Old
Saybrook, Conn.
July 27, 1938
Dear
Mrs. Roosevelt:
I
am a poor colored girl who thinks quite a lot of you and your
family, and I know you have done a lot for my race and we appreciate
it immensely.
Now
I am going to ask you two personal favors which I hope you can
do. The first is will you find my daddy a job as caretaker and
gardner on an estate or as a janitor of a club or theatre. He
can't find one and we can't afford to put an advertisement in
the papers. He has sixteen years experience.
The
second thing I want to ask you to do for me is a big favor but
I do hope and pray you will do it. My situation is as follows:
I am a girl who lives in this small town called Old Saybrook.
I was born here and have lived here all of my life. In June
of 1935, I was graduated from the Old Saybrook High School and
in June of 1936, I was post graduated from the same high school.
Now I desire to continue my education by studing "theology"
at the "Moody Theological College" in Chicago. Upon
graduation from Moody College I would like to become a foreign
missionary or professional quoir singer or teacher.
I
am ambitious and determined to succeed, and because I am determined
to succeed and ambitious, I am writing to ask you ifyou will
and could please finance my expenses for me. You don't know
what it would mean to me if you would do it for me. You see
I couldn't bring my self to ask just anybody to do this. I had
to ask someone who has money and some one who is good and kind
to colored people and does not hate them. You know as well as
I do that a lot of the white people hate the colored people,
so I couldn't ask just
anybody like a white girl could. Therefore I was doomed until
I thought of you. I hope you won't think I am bold in asking
you to do this for me.
I
would try to complete my course in about 21/2 years. There is
no charge for tuition. But I must pay for my room and board
which would be about seven (7) dollars a week. Then I must pay
for incidentals etc. I figure that if you would allow me ten
(10) dollars a week I could make my ends meet.
We
go to school from setember to the first week in August. Negros
are not allowed to stay at the dormitories so I would have to
room and boad out¬side. The superintendent said that she
would find me a suitable place to stay. Then I would need about
eight dollars ($8) extra to have four of my teeth fixed before
I can get my doctors certificate in and checked by Moody College.
I
would like to go this fall in September so I wish you would
let me hear from you right away. I have been out of school 2
years already and I would not like to keep waiting. I tried
to get a job but none of the people wanted me because I have
no experience in house work. Now it is too late for me to get
a job because August is here and it will soon be September.
I don't feel smart enough to work my way through and keep up
my studies at the same time. Therefore, now that it's so late
I am asking you for help. I want
you to understand that I would be willing to pay you back after
I had been graduated and received a position. I would like to
pay you so much at a time until I had it all paid up.
I
beg and implore you please do not give my name to the newspapermen
and please do not give them this letter to print. I woud be
very hurt and embarrassed; this is a personal matter between
you and me. I do not want my name in the papers because I live
in a small town and everyone knows me and they would make fun
of me, I know. So, once again I beg you do not let the newspapermen
hear of this. Thank you very much.
`Hoping
you will get my daddy a job so that he can pay his bills and
hoping that you will lend me the money for my schooling so that
I may go in Sep¬tember, I am
Yours
affectionately,
P.S.
I have tried to get a loaning concern to lend me the money,
but they don't want to wait, until I have been graduated, for
their money. I have been trying to get work or some means to
get to Moody ever since I was graduated and because my future
looked black I have come to you in desperation. I hope you will
lend a hand to a poor colored girl who would appreciate it and
I will endeavor to make myself worthy of your extented hand
and kindness.
You
understand that I would like to pay it back and would like about
ten (10) dollars a week and eight dollars extra in advance.
I want to go in September. Once more I will beg you not to give
my name and this letter to the newspapermen or any officials.
Thanking you for what you will do for me, I remain
Yours
respectfully
