Name/Title
Letter: Willard Seiberling to Julia & John ShawEntry/Object ID
A 2025.16.b1.f5.23Description
The letter is addressed to Judy and John. The letter is titled "Letter #6." The writer opens the letter acknowledging the readers being in the writer's thoughts as they re-visited their favorite spot in Avila. The writer talks about their day in Avila while sharing memories of specific experiences they shared on their trip together in Avila the previous year, along with new experiences this year. The writer closes the letter stating they will give the readers duplicates of the pictures they took since the readers have limited slides from the previous visit. The writer ends the letter with "Lots of love, Affectionately, Dad."Subject Person/Organization
Seiberling, Willard Penfield, Shaw, Julia Seiberling, Shaw, John BurnhamCollection
PERMANENT COLLECTIONCataloged By
Katrina NeffAcquisition
Accession
A 2025.16Source or Donor
UnknownAcquisition Method
FoundLetter Details
Letter Date
Oct 13, 1952Sender
Name
Willard SeiberlingAddress
Malaga, SpainPrimary Language
EnglishTranscription
Transcription
Letter #6
Malaga, Oct. 13, 1952
Dear Judy and John.-
Just as you were with me in spirit as I prowled around through the narrow alleys at Cagnes and ate lunch on the terrace where you made the still-life picture of our table setting, so again you were very much in my thoughts as I re-visited our favorite spot in Avila. We parked in the square outside the main gate and explored inside the old walled town on foot. First we went to the ancient cathedral, so dark and austere; then around the corner to the little bank where they practically had to call a directors meeting to decide whether or not they were going to cash my American Express check. I was going to cash another check to have B & J see how much they had learned since our visit last year, but they told me to return “manana”. Then we wound around through the labyrinth of crooked streets and passageways until I found our Parador Inn where I took that time exposure of you two seated on the hearth before the little fire under that big overhanging mantelpiece. Remember how glad we were to get in out of the snow and slush to thaw out before we had our lunch? The little upstairs dining room looked just the same and smelled the same as last year, but what is one more year to ancient Avila!! We climbed the few steps out to the top of the wall and looked over the picturesque roof tops with apparently no break to show where streets were. Unfortunately we could not plan our time so as to have lunch at the Inn and beside the fireplace.
We visited the market and the town square and town hall. I took B & J in the entrance to the Mayor’s office and told them about the warm reception the Mayor gave us. We made a complete circuit outside the walls and B & J were very interested in the stork nests ontop [sic] of the ruins of the old church tour at the lower end of town.
Our overnight stay was made particularly interesting due to an anniversary festival they were having, honoring St Teresa. All the shops were open until nine o’clock, and with a street carnival attracting the crowds, the sleepy, ancient town was very much alive.
I’ll give you duplicates of the pictures I took so as to add to the limited number of slides you have of Avila due to the bad weather when we were there with the snow and rain.
There is much more I’d like to tell you, but that will have to wait until you see our Slide Show.
Lots of love,
Affectionately, DadTranscriber
Cindi RokeLanguage
EnglishCreate Date
April 27, 2026Update Date
July 7, 2026