Laura E. Birkhead letter to Isabelle Stark - July 5, 1918
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15 Rue Petrarque, July 5, 1918. My Dear Isabelle I received your letter, - March 14th the last part of April, telling me the Neosho girls nor yourself had heard from me since the entertainment so successful. I wrote you the next day after getting your letter. I also wrote to the society for "French Babies" As I have not heard from any of you I am afraid my letters have been lost. there is so much uncertainty about the mail now we can expect all our letters to go astray I have concluded [MS illegible: 1 wd]
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write every month until I hear from some body. I know of one boy that has been here nearly eight months and has not received a letter, he thinks some one of the same name is getting his letters. Another boy has been here since January had not had a letter until last week when he received 41 on the same delivery. Last winter there were many reports that boats carrying mail had been lost then there was one mail box that was opened for nearly three months. A woman was put on that route and only had the man who had the route go with her once to locate the boxes. she says
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the box was over looked on that trip and she naturally overlooked it afterward, some of the men were called to the colors so suddenly that many things were rather in an unsettled situation - Things are going fine these days. Our boys are making a record all Americans will be proud of in the future. I do hope you understand how much I appreciate all that the Neosho society did, it is terribly discouraging to work hard as I know all must have done then never hear a word from the money, I note the money was doing double duty. A man cashed the check for me carried it around in his pocket - several minutes then gave it back to me, He and his wife were always doing something for us. besides that check they gave us three hundred and sixty francs, They have gone back to America, he is quite sick, has not -been well since they landed, One of our main supports will be gone if he does not get well, This little mark I am interested in has made 5000 articles and given away since May 12th 1917, one year and six weeks exactly since we organized we do not know how many children we have given [MS illegible: 1 wd] for some of them would get several garments, To one beautiful little girl we gave all her winter clothing fourteen pieces at one time and six at another. We most frequently give to homes and do not know how many are benefited by our gifts, I did not realize the condition many of the people were in until I went down to Lyon in automobile and saw the
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refugees by the wayside, I was so sorry I had not taken a lot of things with me to give away sometimes there were strings of wagons a half mile long with every thing imaginable necessary to keep a family. We saw grandmothers and new born babes, chickens & cats, birds and beds, fruits and furniture, every thing I can't begin to ennumerate half. Then there were great camps, all of small towns, like Clarksville & Frankfnd, would evacuate together and stay in camps together Employees of large factory
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they could get back to work together. Things are happening you would never believe could hapen and it doesn't seem the same when I write about them as it did to see them; I suppose you are back home by this time. Please explain to every body the situation and how sorry I am, I know you can make things lively so do your very best and help me all you can. I assure you it is appreciated. I want some of you girls to write to this boy, he understands & speaks a little English. His mother works with me, is a dandy fine woman. He is in the Army, his father & Mother left their home the first days of the war. I tell her it was to be close to her boy, but she says it was on account of the danger, their home in [Brussels] has not been destroyed German officers she hears are using it. [vertical in margin] I am not going to write any more this time will write again yours Laura Birkhead
Details
| Title | Laura E. Birkhead letter to Isabelle Stark - July 5, 1918 |
| Creator | Birkhead, Laura E. |
| Source | Birkhead, Laura E. Letter to Isabelle Stark. 5 July 1918. 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 July 5, 1918, letter to Isabelle Stark of Neosho, Missouri, Birkhead discussed her war work in France and thanked Isabelle and the "Neosho Girls" for their contributions to the child refugees of France and Belgium. 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 | July 5, 1918 |
| Language | English |