ROSA PARKS FAMILY PAPERS Letters to and from Rosa Parks 1936, 1946 Box 2 Folder 2 McCauley, Leona (mother) Pine Level, Ala Sept. 16, 1936 Dear Mother July 24, '46 Detroit, Mich. My dear daughter,---How are you and family to day? fine I hope. I am all OK. Also the Alexanders am still enjoying it here & wish you could be here too. I went out to Thomas' home last Tuesday week and stayed untill Saturday. They have a nice place out there and I like it. Lucille took me to the show one night. and to visit some of her friends. [while] I enjoyed my stay very much. All the children have grown a lots. Caroline is just like Fran was when she was that age, she is cute and spoiled. Barbara is yet very spoiled, Loretta is a little lady and Thomas is very quiet. Lucille talks loud as usual. Thomas Sr seem to be working steadily I came back here Saturday. Aunt Sophronia and I went to church Sunday as usual, The Bishop preached, the service was fine. Monday night I was invited to the show by Shellie Stenson's wife. She is a very pretty young woman with a very pleasing personallity. I am enclosing a pamplet of the real life drama of Deep are the roots. I wish you could have seen it. It was really good and worth seeing. I think you read the book of course, but it is so real in the play. Much better than the movie, and in the Theatre, was just like a dreame--There were more white than colored, but the seats were numbered by the tickets purchased so there were no chance of segregation. This is one among the finest Theatres in down town Detroit. Tuesday Evening Melvin came to take me to the Down Town to see Sugar Chile Robinson. But I was busy and did not go. So I hope to see him before he leave the city. Melvin was dressed in a little gray suit and looked swell, so he had lunch with me and went to the Show alone. Roxanna had an operation yesterday. So last night a girl called me to come see her, she was not doing so well. I spent part of the night with her, and went back this morning and stayed most of the day, she is a little better to-day. She had a Tuma removed from her right breasts. and its very painful, but I think she will soon get better. Please write me again soon and tell me all the news. I had a letter from Bea. Remember me to all the (peoples) Love to the family. Mother. 5 Eliot St it 906 etroit, 1, Mich. DETROIT, MICH. 6 JUL 25 3 PM 1946 Mrs Rosa L. Parks 22 Mill St. Cleveland Ct. Montgomery, 5, Ala. Sept. 9, 1946 My dear daughter,--How are you and Parks getting along? Fine I hope. Brother arrived safely Friday morning, in fine shape except a little sleepy, tired and hungry. So he ate, relaxed and took a nap. We went round to Roxanna's for a short while. Thomas and Bea McDaniel came over that night and he went home with them. He called me this morning, said he would be back over this after noon. He is looking for work this morning. He and little William McWhirter is to-gether. Lucille is busy getting the children off to school. Melvin ,Thomas & a nothere little boy ran away last week. They got all their clothing, blanket, and all the food they could find about having Brother's over coat altered and dyed. They price is $20.00 dollars for the entire job. $8.00 for dying and $12.00 for remaking. If you were here with your machine! They really want sewing done and the price is so high. I altered two dresses and a coat suit for Aunt Sophronia, and they are asking me to sew, I don't have any machine to sew with. I did all her work by hand. How is Mr. Bell taking it about Brother leaving him. I know he will miss him. Your pictures are fine and everybody raves over them. The groupe is nice but you are almost completely hidden by Parks. He certainly made a good one. Do you take a little time out to read your papers? read "here to yonder" this weeks and the Pittsburgh Courier. Detroit news filled a suit case and out they went. They Policeman caught them and brought them back home. They said they were going anywhere. I suppose it is a bit lonesome since everybody drifted out at once. I thought Daisy and Syl. would have staid untill Brother got located and sent back for them. Well I am still going to church every Sunday. John Berry McNeil came by last Sunday and took us to church in a cab. I saw him at church yesterday, he is a member there and attends regular. Dewey Boswell came to see me too last week. They all comes to see me when they learn I am here. Roxanna has gone to the Doctor this morning. I have just come from her house. They hope to get moved next week. I stopped by the sewing shop this morning to see Brother just called frome Lucille's he is coming over this after noon to pick up his luggage he left Friday night. Write when you can. Love from mother. remember me to all the Peeples. 