Art in the Family: Janice goes to College - Letters from East Athens 1940-1941

Janice's departure for Syracuse marked the beginning of a lifelong correspondence between Janice (Beezie) her mother, Moon (Mary Wands Campbell), and her father, Pop (Herbert A. Campbell). Moon's lively letters are filled with humor, deliberate misspellings for comic effect, local gossip and wry observations. Pop, on the other hand, wrote clearly and carefully. He gave instructions on travel from Syracuse by train or bus, and filled Beezie in on his DXing hobby. He seemed especially interested in the popular music he came across, with numerous titles and lyrics, which he would share in great detail.

Janice in High School. Moon was partial to ringlets...a throwback to Shirley Temple.

Janice Campbell - Spelling Champion 1939

Janice graduated from Athens High School in 1939, class Valedictorian at the age of 16, heading the Honor List with an average of 93.24. I believe that she skipped at least one grade. As valedictorian, she gave a speech at the graduation ceremony., and received a prize from the University Women's organization.

She started at Syracuse in 1940, and I do not know what transpired during the time she graduated from High School and starting at S.U. I would say that she was very bright, but immature, and her parents might reasonably have thought it best to wait a bit, but how she spent the year is a mystery. I do know that there was some family tension in 1940. Herbert's sister Hazel Irene Campbell married John Thompson Boyd in June of 1940, over her mother, Candace's objections, and Candace died on July 3, 1940. Herbert's diary states on May 10, 1940, "Nazis invade Holland and Belgium. Balance of year filled with noting but tragedy". It was under this cloud that Janice headed off to Syracuse, which her father attended and from which her mother had graduated in 1919.

Janice carefully saved all the correspondence, noting the dates, which I put in parentheses. Obviously, she valued them and wanted them to be shared, which I do here.

Campbell home, East Athens, 1940

(1940 September?)

Dear Beezie

I just saw B.D.’s (B.Duck – Janice’s child hood friend Leona Towner, nicknamed B.Duck) car drive in and will write youse(sic) a note.

Rainy here.

We all pounded the old ears here last night double time + wondered if you and B.D did the same. We figured you pulled thru the night somehow. Your father went over last night to tell B.D.’s grandma that eve you left safe but sober.

We will send up the portfolio + drawing board, buy a new drawing board also if you like. Take your little book to the treasurer + get money for supplies as you need it, or maybe you can run a bill + pay occasionally. The money you took is for shoes, clothes, etc.

If by a miracle, the student lamp arrives today, send it home with B.D.’s folks. If when it arrives if it is in a carton of its own, you can re-mail it to us. We will give it to the Shrimp (Janice’s brother, Harrison – not a shrimp any more at over 6’ tall). If not easily packed for mailing, store it in your clothes press until we come up. You may need to institute more hooks, bars, or such to take care of towels + wash clothes.

If the recently cut side hair doesn’t behave, take it to the college beauty shop and have it re-cut. The Shrimp has just started for school. I read your note to the S.S secretary. I consider it clear, concise, + complete.

There used to be, likely still is, a post office in the University store we went to.

Leona Towner (aka B. Duck) on left and Janice outside of McChesney at S.U.

Leona Towner at the Univ. of Iowa - Ames, where she studied after S.U.

Friday A.M. (May 2, ’41)

Dear Beezie,

It is impossible to resist sending you a couple more sculpture clippings - about the oldest extant twould seem. How about, as a title, “From Us to Us”? (no pun intended)

Lovely weather this week. The furnace fire is out. Your room is occupied by your parents while their room is being repainted and repapered. It goes slow. Occasionally I go up + put in a little crack-filler or flourish a little sandpaper, here or there, feebly. My enthusiasm is all for gardening, and prodigious developments are taking place in that sector. The Superman’s Papa presented us with two good big Rhododendrons, a sort of elegant flowering, broad leafed evergreen, suitable for foundation planting on the north side of the house. A princely gift.

Big News! The Shrimp sold his Scout suit! Anne bought it for Jacky’s birthday. $3.00. The Shrimp has been having a cold, + lost 2 days school, but is now recovered. Your father has one also, and ought to stay home too, but won’t.

Yes. Both your cards arrived, including the first one. O.K. in information. Vera is in a position to advise you better than I am.

It looks as tho I’d be able to visit you after the middle of the month. If you have any ideas about better or worse times, present ‘em – of course, may delay until about time for you to come home – but I want to have a slight Spring visit at Tully, anyway. I suppose, if a week-end is involved a visit to the Hill on Friday might be better than Sat. A.M. or wouldn’t it - or would Mon, be better, or some other day?

Your cat Geezle is positively in the pink. He patrolls (sic) nights, and frisks daytimes. Neighbor’s cats appear only on the horizon. Lawn mowing has begun. Snakes prevail prevalently.

