This recording was made in 1956 when we visited Knoxville, Illinois. Susanne, Helen and Charlie visited “Doc” in Galesburg and went to Knoxville to see Auntie Pearle and Uncle Frank.
Here’s the best effort for a transcription of the recording.
Galesburg, Illinois, 1956
Auntie Pearle, Uncle Frank, and Jane Swanson
Best-Effort Transcript
Source: “Illinois 1956 Auntie Pearle.mp3” | Duration: 3:58
Transcription note. This is a lightly cleaned, best-effort transcript of the supplied 1956 recording. The three speakers have been identified from information provided by Charles Jett. False starts and characteristic phrasing are retained, while punctuation is supplied for readability. The phrase “Woman’s World’s Fair” and the spelling of “Stuart” are heard as shown but remain slightly uncertain.
Auntie Pearle (approximately 0:02–2:22)
Auntie Pearle: Hello, Marion dear. This is Auntie Pearle. We wish you were here.
Auntie Pearle: How I enjoyed your lovely letter this summer. And I should have answered it before, but the children have been here, and we’ve had such a busy household. And I’m going to write you a good long letter some of these days.
Auntie Pearle: But I’ve been enjoying Helen and her family today. We’ve had a wonderful time—a little visit, talking all about you. And believe you me, was I thrilled to hear about your family.
Auntie Pearle: Really, I’m quite self-conscious talking in this thing. I feel as though I’m talking to the—remember the Woman’s World’s Fair? When I was so surprised? I was talking—I thought I was talking to a few people, and everybody around me was hearing what I was saying. Perhaps you weren’t there at that time.
Auntie Pearle: Anyway, I do want to say that I am thrilled that your family is so beautifully brought up. I hear that you’re a beautiful mother, and that those precious children, every one, are just having the best time. And I can imagine you’re almost like a big party all the time, aren’t you?
Auntie Pearle: We’ve enjoyed your dad today, too, and your Uncle Stuart, and—and—no, Stuart’s not Marion’s uncle. Oh, yes, your brother-in-law. That’s right. Here I am.
Auntie Pearle: Marion, you know it wouldn’t be your Auntie Pearle if I didn’t talk that way, don’t you? Because you—we’ve had enough conversations that this is more like your being right here. And I can hardly—I hardly think I’m talking to you so far away.
Auntie Pearle: But we had our lunch today out under the trees here in Knoxville, back of our house. And we were told how your children always sit and enjoy the conversation of the elders. And I want to tell you that I think that’s pretty wonderful. Will you give them my love, please? And sometime I’d love to see all of you.
Auntie Pearle: I guess I’d better say goodbye. And the Lord bless you, dear, and all of your children—your husband.
Uncle Frank (approximately 2:25–2:59)
Uncle Frank: I don’t know what to say.
[A woman off microphone encourages him to continue.]
Uncle Frank: Wish—wish you could come here, too, like Helen is today. We’re certainly enjoying seeing her, and it reminds us of our old time in LaGrange.
Uncle Frank: That’s all I’m going to say now. Bye.
[Light laughter.]
Jane Swanson (approximately 3:02–3:58)
Jane Swanson: Oh! Hello. I’m your fourth cousin Jane, and I’m Mark’s daughter. I live in Rockford, Illinois, and I’m sixteen. And I have a horse named Dinah and a dog named Skipper. And—
[An off-microphone woman prompts Jane.]
Jane Swanson: Oh, we’ve been visiting down here in Knoxville for six weeks now, and we’re going to go back. And we sure are going to miss everybody here.
Jane Swanson: And it would sure be nice to see you. After all, I haven’t—I’ve never seen you, and here you’re my fourth cousin.
[Another off-microphone prompt.]
Jane Swanson: I didn’t realize there were nine others, as Mother said.
Jane Swanson: And—let me see. Well, I guess that’s all for now. Goodbye.