hit on my girl friend.

I told him to leave her alone. He wouldn't. Then he started to hit on me. Then I hit him back. Then it all began. I don't like to fight but, people make me made. I am in the fourth grade. My brother is in the sixth grade. My Sister Cheryl is in the fifth grade and my sister Michelle is in the 2nd grade.

I am sorry I made a lot of mistakes. I did not read the News Letter just what I wrote and what Melvin wrote. Everybody in my family can cook, and everybody in my family can play the piano.

With Love - Toby Leslie Lusan Turner.

Thanks very much for your fine letter Leslie-All your Uncles and Aunts are glad to hear from you-Did you write this letter on the typewriter yourself?

The next nice letter is from Michelle:

Dear Uncle Ben,

My birthday is on May the tenth. I was born on Mother's day. I am in room six that is 2nd grade. I am 7. I am a girl. My name is Michelle. You called Leslie a boy - she is a girl. Cheryl is my other sister. She hasn't not wrote to you. Chuck has wrote to you. I am sorry that my writing is messy. Leslie is typing her letter. I do not have a long letter -

Love-----Michelle

Michelle, I believe all of us think you write very well to be only 7 and in the 2nd grade. All of us who read the News Letter like to hear from you and how you are getting along in school.

Our next letter is from Jack as of October 6, 1960:

Dear Family:

This summer most of the Stroud family visited Los Angeles. These persons were Effie, Nina and Percy, LuLu and Leonard Pollard. I also had a visit from James. It was of very short duration, as he was on his way to Fresno.

Nina commented about her trip to California. From Albo's recent discourse regarding the "Neutral Ground" recording ---- it might seem that Nina should have devoted as much time to organizing this particular music message as was expended by her in presenting her newsletter evaluation of California and other places. On the whole - the recording should have been thought of as a remembrance to Father. Commercial success - or failure being of secondary importance. Because of this, it appears that the remainder of the verses should have been included. I suppose, however, that there are limitations as regards the record length - time, etc.

As a result - we should all be pleased with Nina's effort - and recognize that she has generously acknowledged Bobbie's secondary contribution. I often wonder.

And - in so wondering it seems apparent that the Strouds have paved their own avenues and are headed in their own independent way.

These persons whom I mentioned all looked healthy and prosperous. I sincerely trust that Effie did not become too tired out with her long train ride.

The weather is very warm and pleasing. The traffic problems here are still terrific. Prices here seem to be high to me compared to Denver of - even to Chicago. But, I suppose the cost of transportation is more expensive here than in Chicago. For instance, I drive 19 miles each way to work. This seems to be a great distance here because of the traffic. In Chicago better transportation arrangements would make it possible to cover this distance in about 30 minutes. Here, if I leave home at 6:00 AM. I avoid most of the traffic rush and can get to work in about 30 minutes. In the evening - if I leave at 4:30 - it takes from an hour on up - according to the traffic.

The comparative prejudice is not to be thought of in terms of different cities. It is about the same all over the northern United States. Los Angeles like Chicago - should not be compared to Colorado Springs. Both Chicago and L.A. are very large in size. There are some areas as populous as Colorado Springs in New York, Chicago, or L.A. where a Negro cannot buy any kind of piece of property. Then in other areas the Negroes are way beyond anything in Colorado Springs as regards integration. This is so, if we are using integration as some sort of criterion for success.

At this moment, I should add that I am an old man of some forty or fifty years. Since I have enjoyed my brothers and sisters let me inform that if any one of them does not feel at ease around me, it is far better to remain at a comfortable distance. And please - don't travel all the way from the Centennial State clear out to California to offer any unasked for criticisms. Actually Los Angeles is large enough to absorb anyone's presence without it being directed to me. My formula is to be around those I like and live where I am the most contented!

Dolphus, apparently, did not have too great success in his golf tournament. However, since he had to spend much time in organizing the affair I am sure his mind was not completely on it. He probably was not taking too much effort with his game. Also we all reach an age when competitive endeavors are very unimportant. Actually, I am very, very happy just to get a good night's sleep or to see a flower blooming. I am very happy when I feel good all day long.

My evaluations are these:

The Northeast is the most beautiful part of the Country.

Chicago is the best city for work - and to make a Negro male feel like a man.

New York is a place which a person must see.

Denver is the place where Negroes have culture traits most similar to white folks.

Los Angeles is the city with the best looking homes and residential areas.

Minneapolis - St. Paul is the area of least comparative prejudice.

That's all, good luck ---- Jack

This ends the contributions for this News Letter from those who have written since the last one. About the time of the last one I met most of the remaining Tarrant family at the funeral of my former Sunday School teacher at St. John Baptist - That is Nellie Tarrant - The now late Mrs. Mobley - So, as Jack says- we are getting old - and the old ranks are getting rather thin - "The Reaper is near to the long standing corn-and shall soon call the weary to rest."

I was working along with the Emergency Relief Committee for Fayette County Tenn. a couple of weeks ago. One of the leaders is a Mr. Reddick - studying here in Chicago for the ministry. He is 27 years old and from Denver - but he knew of the Stroud's of Colorado Springs from reading an old Pikes Peak Round-up or Lever Annual book from C.S.H.S. of a graduating class of years ago in which one of the Strouds (I believe Dolphus) had a very good write up and a number of activities with a very high scholarship record. He asked me if I was a member of the distinguished Strouds of Colorado -He is a good friend of McAdams - I knew her as Evelyn Taylor. His folks lived in C.S. many years ago.

I also ran into a Rev. Costonie at the Oak Park Arms Hotel at an anniversary celebration for Radio Station WOPA. He has been around the world and it turned out that he was a resident of Colorado Springs many years ago -He said he graduated from Liller School - (Connie is helping me get this letter out) She says that there is no Liller School in C.S. now. However, if I recall correctly, there was a Liller School there around 40 or 50 years ago.

I met a couple of young men from Ghana West Africa the other day at a dinner. They said Ghana would like very much for qualified American Negroes to come there and help develop the country. They have a power project in mind to develop a great river which would furnish sufficient power to light up the entire nation. They needed capital to develop this project but were turned down by all Western powers - Finally they turned to Russia and now have already obtained the money - Perhaps this is the reason that the American press calls Kwame Nkrumah a red.

Well I'd better close this one

Best wishes to all ----- Ben

November 21, 1960, Newsletter

To The Strouds:

This first letter was quite a shock. I did not know Lu Lu was so critically ill. I can't remember or any ur-information of this sort in the News Letters. I know you will all be glad to know that she is convalescing at least to the extent of writing this letter:

Dear Ben:

Just a note to let you know I'm still alive. Took to bed finally the 23rd of October, was operated on 31st of October, am home now recuperating. Doctor says I should be pretty well by 1st of December. My dear tumor had been using my blood it seems. I was so weak on the 23rd of October I could hardly crawl out of bed. Leonard took me to the Doctor Monday and it seems my hemaglobin count was 4 whereas average is 12 to 13 - so they were afraid I wouldn't last long enough to build up my blood - I agreed with them. Took 3 pints of blood each day before the operation, and 2 during the operation. All would not have been so bad except my veins were too small and deep to take the blood - so I had to have cut downs. One on the elbow and one on the ankle. This is cutting down to the strongest vein and inserting a tube in the vein to make it strong enough to take the blood. These are minor operations. However, thru the Grace of God I made it -oh yes- had my tubes, ovaries, womb, and appendix removed plus the 8 lb. tumor.

Love to All,

Lu Lu

I know that all of you after reading of what Lu Lu has gone thru are happy and thankful that she is recovering.

We had the job of moving our cousin, Mrs. Dunn from Chicago Illinois to Peoria, Illinois over the last week end. Omar has been thru some very bad days recently and I am trying to get away to go there and see him. Thru a delay in plans I had to attend a meeting in Maywood and did not get a chance to go to Peoria personally with the load - I hope to tell more of Omar and Vi - and the housing conditions in Peoria when I get back.

I suppose most of you remember Mr. Herbert Dobbins- I am sure Jack does as he use to live at the Dobbins' residence when Jack was in Maywood. The Dobbins also entertained Mama when she was here. Mr. Dobbins is now recovering from a serious operation -He has been in critical condition, but now seems to be pulling out.

Our next letter plus $5.00 for the expense of the News Letter comes from Dolphus: As of October 24, 1960

Dear Ben:

I just finished the reading of the last News Letter and must say I thoroughly enjoyed it especially the writing of Chic and my grand daughters, Leslie and Michelle. Chic should do very well as a writier. I wish she had commented more on what Charles is doing. I think he's a mighty fine young man.

I was sorry to hear of Nellie Tarrants death. Jesse was here in August and I played some golf with him; but I suppose that was before his sister's death. I thought the News Letter would be swamped with political opinions and comments by the various Strouds; consequently, I refrained from writing so that the October letter wouldn't be too long. It was certainly surprising not to read a single comment on Nixon and Kennedy in this issue.

At this writing I am uncertain where my vote will go- or if I shall vote at all, for that matter. I think Nixon and Kennedy are both "good" men, measured by present day standards. But I believe any one of my brothers would make a better President.

For my part I believe that war should be avoided at any price.. The tragedy of total war transcends any disabilities we might suffer from any concessions to the Russians or to the Chinese - or to any nation. Such concessions would leave us with a world and a human race. Total war would not.

Business is rather slow for an election year. But our Fall has been exceptionally beautiful weather-wise. Each day has been like the September days of my childhood in Colorado.

Ernie is trying to get into the marines. He is 20 pounds overweight. They want him to scale down to 210 from 230 pounds. He's trying to diet to accomplish this; but the ice cream, whipped cream, and desserts that are always around this house are proving difficult for him to resist.

Effie and the Pollards visited us in Portland during the past Summer. We certainly enjoyed both visits. Effie looks wonderful and is full of vitality. I hadn't seen her since Mama's death. The Pollards will stand out anywhere. I've met many people in many places - but none who seem much greater or better than those I grew up with in that over - crowded, unsanitary, fly-infested, open pit-outhouse, horse-manured piled back yard, little shack at 810 N. Walnut Street. I enjoy reading your writings in our News Letter and I especially enjoy talking with any and all of you any time that you can visit here. I've learned more from each of you than from any other instructors I have known.

Two of Havana's sisters were here a few weeks ago. (Mr. and Mrs. Flakes and Sister Ella.) the Flakes' drove their spotless 1960 White Cadillac. It is really a dream. Ernie went up to Seattle with them. Flakes is nearly ready to retire after 20 years as a Civilian with the Navy. "None? (Mrs. Flakes) is nearly ready to retire from Greyhound Bus Lines. She's been with them nearly 20 years. They are fine people and very considerate of everyone. They left money for the children along with clothing and jewelry.

Ella is a cook out of this world. As soon as they arrived they went to one of the super markets and bought a half dozen chickens and more vegetables and staples than have been in this house in a long time. Then they cooked - meats, vegetables, cakes, pies, everything. I am still about five pounds overweight. They are all so congenial and so much fun I hated to see them leave for Sacramento and then Los Angeles their home.

The children are all well and enjoying life. I have no complaints. At my age I am thankful to be able to enjoy a good two mile run in the mornings and a cold water shower. Love to each of you and visit us in Portland as often and whenever you can.

Bunk

Jack has sent two copies of the November 11th copy of the Missile Division Skywriter, evidently a trade paper of North American Aviation, Inc. There is a picture of Jack with four other golfers -The others are all Whites. They have all won trophies as golfers in the October Monthly Golf Tournament. The article says, "Jack Stroud, Engineering Systems Analysis, fired a no-handicap 72 to gain first place in the low net gross division of the New Golfers Fight." Congratulations to Jack - He has a habit of excelling. -By the way this is one of the best pictures I have seen of Jack.

If the election is not thrown into the house of representatives by the southern electoral college, I suppose Kennedy will be our next president. He has been elected largely by the big city Negro vote. The Negroes in the big cities of America are slaves to the Democratic machines which have made them wards of the government instead of progressive citizens of America. If they do not vote the way the precinct captains tell them to, they would lose their apartments in public housing projects, their relief and ADC checks, and their jobs in government agencies and other inefficiently operated public welfare or institutional occupations. Intelligent Negroes living in suburban areas, small towns, and progressive states like Colorado voted for Nixon and the Republican party.

There is a lot more I could say -For instance about Fayette County Tennessee Emergency Relief Project on which I have been working to help send food, clothing, and money to these people who are victims of the White Citizen's Council and Ku Klux Klan boycott because they have attempted to vote - But all for now Best wishes - Ben

I think I did end this a little too abruptly on page 5. This rental typewriter does not space right and also I have only received two letters for this issue.

To go into just a little more detail on Fayette Tenn: I have been working to some degree with the Emergency Relief Committee For Fayette Tenn. The organizations behind this Committee are: CORE, Chicago Youth Committee For Civil Rights, and the League of Negro Voters. CORE chose Mr. Sterling Stucky to head the project for the relief of the victims of the boycott at Fayette Tenn. These people were cut off from purchasing food, clothing, medicine, and gas by White Citizen Council and Ku Klux Klan constituents thru out the South. This boycott was placed against these people because of their determination. The real leader down there in the effort to vote - As he says: "to get the ballot box" is a young totally fearless wiry gray eyed 35 year old brown skin Negro by the name of John McFerrin. His occupation down there was farming, logging, and store keeper. (I will try to make this brief) Mr. McFerrin says the worst part of the boycott was the gasoline squeeze - McFerrin is uneducated and talks slowly - but he really impresses people. The gasoline squeeze caused the farmers to be unable to put in their crops for the most part - The few that did will have a very short crop and will be unable to pay the money due on their land. So far eight persons at least have died because of the boycott on food clothing and medicine. Two have died from starvation and six because no doctor or clinic will serve them. So far our work has been fruitful with churches and we have been able to send 70,000 lbs. to these people. Our Committee is made up almost entirely of young people. The leader Sterling Stucky is a young high school teacher. The group is students graduate students and teachers and is interracial. These young people are very poor (I am not sure that any of them even owns a car) Yet at a reception near the University of Chicago, I saw $2,000 pledged in about an hour's time. Several members of the Committee have gone to Fayette to view the conditions down there and obtain first hand information. Because of the lack of crops the people will be put off the land when cold weather comes and with neither money or food this means starvation according to Mr. McFerrin. The White Citizens Council have a price of $2000 on McFerrin's head. He says he is constantly threatened - which doesn't worry him in the least. He is president of the Civic League of Fayette County and as I said before, does not seem to know the meaning of fear. The morale of the colored people down there is very high. They are very united and feel that no sacrifice is too great to gain the right to vote. They believe they will win their battle and are determined to stay there and fight it out. Mr. McFerrin says that their policy is non-violence but that his constituents are very well prepared if fighting should start. However, he says that if violence starts the white people will have to start it. But he says nobody will be able to tell where it will end. The people down there are very grateful for what the Chicago Area individuals, organizations, and churches are doing and have done to support and sustain them. Our Churches hare in Maywood have done a good job and are doing more. The feel that their real missionary work. Many of us wonder why the Government moves so slowly in this terrible case.

January 14, 1961, Newsletter

[Starting on page 11]

I thought the Newsletter was finished with only Jack's contributions but I have just now received a letter from Dolphus - This is now Jan the 19th. Here it is:

Dear Ben,

We are just a week away from the advent of the Kennedy administration and all the short comings of the Eisenhower administration are being magnified. We are being told that America is in dire straits because the gold horde buried at Fort Knox is shrinking. Gold doesn't make or break a nation. If it did, Mexico would be a super nation because it has great stores of all metals.

America is weakening because of moral degeneration. For a nation to be strong its people must be strong mentally, physically, and sexually and there must be adequate and satisfactory opportunities for expression of all these strengths. Much of the mental and physical health depends on adequate and satisfying sex life. Inhibition, frustration, and sublimation of sex passions are the surest routes to the insane asylum, to the psychiatrist, or to the surgeon.

From the view point of the small business man the most feared Gov't agent is the T. man - the Treasury agents, better known as Collectors of Internal Revenue.

In high school days when I read about the tax collecting methods of ancient Rome, how the Tax franchise for a given colony was auctioned to the highest bidder and how the successful bidder then proceeded with the aid of Roman legions to bleed the people of the Colony for every cent he could get from them through jailing, flogging, intimidation, chicanery and every honorable and dishonorable expedient that could be devised, I thought how wrong that system was. And I felt that it developed only because the Roman system of notation was inadequate for high finance.

In America the Agents of the Internal Revenue Dept. are given from 5% to 25% of all extra collections they can source from the American public through auditing tax returns. These Agents have at their command all the resources of the government to investigate, threaten, attach one's holdings and auction them for a fraction of their value. How long will it be until our tax concessions will be sold just as in the days of ancient Rome?

Business hasn't been good for me for quite some time -and luck hasn't been too good either. But the family is well and all are eating -and that's the most important thing of all.

The University of Georgia is in the spotlight as I write this letter. I wonder if the two Negro Students will be more successful than was Authurine Lucy in Alabama some years ago. In many ways America is a pitiable nation. A truly great president would go into those troubled areas and lead the Negro students into those schools and let Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana know that national law was going to be upheld there at home before any efforts were expended in the Congo, in Laos, and other areas of the world where Americans have no business going.

There is a professor at Atlanta University who doesn't go along with Martin Luther King's motto of non-violence. This man recently stated that, "It is better to live ten seconds in the glory of manhood than a thousand years on one's knees. I think he has something there.

Well it's time to get home. I hope everything is fine with you and the other members of the family. Regards and quick recovery to Lulu.

Your Brother,

Bunk

Once more -I hope this finds all well or recovering

Ben.

April 28, 1961, Newsletter

[Start on page 2]

Next we have another splendid communication from Dolphus as of April 4, 1961.

Dear Ben:

It's wonderful to be young and to believe in the Fourth of July image on one's government. For me all the halos are gone and I'm probably a bit too cynical. But for Connie's information she, too, can collect from five to twenty-five percent of any unreported taxes that she can assist the Government in getting. Any private citizen can cash in on being an informer and employees of the internal Revenue Department are in a very favorable position to make this extra money.

Some of the tax money I paid helped to slaughter 200,000 persons at Hiroshima. Some of my tax money went to kill the followers of Jomo Kenyatta in Kenya. Some went to assist in the killing of Lumumba in Katanga Province in the Congo. I am extremely reluctant to assist in the financing of such "achievements."

McArthur, Eisenhower, Giant Corporations, and all rich and powerful persons can escape most taxes. Poor working people and ignorant boxers haven't a chance. Uncle Sam now claims over a million dollars of Johansen's purses from his two fights -90% of his part. McArthur can write a book, sell the copyright, and spread the resulting profit over 10-years to keep his tax liability down in the 20% to 35% bracket. The tax system is bad and corrupt and will destroy America as it destroyed Rome.

Joel is boxing as an amateur now and showing considerable promise. He has been on T.V. a few times. He hits quite hard for his weight and it's difficult to hurt him.

The rest of the family are well and eating but business is not prospering. Expenses are exceedingly high.

For some reason I don't feel optimistic about the future I have a feeling that something is going to happen. It's a feeling of impending disaster. I hope I'm wrong.

Love to all. Havana and the children join me in this sentiment. Very truly yours, Kelley D. Stroud

This is an interesting letter and I believe that Dolphus has a lot of good points about the inequities of the tax laws. I wonder why the Internal Revenue Department does not check out the income tax reports of the rich land owners of the South who have been evidently taking hundreds of thousands of dollars per year from tenant farmers and share croppers in the yearly divisions of income from farm operations -I'm quite sure the government knows this.

