Letters to President and Mrs. Roosevelt

 

I am to have a baby. We wanted one before but felt we should have more assurance for future before we deliberately took such a responsibility. But now that it has happened, I won’t give it up!...Won’t you do something so my husband can have a job?...We have absolutely nothing but our home.

-letter to Eleanor Roosevelt from Mrs. M.H.A.

 

I am now at the point of desperation. But as I have 19 grandchildren all under 14 years of age 9 of whom are boys, to do anything desperate now they would never live down the disgrace. I was always a hard worker saved money invested in the auto business and lost. Am 55 years old…I would not wish at the cost of my life that any one should know I wrote you this letter seeking a loan…All I want is a chance.

-letter to F.D.R. from anonymous writer

 

I am a boy of 12 years…My father hasn’t worked for 5 months. He went plenty times to relief, he filled out application. They won’t give us anything. I don’t know why…My father he staying home. All the time he’s crying because he can’t find work. I told him why are you crying daddy, and daddy said why shouldn’t I cry when there is nothing in the house. I feel sorry for him. That night I couldn’t sleep.

-letter to President and Mrs. Roosevelt

 

What I would like to know is this: how can a bank take our money and get by while an old couple have to let their houses go?

-letter to F.D.R. from a 13-year-old boy

 

Please help us. My mother is sick three year and was in the hospital three month and she came out but she is not better and my father is peralised and can not work and we are poor…We have no one to give us a Christmas presents and if you want to buy a Christmnas present please buy us a stove to do our cooking and to make good bread.

-letter to F.D.R. from a 10-year-old girl

 

I am ritening you a few lines to let you no how they are treating we colored people on this releaf. I went up to our home Vister and replied for some thing to do an some thing to eat and she told me that she has nothing for me at all and to they give all the worke to White people and give us nothing an Sir I wont you to no how we are treated here. So please help us if you can.

-anonymous letter to F.D.R.

Mr. Presentdent its certainly a strange thing the way we colored peoples is treated here this government money was sent down here for these peoples where is in knead and the poor widows Where is here going from place to place trying to get work and cant get nothng to do and hungry and what they does with the money we cant tell some thimes…white peoples is doing there own work and there fore that knocks the colored out of work and it isn’t enough work in the field to depend on…Some of we colored peoples is so ragged we is asham to get out among the peoples like some folks and its getting cold no wood and cold and if we don’t get something to do in order so we can have some money we will Freeze to death.

-anonymous letter to F.D.R.

 

 

The way they are treating the darkies here is a shame. They wont give them food nor Cloths nor Work to do When the Ask for Any thing they drive them away like dogs…And its more than 200 Darkies in groups Standing on the Road each day begging for food and cloths.

-anonymous letter to F.D.R.

 

For the last three or four years we have had depression and suffered with my family and little children severely…I am living in this house for about ten years and when times were good we would put our last cent in the house and now I have no money, no home, and no wheres to go. I beg of you to please help me and my family and little children for the sake of a sick mother and suffering family to give this your immediate attention so we will not be forced to move or put out in the street.

Letter to F.D.R. from Mrs. E.L.