Name/Title
Letter: Irene Seiberling Harrison to Gertrude SeiberlingEntry/Object ID
A 2025.16.b1.f3.1Description
Letter is typed on thin tissue-like paper. The writer opens the letter praising the reader for helping Virginia and Jack with having their children stay at Stan Hywet and attend Akron Public Schools while Jack gets back to work and Virginia plans their situation. The writer then requests the reader to kindly tear up the letter after reading it due to mentioning a possible theft incident by the reader's house man, Sandy. The writer goes into detail about the situation of staying at the house, having minimal staff present due to Labor Day holiday, and the writer's pearls going missing from their room. The writer encourages the reader to be on guard and discreetly share the information with Jean. The writer then shares an update on granddaughter Gertrude's schooling and being pleased all three children are in the same school together. The writer mentions the rainy and hurricane weather they have experienced and an upcoming trip with Day Day to the Catskill Mountains for the weekend to see Day Day's dog who is boarded with a farmer there. The writer closes the letter unsigned. The writer then includes a P.S. regarding enclosing tickets for the Children's Charity party to give to the Handy's to attend, and a P.P.S. regarding the writer mailing a package with items packed with the children's things by mistake and requests the reader to check if a package of books from Brentano's for the writer has been received at Stan Hywet.Subject Person/Organization
Harrison, Irene Seiberling, Seiberling, Gertrude Penfield, Handy, Gertrude Virginia Seiberling, Handy, John Littlefield, Harrison, Milton WhateleyCollection
PERMANENT COLLECTIONCataloged By
Katrina NeffAcquisition
Accession
A 2025.16Source or Donor
UnknownAcquisition Method
FoundLetter Details
Letter Date
Sep 22, 1938Sender
Name
Irene Seiberling HarrisonPrimary Language
EnglishTranscription
Transcription
September 22nd
1 9 3 8
Dearest Mother:
Virginia telephoned last night to tell me the good news that you had phoned her, about putting the children into Akron public schools. She was quite charmed with the idea. I think it takes a tremendous load off her mind, for it reassures her that you are satisfied to let the children stay with you for a definite time so that there is no immediate need of a sudden decision in regard to them. Jack hasn’t been back to work yet but she said last night he expected to go back today. As we have had eleven straight days of rain, and this is the first clear, sunny day, I have a feeling he will make the grade and get started back at the office today. So maybe in another few weeks Virginia will be able to form some definite plans regarding her whole situation. I think it was a wonderful idea for you to have thought of the public school at Akron and I certainly praise you for it.
As soon as you have finished reading this letter, kindly tear it up. I am mentioning the following incident only to put you on guard in regard to your house man. I believe they call him Sandy. I feel you should caution Jean to tie the keys to the house around her waist or else pin them inside the pocket of her work dress so she will always know exactly where they are. I feel you can take no chances with the houseman and will have to be very sparing and severe with what you hand out to him in the way of supplies for work. The afternoon of Labor Day Jean and her husband were off. Only Katherine and the houseman were in Stan-Hywet. About half past five in the afternoon, Mrs Davidson went to my room to pack my bags, leaving out a dark blue dress that I was going to slip into for traveling and my string of cultured pearls (a gift from Sally Hill) lying on the dresser. She didn’t leave the room until almost supper time. Katherine had to cook and serve supper to all of us and four guests (the Robertsons [sic] from Cleveland – Milton’s friends). She didn’t leave the kitchen and dining room between the time that Day Day finished the packing and the time I went up after supper to slip on my blue dress. No one was in that room after Day Day left but the houseman who was sent up to collect the bags while we were still at the supper table. When I looked for my pearls I couldn’t find them. I imagined Day Day had packed them so I said nothing to anyone. However, upon not finding them in my bags when I unpacked after my arrival here I spoke to Day Day. She said that at 5:30 the beads were on the dresser, about 6:30 she sent the man up to get the bags and about 7:00 o’clock I went up and the pearls were gone. She is certain no one was in the room after she left but the houseman. Don’t say anything to him regarding the pearls but if you like you may tell this incident to Jean privately as a reason why you want her to be particular regarding the keys. I would not have mentioned this incident to you but I believe you will be able to read between the lines and realize that it is important for you to be on your guard regarding the houseman’s honesty.
As I said over the phone, Gertrude has taken to public school splendidly and I am greatly rejoiced over the fact that this year I have all three children in the same school which greatly lessens my problems.
We have had eleven days of continuous rain and yesterday had a hurricane that took down one of our tallest trees and partially up-rooted two others which I believe, however, we will be able to save. Today has dawned clear and sunny and gives one a sense of real exultation, after the many days of great storm.
If all goes well, we are going to motor Day Day up to the Catskill Mountains over Saturday night to see her dog Pal whom she has boarding up there at a farmer’s house. We will spend the night at a farmer’s house so it will be a very simple expedition all the way around and if the weather holds good, assuredly it will be a joy for all.
Now I must close. Loads of love to you and Dad.
Ever devotedly,
P.S. -- I am enclosing my subscription ticket to the Children’s Charity party. I imagine this will permit three children to attend and by paying another dollar you can give all the Handys the joy of the party which sounds as if it will be great fun. Probably Mary is taking Judy and Ann and would be glad to handle the transportation for the Handys. The enclosed ticket will have to be presented at the door.
P.P.S. – I have mailed today a package with Tinkerbell’s rubbers and a pair of panties packed with our children’s things by mistake.
A package from Brentano’s containing two books was mailed to Stan-Hywet but which I did not receive while there. Please check and see if the package did arrive there. Brentano’s says they mailed the package on September 2nd.Transcriber
Cindi RokeLanguage
EnglishCreate Date
April 1, 2026Update Date
August 11, 2026