I see also that Kennedy is already in deep water -Has even called on some of the Republican leaders to get him out of the mess he is in. I have doubts of his adequate wisdom and patience to deal with the pro's of Russia, Asia, and Africa -He kind of reminds me in appearance of Mickey Rooney. Nor can I see that he is doing anything outstanding about the civil rights of Negroes. He seems to spend a great deal of his time in the south so therefore he evidently should be able to see the unequal status of Negroes at first hand - I imagine that sooner or later, however, he will have some kind of an investigation to see if it's true that Negroes are being denied equal rights in the South.

Our next interesting and well written letter is from Nina, as of March 2nd.

Dear Strouds:

This last letter was good! It inspired me to write and although it's 12:30 A.M. and I have a tough day ahead, I'll start this.

Local news: Many of the old timers have passed away. Mrs. Todd Colbert, and Albert Butler, as you all probably know. Ellis and Charlie came back to bury Albert. Bobbie and I, Erma Mee and John McDonald had a really good "gab-fest" with them while they were here. Ellis is a G-S 13, a general supervisory engineer at Sacto Maintenance Depot in Sacramento, Calif. I think that means about $13,000 per year. Charlie is a Dentist in Oakland. They were both magnificent, and we enjoyed them no end. Ellis says that Mr. Butler is still living but suffers with diabetes. They are both doing very well and are really good people to know. Mrs. Hunter Sr. is ill, and has been for over a year now. You know Mrs. Shelton passed away and Bernie lives alone at the home occasionally having Margaret's children with her etc.

Colorado Springs has started on a building campaign. We're getting a NORAD something - or other under Cheyenne Mountain that will cost the tax payers around 12 million dollars. They're just going to put NORAD headquarters into the mountain so that if we are attacked NORAD can still function. NORAD means North Atlantic Air Defense Command and it is the body responsible for alerting all this continent's air defense. CC is expanding. They're building a new library, a new science building, a new Gymnasium and "they hope" dormitories. They are buying up property in that area for expansion. We are getting a $2,000,000 apartment house out-east, and the Air Academy is getting a Stadium, so maybe things will pick up around here as far as employment and business is concerned.

St. John's Baptist Church has started a building campaign. A new church is to be built out on "Sugar Hill" close to where Bobby lives. The site is beautiful, and I think they're going to make it. Bobbie and I both are on the payroll there. She is Minister of Music and I am general helper out. I have a very nice children's choir there. However, you should hear Bobbie's general choir. She has around 40 voices - and do they sing that gospel music! My, My! -These Baptist - Catholics are a killer - diller. Buster Bradford is president of the local branch of the NAACP and doing a nice job. He has a Negro History Week program at the little theatre in February. Percy said the Gettysburg address and I was right proud of my offspring. I took Percy out of Catholic school in January and put him in Garfield for several reasons. The main one being that I couldn't have him indoctrinated against my marrying again; and they were beginning to teach him just that. I certainly hated to, but there were other very important reasons also, such as being a lone Negro boy in a mess of prejudiced whites. However, the educational standards were quire high. So now, I'm engaged in a program of improving Garfield and the response so far has been very good to say the least. It looks like lots of "you all" figure we aren't quite ready and we better get ready because our day is coming soon. In the meantime, while Garfield is being improved, I'm engaged in a home study program for Percy which takes a lot of my time.

I'm continuing to work on my master's thesis which is also time-consuming - however, I don't have much further to go now.

I'm trying hard to think of more news about dear old Colo. Springs, but my brains are vacant. I'll finish this tomorrow and perhaps by then I'll have thought of more interesting items.

I certainly enjoyed the newsletter this month. It was refreshing to hear from people who never write - Connie and James. That is what it takes to keep this letter going, -News-from everybody, a light touch as James gave, a different point of view such as Connie gave, a contribution from Maud who is always refreshing. Let's hear more from the young ones with their points of view. I have several noticeable gray hairs now and some of my friends are grandmothers -We are all getting old, and it is time for us to sit back a little and let the youth be heard.

March 9th- "This is Tomorrow" - one week later and it's 12:30 A.M. again. My thesis sponsor died, and I'm now trying to find a new one - of course no one will understand my project as the late Mr. Jordan, my sponsor, did. I just hope "they" let me finish it the way Mr. Jordan and I planned it.

Percy is enjoying Garfield no end. He is Captain of the patrol for one week and you should see this peacock. It goes something like this: "You see, Mom, I have to be there at twenty minutes to nine to see that all the patrols are on the job. We've got to get these kids across the streets without any accidents. Of course if anyone gets hurt, then, I'll have to get them to the office and all that stuff." Oh, it's something to rear a child!

I wouldn't have missed it for the world! I suggested once that we ought to have a modern house (I really want one) Percy was definitely not in agreement. He said among other things that Americans ought to be spending money for fuel for rockets so that we could explore outer space instead of worrying about "tin-can gadgets." How about this boy?

Enough about Percy, though, and a little about me. In September I'm to start teaching at North Junior High School. I'll teach music and Social Science. Louise Dockstader is retiring and I'm to take her place. North Junior is still the best Jr. High in Colo. Springs and very definitely has the best principal in the city. He was principal at Lincoln, where I've worked for the past seven years, for four years while I was there. He is one of the old school, believes in standards, is excellent on discipline, and is efficient. He has been at North Junior for only two years and they've had only one fight this year! How about that? They've eliminated night dances for the kids. Their parties are in the afternoon. Also he has spearheaded the effort to get our junior high schools accredited by North Central Association. Our Senior Highs always have been. Because of this accreditation, no teacher here will teach in junior high school unless she has the same qualifications necessary for senior high school teaching under North Central rules. It's all very exciting. But what is still more significant is the fact that Louise Dockstader, whom I'm replacing, is the teacher who told me that I could not be in the glee club at North Jr. because the "White parents" might object and thus killed my spirit for pursuing music in school. Now I'm taking her place! It's all too prophetic.

In speaking of the Colorado Springs building program, I didn't mention that a new police building is in the offing. The city bought that old Helen Hunt Jackson shack for $100,000 and then had the nerve to say that Miss Jackson, who resides there now, as Elinor Lewelyn does on Mesa Road, has graciously given this site to the city. They are quite welcome to my site for much less -say around $20,000. They're building an East - West freeway thru C.S. and they're doing a little more to the inter-changes on the North - South freeway.

Really I must go to bed - oh yes, the new El Paso County office building is almost ready for occupancy - it will replace the old court house, but they will not tear down the court house. It'll have a little activity and will be one of the old landmarks left standing. The Busy Corner Drug Store is to be torn down and a modern six-story office building will take its place. I'm quitting, it's one o'clock.

Love ------ Niney

Niney has written a very interesting letter full of information. There are a lot of interesting and stimulating points raised - Just two observations:

1. Should any school sponsor or require dancing as part of the curriculum? 2. Should there be such a thing as a Junior High School? Wouldn't it be better to just have 8 years of grade school and regular 4 year high school?

[Transcription stopped paged 9/14]

July 8, 1961

[Start on page 5]

The following is Dolphus' letter as of June 27, 1961.

Dear Ben,

Accolades to Castro for introducing a new idea in diplomacy and international relations. Saying exactly what one means in words and language that no one can misunderstand. "Send me 500 of your biggest fully equipped tractors as indemnification." I'm unable to follow the American logic that justifies our Country's participation in attempt to rid Cuba of its greatest National hero. And if our nation does pay somebody to assassinate him or does subdue Cuba by military might or economic pressure, the result will be a further loss of goodwill in the Western Hemisphere. The only honorable course is to get out of Cuba's Guantanamo Base and let the Cubans run their nation.

There are brilliant and ingenious minds in the CORE movement. It took clear and original thinking to come up with the idea of "Freedom Rides." If continued for a year segregation will suffer a knockout blow in Mississippi. The attack is being made in the right place since Mississippi is the most reactionary, poorest, most ignorant, and most completely segregated state in Dixie. Negro rights that contravene any white man's desires are non-existent in most of Mississippi.

I enjoyed the last newsletter immensely, Nina's succeeding Mrs. Dockstader at North Junior is the type of happening from which a movie could be made or a book could be written. Chic's letters interest me - not just because she's my child, - but because of what she puts into them and her individualistic writing style. She gets a message across quite well. She'll be selling to publications before long if she honestly tries.

Business is very poor; and I am getting very much behind on just the daily expenses - telephone, lights, etc. Then the big bills are piling up too. If it doesn't improve soon, I'll be bankrupt.

Ernie dislikes the army. However, he's in for three years and plans to make the best of it. He's stationed at Fort Ord, California. In his last letter he wrote that his outfit had been alerted to move out anytime.

Our weather has been beautiful lately. The days remind one of Colorado. Havana and the children are well - except Marva has measles and Marvin was ring worms. All join me in sending love and best wishes

Bunk.

It's good to hear from Dolphus again. Several of our Sunday School leaders have recently returned from Porland from the National Baptist Sunday School and B.T.U. Congress They have all been amazed at the West. Quite a large number of Illinois Negroes-from Mississippi have never seen the Rockies.

Since the Pollard left the weather here has been ideal except for a big rainstorm on the Fourth. After that it got down to around 60 degrees and a coat was comfortable -Right now it's about 70 with a nice cool breeze.

For the Pollards:

Mr. and Mrs. James Cardwell's address is 130 S. 12th Avenue, Maywood, Illinoi. Phone Filmore 4-5989.

Mrs. T.Y. Watson's address is 128 S. 12th Avenue Maywood, Illinois. Her phone number is Fi-3-4792.

The Second Baptist Church address is Maywood, Illinois Corner of Washington Boulevard and 13th Avenue.

I hope this finds all well

Best wishes

Ben.

September 4, 1961

To the Strouds:

This letter was about to have been sent on August 17th but since Nina's communication was the only one I had to send at that time, I thought it best to wait a little longer that perhaps some of you others would write.

I also had a disappointment in August when I missed seeing Ernie, Dolphus' so when he came thru here in August on his way to the army camp. He stopped to see me with a white friend of his but I was out to dinner and when I returned, he had gone. Also, when I was in New York recently I was unable to contact Effie although I tried to telephone her for hours - I imagine she was away on vacation. We have recently had some of the hot humid typical Chicago weather that at times seems almost unendurable- 'It's the humidity they say.' I think Chicago has some of the worst weather in America. Weather or not-Its just about impossible for a person to get away from Chicago, once they become trapped here. It seems to be the center of the world - or something of the sort.

The influx of Sam, Sally Jane, and Obadiah Johnson, as Omar Magee used to say, into Maywood continues. This of course means that the white people are fleeing as from a plague- Long lines of them are moving out to lily white suburban towns as fast as they can. This of course has sent the white citizens into hysterical desperation, because as their numbers diminish and the 'solids' increase, the 'solids become more and more in control of the town. We now have two Negro members of the city council -We have two Negro policeman. We have a Negro on the school board; one on the planning commission, one on the recreation board-of course we have school teachers by the dozens and post office galore. The entire central section of Maywood between St. Charles Road and Madison Streets; and from 6th Avenue to the Village limits at 21st Avenue is rapidly becoming just one rhapsody in black. A town in the shape Maywood is should naturally be expected to have its hysterics and tensions. -However up till now this transition has been going on with exceptional peace - I think there was only one incident of windows being broken out.

Now lets see-I believe I said Nina had written a letter -Well here it is-I think you will agree that it's a fine one:

Dear Ben and Strouds:

I had planned to write this letter June 5th, for that's when I received my Master of Arts Degree from dear old C.C. Believe me I earned it, and believe me I'm very glad it's over. I shall never do anything like that as long as I live, at least I don't intend doing so. You know when one goes to school, one should just go to school, but when one holds down a full time job and tries to keep up a house and yard and worry about maintaining a car and then has to do some things for her child and then has to worry about renters to some extent, and then still has to take care of herself and try to be a woman, it is much too much. I really felt it, also I believe I got some eye strain and will probably have to get some reading glasses. Lulu helped me no end. She typed the whole thing while she was still doing all the things she has to do. Leonard also helped me by doing some things for Lu while she typed or so she could type and being very understanding of the strain I was going through, and Bobbie helped by relieving me of the care of Percy every now and then. Even so, I almost broke under the strain so this summer I have done absolutely nothing to speak of. For instance I am just now getting through with housecleaning. I did it something like this: One week I washed window curtains and one week I cleaned closets and one week I cleaned cupboards etc. and all in between I was running up and down the road having myself a good time. I can't think of constructive thing I've done excepting clean house, and I've really enjoyed it. Now in a few short weeks the old grindstone begins again.

Happy birthday to Effie and James. Percy was eleven on July 20th, and we had a big birthday party - some twenty boys and girls were guests and I think they had a nice time. We had a track meet and Veronta Williams won it. (He's Ethel Dee Robert's boy) and I believe he'll be a track star some day. Percy doesn't do too well because he doesn't have a man or a brother to teach him and his Mother isn't able - however he's doing much better now that he's in Garfield. Also he has made lots of friends and there's always some little boy coming over. He's a much better adjusted child, but it's hard to realize that soon he'll be in high school and then gone. He goes to the sixth grade in September. Life is short and I'm not getting any younger although I still try to pass for "in my twenties" (ha ha).

Colorado Springs had a fairly good tourist season I believe. There certainly have been plenty of out-of-town cars and just too much traffic. The Pikes Peak or Bust rodeo parade was staged August 10th and it was good as usual with plenty of horses messing up the streets. This year the NAACP Junior Council had a float and a group of girl marchers in majorette outfits.

The marchers were very colorful - Adrienne was one - and very rhythmical. Buster Bradford's daughter, Mary Frances, was the "queen" on the float and was quite pretty. Buster is president of the local branch. It was either in May or the early part of June-it was June that the Elk's (Negro) had their convention here. The repercussions have not completely died away yet. They overran the local hostelrys and of course, not having been used to being accommodated so decently in the places from whence they came, made many of the local colored citizens very much ashamed. Such things as eating barbecue in the lobby of the Antlers etc. did go on. Also "hanging out" in a loud fashion all over the front entrances of our local and sedate hotels did go on much to the amazement of passerbys - Also there was some shoplifting and some mugging, in other words, the Elks from other places are not the kind of people that the local Elks are, and I guess everyone is well aware of the fact. Also they had a parade, the like of which this town has never seen. I enjoyed it immensely, but there are all sorts of points of view being expressed locally. The consensus of opinion seems to be that it was a "disgrace", a "n***** miss" etc. I think it was unusual, very colorful, very rhythmic, and very good. We still, though, in many quarters, have a very deep - seated inferiority complex about the way we look and about our natural rhythmic expression. However, I know I'm in the minority in my feeling.

Bessie Jones is here from L.A. and Esther (Carter) Sparks from Dallas - I believe she's gone back now.

St. John continues on its course. I do not work there regularly anymore since I could not see myself confining my Sunday evenings to playing the piano or organ there. They are still trying to build a new church - indeed they'll have to because that part of town is going completely to business. There are two places on each corner apposite the Church which sell liquor so all the good church members can have a drink or two before going to church (smiles). It's really a shame but the territory is zoned commercially and St. John's and some other home owners will have to move out. Across the street from Payne's Chapel on Weber is a big super market. They used Mrs. Daue's place (Ethel Calloway) and some more property for it. Weber street is practically all business from the High Schools out to Lowell school - and most all of the residences will have to go.

Colorado is growing - Ft. Carson's strength is to go to 20,000 starting the 7th of September. One stock broker told me that he was expecting the same kind of growth for Colorado that California experienced in the past decade.

I hope I'm in the path of that growth, and I do believe so. There is a bank on Willamette and Nevada and you know I'm on Willamette and Corona.

One of the most interesting things I have done is to join an investment club - we're colored and we're very small, but it is quite exciting learning about stocks and bonds and securities. Also, we are sponsoring a junior investment club to teach the kids. I have become more closely acquainted with two or three individuals whose intelligence I respect very very much. By the way one of my former teachers told me that my I.Q. was 145 Bristol. Now you know there's something quite wrong with the I.Q. because there is absolutely no genius in me excepting that for making great big mistakes. Anyway, the president of the investment club is Richard Walker - I think you all remember the Walkers who lived at 222 N. Corona - he's highly intelligent and wants to see these clubs started all over the U.S. His reasoning is that Freedom Rides, Sit-Ins, NAACP, and all of the rest of it is fine, but none of it is as effective as ownership of the industries and goods that make America. I think he's right. While we're fighting on all these other fronts we should be fighting on the financial front. If any of you are interested in starting one of these clubs in your locality - let me know and I'll send along some information. Also - having been studying securities I have become interested in the capitalistic system of economy. I am sold on it and feel that it is much much better than any other I know of. It's main flaw is that it has been color based, but that base has been removed in the past ten years, and there is nothing preventing Negroes from owning a part of this world's finances excepting our own stupidity. I am opposed directly to the Communistic system of economics. I know that all men are not born with equal endowment and that some will be on top and some on the bottom. I like the capitalistic systems of getting on top way better than I like the Communistic system. I think that the Christian ideals, of morality, the democratic ideal of government, the capitalistic ideal of economy are the best hope of humanity. Perhaps you think this is inconsistent or contradictory, but I think if you examine the ideals rather than the practice you will understand my meaning better. I think that the ideals which were so well and hopefully expressed by so many writers are good, but they have not been carried out - they have been distorted to the point where they are almost unrecognizable. However, they are there, and I think it would be well for non-whites to recognize these ideals as the great legacy and achievement of the white man. Every ruling people in the history of man has achieved something upon which other people have built. I think we as a group ought to recognize the fact that the white man has made some achievement else, he could not have ruled for so long. Let us study this capitalistic way of doing the business of the world. Let's learn it "by heart" and then let's build on it, improving it as we build. I think its good.

But enough of philosophy for the moment. Mr. Bess has been hospitalized with an operation for prostate glands. I don't know if he's still in the hospital or not. Luther Seymour's wife died who lived way out on East Boulder of course that part of the city is all built up now. The Broadmoor Hotel Inc. has built a lovely great big building called the International Center. Harry Belefonte appeared opening the center, and he's truly wonderful and makes women collapse. His ex-wife Marie Belafonte did a fashion show for the NAACP at the Antler's Hotel in May. It also was quite a success. Marlene Dietrich is appearing at the International Center now. I went to see Belafonte -my escort paid $3.00 apiece for our tickets and we were way back. The front seats cost $7.50 apiece. During his performance Belafonte said "Hello, all you big - spenders. Tell the management that they can't pay for this building in 3 nights." Ha, Ha, Ha!

Belafonte was here for 3 nights. The Ice Palace has been concerted into the "World Arena" and intends to host the International Hockey games in March. These Tutts are really spending Penrose's money. Percy had his second and last eye operation 2 weeks ago. His eyes are perfectly straight now. Anyway I took him to the Penrose Hospital (we call it Penrose-Hilton) This use to be Glockner Hospital -I went there for a Ceptoscopy in April, Julie Penrose died and gave all this money for a new hospital run by Catholics because she became a Catholic. Well its truly something! Luxury and beauty no end and it does look finer than the Hilton Hotel in Denver. Percy was in a ward with three other boys, and you have never seen a ward like this! Walt Disney characters painted on the corridor windows (the wall facing the corridor is mostly glass, television, radio, all sort of lights etc., lovely toilet facilities, and the boys had a real nice time. There is also a play room for the kids. The lobby of this hospital is ultra-modern. I cannot describe it to you for I do not know the modern names for things - anyhow it's quite impressive.

They are tunnelling under Cheyenne Mountain to build NORAD and its all very exciting, but I must close now because it's almost 2 P.M. and tomorrow is another day. I've got to see if Rocky (he's the dog) is shedding hair or has a disease - there's hair all over the yard; mow the lawn (Percy mows most of it now) go to two churches (Catholic mass for inspiration and St. John's to find out what's going on) cook dinner, put out my laundry (it rained so much today I couldn't hang it out) have the Junior Investment Club meeting; and go out on a date.

