Cohen, Robert. Dear Mrs. Roosevelt: Letters from Children of the Great Depression. Chapel Hill: The University
of North Carolina Press, 2002. Pages 55-56
Westminster, SC
Feb. 21, 1938
My Dear Mrs. Roosevelt,
I guess you are surprised to hear from a South Carolina girl, but hear I am writing to “The First Lady” it
must be wonderful to be so glorious and famous as you are I see your picture often in papers and magazines,
and you look so kind and pleasing. I read the story “This is my life” that you wrote, it was just grand.
I am a poor girl, my birthday is Wednesday Feb. 23 I will be 17 years old. I never get any nice clothes
like other girls, I don’t get to go to parties, dances, movies, or have boy friends my parents wont let me.
Dozens of boys cal for me to go out but Daddy meets them at the door with no, no, no, not braging or
anything, but I am nice looking if I had some pretty clothes to dress up in. I have blonde hair larger round blue
eyes, fair complection, am about 5 ft. tall wiegh 120 lb. wear a 6 slipper. I wonder if you would be so kind as to
help me get some spring clothes I need so much. Only a few dollars will help me so much.
I was in the 10th grade at school and had to stop and go to work in a cotton mill and don’t make
enough to Buy my self clothes So please, please, Dear Mrs. “First Lady” won’t you help me since you have so
much I wish you could see how the poor people around here have to live. Will you help me please let me know
by return mail I will be ever so greatful
Please don’t let this letter get in the paper.
Sincerely,
Please, I hope I can depend on you to help me. I know you will you are so kind.
Cohen, Robert. Dear Mrs. Roosevelt: Letters from Children of the Great Depression. Chapel Hill: The University
of North Carolina Press, 2002. Page 76.
Greenville, SC
March 18, 1937
Dear Mrs. Roosevelt,
I am writing you because I believe you can help me. I am thirteen years old and have three sisters and
one brother. I have on brother and sister married. My sister is ill with pneumonia though she is better than
she has been. My father did not get to work for sometimes this summer so we are behind in our bills. I was
wondering if you could let me have $127.50 or if no that $60.00. I have and always will I believe have an
ambition to be one of the following:
(1) movie star
(2) lawyer
(3) opera singer
If you send me a check for the money asked you will be risking losing it. If ever when I am grown and
am making a lot of money I will send you amt. borrowed plus twenty dollars. If ambition not fulfilled then I
suppose you out of the money, but if you send it you will know you have made one family the happiest at
Easter time in U.S. I wrote you one letter, but thought it might be wrong so I did not send it. I am not telling
any one about this and never will I don’t suppose unless you send the money. My father is working now but
there is such an expense and he the only one working his wages do not go very far.
Thank You,
(Miss) B.M.
Cohen, Robert. Dear Mrs. Roosevelt: Letters from Children of the Great Depression. Chapel Hill: The University
of North Carolina Press, 2002. Page 121
Allen University Columbia, SC
March 5, 1937
Dear Madam:
I suppose it is quite shocking to hear from a poor insignificant student, but I felt that you were just the
person for me to bring my troubles to. I believe that you are one person who has the American Youth at heart.
I do not feel that you are too blasé to consider my appeal.
The president of this institution has offered me a scholarship under the N.Y.A. which pays all of my
expenses but $40.00. I entered school with the expectation of being to pay this amount at the end of the first
semester, but I have not succeeded and the bill is past due. So I am writing you to ask you to please help me.
By helping, I mean to lend me this amount until the summer months when I can work and pay it back. I
promise to pay every cent of it back if I have to work my fingers to the bone.
First of all, I suppose this seems rather disgusting to you, but if you actually knew my financial
circumstances and the little illiterate village from which I came you would be able to understand. There is
nothing there that would inspire one to attempt to further his education, and yet I’ve reached my junior
college year by honest hard work.
May I have the pleasure of hearing form you as early as possible? Thanks in advance.
Very respectfully yours,
M.E.P.
Cohen, Robert. Dear Mrs. Roosevelt: Letters from Children of the Great Depression. Chapel Hill: The University
of North Carolina Press, 2002. Page 190
Blacksburg, SC
January [1934]
Dear Mrs. Roosevelt,
Mrs. Roosevelt will you send me and my sister a pair of ball bearing roller skates? Our friends have
skates and we are not able to buy them. We sure will thank you if you will.
yours trully,
L.L.
P.S. – I am twelve years old and in sixth grade at Blacksburg Grammar school. My friends at school have
skates and laugh because I don’t have some.
yours truly,
L.