Well. Cheerio, Yours ever, Moon

Harry Campbell (aka the Shrimp) and Geezle, the cat.

May 16, 1941

Dear Beezie,

Next Wednesday will probably be the date of my arrival in your vicinity. Improbably, Tuesday. What day + what hour would I best visit you? Would you need me the last day? Pierce’s attic welcomes your art supplies.

Did you suspect anything about the white flower? I was surprised to see that it is magic, marvelous magic. Some powerful prankish Fairy decided to charm all those white flowers and in waving her wand over them all. touched this very one. I don’t exactly know its powers, but it is a talisman of rare degree.

Suppose, for instance the Fairy’s thought was to enchant all flowers of the wearers of these flowers to believe them beautiful, and I have the lone one a thousand times more potent. Who could need it worse? We’ll need to hear from you before we see you, and are looking forward. Yours ever Moon.

Pop's thoughtful and thorough instruction to Janice on the best way home from Syracuse by bus and train, including map

Janice with her grandmother, Olive Sherwood Wands, and Moon Sept. 21, 1941 (date on photo incorrect)

Sunday Eve. (Oct 6, 41)

Dear Beezie-

This may as well start off with good news – Athens trimmed Towanda 20-6,I believe. H. had to go over to Andy’s to celebrate.

Today H. has been ketching (sic) up on his religion – first he went with me to Sunday School Rally Day. The Old Folks class came out 20 strong. Then we all went to Towanda to the Universalist yearly meeting of the North Branch association. Church services in the morning, with communion. Quite formal, with a robed choir and vestments on Rev. Herrick and Dr. Cummins, who preached, and extra excellently, too. Then we had dinner, + in the afternoon, various speakers. It was incredibly hot.

I have some new shoes, too, very different, and a beautiful fit. Also, a new hat, dk. green, tailored, feather, one of these pompador hats. It looks crazy, and it is. Seems to think it’s a kite, out in a breeze.

The new stove has come. It is now in the middle of the kitchen where Messers Campbell moved it, with great effort, yesterday – can’t be h

I have finished cleaning the upstairs, + canned more tomatoes, and a batch of mustard pickles + some marmalade. Do you get well fed this year?

At. A.M. Phyllis C. called on us, and stayed one hour, just time to relate all that had happened since I saw her last. Shirley couldn’t stand Mr. Fodcheck and the marriage is being annulled, with much fuss, lawyers, and expense. Shirley is learning welding. It seems she is a good welder, + can get a job when the course if instruction is finished, in Binghamton. She wanted to get a job waitressing. Newman’s who have moved to Binghamton, had a message for her, but Florence was too timid to use a telephone – so she didn’t get the message in time, or the job.

Now, Betty, Betty got married, too. It only lasted 3 weeks. She couldn’t stand the guy either. So that, also, has to be annulled, more law, etc, etc, and trips to Buffalo, where the guy lives. B. now doing housework in Elmira for $6- per week. Phyllis wants her to finish High School, but she won’t in Owego and so far they’ve not been able to make arrangements for her to go elsewhere. Besides all this they have had a pup, ‘quite a nuisance’. The Grandma off and on as ever, all the kids have had colds, fever, + plain and fancy measles in relays, and Jay broke his arm. They were likewise in the path of that cyclone of recent date, but survived. It took down their shade trees. Phyllis wants to go get a job. She is planning to pick me up some day for our ‘annual trip’.

H. says to tell you last week Montoursville licked Athens, 6-0. I believe Velma Denning is about out of danger. It was very sudden and a rather near thing.

Your father likes one of those pictures of you that Fuller took – like the one in the valentine, but the whole figure, with a smirk. He says it is the best one we have of you and wishes we could borrow the film.

Bob Fuller and Janice up a tree.

Bob Fuller's Valentine to Janice

How did your physical exam come out? How goes psychology? I hope the mail order clothing fits. I ordered medium size pajamas.

Now, if you are pretty busy, don’t do any more laundry than you have to, send all you want to home as often as you like.

How do you like anatomy? I figured this would be easy for you.

We’re sorry to hear that the waitress business continues to be a nuisance. Shucks, you didn’t expect to be a champ, + you don’t have to, so there. Anyway, when not engaged with it, forget it. There’s a fly in every ointment, a thorn on every rose. (Shakespeare)

I’d like to hear that you’re enjoying your work, some of it anyway, and getting in a spot of fun now and then in odd moments. Give my regards to B. Duck, if convenient, likewise to Fuller, likewise.

Has the outing club started up yet? It’s very dull, hereabouts, you’re well out of it.

Don’t worry about writing too often, Send a card when you can.

g’bye now, Moon

Sunday Eve. (Nov 10 ’41)

Dear Beezie,

This will be but brief. Due to the lateness of the evening and the approaching earliness of the morning.