Love ---- Nina

Post script to Nina's letter

We have had rain, rain, rain, this summer like a monsoon season. You know they use to have showers here every afternoon. Now we have real rain every day. The town is beautiful. All the lawns are green and flowers are growing like mad. The center parkings in the streets are luscious. You've never seen your home town more beautiful.

Bobbie lives next door to Elinor Llewelyn now up on Cooper Street. Percy goes over lots of times and plays up in the foothills with Bobbie's boys. Elinor takes them over to the house lots and she has some of those books around we used to love like Thornton W. Burgess' animal stories such as Reddy the fox and Paddy the Beaver. Bobbie is still teaching Percy music and he's got to the point where he plays a few things one can enjoy. Right now he's working on "Bacarolle" from Tales of Hoffman, but Art is his real love and maybe someday he'll draw a picture for all of you. He has done one for me that is good enough to put in my living room.

I have weeds, weeds, weeds, which must be pulled, also we have a small garden and the corn is as tall as I am - so you see how much rain we've been having - if we keep on having it (and it seems we will) come winter we'll be buried in snow.

Really, I much go to bed. But think hard about the investment business. Colored folk have not been used to cooperation, but in this there is real strength, and we'd better lean to cooperate. I've learned that one or two of us here in Colorado Springs can, and if one or two of us every where learn this we will truly be on our way.

Love again ---- Niney

Nina's Postscript #2

Don't tell me to get a "weed-killer" for the weeds. Out door yard work is my exercise. I'm trying hard not to get fat but it's a losing battle. - So I pull the weeds -bending and stretching. That's how Mom kept her waistline.

This was a very nice happy letter from Nina so I suppose I will refrain from sounding off on the Capitalistic system as I know some of you will have something to say on this. Only I would ask, if in the long run, economic success is possible without political and social justice? And as Nina has suggested there does seem some contradiction in connecting Capitalism with Christianity; since Christianity means to be Christ - like.

However, all and all I think Nina has given us a wonderful letter - So thanks, Nina for the letter congratulations for winning the Master's degree. We all share your happiness about the success of Percy's eye operation.

I have held Nina's letter for some weeks now -and I'm afraid it may to some extent have become dated. However, as of August 24th we have received another fine letter from Marilyn D. Turner-

Here goes:

Dear Albert:

It seems that I've been trying to get this letter off for months now, but somehow or another, written digress is almost disagreeable to me. I haven't quite decided whether this reluctance stems from age or from just plain lack of initiative.

We are all in good health thankfully, but don't seem to be making much material progress. This, I suppose, could be accenting the transitory too much nevertheless, we continue to battle and strive for the comforts and luxuries while just managing the necessities.

The children are on a three week vacation between summer school terms and the fall semester. The girls are occupying themselves with library books and doll clothes and Chucky has completed two wooden box hot rod racers, one having met with complete demolition, its driver suffering numerous body lacerations, and the second, hurriedly being painted and polished for the same end result. The driver I hope, will either fare better than before, or have stolen the given 9 years of life, from a feline "critter".

Charles successfully passed the city civil service examination and came out 77th on a list of over 500. We're very proud of him. This means that he has permanent status and can work towards seniority listings which, believe me, is becoming pretty important in the employment factor here in California.

Mother writes that Detroit still has a critical unemployment status, and her hubby hasn't been employed since before Xmas.

I am now an employee of the state and work in the clerical department of the Vocational Rehabilitation service, which is a branch of the Social Security Program. I deal directly with applications for disabling benefits and arrange for examination of applicants by state doctors. There is an awful lot of written correspondence as well as telephone conversation involved. While I seldom meet a wage earner, I deal so intimately with his problems until I come to know him quite well. It's always a relief to me to know that a claim is allowed as there is sometimes a lapse of several months or years between applying for benefits and receiving same. Even though payments is begun, there are still irregular intervals of spot checking which goes on and which can stop a long time received claim. Frankly, one would do better if one were to not pay social security tax, as when applying for your own money you've paid through the years, you're suddenly the enemy, attempting to take from the millions of taxpayers throughout the state. Devious and subtle maneuvers are commandeered to thwart these benefit claims.

However, I can understand the necessity for much of the red tape. Many applicants are healthy, capable, and employable, but shiftless; others are pawns of someone else and many are non-existent. Weeding out the claims, checking the results, etc., all contrive to make a pretty interesting job and to somehow soften the blow of the once monthly pay check, (smile)

In the last few months it appears that the Negro's dream for racial equality has gained momentum, and white sincere acceptance may never exist, at least token recognition seems near at hand. Somehow I find a parody in the Negro's growing statue, or his striving for freedom in the face of total world destruction and the coming of the Messiah to save the people from themselves.

The Messiah came and was crucified, the Negro fights for recognition in a non-existent world. Of late the papers have been running an ad stating that with the forth coming destruction of life as we know it, a bomb shelter could offer some means of safety, and that this shelter can be built on your lot, with a low down payment and long, wasy, low term payments. There's a certain futility in what I'm attempting to show. Yet, it's been said that "better late than never" is the essence of anything good.

I've read that during slavery, the Negro was comforted with the thought that when he reached heaven, Jesus would accept him just as he did the white man, and here he would be free from the white man and at the same time be on an even keel with him. When the Negro was freed from "certain" enslavement and was confined in the northern ghettos and given low paying employment, white collar work being withheld from him, the Negro pastors continued to enchant him with the thoughts of heavenly freedom. After certain other restrictions were lifted, variety of employment widened, ghettos boundaries broadened, leaders from the Negro populace lifted to a point of recognition, the earthly possibility loomed that perhaps this equality could be obtained before the wing stage. However, the white man, not to be outdone, granted a few statues, ignored others, and turned his thoughts and prospects toward oblivion. I wonder now, with this possibility of freedom nearer than it's ever seemed, what will be done with the gift in a void of nothingness.

Freedom has certain restrictions in itself. There are boundaries, limits to any goal, which is what freedom means - to follow a path, to attain a height, all need self-direction. But a freedom to drift in the dark is the most terrible negation of freedom. Nothing seems to happen to us as we would; we want peace and make war, we need science and obey the will to believe, we love art, but flounder among whimsicalities, we believe in general comfort, yet strain every network of fiber to become materially wealthy. The Negro has had his classic liberty, but I wonder if the goal of freedom and equality will be his at last when all else is lost -remnants of a dream too long deferred. I suppose, Ben, your answer to this would be of a religious nature, suggesting faith in a superior being, the blessedness of the hereafter and the spiritual acceptance of the inevitable. Youth, though has its fancies and I'm somewhere between the full knowledge of maturity and the fanciful dreams of youth - life, with all its heartaches, freedom and all its pitfalls, seem to me a gift I'd like to keep, to spend at leisure and to succulently taste, but never dissolve. I think it's the wise man who does what he can about what he can and knows enough to leave alone what he can't alter, just accept a compromise, while a fool continues to bump his head, never knowing his own limitations.

We all send love and a fervent hope for a future

Sincerely,

Marilyn and family.

Marilyn writes very well- Don't you all agree? This was another little jewel of literature - I guess if Marilyn wants me to try to put a religious connotations of 'Freedom' I would have a hard time to define it. As she has pointed out-we can be free in one way and slaves in other ways. I think Roosevelt drew up a document about the four freedoms - However I believe Jesus wanted us to consider that man is both physical and spiritual and probably if we give deep thought to the complete man, spiritual and physical we could get an idea of the great area that 'freedom' must cover.

Now we have another welcome letter from Dolphus written on the 10th of September:

Dear Albert,

I went to a baseball game last Friday night (my first of the year) and watched old Satchel Paige pitch seven innings for the Portland Beavers against Spokane. He is just about 60 years old now - and how he maintains that whip in his arms which produces a good fast ball, and his ability to hustle around the bases is a mystery to everyone. All his contemporaries have left baseball long ago. I pitched against him in Jackson Georgia, in 1931, and he was a good 4 years older than I was then.

Havana and the children are well and send love.

Ernie drove through Chicago en route to the East Coast a couple of months ago. Had I known he was driving so close to Maywood I would have him stop by and say hello to you. He's bigger and stronger than any of the Strouds I've ever seen. Uncle Sam has him on some missile site around New Jersey unless he's gone over seas. He hasn't written in some time.

Muhammed is getting a lot of press attention out here. It seems his organization is growing in the West - and particularly in Portland. The Police, The Urban League, and the NAACP out here all oppose Muhammed's teachings and are trying to muzzle the Society's head in Portland.

This Berlin business certainly makes little sense to me. I'd hate to see the world blown up for any reason - and most certainly not over a prestige squabble about Berlin. Maintenance of West Berlin as a show place with an artificially produced prosperity has taxed Americans to the point of bankruptcy already and the best thing for all of us would be to give it to the Russians - or to whomever wants it.

I'm back in golf now directing the Oregon mixed Play League. Tournaments are pending at Forest Hills, in Forest Grove, Ore., on Sept. 24th, and over the Mt Hood Course at Welches, Ore., on Oct. 1st.

The way world affairs are going, I'm mighty thankful I never became a scientist and am a simple moving man, free of Government clearances and suspicions and intrigues.

Very truly yours -

Bunk

It is refreshing to read Dolphus' letters because he always has been and is still a very independent thinker. I certainly agree with him on Berlin - I can see no reason to build up the Nazi power again or to arm Hitler's ex generals with nuclear weapons, as Khruschev says the West is about to do, so that they can start another world holocaust - Of course first by destroying Russian cities. And how come we are so anxious to make the world so free and allow people - American citizens to daily be beaten and robbed and thrown in jail in Mississippi for attempting to enjoy the facilities and privileges guaranteed to them by the Constitution and rules and regulations of the Interstate Commerce Commission?

I am sorry that this letter has taken so long to get out. My excuse is that I just got too busy moving furniture day and night until I just didn't have the energy left to write. I suppose, now, that it will slow down again. Today a man must do practically all his work himself if he wants to have satisfied customers and make any profit at all.

Well I hope this finds all well - I know this letter is way out of date so I won't make more comments

Best wishes

Ben.

Postcript

I know I should inform those of you who know James Glover, Connie's Ex.; that he is in West Lake Hospital in Melrose Park with a broken neck. He suffered this when a large barrel fell on him at the Richardson Company where he was working at night. He worked as a mechanic for White's Service Station during the day. He was paralyzed from his neck down but has lately become able to move his arms. -It seems that there is some improvement. He would appreciate your prayers.

Reverend Hayden who is 86 years old is also in West Lake Hospital - He is pretty weak from an infection. As he has been Pastor of Second Baptist for over 20 years, there has been some anxiety regarding his recovery and also some thoughts as to the disruption that might be occasioned at the Church.

Best wishes again

Ben

October 31, 1961

To The Strouds:

Our first letter is from Tandy and there is a certain tone of urgency to it that make me feel somewhat guilty for not getting it out sooner. Here it is:

Dear Ben,

Greetings. Someday I will write a long newsy letter, but this is an urgent communication for the Strouds. Maybe Rosa wrote you but I am writing too--

The Public Health Service has discovered that the descendants of victims of glaucoma are more likely to have this than other persons. All the offspring of K.D. Stroud are eligible for a free eye examination by the Public Health Service, and a following one one year later. Glaucoma is an abnormal pressure on the eye ball.

Dr. Hetherington was in S.F. at U.C. hospital last week. He gave me an examination. His findings prompted him to have me return a week later to see a Dr. Ridgeway. To date I have 20-20 vision etc. etc., but my right eye showed too much pressure after the intake of liquid. They recommend I return in three months.

The people in New York are just starting their program. He wanted Effie's address; so that the people there could contact her.

Please have all Strouds contact Public Health Service and find out where and when they may best be examined. If discovered in time, medication can relieve this pressure which will completely destroy the optic nerve if not checked. Usually in the 60's in age this condition becomes dangerous to the eyes.

I hope you will be able to transmit this information.

Yours gratefully,

Tandy L. Stroud

This letter from Tandy was written October 11, 1961

I think Tandy's warning should go well taken-

The day I left Colorado Springs with Jesse Tarrant and Father was coming in on the ash wagon - I will never forget his despairing look - I knew he was going blind and it always haunted me. However, I was a person who was almost totally devoid of will power - all my life - and - so I closed another door - and never returned.

And now as of October 15th, Nina has written another interesting letter with important news!

Dear Strouds:

I hate to write two letters so close together but I'm afraid that Lu Lu or Bobbie may not do it. Anyway, Bobbie was married Oct. 14, 1961 to George Nelson of Baltimore, Maryland. We celebrated Saturday night, and I haven't quite recovered. He is stationed at Fort Carson, and I believe he's quite recovered. He is stationed at Fort Carson, and I believe he's a wonderful guy for Bobbie - they have much in common, and I for one wish them all the luck and success in the world.

However, I feel lonesome. Bobbie was a wonderful pal in our "divorced blessedness"; but now she's gone and done it, and I'm left all alone with no one to run with. I guess I'll have to find me a Sargeant too.

I really don't have much to say excepting that. Mr. Dunlop died -Rhoda Dell's father. Percy won a poster contest at his school for Fire Prevention week. He has a man in bed smoking and little children dressed up like firemen pulling a big hose to put out the cigarette. His caption is, "You can Be a Fireman Too." I thought it was cleverer than the judges thought evidently, because if I'd had my way, he'd have won it city wide - naturally.

Teaching at North Junior is very interesting - I love it. By the way - Dr. Drake, author of the Drake Tests of Musical Aptitude has written me a letter asking if he could quote me and my thesis conclusions in a publication of his. When he writes this business and quotes me, I'll let you all know via newsletter.

We're having wonderful weather now - I've still got gladiola blooming - However we all know that it'll turn cold soon. Really - Ben, there is no more news that I know of excepting that the Governor was in Colo. Springs last Saturday for conference. He says that 50,000 people per year or month or week are coming into Colorado. How about that? We are also a prime target area, so I think I'd better start moving out. (Smiles)

Love ------- Nina

P.S.

As long as I'm egoistical I might as well tell you that the department of Education at C.C. is assigning my bibliography (or my thesis) as Readings for music students studying Music Education. One of their students teachers at Horace Mann Junior High School here, and told me she is [outlining?] the thing and had the nerve to ask me if she could have a conference with me to discuss my work. I found out all of this because I'm trying to get a copy of my thesis so that I can copy off this text for the two publishers of whom I spoke. See, I'd lent my personal copy to the head of our testing dept. here -then I find that the other copies that C.C. Library has are out on loan so I had to track one of them down.

N.P.

Well I am sure that all the Strouds will go along with me and wish the George Nelsons loads of happiness. And we are all proud to know about Percy's talent and also that his Mother's great Thesis has attracted such approbations in the very critical educational circles - So again we wish Nina continued great success and again we fell proud when one of the Strouds has made an outstanding achievement.

Now as of October 13th we have another very interesting letter from Marilyn -I think all of you will agree that she is quite a writer and has an inimitable style all her own - Here it is:

Dear Albert:

Thanks for the last Newsletter; I really enjoyed it.

It was a bit less than comforting to hear that Ernie is draft age. The last time I saw him, he was a rotund little boy of about 8 or 9, I think. It's bad enough having one's own little aging reminders, without the recall of other's maturity. Should Ernie ever get out this way, I hope that Dolphus will give him our address.

Congratulations! Nina, I for one am very proud of your recent accomplishment, and the best of luck.

Although James Glover, Connie's ex, was not one of my favorite people, we were deeply shocked at his misfortune. Perhaps, Albert, you could send us the address of the hospital and we could send him a card or some such expression of our sympathy and hope for complete recovery. By now, I suppose you have informed Connie of James' accident, however, if not please do. They yet maintain a friendly reparte' and I know she would do what she could.

News from Detroit relates that Alfred's wife, Lillian is expecting, and so far this is the only information we've had concerning Al in the 3 years we've been here in California.

Jack might be interested in knowing that I met and had lunch with an ex frat brother of his, who is now the chief of the Vocational Rehabilitation Service for the State of Connecticut, by name James Peters. His sister lives in our neighborhood and is a very apt beautician. James was in town for the URS convention in San Francisco and was a most important speaker during the 3-day convention. Further accomplishments include two masters degrees, one in psychology, the other in Poly Sci, and a Phd in psychology. He teaches a night course in psy at the college in Conn., dabbles profitably in real estate, has married an equally educated woman and has fathered 3 children, one is in a private boy's school in the New England area. Of course I was quite pleased to know that he remembered, or even knew Jack, and had a good time listening to his recall of the "good old days," Incidentally he was also in Los Angeles during his Calif. sojourn, but I couldn't place Jack's address. He was pleased to hear that Jack was doing so well.

There seems to be a swelling of delinquency (so it's called) which has led to unbelievable disaster. Not too long ago a trio of 16- and 17-year-olds beat a schoolteacher unconscious and then placed him on a darkened streetcar track where a few minutes later, the teacher was crushed to death beneath the passing wheels of the streetcar. The boys were apprehended, brought to trial and sentenced to life. This though was not the end result. The driver, unfortunate in not being able to stop his car in time to avoid the limp form of the teacher, found that the psychological effect of his deed prevented self-absolution. He took a month's leave of absence, found this not sufficient and requested 11 additional months of leave. The discontinuance of steady income naturally affected his family and he took to gambling. The wife, giving up, left and returned to her parent's home. The ex-driver, for now he had become non-identifiable, persuaded his family to return home, promising improvement. The family once again united found that the change hoped for was not to be, once again they separated. The man enraged, purchased a pistol and arrived at the home of his wife. An argument insured and the pistol was fired, seriously wounding the young wife. Yet, this will not be the final page even though the replica of a man is behind bars, the wife recuperating, and the children under the care of the grandparents.

The Hunters Point (project) area lost a resident storekeeper because of the lark of a young offender who, when challenged, stood his ground and stabbed the proprietor to death.

The young gangs are now attacking the buses, passengers and drivers. Daily the newspaper exploits in large letters, the adventures of those so-called wayward youths. The drivers, in fear of their lives, are transferring and even quitting. Charles fills us with tales of daring the adventures which occur within the confines of his bus. The Bus Co. has requested police protection but the Police force states that they lack the manpower to fully and adequately protect all, or even most, of the vehicles and their drivers. Result thus far, the drivers have been told (company orders), protect yourselves by whatever means are available. If many of the drivers possess Charles temperament, the Bus Co. will stay in court settling law suits.

We're all fine, and since it's getting late, I'll close.

Love to all

Chic and family.

This ends our Newsletter for this time.

James Glover's address is now the Rehabilitation Center 401 East Ohio Street, Chicago, Illinois. He has been moved from West Lake Hospital where he was at first. I imagine the road to recovery if recovery can be made from such an injury is a long one - When I last saw him he could talk without a tube and could move one hand a little - otherwise he seemed to be paralyzed.

William Berry, who accompanied me to C.S. one time long ago has died, so I understand in St. Louis.

I believe that is all I can think of right now. There seems to be more and more of an apprehension of coming nuclear war around here. However, I don't think much is being done about bomb shelters -I suppose people think - "What's the use?"

Best wishes to all

Ben Stroud

Postscript

I think one person the Strouds should all fee proud of is Connie Glover - She is now Mrs. Everett Lowry -not that she has never made any mistakes-Who of us haven't.

She has certainly been a courageous hard working real person in the face of almost insurmountable odds. Not only that, she is raising Jackie- (and for awhile it was just about a single handed struggle) to be a very fine young person. I think you would all just love Jackie if you could meet her.