545 Eliot St. unit 906. Detroit 1, Mich. DETROIT, MICH. 6 SEP 9 10-PM 1946 Mrs Rosa L. Parks 22 Mill St. Cleveland Ct. Montgomery 5, Ala. Sept. 23, 1946. My Dear daughter,--your letter on a card came today. I was very glad to hear from you. Yes, It seemed you would never write. Of course I know you are very busy. I do want to get a letter a little oftener. I am well and getting along OK. Brother have not been so well he has been going to the Doctor and to day was his last visit. I think he is about out of money or he has spent a good bit. I staid out at Thomas' nearly two weeks and came back Saturday. I called Brother this morning. He said he was feeling very well and that he was making his last visit to the Dr. He is thinking about going back South because he hasn't been able to work since he been here. I went to church yesterday & saw John Berry McNeil. He said cousin Queen Boswell died last Sunday in Birmingham his mother and sister went to the funeral. Aunt Sophronia didn't feel like going to church so I went alone and came back by Roxanna and spent the after noon with them and had dinner. It rained and has been raining to-day. I was sorry to hear of Mr. Upshaw's wife's death of course she was ill a very long time and it should be a relief to him in a way. I was sorry too Jessie lost her baby. How is she now? Fine I hope. I am glad Botha and her little son is fine. I promised to write her but have not yet. We have had a few days good weather but I think when this rain is over it will turn cold again. I can stay here so long as it is warm but when it is cold I think about down in Alabama. I may come back home with Brother. If I stay here I shall have to have some clothes and money. Aunt Sophronia says she want to see you and Parks now. Since Brother and I are here. Daisy had the Doctor with dry l. last week so she wrote Bro. he is thinking of going down there so Annie Mae will try it here again. Loretta had a card from Fan from Jacksonville or Pensacola I don't know which now. Write me when you have time. Remember me to all the friends and Peeples much love from mother Leona. 545 Eliot St. Unit 906. Detroit, Mich. DETROIT, MICH 5 SEP 24 3-PM 1946 Mrs Rosa L. Parks 22 Mill St. Cleveland Ct. Montgomery 5, Ala. Oct. 2, 1946 My Dear daughter,--your card came yesterday, I am always glad to hear from you. I have not been feeling so well since Sunday. On my way to church I got in a sprinkle of rain. had a little cold and headache, am much better now. I was planning to go to Youngstown O. with Mrs Hatchett Monday night but I did not feel like taking the trip and it was cold. I think Brother is doing fine now. He came to see me Monday and again last night. He had a telogramme from Daisy that she was coming here because she thought he was seriously ill. Goldie came to see me too last night, she is not well either and had been by or [the] the Dr. office. Yes, you may send me some other things along with my coat. you send my long sleave shirts and other undies. They are all in my trunk I mean the knit slips and snuggies and my house coat will be all I want. It is OK about the money. I am coming home before it get too cold up here. Brother is not working yet but he has answered some want adds. Is Annie May coming here? Thomas has a nice place if they could get material Brother could do a lot of work around there in spare time, he has fixed some windows and painted some for them. Well, I don't think my aunt is coming to Alabama. It was too hot and now I guess it will be too cold. Tell Parks[me] we will listen to what he says before always, I hope. I hope you both are OK. Much love from Mother. 136 Woodland Detroit 2, Mich. My dear daughter, your letter and clippings are received. very glad to hear from you and Parks. Also all the Peeples. Yes, I know I should have been back home in this time but I am having some experience different. Well, I like my job alright for a while longer, but this cold is making me think about way down in Ala. We had a little snow, I have a good place to stay and a plenty to eat. My clothes are frail and I have to stay indoors. I will get me something as soon as I can go to town. I went out to Thomas' house yesterday. They were all fine except Loucille, She is kindly puny. I saw Anne for the first time since she came here. I also visited Mrs. Robinson while over there. Brother and Thomas came over for me and Brother came back with me last night. The Doctor and his wife went deer hunting about three hundred miles up at Idlewild Mich. and was away about a week, so I was here alone with the baby. It was lonesome but we got along alright untill I got sick. I called the nurse and she came and called the Dr. Lowe he gave me a treatment and I am alright now. Brother came over and stayed with us some or one night. so the Dr. mother came the same day they returned from their trip. He went back Sunday a hunting and brought a big buck deer. The were very proud since they didn't get one on the first trip. Well you know what I said when I read the news and everyone who read it of course help me cuss and I would like to ---that black Thomas negro and his wife and too bad about that Boswell act going through sorry I was not there to vote against it. Write me how the NAACP election came out. It seem as if Daisy wants to break up. Brother has been trying to get a job and a place to stay so he can send for them and get re-established. I think if she had stayed there he would have gone back home. And I don't see where it is so necessary to sell the babys' things. I don't have a suit case and will not be able to buy one. Maybe she can wait untill X-mas. I think I may come home about that time. Write me all the news and love to all. Your mother 136 Woodland Detroit, Mich. Detroit, Mich. Nov 26 230 PM 1946 Mrs. Rosa L. Parks 22 Mill St. Cleveland Ct. Montgomery 5, Ala. 68 68 68 68 ----- 272 Transcribed and reviewed by volunteers participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.