This visit on the 18th does have drawbacks but guess it will have to be gone through with. I wonder if Prof. Walker should be informed. I presume I should not dash up + depart without looking him up. I intend to see Vera, won’t need to write her a note, now. I want to see Margaret Boehner again, too. Shrimp can come for all I care. We’ll see.

Shrimp is not at home at present, having been invited out. He is spending the weekend in the country. On the outskirts of Towanda, with the Shumways. On a farm. Suddenly he popped in here, early in the evening, put on his white shirt, slapped down his cow-lick, and dashed out again. Will take up residence here again Monday noon.

If you want me to make you a long black skirt inform me by Friday at the latest, giving length if possible + any other specifications. I’m going to make me a long-sleeved blouse of the inclosed (sic). I bought me a new coat in Sayre. Had to have something to wear. Beaver Boucle’ princess. I wanted something I could later wear that Persian collar with a muff + may I have your old blue zipper purse to put onto the muff? I was also forced to get me a pair of dashing bay ghillies, square-toed, for every day – none of the more sober styles fitted.

I should think it would be nice to go to the formal if you can make it. A worth while experience, twould seem.

You’ll hear from me again before you see me.

Little Geezle fell out of bed again last night. How he survives that I don’t know.

Good luck, Moon

Laundry bag arrived


Moon's sister, Katie, Katherine Wands Pierce of Tully, NY.

A sample of the many jumping jacks that Moon made over the years

5:30 A.M. (Dec. 1 ’41)

Dear Beezie –

Very cozy here, now, and a nice time to write you briefly. Shucks – I hear Geezle flopping down the stairs – coming to be held. Too true. He wants to be held continually, sleeps most of the time and smell like an old cod-fish box.

It is good that the Tully visit went well. They apparently thought the same, as I have heard from them since. If you found any paper you like in Olive’s books, we could get your bedroom paper like it – it’s to be had, easily enough.

I have paint for the living rooms woodwork + hope to start proceedings with it soon.

Half a dozen of these collars are completed, some with initials, others are pieced on the underneath portion. I had hoped to mail them Sat. but now will put them thru the natural course of events Mon. + mail after.

Be sure + report how the formal was. Yes – if Beth B. wants your gown + you do not especially wish to retain it, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t sell it to her. Perhaps if you think you’d need another, we could enjoy designing + making one, for the sport, sometime when you’re home.

There is to be a hobby show at the Methodist Church in Athens next Sat. the 6th, + Ruth H. asked me to exhibit some jumping jacks, as she was asked to locate unusual dolls. Too bad your little wooden ones are not here for this I almost wish you’d send them, but won’t urge it. If you do, they ought to be insured, probably. I think that last little one particularly is a valuable + unusual piece of craftsmanship.

B. Duck dropped in to see us, as undoubtable you heard, + nice of her to do so.

For Christmas I think Shrimp might like a flashlight similar to the one you gave B. Duck. He also needs handkerchiefs. His father is doing most handsomely for him this year, so you’ll see. Surprising. You and I can borrow it. I’m still interested in scrap-books. I suppose we can also put together and get you another foot-ball pocket book? H. took note.

Your Uncle John has been quite sick. He has a terrific attack of headache + nausea, similar to some I’ve had in the past + it was thought to be serious, but is now believed to be infected teeth. He has a date with the dentist now. Simmons. Harrison has been put off another 2 wks.

I’m delighted to hear of the sweater being finished. This indicates persistence a valuable quality I know of mostly by hearsay. Psychologists have established that brilliancy, sans persistence, will not accomplish as much as persistence plus mere more ordinary intelligence – not that more persistence would have solved the problem for me – but there’s something to it – pluggers often surprise by their successes + Old Aesop, some time ago, noted the same thing, and made his statement in the fable of the Hare + the Tortoise.

They say, too, ‘all things come to him who waits’ 10 or 15 years ago I read something of one Albert Sweitzer, an African Missionary of a most distinctly different type – who left a promising + successful career in science + music flat, to go to Africa. I wondered why, + thought to read more about him, but nothing ever appeared + none of his numerous books are in the library. Now, I have his auto biography – Nelia Hazard brought it to me from the State College Library.

Peggy’s new B.F. calls every Saturday night – She then bribes Jacky to come up + visit Harrison. It’s getting to be a regular thing- + H thinks he ought to get his cut - a sad case.

On the occasion of Mr. Helette’s 83rd birthday, his class gave him a gift, a swell basket of fruit – wrapped in green cellophane. I had to present it, with speech (!!!) Give Lee a jolt , + he’ll come up with a wise-crack – but at this he was so touched, he had to get out his handkerchief + wipe his eyes –

Hoping you can read this.

Yours ever - Moon