Connie is now married to Everett who has always stood by her thru thick and thin and I think all of you should send them your very special well wishes -For them I believe it is an opportunity to make a new beginning -Hope and pray for them that God will give them a new opportunity and a wonderful new beginning with the "future's pages white as snow-"

I will have more to say on this later perhaps after I keep that dinner engagement with them that Connie has offered me sometime in the near future-

Again Best Wishes to All

Ben

Connie's new address and name:

Mrs. Everett Lowry

Phone 483-6179

801 E. 87th Place, Chicago, Illinois

5500 Fieldston Rd,
Riverdale 71, N.Y.
Dec, 30, 1961

Dear Strouds,

At least I'm going to get one letter written to you before the year is over. I know I have been terrible remiss in not having written sooner. But this year has placed so many pressures on me and made so many demands on my time that I honestly have not had a minute to call my own. I have been most gratified to get the newsletter and to know that all of you are getting along so well. My greatest regret, however, was to read that Albert had been in New York and had been unable to contact me. If any of you plan to come out this way please let me know, and as far ahead as possible so that I can try to make things pleasant for you or at least to be at home. Dates for my school and library conference my sorority, [?], and beauty shop dates are made for a year in advance. So please let me know and at least write or wire.

Do all of you have my new address? I have been at Fieldston Cooperative since Dec, 7, 1960. It has been a very difficult year. Often I have been so tired I left I simply could not go on.

When my landlady at 1113 Wasbuston said she wanted the apartment for her brother-in-law, I was too proud to remain there until I could find a suitable place. I just moved the next month to my friend, Mrs. Taylor's house in Englewood, New Jersey. It was an attic "apartment" and most inadequate. Everything was makeshift and I had to share the bathroom, one flight down and the kitchen, two flights down. Moreover, transportation was terrible and I had to get up at 5:30 to get to school on time. The furnace was always on the [?] and I caught a death of cold. So I moved back to [?] to 748 Wasbuston. But here, I had only one room, so most of my furniture had to be put in storage and this was costing a mint of money. I looked everywhere for an apartment but to no avail. Of course, I could have found one in Harlem. But I'm afraid to live alone in Harlem. One hears too much about women being robbed and raped and beaten or knifed in these self service elevators the houses have now. Furthermore, it is noisy in Harlem. I have enough difficulty getting to sleep at night without the loud parties my people are prone to give. Also I prefer to live sans roaches. These come gratis with all the older and most of the newer buildings in Harlem.

So when this cooperative started going up I used to look at it with longing as I could see it from the bus. Of course I never expected to live here at Riverdale has always been considered definitely off limits for my kind unless admitted by way of the kitchen. In fact I had made several attempts to find an apartment in other new buildings going up in less swanky areas of the upper Bronx where my school is located. But I had a definite feeling that I was being given the run around. So when one of my friends said I should try here and that they could not refuse me since it was a cooperative partially federally financed, I applied, but actually expected some sort of run-around. Imagine my surprise when the young man in the office actually gave me a sales pitch telling me why I should come here rather than going into a regular rental apartment. He also suggested that I wait for the second building to be completed as the 4th floor would be on the same level as the 7th floor in the first building. The second building is built on a higher level and back in a circular driveway not right on the street as the first one is, Of course the whole thing is far too expensive. But I was so weary and tired of existing in these horrible places with all my things scattered to the four winds that I decided to take it.

It cost me about $200 down and $131 per month carrying charges. In addition I had to buy my air conditioner (for one room only) at $200 plus $2.50 per month the year round. As in most good neighborhoods, the transportation is atrocious. Part of the sales pitch was that a bus stopped at the door. This is true, but during business hours, only Monday thru Fridays from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm with long waits from 20 to 30 minutes between buses. And when it snows, the bus doesn't run at all nor can one get a cab to come up this hill when it is icy. So last winter was one of the worst New York has ever had. And I had to walk six blocks to the bus line through snow up to my knees. Then often the buses would not stop because they were already overloaded. Now since my house is on a hill west of Broadway and my school is on a hill east of Broadway, I was often obliged to climb ten blocks up to the school since buses could not negotiate the hill.

The physical strain of all this plus the emotional strain and frustration on the job with no social life nor relaxation all combined to give me hypertension. The doctor told me later that I was on the verge of a stroke. My pressure was above 200. But with the proper medication and a fairly strict diet it is practically normal again. Last week it was down to 145. I was a salt [substitute?], eat no pork, veal, liver, onions, nor highly spiced foods. I don't mind the diet though especially since I'm allowed ice cream - my favorite food. I do miss bacon and ham, but not too much. Crisply broiled chicken or fish lamb chops or steak are might good eating too. I actually prefer crisp fresh fruit or vegetable salads with low calorie dressing to all that starch I used to eat. Consequently I've lost lots of weight which I know will please Nina as she could not stand me when I came home last.

Concerning my job, I've always loved it. But I'm overwhelmed with the amount to be done. My library has been made a pilot. This means we are bringing our book stack up to 10 books per pupil which will be between 10 and 12 thousand books. But we do not have sufficient shelving nor clerical help. I am attempting to do all this by myself except for the occasional help of little junior high school children and seven periods a week from a wonderful English teacher. This would not bother me since I have worked hard all my life I am at school as soon as the door opens in the morning at 10 minutes to 8:00 and the janitors usually turn the lights out on me at 5:00 pm. Then I bring work home for the weekends and holidays and even for the summer. But none of this do I mind as long as I am my own boss, can work at my own speed and in my [?]. But, for the first time in New York City they have created the position of supervisor of School Libraries.

Now frankly I do not really want to be a supervisor. I prefer working with children in one school to going from school to school and coping with all the petty jealousies and dirty politics connected with the "higher" echelons. But I had had the experience once of working under a librarian who had happened to just pass the Teacher of Library exam by a percentage of a point. But she had had no library training at all. So although I was her assistant I had to teach her everything. Besides she did not like children or was afraid of than one. She told me she got diarrhea everytime she had to stand before a class. So that is why she changed from teaching to school librarianship. So thinking something similar might happen when the new supervisors were appointed, I decided to take the exam also. I was in no condition for another long grueling exam. I had just completed the English exams in junior high and in senior high and had passed both of them. Besides I had been taking evening and summer courses and I was looking for an apartment and was having this bout with hypertension and getting no more than four hours of sleep at night. I was so tired that I actually dozed off during the written part of the exam. So I was the most surprised person in the world when I was informed that I had passed it. But I was not appointed. The director of School Libraries did not recommend me. Eleven people took the exam, seven white and four colored.

Two white and three colored passed. Top score was made by a colored girl, second by a Jewish girl, third by another colored girl and fourth by an Irish girl who is now my supervisor. I made one percentage point below her, but all her work has been done in the high school and the way she wants me to do things is completely unrealistic in the junior high. And she is always underfoot. There is not a week she does not come by. I never heard of a supervisor visiting so often. One of the teachers said she is trying to learn her job from watching me. I don't know whether this is true or not although she does take many of my ideas, adapt them and send them out in mimeographed form under her own signature. So I don't know how much more of her I can take until I explode. But of course this too shall pass.

Congratulations and best wishes to Bobby and Jonathan. Hope they have many happy years together.

Thanks to Tandy for apprising me of the glaucoma testing program. I had my eyes tested by my private oculist some time ago. There was more than normal pressure possibly due to hypertension which I was told to watch. Nevertheless, I made an appointment with the health service for Jan 6. I understand that their test is much more searching than the usual ones. I agree with Tandy that all the older Strouds should take advantage of this free service.

Congratulations to Nina for her success with her thesis and her work. And congratulations to Percy too for winning the poster contest.

Glad to hear that Colorado continues to grow. The West is advancing while the East is degenerating. Mayor Wagner [?] had two administrations full of [?] and scandal in all city departments. Even new school buildings were being built which were actually unsafe just to satisfy the greed of some crooked contractor. But instead of throwing him out, New Yorkers voted him in for a third term simply because he is a democrat. During the campaign Wagner had advocated thrift in government. We said Cadillacs were out of style for his administration and that city officials would replace them with smaller cars like Chevrolets. So the first thing he did after reelection was to ask for a $10,000 a year raise for himself and his top officials. So now he makes $50,000 a year, the same as Mr. Rockefeller. And he and his top men have all ordered $10,000 Cadillacs. And he blames all the city's financial trouble on Mr. Rockefeller for not letting the city run a lottery or have legalized off track betting. The Democrats are trying to get him to run against Rocky for governor. He would probably win too because people do not care about good government and integrity. All they are interested in is how much they will get out of it.

Right now I have the TV tuned on listening to the TWU calling a [?] strike. This Irishman, Mike Quill, President of TWU can't even speak good English, but he has the power to tie up everything in the great city of New York. The men want a 32 hour week. The identical union is even worse. They want to work only four days a week and five hours a day. Where will it all end? Don't they realize that we are going to have to compete with the European free market and if wages and prices keep rising, we shall price over good right out of the world markets. And now the city's teachers have voted to organize. Too bad the nation does not recognize the need for more and better teachers. If there had been enough teachers so that classes could be small enough to permit individual attention to more children, perhaps trends toward delinquency might be recognized early enough to prevent the horrible acts like the one Albert wrote about in the October Newsletter. And it is not altogether federal aid which is needed. If the law were enforced so that school integration was a reality, the states which spend twice the money necessary in order to maintain a dual school system, c0uld manage with less federal aid. Furthermore, I do not fancy seeing my taxes going to keep little brown children segregated. No president, Democrat not Republican, seems too anxious to enforce the law where we are concerned. Kennedy has made some fine appointments and has probably been more forthright than Nixon would have been. But he has reneged on his pre-election promise to advocate civil rights legislation, nor has he agreed to outlaw segregation by executive decree. Jackie has certainly been an ambassador of good will in some circles with her charm, culture and linguistic ability. But I do wish she would comb her hair and pull her dress down. The president's wife sets the style for young people. As you know young people are prone to exaggerate a style, so it is difficult to find a young girl in New York whose hair doesn't look like a rat's nest and whose skirt isn't half way up to her navel. I suppose I should appreciate the hair do though. All I need to do is wear mine as natural and let it stand straight up to be in style.

Sorry to read that the Elks stayed at the better hotels. They certainly are not on the level of our local Elks. They have a rotten reputation in most of the country when I left the Park Sheraton often the AKA boulé in Washington D.C., the Negro cab driver told me how proud he had been of us and how he dreaded the fact that the Elks were to follow us. Call me [?] pretentious phony, but I prefer my little bourgeois existence. I feel more comfortable with people who bathe regularly use deodorants and table napkins. I do not mean that I do not appreciate our natural rhythm. I simply adore our spirituals when seeing as the they were originally - not dressed up and "arranged" as some of the Negro colleges sing them. I like Mahalia Jackson when she sings in her natural manner, I like most of our stars for they are original and real artists. But I do not like common, sloppy, [?] who are just one step ahead of the law. And this describes many of the Elks. Not all of course, some of them are very fine persons and they do a wonderful job for education and welfare. But generally speaking they are not my cup of tea. I meant to write more, but it is nearly midnight so Happy New Year, My first resolution is to write you more often in 1962.

Love to all,

Effie

January 20, 1962

To the Strouds:

At last I am getting another newsletter out. Jack mentioned that the news letters were slowing down. Well a number of things have happened. I suppose a great number of things sine before the holidays. My interest which I can use for excuse for not getting a news letter out earlier would be that I have been interested in helping to bring quality music to radio audiences especially religious music that is inspirational, sets forth better expression, and is reverent and worshipful, rather than the jump jazzy and false and affected emotionalism. Number 2, I have been interested in the Macomb Mississippi and Albany Georgia student protests. This project has been somewhat thrust upon me - was probably something of an outgrowth of my activities in Fayette County Tennessee. This also has been time consuming. Of course there was the usual frustration of the holidays. Also Reverend Hayden who has been the pastor of the Second Baptist Church passed just before Christmas. Reverend Wallace Sykes has been chosen as the new pastor. And the there has been the cold weather and the great among of snow that has fallen - Somedays have been so bad until transportation was brought to a virtual stand still. We have had breakdowns after breakdowns which have been extremely costly and I would be absolutely bankrupt except that there is no work in the English language that describes that condition in which a person is less than bankrupt ----- In other words --- I am below the bottom financially speaking ----- I would certainly feel fine if I could just get up to the bottom. And now the papers are carrying head lines that there will be more snow. Well ----- I would ramble on and on but I am sure you are anxious to read some of these very interesting communications from the Strouds. Our first which by this time is quite dated comes from Jack ---- written as of November 29th 1961 --- Here it is:

Dear Folks:

Although the newsletter is still operating, there are indications that its pace is slowing down.

I visited Rosa and Alger in Sacramento for Thanksgiving and had a splendid time. Rosa has a beautiful office in the new building and works as a professional consultant, etc. in problems of mental hygiene and associated social disorders. I also stopped over in San Francisco to have the eye examination that Rosa and Tandy have had. It is very thorough and lasts about 3 or 4 hours. Since we have the possibility of being subjected to glaucoma it is advantageous to take these examinations. They are free, and the intent is to make a long-term study and regular check of persons having a family history of this ailment.

I see where the division that I am working for - Space and Information Division - of North American Aircraft has won the contract to build the moon vehicle. The announcement came yesterday while we were at work. So I suppose this insures my job for about 10 years -- if I remain satisfactory. Since the eye examination indicated my eyes to be "normal" for my age, I shall not be so nervous about my work. Also I was told that my astigmatism seemed to be less pronounced than it was. So I feel that there must be some direct bearing on high blood pressure and glaucoma, along with hardening of the arteries and hypertension. My doctor has been treating me for the high blood pressure condition and my eyes seem to be stronger because of this.

I hope everyone is well and hale and hearty at this time. Congratulations to Bobbie.

Very sincerely,

Jack Stroud

The letter from Dolphus reads as follows:

Dear Ben:

I hope you and the other Strouds all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas. Ours was fine. Everyone was well and we had a fine family Christmas dinner. The High School kids attended parties. I took the younger ones to a picture show.

During the late Fall I heard Rev. Martin Luther King speak in Portland's Municipal Auditorium. There was a huge crowd. Our local mayor, Terry Schrunk, and our Governor, Mark Hatfield preceded King on the platform. There speeches were completely dwarfed by King's. I have to count him as one of the most forceful and eloquent speakers I have ever heard. I believe the Kansas City Negro who masqueraded as Prince Kalolizees many years ago and spoke at St. John's Baptist in Colorado Springs, the negro who claimed to be running for a judge in Texas many years ago and talked $100.00 out of Henry Sachs and some other Colorado big shots during a speech at Payne Chapel Church, and Mordecai Johnson are the only persons in my memory who have surpassed King as speakers.

Over the New Year's weekend I promoted Portland's Annual Ice Berg Open Golf Tournament. It was well supported by the local newspapers, radio stations, and T.V. stations. Nearly 80 of the better golfers from Oregon and Southern Washington participated. Unfortunately, I was the only negro participant. The City of Portland kicked in with $1.00 added to the prize fund for every participant. I shot the worst round I've had in a long time, an 87, and finished way out. A few pros participated, but an amateur, Tom Shaw, had the best round, a 3 under par 69. The weather was beautiful.

From the papers I see that Colorado Springs had better than 50 below zero temperature yesterday, moreover, the thermometer hasn't been up as high as zero in a week. What a challenge! I believe that 62 degrees below zero at Edmonton, Alberta is the coldest I've ever seen.

This idea will provoke a lot of controversy and will be utterly unthinkable to the Strouds who are in what they regard as "sensitive" or "responsible" positions in other words, in regimented positions where the thinking is done from above by some non-entity called "national policy." Nevertheless, I think a good undertaking for a "Stroud Foundation" would be a compilation of all the Newsletters to date into a book, published for general sale. With America beginning to re-evaluate its Negro resources the time is ripe for a volume of the intimate thoughts and expressions of a typical negro family. It would be easy to market.

In my position as an independent business man, I don't care who knows how I think about public questions. I don't think mankind has ever had a government (and ('m certain America doesn't have one) that is worth the life of one little black child in the most backward part of the Congo, or one little coolie baby in the most destitute region in China, or one little white Hill Billy baby in the most illiterate section of Kentucky.

With that, I sign off. Happy New Year

Bunk

It is now Monday, the 22nd. Connie and her ten year old daughter, Jackie, came out Saturday evening, the 20th, to look over the office and store space we rented recently. It is more convenient and we have some privacy as there are several offices in the suite. Also we are putting in clothing, merchandise and furniture to sell on consignment. We have a very fine young lady working here at present who handles sales and does the secretarial work. Her name is Esther Poole - who is presently also a student at the Chicago Baptist Institute - she is a religious major.

While I and Jackie were taking Esther home Connie did the four previous pages of this letter - Well - From all of us to all of you

A Very happy New Year

Ben

P.S. Effie has painstakingly written a wonderful letter and has made around 20 separate copies herself - that really saved me a lot of typing - I am sure you will enjoy hearing from her for it has been quite a while.

Also- I must thank Dolphus for the $5.00 dollar check on the newsletter expenses

Once again - Best to all - Ben

February 18, 1962

To the Strouds:

Since I have now received two communications for the newsletter I suppose I'd better get them off to you at once. By the way, we are having another snow storm here in Chicago, this Sunday. I haven't been to church as I have a pretty messy cold and would not want to be in a crowd. The first letter is from Jack dated Jan. 29, 1962: -

Dear Folks: In general it appears that the Newsletter has expired. I suppose people from their own identification and go their own way.

Things, or events that may be of present interest are:

Lulu, Leonard, Leonard, Jr., and Bernadette spent Xmas vacation in L.A. I believe they had a nice time.

Dolphus promoted a golf tournament in Portland, Oregon, near the first of the year. He named it the 'Iceberg Open.' Dolphus was always good at promotion. I did not attend, since I participated in the qualifying rounds for the Los Angeles Open.

I ran into Wayne Vest and his wife quite sometime ago. Wayne is driving a new Lincoln Continental. He has been employed by Lockheed for about 17 years.

Recently, there was a bit of snow on the higher outskirts of Los Angeles. There was none in L.A. proper - contrary to news reports. However, the rather cold weather here, cleared up the atmosphere and made things much nicer. The temperature was similar to late May, or early June in Colorado.

North American won the Apollo Contract, which is the contract to build the space vehicle which will carry the first explorers to the first explorers to the moon. As you know, this came out in the papers. I have been informed by my boss that I am appointed to the Apollo project - but I don't know just when the transfer will take place. Seems, from last attempt, there are many unsolved problems to face as yet. The last rocket missed the moon by about 33,000 miles! This is an error too large to be tolerated. And the money expended is enormous!

More and more Negroes are now being employed in scientific endeavors. North America has employed quite a few Negro engineers, scientists, etc.. There are several who are lead engineers, and I understand that one of the supervisors on the Apollo Contract is an original. I haven't met him as yet.

I visited Rosa and Alger on last Thanksgiving. They seemed to be well and very ambitious.

Before saying adieu, I am sure that the weather in southern California is most attractive. After having lived here over two years, I say, give me the Los Angeles weather with its smog. It gets too cold in those cities back east.

I have no further information that would be of interest at this time, I suppose. I hope everyone is well.

Very sincerely

Jack

P.O Box 8631
Los Angeles 8, California
4143 10th Avenue, Apt #2

It's great to read of Dolphus and Jack's advancement and success in various fields. - I am somewhat curious about space vehicles myself - I think the present shape of rockets and power employed is scientifically wrong and wasteful. I believe that would probably be the most efficient shape for space travel and that the primary power of force that would employ rather a pulling or lifting impact on the space vehicle must be implemented. This would probably call for a little more research into so-called gravitational force and magnetic waves and forces. There is also the question of whether or not 'Man' will be allowed to explore space at all. Perhaps a theoretical solution of all problems has been worked out - for Man is not limited in finding out secrets of created objects - but Man's moral and spiritual weaknesses will probably bring about a holocaust of war bringing about another dark age of destruction before the unity and cooperation of nations and peoples can bring about so costly and tremendous achievement. That is, can man explore the stars before Armageddon?

