Laura E. Birkhead letter to Isabelle Stark - August 18, 1917
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15 rue Petrarque, [August 18, 1917]. My dear little Isabel, I can only think of you as the little girl flying up and down third strret on your pony. Is it possible that time has gone by so rapidly you are large enough and old enough to come so far away to do war work. I have received your letters number one, two and three. After getting No one I commenced to inquire about the need of girls to help in red cross
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work. I was told there was a long waiting list, about that time No.2 arrived so I made other inquiries There are many more people here to do the work than there is work to do. As you probably know, many cities have formed unites of nurses, units for canteen work, and units for charities, they are here by the hundredes with nothing to do. The hospitals here had their workers since the beginning of the war, so those places are all filled. They are inaugerating some base hospitals for our soldiers but the boys do almost all that work, very few women are allowed at the front. only the most experienced and best
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trained nurses. The American Ambulance Hospital where I worked nearly two years has been turned into a government hospital and all now are military people in the employ of Uncle Sam except a very few auxiliaries, There are only a few wounded now and it is barely possible that after a few months there may be a call for more. That will not be until there are American wounded. As to pay, I know no one that gets a cent but the regular trained nurse, All the girls that I know that drive automobiles have brought their cars with them to do the work for the units with which they came. Food is most expensive and very scarce, we have meatless days and cakeless days, we have cards for sugar and next month will have cards for bread. So you can readily see the fewer people there are in France to feed the easier it will be to get them fed . It is rumored here that no more passports are to be given to women, until the winter is over. I would like to make a suggestion if you want to do some thing for France, the country that is - bearing the greatest burden of the war. You three girls might organize a society to aid the children of the devastated districts There is a great necessity for clothing for school children . It is a custom of France for all children to wear uniforms in school which consists of an apron, most schools have black satine "Mother Hubbard" aprons through some use [MS illgible: 2 wds] of different colors. There are thousands and thousands of these children without homes and many with both father and mother gone. They are bought.
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to Paris and kept until provision, of some kind is made by the government for caring for them, It is necessary for the future good of the country that they are educated so every effort is being put forth to have them clothed so they can go to school, when misfortune overtakes one small town and the people loose everything we call it a great calamity, apply that idea to state after state with every vestage of every thing gone and the soil injected with chemicals that prevent production for seven more years
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and you will have a slight conception of the condition of affairs here. The wounded are so well cared for that I have turned my attention to the children. Since April I have sewed every day for them. If you girls organize a society you can send us the material, make the clothes yourselves or send us the money. Material is expensive and hard to get but not so hard now as in the spring, some people contribute material some money, we cut out and prepare the articles then the refugee women make them, as long as we have money to pay them eight cents an apron. In this way we do a double charity
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we not only get the children clothed but we give employment to the poor women, My society affiliates with the red cross any thing you want to send comes through it. The French charity organizations are wonderful, always have been, or they would not be able to cope with the situation, I should be very proud if you take this matter up and send us a donation. My sister in law Mrs. Virgil Rule has organized a society in St Louis which is doing fine work. Arthur Partridge has become interested and is
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writing to his friends to help us. he is a dandy fine boy but I have not seen him since I received your last letter when I do see him again I am going to tell him to write to you, an appeal from a fellow like he is would have more effect than one from an old woman I have written a much longer letter than I intended, I am afraid you will consider me tiring but I am so interested in the children I never know when to stop. If conditions change or I find any thing that three fine Missouri girls can do, I will write you again, in the mean time you work on that side of the ocean it will do as much good in the end. Remember [vertical in margin] me to your parents and write when you can - yours Laura Birkhead
Details
| Title | Laura E. Birkhead letter to Isabelle Stark - August 18, 1917 |
| Creator | Birkhead, Laura E. |
| Source | Birkhead, Laura E. Letter to Isabelle Stark. 18 August 1917. Birkhead, Laura E., Papers, 1917-1920. C1707. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO. |
| Description | During World War I, Laura Birkhead was involved with refugee work and providing clothing for children in France and Belgium. In this August 18, 1917, letter to Isabelle Stark of Neosho, Missouri, Birkhead discussed her war work in France and suggested ways that Isabelle could participate. Birkhead also described her experiences in war torn France. |
| Subject LCSH | Rationing; World War, 1914-1918--War work--Red Cross; World War, 1914-1918--War work--Women; World War, 1914-1918, Refugees; World War, 1914-1918, France; World War, 1914-1918, Civilian Relief; World War, 1914-1918, Children; Refugees--Belgium; Refugee |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | C1707 |
| Contributing Institution | The State Historical Society of Missouri |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the State Historical Society of Missouri: 1020 Lowry Street, Columbia, Missouri, 65201-7298. (573) 882-7083. |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. |
| Date Original | August 10, 1917 |
| Language | English |