Name/Title
Letter: Willard Seiberling to Franklin SeiberlingEntry/Object ID
A 2025.16.b1.f5.21Description
The letter is addressed to Mick. The writer opens the letter mentioning their August 21 letter crossed in the mail with the reader's August 20 letter regarding the sale of Cedar Lodge. The writer agrees with the reader's feelings about the changes to "our Up North." The writer then provides comments on the reader's interest in buying a telescope and after sharing some history of their astronomy education in college, proposes a detailed plan for F. A.'s children and grandchildren to share and rotate possession of the Stan Hywet telescope that was later gifted to them by F. A. and currently in Penfield's possession. The writer closes the letter hoping the reader will come to Akron the next Tuesday for their "Seiberling Family Tour De Luxe." The writer ends the letter with "Affectionately, Willard."Subject Person/Organization
Seiberling, Willard Penfield, Seiberling, Franklin Augustus Jr., Seiberling, Frank AugustusCollection
PERMANENT COLLECTIONCataloged By
Katrina NeffAcquisition
Accession
A 2025.16Source or Donor
UnknownAcquisition Method
FoundLetter Details
Letter Date
Aug 23, 1951Primary Language
EnglishTranscription
Transcription
CC: Mrs Harrison
August 23, 1951
Dear Mick:
Your letter of August 20 crossed in the mail my letter to you of August 21 giving you my comments on the proposed Cedar Lodge sale.
I feel the same as you and Penney do about the cocktail parties and the invasion of tourists that have changed the backwoods life and the wilderness spirit of our Up North.
Now regarding your interest in buying a telescope: I am replying immediately to discourage you from buying the 2½” Naval telescope you say is available for a short period at a special surplus price. Why make a permanent investment in this telescope when you can borrow a much better one? It seems to me that all of the F A children should have the opportunity to have part time use of the Stan Hywet telescope which Father gave me years ago. As you may know, during all the years that this telescope was in the closet off the billiard room I was the only member of the family who showed any interest in it. Freshman year at Princeton I took the course in astronomy under “Lillian” Russell. Because it had the reputation of being a “gut” course, about 200 freshmen signed up for it. The sophomore year in astronomy had the reputation of being a difficult course because it got into higher mathematics and was designed for the students who wanted to go on in astronomy and possibly make it a career. When I elected to take the sophomore course, some of my classmates thought I was “star happy” – which probably was the case. The astronomy class of some 200 students in freshman year dropped down to about 20 students in sophomore year, so you can know that I was one of 20 students really interested in continuing my study of astronomy.
My letters home during freshman and sophomore years apparently impressed Father with my interest in astronomy, and then when I was the only one who used his telescope over a period of 15 years or so, he decided that I was the member of the family who deserved to have the telescope as his own. Hence the gift made many years ago.
I would like to propose the following general program: that we rotate the use of the telescope so that the F A children and grandchildren can all have the use of it. The summer time is the best time to use it, so I would suggest that each summer a different member of the family borrow it on the understanding that he or she will have it fully covered by insurance and will return it in the same condition in which he or she received it. During the fall, winter and spring months I would like to have the telescope safely in my possession.
Penfield has had the telescope over at his house for several months, as Jimmy showed a real interest in using it. The next time you come to Akron I would suggest that you pick it up from Pen and use it during the fall months until the weather becomes too cold to make it enjoyable to use it. You could return it when you come up to our family Christmas celebration. Several times I have used it during the winter months and found that my hands got so cold I could scarcely focus the instrument. So I doubt if any member of the family will want to use the telescope in the winter time.
Here’s hoping you may be able to come up for our “Seiberling Family Tour De Luxe” next Tuesday night at which time you could load up the big heavy box containing the telescope and take it back in your car.
Affectionately,
BillTranscriber
Cindi RokeLanguage
EnglishCreate Date
April 27, 2026Update Date
June 19, 2026