Our next letter is a very interesting one from Nina, dated January 31, 1962:

Dear Strouds:

It was so nice to receive a Newsletter after having waited so long, that I decided to write another letter although I have contributed recently, and I don't want to become monotonous. Also I must clear up an error -- evidently the newspapers misreported our temperature here. We have just come out of a long frigid spell lasting approximately two weeks. Colorado Springs did not have the very low temperature experienced in some of the mountain areas and southwestern areas. Denver and Pueblo both suffered more from snow and cold than did we. However, it was the worst that I can remember or have heard of. Our lowest temperature was 20 degrees below zero and for a period of nine days the thermometer did not reach 10 degrees above zero. There were temperatures of 50 degrees below and even lower than that in places like Craig and Fraser and Durango. I know that one day our radio announcer commented that it was colder in some places in Colorado than it was at the South Pole. Of course Alaska and the North Pole were warmer on some days than several places in Colorado. There has been a tremendous amount of snow in the mountains and we've had two serious avalanches so far. I guess the weather men are a little afraid of flooding when the ice begins to melt this spring - I think that can be said for the whole country. Of course gas supplies were low and although I turned my furnace all the way up and left it there for 2 weeks straight day and night, plus leaving the oven on, plus leaving on the heater in Percy's room at its highest point, and although I have a utilities bill of $64.00 this month, there were still times when I wasn't comfortable. Both Percy and I got the flu, and he hasn't quite recovered yet - he's coughing still. All during this Percy was trying to deliver the Denver post to a very scattered route, and I suppose that's the reason he caught the flu. Delivering 58 big fat Denver Posts early Sunday morning in 10 below zero weather is no fun. Anyway he didn't miss a customer, but now he's had enough and is ready to quit. Of course on the coldest mornings I helped by carrying him and all those newspapers on the back seat of my beat up Chevrolet. Then I had to worry about the Chevy's stalling or else refusing to function while Percy ran up and down the streets. Of course I think the only reason he wanted to deliver papers in the first place is because Carl and Tony Bourgeois have a route too for the Denver Post. In fact that had theirs a month before Percy got his. Also Leonard Pollard Jr. had one sometime ago, and I figure that Percy just had to keep up with the crowd. I am certainly not the least bit sorry that he's ready to quit, and he's really ready. There are one or two things I have learned from this experience and will pass on to you.

1. Pay the poor newsboy on time.

2. If you're going to move, send your payment in to the newspaper office. He'll get credit.

3. Don't complain if the paper is a little torn or wet. Just be glad he was able to make it at all.

4. When its cold and snowy - watch for him and go out and get it if he misses the porch.

5. Newsboys do not make any money, but it is a tremendous experience in really hard work and in getting a really good look at human nature. A newsboy experiences very early in life the pettiness in people as well as the magnanimity - the generous and the stingy - the mean and the kind - the extrovert and the introvert - the psychotic and the well adjusted, and I don't think any newsboy ever forgets.

About publishing the newsletter - There is quite a bit in all of them that is publishable and quite a bit that is not. I hope that if anyone does this they will be very very careful because I am definitely is a "sensitive" job. In fact the more I think about it the less I like the idea. I might find it necessary not to contribute any more and to destroy all the copies I have. No lets not publish the newsletter. Anyone who wants to could write a book using the material in the letter and stating that all the characters are fictional and that any resemblance to a living person is merely coincidental etc.

Now with the price of stamps going up again, it seems essential besides voluntary contributions. I haven't contributed in a long time because I've felt that I couldn't, but if we had to pay for it to get a copy, we would. This month I have to pay out twice as much money as I'll receive, and I don't see how I'll make any contribution to the Newsletter. However it is wrong for us to be "riding" on the generosity of the one or two people who do contribute to the Newsletter. I think Ben should be paid for putting it out. I know I wouldn't do it for nothing. I couldn't afford to.

Effie's letter was quite interesting as usual and of course all of us have been reading about the terrible winter New York is experiencing and of course Chicago. We hear that there is to be another frigid spell there right away. Our weather here is quite nice today - the high is predicted to be about 60 degrees above zero. I am glad Effie has a fairly adequate place to live, but all those hills sound very bad in the winter time. I agree with her that the East is not progressing, and I feel that the West Coast is a much better place to live.

As far as Colorado Springs goes the military is still supporting us. It is a fair commentary on national politics to say this: El Paso County went solidly republican in the last election and yet president Kennedy assigns a whole division to Fort Carson. Anyway if it weren't for the military we'd starve.

The town is growing again. Businesses are spurting up in so many spots where residences used to be, yet it's still hard to see how people make a living. Colorado Springs is continuing to annex areas to the city - as you know, the city limits extend to Austin Bluffs now.

Martha Rae Spann got married to a soldier (she's Dorothy Bass's child). Her reception was in the General Palmer room of the Antler's Hotel. The newspaper story went on to say that her grandfather was general Palmer's horse-trainer and that her ancestors had come here in a covered wagon. It caused quite a bit of laughter among the few local culled people who know they're alive. Most of the colored citizens here do not know and are not the least bit interested in the first families of Colorado Springs. So many of them have more, know more, and can do more. Those of us who were born here certainly do not compare favorably with many of the newcomers.

The job, school teaching, goes on as usual, and I guess I'll be in this rut until I die. Right now I'm sick and tired of it, but probably I'll feel differently next year and have the old enthusiasm for the job that I used to have. Mainly I'm very critical of the administration of the public schools and I think my criticisms are valid, but since my job depends on my not criticizing I don't say anything. I'd even hate to have the foregoing published. I'd like to be on a job where I could more or less say what I pleased as long as it wasn't slander. There is just so much that needs to be said, and a few people are trying to say it - Dr. Conant for one. However, when administration does not care about its critics (and most of them don't or can't reason well enough to understand him) then, of course, there is no change. What we need of course is a complete overhaul from the top down (not from the bottom up). Teachers do what they are told to do. The best teacher in the world cannot be effective unless she's allowed to be.

North Junior High is a fairly well-run school. There doesn't seem to be too many juvenile delinquents. Classes and halls and lunchroom and assemblies are orderly. Of course we have about 30 men on a faculty of about 50. Therefore these big old boys don't get away with too much nonsense.

I've been writing this letter in Study Hall and it's nearly over so I'm going to close.

Love to all

Nina

Nina has written a fine letter - but maybe I should make a few remanences about the early settlers of the colored people in Colo. Sprgs. As I recall:-

Some of them kind of seemed like giants compared to what you have no-mentally, morally, physically.

How about Lawrence and Arthur going to Bristol school in the snow barefooted-persecuted all the time. Remember when 30 or so white boys used to fight Lawrence every night after school till way in the dark- In class the next day he would take the American flag before the same hoodlums and dip it in ink, spit on it, and rub it in the dirt of the floor-He'd have to fight and run for hours as soon as school was out. Remember Mr. Banks president of the NAACP- it was a real organization then- Remember how he stopped the Judge when James was up for swimming in the playground swimming pool-Remember when he hung the American flag behind the Judge's chair-so the judge would know that this is America! Remember the fight with that car load of white people at the the foot of Dale street hill when Hattie and Mattie and old man Lester and Grice did such a beautiful job on all those white folks? Remember when Father worked at the Coal Chutes at Roswell till dark - got up at 4 in the morning to be at work by six - worked till dark- walked the 4 miles back from Roswell with a gunny sack full of coal on his back for our stoves at 810. Remember Father driving old George when it was 15 to 25 degrees below zero - Sometimes the ashes were hot and had to be wetted down. He would break the ice and stick his bare hands in the water to turn on the water - He would just beat his hands a little and wipe the ice off - He used to say - 'A man can't afford to flinch about a little cold weather!' Remember the Girard Douglas case and how Rev. Wayman Ward hid Girard from the white mob. -Remember how they used to treat colored football players from opposing teams - Remember how thousands of people used to yell in concert when Dolphus came in ahead on cross country runs - "Beat the N-----! Beat the n-----! Beat the n-----!" Remember Dolphus extraordinary runs up Pikes Peak? Remember Nina's talk to Chief Harper and his bunch in the theatre during World War No 2 - How she explained in correct and precise English about the sacrifices and expected fruits of our democracies - If I went further Nina, I could fill up page after page of reminisces - like Father working our algebra problems by common old arithmetic - I think the present people of Colorado Springs will have to really go some to hold up those old traditions - At least those I can remember about in the days when I came along! I think we really have a tradition and heritage to be proud of!

Well best wishes to all

Ben.

Sunday May 27, 1962

To the Strouds

Sometimes I wonder if Jack is right about each of us being markedly individualists - each going in his own way and facing his own problems more or less alone. This is something of the conclusion I arrive at in regards to the newsletter - I can go back in reminisces and reveries to our family life years ago at 810 N. Walnut. I cannot recall the cohesiveness or that 'all for one, one for all' attitude in the Strouds that seemed to be inherent in other families around us. I wonder if difficulties, failures, poverty, inferiority, and humiliations did not make us secretly ashamed of our status in Colorado Springs in those long bygone days and of our family identification and name. Otherwise how do you explain the punishments and privations we used to inflict on ourselves in an effort to gain recognition and status in spite of our color. Remember those high grades in school - those physical achievements of some of us - and we are certainly not born strong men or natural athletes- Pride and an inferior status will sometimes make people strive and in some cases actually achieve more than they normally would. You have to admit that hauling ashes was a rather low job and very poorly paid when I was 12 years old and used to drive old George and Leften. And it looked like you never could get those lignite ashes out of your skin no matter how much you scrubbed-

Well anyhow- In spite of our small concern about news of each other, I'll go ahead with the two letters I have received in the last couple of months - (We are not really indifferent about the news and failures and achievements concerning one another, we are just lazy or in the depths of an inertia that makes it difficult to write)

As I think of Omar Magee on this rainy Sunday evening I am constrained to remember also, Lulu Magee, and another rainy evening in 1952 - the day they buried Mother. I realize that as one grows older life becomes more lonely as friends and relations drop away. I believe that it is good and necessary to lean more and more to the spiritual - On this lonely rainy Sunday, I have occasion to think of Mabel's grief. I know all of you would like to stretch out arms of sympathy and love to her - Her note reads:

Dear Ben-

Brother Omar F. Magee died Sunday at 5 A.M., March 4th, He was brought to Alton and buried, Thursday at 1 P.M., March 8th, 1962. I hope all the Strouds are well, thanks for the Newsletter

Mabel.

Words of consolation now seem belated, but I am persuaded not too late - for we know from our own experience that the tedious road of sorrow is not short - and there is a time when words are meaningless, when one must be alone in spirit enduring in solitude his own deep grief, before resuming his slow faltering walk on that misty tear-dimmed road that crosses the bridge of sighs and winds thru the vale of sorrow. I am sure that as Mabel treads this dark was in the quietness and holiness of her sorrow, that sweet memories as borne from an angel of God will come reminding her of her kindness and love and care she bestowed on her darling brother - assuring her that in her care of him she has been acceptable and pleasing to the Lord - and that His Comforting Spirit will visit her and bring her healing peace - and lead her on to a higher place and a greater consolation.

I am sure all the Strouds are united in sympathy to Mabel and also to Omar's loving wife who was so loyal and kinds to him.

Our next letter is as of May the 8th from Jack:

Dear Folks

It appears that Lu Lu and Leonard will move to California. From latest information this move may take place in the near future.

To me, the asset of southern California is the weather. The expenses and cost of living are very, very high. At present, much attention is being directed to the 'Black Muslims'! About two weeks ago, the entire Los Angeles Police Department was called out on battle duty. About 100 squad cars, with the most modern ammunition conveyed on the Muslim headquarters. Apparently the cops started shooting at random, excitedly, and scared.

Brother Malcolm X came out of New York City and a press and TV conference were held. Brother Malcolm appears to be about the same age as he was in the 1930's when he was a young disciple of Brother Muhammed and they used to speak at 'Bug House Square' out in Washington Park, Chicago. Evidently the abstinence from tobacco, alcohol, narcotics, and pork have kept him in splendid physical condition.

Negroes are continuing to move into L.A., and the areas immediately adjacent to the central city are being deserted by Caucasoids. Hence, as in most big cities, the central part of L.A. is now occupied by Negroes and other vaccinated races. The presence of the 'Vaccine' people is becoming more and more a point of aggravation. It seems that L.A. is tittering on the brink of a potential race riot, and the positive things which might be done are being avoided.

Chief Parker is reminiscent of Chief Harper of Colorado Springs. He uses white squad cars to patrol the Negro communities and no squad car integration is evident. This in itself is a very disastrous thing at this time. Less than a week after the massacre of the Los Angeles Muslims, a motorcycle cop got into a discussion with a Negro woman of the vaccinated races concerning a supposed traffic violation. Evidently the discussion deteriorated to an argument, and two other sisters came to the lady's support. The result was that the motorcycle cop was ejected from his vehicle and the tree girls beat him up.

With the present set-up in Los Angeles, these incidents will increase.

The social thing that differentiates Los Angeles is that areas that whites are scurrying from are often less than ten years old. This creates a situation wherein a too pronounced lateral spread of Los Angeles is taking place. The community in which I reside is relatively new and white exodus from it is in high gear.

The consequences of the lateral spread is a demand for more and more automobile highways and freeways. In this respect, Los Angeles is stupendous. When history is written (if ever again) one of the wonders of the modern world will be the Los Angeles freeways. But, if you drive out here on a visit, avoid the freeways as much as possible. It takes at least a year to become familiar with them. Also, if anyone plans to move to Los Angeles it is necessary to learn to drive. It is nothing unusual to see women 60 and 70 years old driving these freeways, back and forth to work and doing 60 and 70 miles per hour in ease and assurance.

Welven and his wife, Pat, were in L.A. two weeks ago and we had breakfast together at the 'International Pancake House'. Pat is very nice and attractive -- and brilliant. They are taking a teaching fellowship in Tokyo, Japan this fall, and will visit India, Africa, and South America before returning to Palo Alto.

I also received a telephone call from Tandy the next day. His daughter, Vanessa, had lost one of her twin children at birth. I am sure that all the family extends sympathy to Tandy and Bernice. Tandy explains that all his children except four are now married. He has only three now left at home. Time flies.

This is enough to write at present. I am getting along, feeling better, and working long hours. I hope everyone else is hale and hearty.

Cheerio

Jack

P.S.

My birthday was May 3rd so this will be the last one I admit. I was born in 1913. New mailing address - P.O. Box 8631 Los Angeles 8, California

This fine letter ends your contributions since the last letter - May I also extend my personal sympathy and also use this medium of the newsletter to extend our sympathy to Vanessa and Tandy. We are proud of Pat and Welvin and are hoping the best for them. We are also happy to learn that Jack's health has improved. We hope that Lu and Len and son will be happy wherever they are.

I could say more about our conditions in Chicago and Maywood - I think so far there have been 15 unsolved gang style murders in Chicago this year.

There are billions and billions planned for roads and skyscrapers and mass housing developments and urban renewal.

Negroes seem unusually depraved ignorant and demoralized in Chicago - Juvenile delinquency, youth gangs and illegitimacy is appalling - and the costs of welfare and A.D.C which is about 80% given to Negroes has brought on a financial crisis in the state of Illinois. Here is an excerpt from columnist Jack Mabley of the Chicago American - and he certainly does not seem to be a prejudiced writer: -

In a single month at County hospital recently, children were born to four girls 13 years old; to six 14 years old, to 27 only 15 years old, and to 50 girls aged 16. None of the girls was married.

One mother had her ninth illegitimate child on a Tuesday. On Friday of the same week her daughter, 14, had her first.

About 20 illegitimate children are born in this one hospital every day, 365 days a year. ------ This article goes on with more and more about how the government subsidizes these mothers and children ---- It goes on to say that about 60,000 children are so supported in Chicago - and these 60,000 make up 47% of ADC.

In the worst neighborhoods in Chicago there are probably more churches than anywhere else. The areas where the Cobras and Vice Lords are rampant is where you find several store front churches in one block.

I have a feeling that we may not make a success of space flight after all - this is right after Carpenters successful flight - I have a feeling that in outer space we will come to an environment that will be an entirely different reference frame from this earth - An environment existing in something that might be called the 4th dimension - or that exists beyond the speed of 186,000 miles per second - Therefore the objects we measure and see from the earth may not be at all the things which actually exist out there.

Also I have a feeling that there maybe a revelation from God himself - the millennium or Armageddon -

I have been thinking strongly of re-reading some of the prophecies in the Bible, especially the Revelations -- I am wondering about the Jews going back to the holy land as was prophesized many years ago, and what significance this has with the thousand years of peace at which time it seems that Christ himself will reign - how soon will this time be?

I am thinking of the 2 thousand year periods of God's outstanding revelations to man. The first was - Let there be light, and there was light. The next was a flood in which Noah and his family survived in the Ark. Two thousand years after that "There were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the fields - and Lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them - This was the advent of Christ into the world two thousand years after the flood - It will be into the world two thousand years after the flood - It will be two thousand years after the birth of Christ by the year 2000 A.D. It seems that space exploration may not be just a matter of a race between the U.S. and Russia - but also there may be a revelation of God - A revelation so great that it will confound and appall and demoralize mankind - I think if any of us will read prophecy we can see the shadow of these awful coming events before us in the world of todays.

Another thought that comes to me is that if we who are descendants of slaves do not turn back to the principles and righteousness of our fathers and mothers there is no future for us. We were brought here and preserved for some great purpose of God - Now we are pleasure mad, depraved, blasphemous, filthy, lazy. We must fight for equality, but we must strive to go back to our own land mark- the old landmark - Otherwise a judgment from God awaits us.

Best wishes to all

Ben

Tuesday August 7, 1962

To The Strouds:

The above date has been passed and I am now starting this letter. One reason is that Effie and Lesi, my adopted nephew from Lagos, Nigeria, West Africa were here for a couple of days enroute to Colorado Springs and California. Lesi is Welvin's adopted brother - as you recall when Welvin was in Nigeria a couple of years or so ago, a Nigerian family adopted him. Lesi is from that family and has been studying electronics in Philadelphia for the last three years. He will soon go to London to get his B.S. degree. Meanwhile Effie thought that he should see some of America other than the East before returning to Africa.

Their stay here in Chicago was so short until there was not time to see much except the International Trade Fair and the Planetarium - The Trade Fair was in the new McCormick building on the lake front as also is the Planetarium.

Lesi has a keen quick mind, is primarily interested in human relations, international political problems and situations, and the development and recognition of Africa. He is very serious minded for a young person - very polite and dignified. He does not have the least sense of inferiority in the presence of white people - not even in a subtle manner that American Negroes have. I think you will like him when you see him - I think you will be proud of him as your adopted brother and also will have a new respect for Africa and Africans if you have a chance to converse with him.

Our first letter is from Nina as of June 14, 1962-

Dear Ben:

If you wish you may include this letter in the next newsletter. I don't care, but the contents are meant primarily for you (I therefore will publish that which I think is of general interest to all of you). It is twelve o'clock midnight, and I'm ready for bed, but I thought I'd write to you before retiring- It seems that this is my best time for writing. A lieutenant Colonel was here earlier to call on me, so I'm late getting to bed - you see, I have to "put up" my hair and "fix" my face and all that. Besides that, I'm not the least bit sleepy. I didn't arise this morning until 10 AM. It's just so nice not to have to get up now that vacation time is here that I just simply indulged myself. I must confess that I did get up seven and get Percy off to clarinet class, but then I went back to bed. Percy is growing up. He'll go to North Junior in September-and I'm getting older as all of us are.

