David Byrd • Catalogue Raisonné

Selected Letter

Theme

Subjects:
- Childhood »
- Family »

Additional Material

view »

Letter 101

William Byrd to Eva Byrd (mother), June 2, 1937

A letter written by William Byrd, David’s older brother, to his mother, Eva Byrd. Mrs. Byrd has left Springfield, Illinois, for possible employment in Brooklyn, NY. The children’s father is in a mental hospital. At this time, William and David Byrd, and some of the siblings, are living in Springfield. Their maternal grandmother is no longer able to care for them. Mrs. Taff (“Taffy”) has been called to foster the children. William describes Mrs. Taff as “lame in both legs and has to use canes.” David Byrd is eleven years old. This is David’s first foster home, which lasted for 1-2 years. It inspired memory paintings and drawings. Later, in conversation, David recounted that Mrs. Taff abused his sister after she opened a package from her grandfather. (Byrd's memory painting relates to the time period. Included in the painting are the Byrd children, their mother, father, grandmother, and Mrs. Taff. P217)

Transcript

June 2, 1937

Dear Mom,
How are you? All of us kids are good as ever.( when we're asleep) Have you gotten a steady job yet? Tomorrow is Carl’s birthday, will he be 17 or 18 years old?

Well, we all got good grades this time and I have graduated. As I have joined the scouts I got some scout things, a hatchet from Aunt Emily and Uncle Cecil, a flashlight from my scoutmaster Mr. E. D. Dryfoose, and a sheath knife from Grandma. There were a lot of other things including a dollar from Grandpa, a shirt and bowtie from Miss Taff and a scout handbook from Mary and the kids. I am saving-

—page 2—

my money for a scout suit which cost $7.45 and I have saved $1.50 for it.

My bicycle is still broken and will take a good $3.50 to fix up. I am saving (my money) for a suit so it will remain unfixed for some time yet.

You must be wondering by this time who Miss Taff (Taffy) is. Well when you left, Grandma didn’t have enough (money) to take care of us on, only getting $25 a month. So with winter coming on she just didn’t have enough to buy us winter clothes, so she just had to ask Mrs. George to help out a little. Well also some work had to be done around the house the grandma couldn’t do us kids didn’t know how to-

—page 3—

do it so grandma ask Mrs. George again to have a man or woman come out to help her. Well they sent out Mrs. Taff (who is lame in both legs and has to use canes) to help grandma, well she wasn’t any help and grandma put in a complaint and Mrs. George got mad and rented a place out on south Tenth (2544 So. 10) for us to stay. Well, we moved out there and now we have Taffy as a guardian and almost anything we want as far as food and clothes, furniture etc. (Except getting my bike fixed.)

So that’s the story believe it or not.

—page 4—

Well today being Wednesday I came out to grandmas and got 50 cents for mowing the grass.

We had lunch and Mrs. George came out and as grandma wanted to go to town got ready and went with Mrs. George. I stayed and finished my dinner, cleaned up the table and started to write this letter.

I am going up to the YMCA tonight to go swimming thus ending a day at grandmas.

Come home as soon as possible. Or send a picture of you we are beginning to forget what you look like.

Have you heard from Carl yet? Neither have we.

—page 5—

Well I am closing this letter and I hope you do not get sick or lose your job.
Your loving son, William P BYRD
(P.S. Write Soon) (written backwards)
Your Son Billy (written backwards)
David (written backwards)
Weldon (written backwards)
Sadie (written backwards)
Mary (written backwards)
(Turn paper over and hold up to the light)
(P.S. I got your Letter yesterday)
June 1,1937
Turn paper over and hold up to light. PS I got your letter yesterday June 1, 1937.

—backside—

Thanks for the

Letter you sent

High School next Year

for me

Record last updated September 16, 2024. Please note the catalogue is an evolving project and continually updated with new information that best reflects David Byrd's legacy.

Citation: Isaacson, Jody and Jessica Farrell. "William Byrd to Eva Byrd, June 2, 1937 (Letter 101)." In David Byrd Catalogue Raisonné. Sidney Center, NY: David Byrd Estate. www.davidbyrdcatalogue.org/correspondence/entry.php?id=101 (accessed on September 29, 2026).