Correspondence: Jean Valley -> G.E. Valley, Jr., 12 Jun 1985

Dear George,

I hasten to acknowledge your letter received today. I’m feeling guilty for not writing earlier.

I’m so pleased you could arrive at such organization of what seemed a jumble of things. The originals of the Bible inscriptions with the record of marriages and births are in the Bible I sent to Louisa. The originals may yield more information than the copies but they are in poor shape and disintegrating.

From your letter, I can make a list of fascinating information about the Valleys I never knew. Perhaps Tom didn’t know either, or he chose not to talk about it.

Did I tell you we visited Montreal and looked up the address where Sophie lived? I believe Tom got the address from Oscar Jr. who remembered visiting there. The street existed in part only – a parkway was adjacent. However, the frame house was still there, boarded up and vacant as were its neighbors.

The photos I enclose are of wood carvings Tom had made by a local master carver. Each piece is a solid piece of wood; he achieves the feeling of depth much as a stone carver would. He did not finish the Valley piece until a month or so after Tom died. I don’t know how accurate they are as crests or coats of arms, but the workmanship is good.

I thank you for the photos of Tom – most are new to me. I think Tom would have liked the ones with Uncle Rob. He seemed to have provided companionship as he grew up.

Is it your feeling the Chorea changed Tom emotionally and in his ability to learn? After his stroke, his doctor told him he had always been dyslexic and they offered therapy for most of his disorders but never tried to teach him how to read.

I reread your letter and thought I would look again for photos. I looked for the bookcase and the 25 or 30 photo albums I filed some 10 years ago as a summer project. In one titled “Tom Sr as a boy” – I found more family pictures you may like. I do not know the folks and they may be some you are looking for. Which on of Pop’s brothers was “Bim”?

I put the photos in an old album as it seemed the safest way to pack them. There is also a silver box of some sort with a photo inside and a broken knife that is monogrammed – please keep them. I will keep looking and share anything I should find. I haven’t really cleaned Tom’s room as yet – not much heart for it but I will get to it this summer.

Please let me know if there is anything I can do – I would certainly want to pay for copies of photos I request. There is no reason you should provide all that. I am so delighted you are working on this.

We are all well, the newest grandchild had a rather rocky start but survived and is thriving now.

I still put in 8 to 10 hours at the office and could use a rest but I haven’t made a complete adjustment yet so it is well to be busy.

Trust you and Alice keep well.

Best Wishes,

Jean