The last newsletter was a little bit sad but true. We have grown apart, but isn't that the way God intended it? All his creatures are born, mature, establish their own domiciles, procreate, and then die. This is the story of life, and since it is His way then it must be right and good. It is quite natural that brothers and sisters who were very close in their parent's "nest" should fly away someday and make their own nests and rear their own young - who in turn will fly away. Soon Percy will "fly" away and, believe me, I feel that the loneliness will be greater for me than it is for you - never having had a child to miss. Often I think of the supreme loneliness Mama must have experienced at the end of her earthly existence, having had such a full house and such a full life - to be left at the end with utter loneliness. Father Jepson (my favorite priest) often speaks of the loneliness of Christ in the Garden and carrying the cross and on the cross, and surely, if any of us deserve the Kingdom of Heaven we should be glad to know this loneliness. Father Jepson says that life on earth is merely preparation for eternal life, and that our bitter experiences here are merely a means of cleansing our souls so that we can become immortal.

Maybe I feel this way because Colorado Springs is beginning to be a little lonely for me. Lu Lu and Leonard and Leonard Junior have moved to California. Bobbie is married, and so here am I left alone to some extent because Lu Lu and Bobbie were my closest friends here. However I've begun to get busy and make new friends here so that I won't be so alone. Of course I never was attached to 810 N. Walnut the way some of you first born were. However, I do remember some very happy times there. Life moves on though and things will never be the same tomorrow as they were yesterday.

Now for a little news: They have razed the Buzy Corner drug store and are going to put up a modern office building. The First National Bank has torn down, the old Gazette Telegraph building and the Trail Theatre (used to be the America) so that it can have easy drive in facilities. All the old landmarks are going by the way. They continue to tunnel under Cheyenne Mountain to build the Air Defense Command Center in a location that no atom bomb can destroy. A bond issue is to be voted on in September to build two new Junior High Schools, a Junior - Senior High School and five new elementary schools and a new Senior High School. You see the place continues to grow, however out of over 600 public school teachers we have only seven Negro teachers. The Broadmoor Hotel Inc. added a new Hotel to its complex called the Broadmoor South. I haven't been in it yet, but its supposed to be fabulous. Their International Center that was built about 2 years ago is bringing King Cole here in July. Last summer Harry Belafonte appeared. In May of this year some friends of mine at the Air Force Academy took me to see Errol Garner who appeared there. He was terrific. And the International Center is truly a remarkable building. Also in May I accompanied the Junior High School choral festival. It was quite a triumph, and I did feel really good about it. We are getting a multi-million dollar motel out near the Sinton Dairy. I'm trying to think of how to describe the location to you, but it's almost impossible. It's between Pike View and the Mesa. All of this has been built up now and the freeway runs through this area.

Percy is doing all right and is taller by the minute he also wears men's shoes and the cost is terrific. He is not a brilliant person nor a great athlete as my brothers were, but he is mine and a great guy to me. I was thrilled when he brought home 3 excellents on his report card this time, and even more thrilled when he got a 3rd place ribbon for the 25 yard dash. One thing he can do very well is swim. However he's a great little kid, and I have a suspicion that he'll probably do better than I have ever done with all my potentiality simply because he isn't so "great." He's a good kid and has way too many friends to suit me. They are here from sun up to sun down. Then, they have the nerve to ask if they can stay all night! If it isn't Bo Bo, its Phillip or Mike or Gary or Beetle. But really I'm glad, because Percy was truly a lonely child until I put him in Garfield School.

Ben there's lots more I could write about but its getting late, and I have a huge ironing to do tomorrow, and I must get downtown also.

I was very sorry to hear of Omar's death and of Louise's bereavement - Love ---- Ninie

Our next letter is from Lu Lu - and I think you will be very much interested in the change and new start they are making - It is written as of July 21, 1962 -

Dear Ben:

Just a note to give you our address. We have been too unsettled to write before now. A decent place to rent was impossible to find so we had to commit ourselves to buy this house. We decided to take a chance and go for broke, lose all, and go back to work or be successful in our own business. We weren't getting any younger you know - So we have opened the Pollard's Business Service specializing in all types of office service for the small businessman. We are waiting here now at the office 2721 West Vernon Avenue, Los Angeles 5, California for the man to come to turn on the water and gas. Wish he would come on.

We need every one's prayers and best wishes for our success. It's frightening what we are attempting, but I guess fear comes with old age. We do know that it's difficult and very boring to be limited and have to always do what some one else tells you to do. We would like to see what it's like to be independent. Pray for our success. Best wishes to all, Lu and Leonard Pollard-

I am sure that Lulu and Leonard will have all our prayers for their great success and greater happiness -

All of you should make a note of their new address - By the way the Gillespie's last copy of the newsletter that I sent to them came back to me - I wonder if they have moved.

From Pat Stroud, Welvin's wife I received this with enclosed mimeographed copies and pictures of Debbie Stroud - my little grand niece - I guess I'm right - it is a great pleasure to share these communications with all of you - This was written as of July the 19, 1962

My Dear Uncle Ben,

Please share our long overdue letters with the family. My husband is in Japan and I will join him on August 20. At present I am teaching summer school and nursing our daughter, Debbie, who has the chicken pox. Thanks daddy (Tandy) for your daughter. Darlene is doing an excellent job of baby sitting for me. Also a special belated thanks to Jack for a delightful and rewarding visit with him last spring. Best wishes to all and you will hear from us again about our living experiences in Japan. We will be back on U.S. soil the end of next summer.

Always,

Pat Stroud (Welvin's wife)

I will now cu this letter short as it is very late anyhow - Perhaps it will reach some of you by the time Lesi and Effie will have visited you - I know you have many comments - Let's hear some of them - Best wishes to you all

Ben

Shirley Stewart's Address is 903 Independence Boulevard Chicago, Illinoi - Phone 638-5568

Besides Shirley Stewart - This letter was sent as of July 26, 1963 to the following: Bobby Bourgeois 814 S. El Paso, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Nina Pellerin 618 N. Corona, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Marilyn Turner 23076 Eddy Streat Hayward, California

Mrs. Everett Lowry 483-6179 801 E. 87th Place Chicago, IL

Jack C. Stroud P.O. Box 8631 Los Angeles 8, California

Tandy Stroud 3045 Kelly Street Hayward, California

K. Dolphus Stroud 2936 North East 12th Street, Portland, Oregon

A.C. Gillespie, 616 Flint Way Sacramento 18, California

Lu Lu Pollard 3935 Don Tomaso Drive, Apt. 18, Los Angeles, Calif.

Mabel Fields, 3964 w. Belle Place, Saint Louis Missouri

Welvin Stroud 2006 Sand Hill, Manlo Park, California

Effie Narcellus 5500 Fieldston Road, Riverdale 71, New York

Mrs. Louise Brooks 1853 Conway Street Hilpitas, California

Luvnie Olden 1744 3rd Street, S. Richmond, California

Maude and Billy Goffman 2510 Franklin Street Denver Colorado

September 16, 1962

To The Strouds:

After a great tragedy it is difficult to ask questions of the person who is bearing heartbreak or anguish. Mabel wrote as of June the 5th 1962-which I at first reading assumed to be detailed information of Omar's passing - However after re-reading and re-reading, I am sure that someone else besides Omar - someone also very near to her also passed. Mable suffers from cataracts and at times her writing is not very legible - also there must be the consideration of shock and sorrow - Her letter of June 5th reads as follows:

Tues. 7 PM June 5 --62 Dear Ben:

Didn't you know ----- passed 2 months to the day an hour after Brother died. I am sorry it was such a shock I forgot many in and out of the city. I told you when he had to be taken off in August 57----was confined to bed Oct. If he had lived he would have been 53 Oct. 12, 1962. He did not have pain -just slept away- his wife took him to the hospital I am sad and alone in this world - Please see that Effie and Jack also get this information as they both had seen him and knew him.

He passes so sweet and easy. -He and brother are buried near each other in Alton, Illinois. - Didn't Via or Edith write you-(The rest of this letter is very difficult to make out - however from the following I conclude that the loved one she has lost could be Floyd) I can't see how to write nor read too good - Floyd would say, Mother don't cause you see as good I - He didn't want us to worry and wouldn't complain -

All please pray for me - I need all of your consolations

Mabel

If this is true of Mabel - if her losses are so great - I know each of us would like for her to realize our deep sympathy our consolations - but we realize that mere words are meaningless in her dark lonely garden, as it were of lilies and weeping willows - as one who once bore great sorrow alone beyond his earthly friends in Gethsemanae. We have learned that such great sorrow can be cured only by a greater love - We are sure that this overshadowing love of God will give her a saintliness - a fellowship of sorrow with the savior of all - a closer walk and an endowment of that love that passes comprehension - May the comforting Spirit of God abide with her, and in his love sustain her, and bring her consolation.

Our next letter is very much belated and dated - In fact I was so anxious to get something out to all of you regarding Effie and her tour with Lisa, until I believe I overlooked this very fine letter from Dolphus. Here it is:

Dear Albert:

Two weeks ago we enjoyed a visit from Chic, Charles, their four children and a Mr. Martin. It was certainly great to have them around. They are all very fine persons. My conclusion might be colored by fatherly love; but Joel's unsolicited comments should be accurate when he stated "I had no idea I had such a beautiful sister." My grand-children are self-reliant, intelligent, and handsome. They made a wonderful impression on all of us.

Charles is full of fun and keeps you laughing much of the time. But, along with a sense of humor, he is very well informed and capable. And he has the self-discipline to drive himself to any goal he wishes to attain.

Mr. Martin, a laboratory technician, is a U.C.L.A. graduate. He is one of those deceptively intelligent persons who never parades his knowledge. He will listen to a less intelligent persons view about anything without once indicating that he is an authority on the topic being discussed. We all liked him very much.

The entire group, along with La Verne and Lulu of the Portland tribe, took in the Seattle World's Fair. They reported it as being quite impressive, but somewhat shy of their expectations.

Business has been fair this Spring. I've spent about as much time playing golf as I have looking after business.

An undertaking that we might join in would be for each Stroud to write an account of some event or events that have affected him a great deal. When these stories are all in, they could be assembled and an effort made for publication. It might just go over.

There are no serious illnesses affecting the family. Our weather is warm but rainy. Scott Carpenter has been plucked from the Atlantic, and the first ladies of Africa and America are dazzling Washington society. Minor things like Billy Sol Estes, Fayette County, Tennessee, Virginia's schoolless Negro children and the starving Chinese, can be swept under the rug and forgotten-Havana and the kids send love. --- Very truly yours, Kelley D. Stroud.

Our next letter is a very outstanding contribution from Nina as of July 22, 1962:

Dear Ben:

I hope you don't discontinue the Newsletter. I know it is quite an expense and also a lot of work, but it is the only means that many of us have to know what has happened or is happening to the family that once resided at 810 North Walnut Street in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

I hope we will all remember, those of us who enjoy getting the letter, that Ben must have money for stamps and paper etc. to get this out. I am enclosing $5.00 which I cannot afford to enclose at the present time, but I find that one can afford those things that are important to him and this letter, I feel, is valuable to me. It is now 11:15 P.M. Sunday, July twenty-second. Just a little while ago I came here from the aftermaths of one of the years important weddings. Henry Morgan Jr. married Edith Charlton at Shove Memorial Chapel. Henry Morgan Jr. is the son of Henry Morgan and Rhoda Dell Dunlap. Rhoda is now married to a fellow named Moon and Henry is married to someone in Chicago, but Henry Morgan Jr. is "something else" as the kids say. He is very very handsome and has done quite well in school. He is well known in athletic circles and has his job in Denver at East High School as a coach. Edith Charlton is the step-daughter of Belina Bragg. She married a Fred Charlton who has two daughters by a former marriage. Selina is one of the Braggs who lived on Pine Street-Fannie Mae's sister. The wedding was quite a show. It was at Shove Memorial Chapel on the College Campus. There were 7 bridesmaids and the bride was simply beautiful in a white satin gown decorated with embroidery and lace. She carried a bouquet of white carnations and wore a lovely fingertip veil. All of the ushers were truly tall and handsome in their white coats. There were four darling little flower girls and the ring bearer was a little boy about 2 years old. He tripped and fell over the white cloth that was laid in the isle for the bride to walk on, and wailed his little heart out, but then recovered his pillow and ring and walked right down to the podium crying like mad all the way. Dorothy Spann played the organ - Dorothy is the daughter of Dorothy Bass - and Claudia Morgan sang the Lord's Prayer. Claudia is married to Joseph Morgan and used to be Claudia Jones - Cecil Duncan's niece - (I believe this is correct). The wedding was attended by many people both white and colored and was truly beautiful. I saw Lillian Bateman and Mr. and Mrs. Hay. All of us remember Lillian Bateman. I taught with Wimfred (Mrs.) Hay at Lincoln School and Mr. Hay teaches at Palmer High School - (formerly C.S.H.S.) where Henry Morgan Jr. was such a star.

The reception took place at Fannie Mae's house. Those of you who have been here have seen the spacious grounds. All of the guests wandered around these grounds, enjoyed sumptuous knick knacks, and felt a little like kings and queens I'm sure. I seated myself with several friends of 'old Colo. Springs' vintage and enjoyed the afternoon. Emma Lee Phoenix (formerly Emma Lee Wiley on Maple Street - Mrs. Reese's daughter), Erna Mae McDonald (formerly Erma Mae Marshall married to John McDonald), Myrtle White (of Monument and Spruce Streets) Brenette Washington (formerly Brenette Wheeler - Mrs. Hunter's niece, married to Lucious Washington), Shirley Darden (formerly MacFarland), all sat at a table on the lawn and watched the goings on. It was a "native" table, and there are very few of these in Colorado Springs now. The food flowed, the plain punch and spiked punch flowed, the champagne flowed, and a good time was had by all. White folk mingled with colored folk and across the street where I live everyone was sitting on their porches watching the event. Fannie Mae's black Cadillac and Selina's tan rose Cadillac were much in evidence as were many other fine vehicles. Someone said that Ebony photographers were on hand for the occasion. I still don't know if this is so, but let's watch our "Ebonies." This was truly the social event of the year. Of course all the Morgans were there. I hadn't seen Grace in a long long time, and it was really good to see her. Well time goes on and life moves on and now I'm sitting back looking on.

Colorado Springs is moving on. Joe Stroud, one of Tandy's, spent a couple of days with Percy Jr. and me. We were delighted with him and sorry he had to go so soon. Percy fell in love with him because Joe found time for him in the good old Stroud vein. One thing about my brothers - all of them like kids. Naturally their sons shall like kids.

The summer has been good. Lots of rain has fallen. The grass is green and the flowers are beautiful. While Joe was here we went riding to see the town. I am truly disgusted with the city Counsel as a result - homes have been built all the way to Austin Bluffs and they are even being built in the bluffs themselves. The same is true in the Garden of the Gods. The South Part has been taken over by homes. Percy and I went to see a fellow teacher of mine and her living room actually enfolds two of the rocks on which I clearly remember, having picnicked. I'm so mad I can't see! But what are you going to when "little" people assume control of a town? I still think I'm going to have to go to the city council and register a protest. All this town ever had was scenery and it is being destroyed - in fact it really has been destroyed - just as day follows night. About all there is left to the Garden of the Gods now are the gateway rocks, the Cathedral Spires, and the Hidden Inn. Broadmoor is also being built up like crazy. I think they even have a commercial area there now. Someone asked if they still have the zoo on top of Cheyenne Mountain? Yes they still have the zoo there and the zoo underneath also (For those of you who don't dig this - NORAD is building headquarters underneath Cheyenne Mountain to be protected from any and all atomic blasts. NORAD means North Atlantic Air Defense Command.

Busy Corner Drug Store has been torn down and a brand new building in being erected. The Trail (America) theatre has been torn down, Mahan Jewelry Store, The Gazette Telegraph offices have all been torn down to make way for an expanded 1st National Bank. Gazette - Telegraph is now located on East Pikes Peak and Prospect Streets across from St. Francis Hospital. I've been taking a few hours at C.C. this summer and Percy has been taking clarinet lessons with the summer recreation program. He has a chance to play in the rodeo parade and I hope he makes it. His birthday was Friday, and we had his birthday (12 years old) party Saturday. We had 14 kids and I think a good time was had by all - at least I hope so. Anyway I was worn out, and I think this will be Percy's last birthday party - that is - one that I have to do.

We all miss Lu Lu and Leonard and little Leonard very very much, and hope they'll do quite well in California. They moved away from here the first part of June.

I hate to see the Newsletter die. I have enjoyed reading it for many many years now, and since I am not a good correspondent, it is the only way I have of knowing what is going on with my relatives.

I feel that one of the reasons for the lack of interest in the Newsletter is the lack of newsy news. I think there has been entirely too much discussion of ideas and too much comment on what has been written, and too much of using the Newsletters as an outlet of sounding board for one's philosophies, and yes, ones' frustrated literary endeavors. I feel if it were more of a Newsletter [underlined] interest would continue. I'd like to see it continue.

Jack - somehow or other I've lost your Technical Bulletin. How do I get another? I want one autographed to show because I'm so proud of you! Best regards to Babs.

You see, Ben, it is so easy to do it like this instead of writing every soul individually - I want to see the Newsletter go.

Tandy and Berniece - we think Joe is a fine guy. Tell me how you did it.

Percy and I have an invitation to go to Blackhawk, Colorado this summer to a friend's cabin. I intend to go and try to run down J.H. Magee who wrote the letter from there in 1865 before he died. - Love to All - Niney.

(Here Nina continues with a substantial postscript which is very very interesting and 'Newsy':

Rosa wrote me a nice long letter recently. P.S. I can answer some of Rosa's questions via Newsletter, and the rest of you may be interested in some of these answers.

The newspapers never do get Colorado Springs weather correct. It is always the best in the state and we have not had a reading over 90 degrees all summer long so far. In fact, today it is quite cool - around 75. The National Baptist Sunday School convention did meet in Denver, and I understand that a good gospel - singing, preaching time was had by all. I didn't go but Bobby and George did. (George Nelson is Bobby's husband). No, they wouldn't let Martin Luther King back into his office. Fort Carson is huge - I believe there are about 30,000 troops and more coming. Housing is going up all over the place. The local Negroes are carrying on as usual and spilling over into the white community like crazy. We now have seven Negro teachers employed by school district 11. There is one Negro professor at the Air Force Academy and his wife teaches elementary school up there -- It is school District No 20. There is a Negro teacher at Widefield School which is south east of security - this is a new town between the Springs and Fountain. There are three or four Negro teachers at Fort Carson which is School District no. 3 or 13, I believe. All of the high schools in our general area have some colored students, if only one or two, excepting Cheyenne Mountain - That means, Palmer High (old C.S.H.S.) Wasson High, Widefield High and Black Forest High (that's the Air Academy) - so you see we are living all over the place. There is a colonel who bought a home recently in black forest. There is a major who lives on North Circle Drive - this is out north east where no spooks were going to be allowed. There are several original families in Security - especially the families of the mixed marriage vintage (Negro - German or Negro - Oriental). The old "Baptist Hill" is swamped with originals - from South Weber Street east to Prospect Lake and from Ivywild up to Pikes Peak. One sees the take over. I think the general plan is that we shall "take over" from Weber Street North and South to Hancock. However, as usual, some of us don't operate according to plan and every now and then one hears of an original in a most unexpected neighborhood, such as the colonel in black forest. They still have managed to keep Broadmoor exclusive excepting for the maids, but it won't stay that way long if they don't stop selling to poor people. The other day I saw 3 homes for sale by the owner and of course, that's the way we get in. King Cole just finished an engagement at the International Center out there and Benny Goodman is to appear this coming weekend.

Ester Carter's husband died. She still comes back every summer. She lives and teaches school in Dallas. Elsie Bass Lewis is here visiting her relatives. She looks quite well and wanted Effie to have her best regards. Myrtle White is still carrying on as usual and looks well also. She still has great parties and "spreads the word." Mrs. Shelton died about 2 years ago and Bernice is still here going to St. Johns and performing the duties of Church Clerk. St. John's has been trying to build a new church for sometime, but somehow can't get it going. Again there are the factions who want to get rid of the present preacher - Rev. Proby. However, if you want to get a seat there nowadays you have to go before 11:30. They always hold until after 1 P.M. so I very seldom go. Their choir sings rock n'roll in the latest Baptist fashion there are about 35 or 40 members and they wear white robes with gold stoles. There are also plenty of ushers standing around. When collection time comes every one marches around and places his money on the table while the choir swings out. There are always 2 or 3 good shouts. There is one jazz pianist and one jazz organist and sometimes that old church really rocks. Bessie Jones is back and still looking fit and drives her car all the way from here to California. Gladys Douglass still has her beautiful flowers - cooks at Wasson High. Her son is coach at South Junior. Geraldine Mondragon married a soldier named Smith and moved to Arkansas with him, I understand. Don't know where her married daughter is. I never hear from any of Harry's people. I see Etta, the one who married Clyde Smith, sometimes when they come down from Denver. They live there now. I guess I could hear from them, but I don't want to write. Can't see much reason to. Anyway Mary got married to a Verdunville boy and has several children. Ruth Morgan is switchboard operator at May DT. She still lives with her parents. At the wedding reception she had to help serve the spiked punch, I understand. She kept talking about how it was helping the devil - or maybe she refused to serve it - can't remember which now. Rosa Jean married a Sgt. Spencer and is preparing to move to Japan. Fannie Mae, as you can see from the above still operates but she is just manager now. The business is no longer in her name. I think she lost everything - I know she lost the business. I never hear from Bill or Maud and this is my fault too because I never go to see them. This is a real shame, and I must do better. I didn't know Portia Cooper had Glaucoma. Do you know her address? Peggy's daughter was down for quite a while with Jeanette. She looks like Peggy who is O.K. I understand. Genevieve Woods lives here with her mother. I believe she works at a hospital in Denver and commutes. Her kids are all growing up. Winifred lives in Michigan with her family. Juanita Williams lives in Denver with her boys - they are quite big also. Aletha Woods married a Moon and is doing very well on a farm in Kansas. I understand they have 5000 acres including oil wells and made two drops last year. I think they are really "rich" as far as originals go. Elderly Seymour is still alive as is Ella. He still sits in the same pew at St. Johns! He's one of the few faces you see there now of people you used to know. Minnie Ray and Sam are in California visiting. Sam sells real estate and manages rentals. Mrs. Hunter never did recover from her accident. She is getting quite old and her mind is beginning to wander a little. The Bijou Martins and the Naceo Mitchells are still there on Walnut street and growing old. Allene Madison Flores is turning white. I saw her at Gladys Bragg's wedding (Gladys and Earl divorced and both are remarried now. Gladys married an army captain who is restirring and has a home in Denver and I was almost floored to see her losing all her pigment. This letter is entirely too long. I probably won't do it again for another year, but this brings up pretty much up-to-date on dear ole Colo. Springs - Love to All - Niney -

Niney continues with P.S. No 2 - This is very interesting and newsy also - continue to read:

It is now July 30th. Again the temperature is about 74 degrees in fact too cool. I had to include this next because Chester Morgan killed a man Saturday morning July 28th - Chester was working as handyman at the Maxwell nursing home, became violent and stabbed Jr. Jeffries who was married to the lady who owns the home. I think you all know that Chester is an ex mental patient and never did entirely regain his sanity. This, of course, has been and still is the talk of the town. There are all sorts of comments from good to bad. Everyone was shocked. It took four policemen to subdue Chester and he is in the "violent" ward at Brady's. Of course this has just about wrecked what little was left of the Morgan's reputation. The consensus of opinion of people who aren't westsiders or who weren't very close to the Morgans is "what else could you expect?" They never should have let him out. That whole family is one big mess. Sorry about Chester, though, because he isn't responsible." Those who were or are close to the Morgans are all very sorry it happened and are especially sorry for the parents - don't know if they'll be able to take it. I understand that Rev. Morgan is quite sick now, and isn't expected to live. I don't know exactly how I feel. Of course I'm sorry it happened, and of course Chester isn't to blame. Colorado is for allowing him to be away from psychiatric treatment and allowing him to go back into the same environment that was responsible for his mental collapse in the first place. But it is the same story everywhere, The cost of government is huge and there never are enough funds or personnel to operate enough institutions to hold the people who need to be in them. There are people here who are saying that Rev. Morgan is paying for his sins through his children, and of course he is paying himself now. I don't know about this because I don't know that much about him. I do know that most of his children are emotional wrecks - their lives are pretty horrible as judged by normal standards or should I say, accepted standards? I also know that extreme emotionalism as evidenced in many of our Baptist churches (which are turning into holy roller churches) and all holiness churches is not good for anybody and certainly not children. When a child is developing it is a terrible shame to expose his tender nervous system to this kind of noise and of course emotional madness. It is enough to drive the sanest person completely out of his mind. Sunday yesterday - I went down to St. John's to see what was going on. I don't think I'll go back again very soon if at all. They've gotten to the point where it is impossible for me to stay through the service - if you can call it that. The choir starts on their rock n' roll and then they start clapping and they just carry on one song continuously until somebody starts shouting and they just scream and holler till you can't stand the noise. I was truly disgusted to the point where I was almost nauseated. Bessie Jones said at collection time that she wasn't going to walk up to the table to give her money because she didn't know if she was supposed to do the Susie Q or Twist. Hee Hee.

Really, though, colored people have got to get away from all this paganism. St. John's Sunday reminded me of the kind of thing one sees on television going on in the Congo. Surely we're farther along than they are.

Well, this letter is indeed too long now. I must stop. Percy just finished making tortillas and now he has bacon tacos. I don't like tortillas, but I guess I'll have to taste his, - Love - Niney P.S. again:

I don't think I'll ever get this letter completed, but I have forgotten to include the most important thing. I have decided to try to write our story. I am not a good writer or a good story-teller. Any of you could do it much better than I, but it must be done before I lose contact with Marshall Sprague - the writer who has promised to get it published. I need lots and lots of information. Will all of you please write all the things that you can remember either to me or to the Newsletter. To begin with I plan about 4 or 5 years to write this book. Part I will deal with Mom and Father's history. I need to know everything any of you can remember about this. What was Old Stroud's name? Was his legal wife Miss Narcissus, that's the way I remember it> what was Father's mother's name? Father's father was Louis or Lewis Stroud, wasn't he? Can anyone remember the names of Father's sisters and brothers? As I remember it: Father's father was the illegitimate son of old Stroud and an Indian woman who was camped on his plantation. How large was this plantation? How many slaves? (I think Father said 300. I recall Father's talking about his mother's relative who was straight from Africa and who was so strong no hands could hold him. He was slave-driver. Was his name Sampson? What relation was he to our grandmother?

What about Mom's people? Omar's book gives a lot of help about her father. Was his name Johnnie? What do you know about Mom's maternal grandmother and grandfather? Please help me all you can. The name of the book will be Katydid, and I intend to start it with "Hatogidee, Shebonidee, Hum Buck Stay." Or was that Come Buck Stay? Please write me. Also, I'd like to use your real names. I'll have to make up names for the other characters such as: Mrs. Hagerman and Mr. Lester, but I'm afraid I'll get all mixed up if I don't use your right names. Also, I don't intend to say much about the present - I think the real story is in the past. I don't want to embarrass anyone, but I must tell things as I see them to write at all, therefore I need your several permissions to do this thing and I need to be guaranteed that no one will sue me. I guess I'll have to get a lawyer to send you forms allowing me to write about you, but that can be done later. Right now I simply need to know if you mind my using your real names and I need the answers to all the questions above and all the other things you can tell me.

This all! Niney

(What a great contribution Niney - I really enjoyed it - It is now about 1 A:M Monday morning September the 17th - I'm making so many mistakes on the typewriter from writing so long till I'm going to sign off and try to finish one or two remaining letters tomorrow).

Well here it is 20 minutes to twelve P.M. on September 17th and I am just now getting a chance to continue the Newsletter. I have just got back from a meeting at the Village Hall in regards to the Urban Renewal Plan and other things which I will not take up at present. Here is our next letter - it is from Marilyn so I know you will all like to listen:

Dear Albert:

It would seem that I am as guilty as are many others, of not having written to the Newsletter in quite some time.

Since last having written, my family and I have enjoyed a trip to Portland to see my Dad and family, as well as a sojourn to the Fair in Seattle. Both were immensely enjoyable and well worth the cost and effort.

Speaking of Daddy's family, I was delighted to meet all of my brothers and sisters, most of whom I had never seen and to note the similarity of the two-family hereditant traits. My sis, Lu, could be Connie's duplicate, and in small Mara, I could plainly see Rosa's countenance. I have been fortunate since my return to keep a fairly regular correspondence with my newly acquainted family via my sis, Lu, and I am hoping in the near future that Havana will permit her to come and visit with us for a period. Portland, while not my ideal of a place in which I would like to reside is very beautiful and we were so amazed to see the greenness and flower displays in such abundance, even in areas where this would not be expected. While the homes are not the latest in modern design and décor, they are so well kept, as to remind me of early Tejon street as it wound its way toward my maternal grandmother's place on Weber street. While I did not see this myself, I am assured by the obvious scenes, that each and every home owner spends a great deal of time on the outer home and lawn. The homes are built on the idea of family living ad comfort and have a very homey atmosphere; mother, gingerbread in the oven, pantries, radio serials, etc. Believe me, many nostalgic moments came up on me during our stay with Daddy and Havana.

Also equally enjoyable to me was the fact that Havana had lost none of her charm or pleasantness and without obvious effort, made us all comfortable and at home. I have found since becoming an adult, that many of childhood memories are enlarged upon as one grows and sometimes to the point where fact is non existent. Years and years ago when we were encamped at Mrs. Vaughn's house, Havana, Daddy and Havana's mother came through to see us and while Daddy came into the house, Havana and her mother were reluctant to do so. Finally Havana was persuaded to come in and meet us, but her mother decided to remain in the car. I remember a warm glow when I saw Havana; the way her lit up and how her bosom seemed as though it were meant for the lying of curly, tired little heads. She held out her arms to us and cuddled us, and although I felt her self-consciousness at this gesture, it seemed somehow to me, very important that we also meet her mother, and so I slipped out and begged her to please come in and meet my sisters and brother, which she finally did. Somehow that brief minute of love from Havana carried me for many years. The next time I met her was during my vacation to Grandmother's just after her initial stroke. At this meeting, the eldest four (I believe it was four) of my siblings were in attendance and I noted the unselfish manner of Havana as she busied herself making sure that all were comfortable and happy. These, though were childhood memories which I had begun to think had been magnified beyond the boundaries of fact. However, since our visit, I can store these pleasantries of thought and time under "reality".

Daddy took us around and showed us Portland; its industries, its residences, its shops and of course the most modern addition, a huge (supposedly the world's largest) shopping center, which boasts of an indoor skating rink in the main pavilion and parking facilities for countless numbers of autos.

I shan't enlarge upon the Fair, as I came to the conclusion that once you have seen one fair, unless there is some particular exhibit of interest, the rounds have just about been made. Of course this year's theme was "The Space Age" and the scientific displays were geared to this endeavor. Countries represented themselves by a geographical and sociological study and sketch of themselves, having the commercial sense to have a few native items for sale at a high price. Generally speaking though, the average exhibition was presented on a too-technical basis for the layman and so could not be enjoyed for its pure content. A scattering of distraction such as a "see-yourself-phone", a "see you con ersee-phone", an adding machine which could not miscalculate, another which outfigured the crowd, etc. However the midway with its games of chance and its rides eventually received the attention of the masses. The space needle was different, but having once ascended, the reason was telescopic view of shoreline and Washington, itself. The lines to every thing were long and the weather, working against everything in general, was cold, damp and windy. Before we made our way to the parking lot, rain had begun to fall, and I understand that it fell for some days after this. We, being tourists, bought this and that, useless items with the World's Fair cheaply engraved on their sides, gorged ourselves on badly cooked food, stood in lines, took pictures for later re-hashing, and wrote ceaseless postcards of "having a good time, wish you were here." It was nice, too in that the family was away on vacation together, bills were not demanding payment, the clock was not ticking guiltily that the hours and minutes of leisure were lessening, and that the morning's dawn would bring hurried preparations for a routine day of work and school, etc.

I was fortunate to spend with my Dad and smallest sister, little Vienna, three-quarters of the day on the golf course and met some of Daddy's acquaintances and grew in stature as I heard from them, praise of his golf score and club status.

Again, I have changed jobs (which seems my nature) and am now working for the Adult Parole Division as a Girl Friday, and Jack of all trades. The office is comparably small, four girls, and the agents are easy to get along with. I like the job very much, but know that in another few months, I shall probably be somewhere else, so shan't bore you with details.

This constant "change" shows an insecurity which I vehemently deny, preferring to blame my restless nature on a desire for progress in finance and social environment. Routine bores me, and inconsequential duties are quickly swept aside, only half performed, given no thought. Supervisory personnel prefer to think that the job over which they reign would receive the utmost concentration and attention, while I consider them lunkheads for having given so many years to such dribble, and undermine their prestige, so they say, by showing what I feel. You can imagine that I would be quite popular on the average job. Here, however, it is a different story, and I have no superior Gods over me, my work is what I, myself, make it, and I am nearly satisfied as far as employment is concerned.

Marilyn continues as of August 23rd:

As you see, Ben, I did start to write about a month ago, but this, that and the other have heretofore delayed the pages going further than the desk drawer. I shall attempt to complete the former in this writing.

Effie and the young traveling companion were by to see us, unfortunately I was at work and so missed the pleasure. The children could not place Effie, as they'd only met her once briefly. She was to have returned that evening, but somehow did not. I gather that she is now in Sacremento.

I have just received the Newsletter (which always calls for an unmailed page or two of dribble on my part) and must comment favorably on its content. Those of us who have not the facilities for entertaining visitors, or live off the track of the vacation crowd, who don't correspond among ourselves by and of the know forms of communication, have no way of knowing about family members except for the "Letter". While we may have little personal interest in close contact with particular familial members, we, nevertheless, as beings of human nature, have an understandable curiosity about "the other halves." The Newsletter was established with the ideas of informing each about the other and as a means of securing each thread to a major spool - therefore, none ever really alone or forgotten. Now, seeing the contributions in this issue from so many who have not been heard of for quite some time, is a welcome sight. I think the originality of form and content of the Welvin Strouds' should be noted highly. They were informative, interesting and different enough as to be outstanding. I wish more of the second group would offer, or at least make the effort. Also, splendid to hear that Lu and Lester have not bundled themselves off to the caves of middle age scares, and are taking a chance on doing something they wish to do. Lu requested the family prayers for their success, and mine, too, shall be thrown on the heap for whatever they're worth. May they find that which they both seek.

I, also, have thought along those lines mentioned in Nina's letter - the loneliness of parents once the house spreads up and out and the memories of tiny feet, children's voices in hurt and happiness, become only soundless memories that echo in ghostly tone throughout the suddenly "too large house". I have said as those before me and those who'll come behind me - "Oh for the day". Meaning when the kids are grown and established, and I am alone and free. As Niney is doing, I too, am doing - watching the childhood chubbiness and wunkles before firm musculature stretching up and out to become curves and strength of pre-adults. I look at yesterday's clothing of small ones and wonder that it ever could have been. I've learned to share without consent, tiny charm bracelets, head and neck scarves, play shoes, summer blouses, and pieces of lingerie, with the adults who have overnight moved in on me, and no matter how I strain my ears, examine my re-call faculties or search the corners of each nook and cranny, I find that the babies brought into the world by myself have slipped away, melted into the fluid of time which flows so quickly. Run as I can, I seem unable to race the stream time, and re-capture the puckered lips, the chubby hands, the tiny feet of the innocent babes. But somehow, as I run along with time, I hear the happy coos of my babies and know in their drifting, that they are safe and happy. Yes, Niney, we're all grown up now and are rapidly growing down (I am 30). I have only 2 left in elementary school, and next year there'll be only one. Two are Jr. High students, with the elder to be in High School Sept. '63. Tempuss fugit.

By the time you receive this summarization, we'll be in Colo. Spgs, and of course intend to look up as many as we can. Our visit will be brief as we can not forget our membership in the workingman's Union and must safeguard our jobs by adhering in the strictest sense to vacation schedules which are constructed on the principal of employment requirements, financial lack, etc.

Sorry to hear of the Morgan's misfortune via Henry's problem.

Best wishes to all

Charles and Marilyn Turner (Inc.)

P.S. - Alger and Rosa Gillespie

616 Flint Way Sacramento 18, California (Phone: Hi 6-5424)

Thanks for the Gillespie's address, Marilyn-

However the letters I send to James always come back and the last letter I sent to the Pollard's came back - I wonder if anyone knows the addresses of these members of the clan -

It is now 10 minutes past mid-night of the 18th, I should say of Wednesday the 19th of September-Just think - I started this letter on Sunday the 16th - I think we have had some wonderful contributions - I hope you will all enjoy them - don't think I'll add anything this time - Best wishes to All Ben

October 25, 1962

To The Strouds:

The last year has been a year of great effort and changes on my part. I have been so physically tired and so limited in time till I have neglected many things and obligations that used to be routine. I am about to start this letter with a communication from Tandy that should have been included many months ago. This is dated June 6, 1962:

Dear Ben,

Thanks again for the "Newsletter." Yes, I am glad and grateful to receive them. I must plead guilty to your charge of being too lazy to write. I am also aware of a certain unrealism that was nurtured at 810 N. Walnut and affected all our growth. Father was a typical Negro man, rejected, denied, frustrated, by our society. In the "boy's shoes" where the white society forces the Negro man, Father choked to death. Mama's disrespect for "her man" in a "boy's shoes" added salt to the gaping wound. All our development was cancered by this sore. Mama in her inward frustration sought identification in her children's education. She falsely believed that this would lead to the white world's acceptance. Like most of us Negroes she feared and distrusted anything black. Acceptance by the white world became an unrealistic goal. We all seek to make a stage play out of life and shut off ourselves from the realities.

We are poor weak Negroes who desperately need to help each other in every conceivable way. We need first of all to learn to share in order to help build over and strengthen our many weaknesses. Our total worship of "white men's approval has caused us to distort the glorious gospel of Christ into a cold blooded beast of "religionosity" that sets an realistic rigid Pharisee code -- applauding raucously only those who seem to conform. Thus we glorify hypocrisy in lauding only those whom we believe have met our worldly visible standards. We hide "Truth from our brothers and sisters. We want only a false image that we believe would cause Mama to swell in pride as she read and reread of such paper cheap write ups.

That we are a family of love-starved lonely Negroes - unaccepted by our own - rejected by the whites - believing ourselves to be some sort of superior mud above the blacks, beneath the whites not Negro, not Indian, not German, not French, but a lonely wanderer whose identity was and is in our lonely wandering without identification anywhere here on earth; and yet too proud to acknowledge our kinship with the Redeemed. How much happier I would be if I could write in this Newsletter my own problems and trials and heartaches - My errors, my longings, my frustrations! I would like to be able to share with my own kin, (with my own blood and bone) and in sharing I would like to feel that sympathetic and understanding acceptance such as was given by the Man of Gallilee- "Come Unto Me all ye weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest."

At 810 N. Walnut the destruction of the "Father image" and the disrespect for Father destroyed our spiritual identity and instead of that understanding, compassion, and mutual assistance one for another there developed a "thirteen-headed beast" seeking unrealistic and unattainable goals. Yes, Ben, I want so much to read in the Newsletter not notations of false plaudits, but the things we have all been schooled to hide and cover up rather than express and share.

If we could share our needs, our real spiritual hungers, our desires for love and understanding, our failures and disgraces, our strengths that would help our children's children to know how to meet and conquer the inherent inequities in man.

Dear Ben, I meant not to find fault or to preach, but I have made the error in my family that was made at 810 N. Walnut. I am hoping that some of the younger Strouds will be strong enough to reach out and beyond the color consciousness and so-called race problem to the general "human-being problem" and build in the family unit those spiritual strengths on which all lasting success must be founded.

As our planet twirls onward toward that inevitable crash in which the moon runs down in blood and the elements melt with a fervent heat, we must look, according to His promise, for a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.

May God bless and strengthen you and all the other Strouds everywhere.

Yours gratefully,

Tandy Stroud

P.S. Luvenia Olden

Father's Brother's daughter lives at 1744 3rd So. Richmond, California. Her Father's name was Tandy Stroud.

Thanks very much for this fine letter Tandy, - I think you should have no regrets on how you have reared your children - They seem very outstanding - At least, the ones I have heard from - Welvin and Louise - I think Nina will be glad to get in touch with Luvenia Olden in her projected history of the Strouds. Tandy - I never did go too strong for childhood denials and privations having the power to permanently limit moral and spiritual development in those who have been born again in Jesus Christ.

Our next fine letter is from Rosa - we haven't heard from her in quite some time - She also has a new address - 616 Fling Way, Sacramento 18, California - Her letter is as of October 8, 1962:

Dear Ben and Strouds:

Since we are no longer on the mailing list for the form letter, I thought perhaps it was time to get a letter off. I started one year ago but failed to get it completed and off. Chic and family do get don't is way two or three times a year and they keep us informed of what is going on. We got down to Los Angeles and saw Jack and LuLu and Leonard last month. All seemed well and prosperous. We didn't get to see Effie when she was out this summer but we did get to talk with her by telephone and she sounded real well. When we were in Los Angeles, we went by to see James but he had gone to Fresno. We haven't seen Tandy and Bernice but understand that only one child is at home now, all the others being grown and married or off to school. Time flies.

How are things in Maywood these days? What ever happened to the Hathaways and Dobbins? Is Mrs. Watson still living? What about Rev. Haden's daughters? The one who sued to sing so when she was a child? I suppose I wouldn't recognize Maywood or Chicago anymore.

There isn't much for me to write about here in Sacramento. Of course the World Series and the governor's race are keeping things busy here. We of course, are for Brown since Nixon and the John Birchers probably don't think much of Mental Hygiene and that's how I earn my bread and butter. I'm still working with mental patients and retarded children - seriously retarded; those whom the parents and siblings cannot tolerate in the home. The job right now is frustrating mainly I think because I have reached the top pay step and the state doesn't seem inclined to give us another raise. If any of the grandchildren are thinking of going into social work I would advise strongly against it.

Alger, my husband, will be out of school in January. He is interested in social research which is a very good field out here. We are hoping that he can get into something fairly good as soon as he graduates.

Negroes in our small town seem to be doing quite well. I believe it is because the influx is limited largely to those who are brought in for particular jobs. No Negores pick Sacramento in which to live. It's either Los Angeles or San Francisco - Oakland area. The Negro community is therefore quite limited and groups plan activities in order to get together. Bridge playing is one vehicle of communication where people get together who have little in common as far as knowing the same people or migrating from the same areas. For example my bridge club gives a small brunch once a year, inviting the same group of women. I still do not know all their names for that is the only time during the year when I see many of them. During the summers the social groups do not meet and the Negroes go away on vacations. They go to Europe or South America or around the world or to Mexico, or Hawaii, or Canada. If they just go back home which is usually in the south or east we don't hear much about it. I get the impression that they wish to lose their identity with the group and are out of touch with what is happening on the other side of the Sierras and Rockies. This is like being on a kind of vacation permanently and out of contact with what is going on in the world. People are not making any attempt to identify with the African movement. They are not too concerned with helping break down housing barriers, etc. because they are living well themselves, and some of them are living exceptionally well. They are concerned mostly with making money and enjoying it while they may, before our fantastically high standard of living is no more.

The school children in the high minority areas, inside the city limits mostly test below the national average in achievement. There are many Negro teachers, some of whom are obviously feeble minded and a few of whom are superior. The schools in the middle class suburban area are better with pupils testing well above the national average. The teachers are wives of air force officers and Aerojet scientists who are stationed here. They are not too interested in higher salaries since they are not hurting financially but rather are interested in something to do during the day to take up their time. They are the poorest paid of any teachers in this area. The teachers in the poorest suburb which contains the Negro shanty town are the highest paid here. Schools out there have suffered from gerrymandering of school districts an excuse for dropping subjects such as physics since there is not enough demand for it. New schools are built for the other children and offer complete courses. Of course the "professional Negroes" who constitute a much larger proportion of the Negro group than is usual are not concerned about this because they do not live out there and do not cater to Negroes for their incomes.

Alger's uncle died the first of September and he was back in Detroit then. He says the influx of Negroes into the heart of the city is remarkable. Along with the social gains that have been made in liberalism of the community such as opening up of restaurants and jobs, service has deteriorated. Of course the quality of merchandise in the downtown stores and along with being just short of illiterate, they let you know they are doing you a great favor to wait on you, if they wait on you at all. And so it goes. I fear he is no longer interested in living out there in the heart of the United States where things are happening. Both of us seem to prefer over here in the vacationland where it doesn't snow and living is easy.

Well, must close and get to bed. Will try to wait not so long to write again. Sincerely - Rosa

Thanks for this very fine incisive, keen, evaluating letter from Rosa - I think that all of us will agree that we will never forget some of the letters Rosa has written - Good to hear from her again - As regards some of Rosa's questions about some of the personalities in Maywood: -

Things in Maywood are much different - I think the Negro populations is now close to one third of the town - and have taken over practically 2 complete political districts, the third and the fourth, which means that Negroes are pretty solid from the Bellwood boundary line on the west which is 21st Avenue, to the limits of the 3rd district which is 10th Avenue on the east. They have also expanded almost to fifth Avenue on the east which is part of the first district. The white business section of Maywood at fifth Avenue is practically dying, many vacant stores etc. Negroes are taking over much of the business of Maywood - especially the real estate business. Lynnasacks Wideman has led this aggressiveness breaking into brand new all white neighborhoods causing the whites to run as if the plague had struck - She has just now bought her 1963 brand new Lincoln sedan - however she is not the only prosperous aggressive Negro broker. Many Negro children now attend the St. James Catholic church, the Neighborhood Methodist Church, the Episcopalian Church - I'm including Negro parents also - These churches were formerly all white. Negro children now attend all but 2 of the white schools - However the superintendent of the schools, Mr. Pygman, still holds to the policy that the teaching staff must not be integrated unless the school has a majority Negro population. We have two Negro trustees, one Negro member of the School Board. Perhaps four or five Negro policemen, and several Negroes on various village boards or commissions.

I think all the Hathaway girls are married or have been married. Colleen married Pete Murphy - I think they have 2 children - He is still a school teacher - She works in Internal Revenue. Deborah Hayden was married - I believe she now has four children - Her religious seeming husband left her after about the fourth child, I think it was - I think she now is in Kansas City - things are better for her - I understand she can still sing! Her sister Marylina married a Mr. Price who is now an associate preacher at Second Baptist. Marylina seems very subdued and quiet, and dedicated. Not a lot is said about the Haydens now since Reverend Hayden is dead. Mr. Dobbins died sometime ago - Mrs. Dobbins lost her pigment - but has about completely changed now - her children are married and have families of their own. Mrs. Watson is still living - T.Y. is dead. She is in her 80's. Still active in Second Baptist - That same personality - "Be pretty and sweet now!" It would take hours and hours to tell you all about the changes in Maywood and Chicago - You'd have to see it to believe it - Better come up and see us sometime! No kidding.

Our next letter - and who would have thought - comes from Percy. He is quite a good writer too: -

Dear Ben:

I don't really have anything interesting to say, so I thought I'd talk about school. I'm in Junior High now which means I go to North Junior. They named it that because it was the farthest school North of the city of Colorado Springs. Anyway once you go there you're a Jatun until your teacher' gives you a test which asks you what your teacher' names are, and what rooms they're in, what the principal's, the ass't principal's, the head boy's and the head girl's names are, and some questions about rules. If you pass the test you become a Viking. Two of the main questions are: What are the song and pledge of North Junior? The song is: - We are the Vikings - North Junior Vikings

We are the Vikings-North Junior Vikings
For fame and honor we will seek
A brave and true band; we're from
The Northland.
Where the proud plains meet Pikes Peak
Ever loyal always true to thee
On - North Junior - on to victory
Fame will follow thee
Like "Leif the Lucky"
True Vikings we will always be" - Your nephew Percy.

Thanks for this nice letter, Percy - Please write again. By the way Connie was reading this last night and she said that she thought your North Junior song was written by your uncle Jack when he went there many years ago - I'd like to find out about this for sure myself - Maybe Jack will write and let us know.

We now have a good newsy letter from K. Dolphus Stroud as of October 21, 1962 - Also $5.00 payment on the Newsletter. Here is the letter: -

This is the final day of the Seattle World's Fair. Despite the fact that Seattle is a mere 180 miles to the North, I've felt no desire to visit the Fair. Some of the kids have visited it and enjoyed it. More than ten million persons have paid admittances. Seattle, Portland, and the entire Pacific Coast have prospered. I believe I mentioned Effie and Lisi's visit in my last letter. They are both fine persons and we enjoyed having them for a brief visit.

I suppose everyone knows "Freda" was here a few days ago for a short stay. She left indelible marks that Portland will be a long time living down. The wind reached a measured 120 miles per hour and it was a steady gale (not a twister) forcing everything to give way before it - trees, telegraph poles, trucks, cars, roofs, some houses, sign boards, thousands and thousands of windows were demolished. When I left my warehouse office on union Avenue (a business street) sign boards, electric wires, traffic lights, neon signs, were a tangled mess blowing through the streets. Huge plate glass windows in nearly all the business establishments in the area were blowing out and smashing against cars on any obstruction they chanced to encounter. It was a ticklish business to avoid swishing and falling high tension lines while making one's way through the streets.

Virtually all the electric power in the city was lost soon after the storm struck. Electric crews from all states west of the Mississippi were flown into Portland as soon as the storm subsided. They've been re-firing around the clock now for two weeks and several thousand homes are without power even today. One radio station (powered by batteries) remained on the air through the storm.

Nina has my unrestricted permission to write about whatever she may choose to in connection with the lies of myself and the other Strouds - living and dead. I wish her every success in the venture and will do anything in my power to help her.

Two days have passed since I began this letter and the president has outlined his Cuban policy. Although he may not realize it, he and I have just parted company. I do not approve of Brinksmanship." And, if America stops and searches any Russian or Communist Chinese vessel, I expect retaliation from these nations that will push the world over the "Brink." The government will likely be able to recall Meredith to the air force and solve the Mississippi crisis. Then maybe General Walker can be induced to rejoin the Army and lead Americas forces against the completely integrated military forces of Fidel Castro. I fear man is on the verge of blowing up his own chances of migrating to the moon and other points in this Solar System. Too bad, Dr. Dubois, Paul Robeson, Martin Luther King or Farmer, doesn't head the American Government. Any one of those great minds could change the cold war to peaceful cooperation.

I enjoyed Welvin's last communication en route to Japan and I hope he writes again very soon. I suppose my son, Ernie, will be an important cog in the Cuban operation, since he is pretty much of an expert in the firing of most of America's missiles - The Nike, Zeus, Thor, Jupiter, and the Minute Man. He, with a small group, trains crews at various missile installations about the country. Joel has been busy logging around the town. He has a truck, chain saw and all necessary equipment for cutting up and removing the huge trees that have fallen throughout the city, blocking streets and crushing homes. It's a big clean-up task. All the family join me in sending love to all - Bunk.

I saw some of this great storm in the movie theatre some weeks ago - I was thinking about Dolphus and his family at the time. Even though Russia seemingly backed down from Cuba at Kennedy's order, it is now beginning to look like again the communists have won more than they have lost; and Kennedy has lost more than he has won.

Our next very informative and interesting letter is from the Brooks - Louise and Gilbert - I think you will all feel very proud of them when you realize what they are accomplishing. Here it is written as of October 25th -

Dear Uncle Ben,

I've had such a hard time writing and rewriting this letter. I'll just get to the point this time. Gilbert has decided that it would not be wise to accept the new position at Northwestern. We've both been struggling very hard with this decision. The job would be so good. But we have a family and not a lot of money. Although the University would pay the cost of moving, there would be additional expense for housing, fuel, and winter clothing. This would all come to at least $100 to $150 per month. Then Lockheed Space and Missiles Corp., the company for which he works, has promoted him to math analyst and increased his salary to equal Northwestern's offer. They want him to stay. Another factor in our decision is the way we have fit into this community. Milpitas is still small, but it's growing at the rate of about 1,000 people per month. We came while it was small. The editor of the local paper is our neighbor. We know personally the superintendent of schools, the principal, and some of the teachers. Gilbert is the president of the board of directors of the cooperative in which we live (85 houses). He is financial secretary of our church and on the board of directors for the Milpitas Youth Center. I'm active in the P.T.A., church, and community projects. It would be very hard to move somewhere and find a spot where we were both needed and able to help. We are in an integrated area... church, schools, houses, city government... a struggle and a dream come true, but we're fighting like crazy to make this dream of every American really work. We are respected here, and I think we can do some good. I hope you understand what I've been trying to say. We were looking forward to seeing you, meeting Connie and her family, taking the kids through Chicago Museum, and maybe even getting over to New York. We'll just have to plan a vacation to that end.

Our very own Newsletter arrived today. I have always enjoyed reading Daddy's, but felt that I had very little to offer in the way of philosophy or other intellectual discussions. I do not mean to imply that I do not think or that I haven't been stimulated in these areas. However, at this point in my development I am more interested in showing the love I feel to my children, my neighbor, my God, then in trying to imagine where God or love came from or got started. I would like to share from time to time the things that are happening at Stroudsville in Hayward and at Brooksville in Milpitas. We have five children: Gilbert Allen 7; Sharon Louise, 6; Brian Edmund 4; Jonathan Stuart, 3; and Catherine Camille, 1. Since I was the oldest in Daddy's family I really love children. In fact, child development is my major in college. In time I would like to work as a school social worker or as a group counselor in a home for children who've had some real problems in their home life. I've been accepted at San Jose State College, and I intend to finish up my upper division work in social welfare. Joseph, number 6 child of Tandy's, is a senior in political science at San Jose. He is doing very well in student government and in providing housing for our boys which is very hard to get in most college areas. I've had a very busy day. A woman's society meeting was at my house this afternoon of which I am president. Gilbert has been at work since 7 A.M. It is now almost 10 P.M. He's working on a program that has to go to the Pentagon next week for review.

Thank you so much for the trouble you went to. I'll try to stay in touch. Love from all of us. Sincerely -

Louise

I think the Strouds are all very proud of you and the family and we will all hope you will write again - Best wishes - Ben.

As a kind of a treat we have a letter from Welvin from Shinyuko-Ku, Tokyo, Japan; written as of September 3, 1962. He has sent enough copies for me to send each of you one without the necessity of copying extra copies. - It is very interesting - you'll enjoy it.

Nina has my permission for the use of my name and the events that have involved me either directly or indirectly. There are a great many things in my life that has made me ashamed or disgusted - but I have to face these things sooner or later anyhow. I hope her all success in her effort - it's a tremendous task - I'll try to remember some of the historical things for her - Again

Best wishes to All

Ben.

To the Strouds:

The only letter that has been sent up to this - 10 P:M of Dec. 19th - has been from Jack. Jack writes in his usual lucid, stimulating, independent, provocative manner. This interesting letter is as of November 28, 1962 - I would like to get this letter out by Christmas, so here goes:

Dear Tribe:

I have read the last Newsletter and believe it to be the best yet. Louise and Welvin are living examples to contradict the emotional bias that apparently has clouded Tandy's contribution. No one attains an age of 50 - or so - without having amassed a number of life mistakes - But it appears unreasonable to blame one's shortcoming on his Mom and Pop. It will require much looking around to find a family of 'eleven' as weas reared and directed. By Mom and Pop that has done nearly as well from similar circumstances of abject poverty. If Tandy wishes to cry about mistakes, please save his tears for himself.

It appears that over acclamation and applause acquired at an early age may not project over into middle age. Life does not follow trends mapped out by moral values and religious beliefs taken on as a child. The sum-total of the Holy-Roller church that was nourished by the Morgans back in the twenties along old Spruce Street, has achieved little more than supply persons for dope and vice dens, institutions and jails. The melodies that were sang around that particular environment have been offered to the cheap record companies and the exponents of the now popular rock-and-roll emporiums and twist parlors. Small wonder that the products of such an [environment?] cannot face existing realities.

As a more important observation, I am writing to go on record that I do not intend for my name to be included within any literary effort or historical documentary that is presently being proposed. A personal investigation by myself will determine how, and by whom, I want myself associated with this type effort. I would not O.K. the direction and participation of Marshall Sprague, or anyone, unless he desires to be interviewed by me. Such an interview would require his coming to Los Angeles and Making an appointment with me.

Also - the family should not be over swayed by suggestions from sources that have already demonstrated the level of proficiency in a smaller project which concerned the family.

Since Marshall Sprague has written such things as "Men to Match My Mountains" etc., I doubt that he is divorced from the values that produce John Birch society members, and those who desire to relive those days of glory when the Western pioneers went about on murderous binges for the pleasure of it. I don't think I desire his cooperation, participation, assistance, or suggestions. So - I don't want my name used [underlined] until I [underlined] decide how, and by whom it is to be used!

Maybe Sprague is more understanding - with his tuberculosis and other democratizing traits, but it would be necessary for me to evaluate him in person.

Percy's school song is nice - but, apparently a line is eliminated - maybe - through the years, it has been forgotten about. However the original rhythm is lost without it. Originally - the versing was as follows:

We are the Vikings-
North Junior Vikings
For Fame ad Honor We Will Seek

A Brave and True Band
We're from the Northland
Where the Plains Meet Proud Pikes Peak

Ever Loyal-
Always True to Thee
On, North Junior, on, to Victory

Fame will Follow Thee
Like 'Lief the Lucky'
We're Brave and Plucky
True Vikings we will always be

Because of the melody that the verse was written to, four lines were required in the fourth stanza. I hope these are still being used in the song.

As I recall, a few of us who dallied in verses were on a Committee with a few teachers. Florence Kemison, the music teacher, had the words matched to the melody of an old sea-faring dirge. I forget the name of the original song.

Tandy was in North Junior when it was opened. The school song then was replaced by the one Percy has written. This happened about 1926 or 1927. - Hope all are well, Sincerely

Jack.

I think this is another feather in our caps as members of the Stroud clan; for it seems that Jack admits that he wrote the lines for North Junior's son. I hope I get to hear it and the melody sometime soon. I was thinking of enclosing a little Christmas talk since this is our only letter - But it is now 11 P:M and I am sleepy - I take this opportunity to wish all of you collectively and individually a very happy and blessed Christmas and a happy New Year

Hoping all are well -

Ben

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