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Postcard and Letter, 1947

 File — Box: 1, Folder: 2

Scope and Content

From the Collection:

This collection includes the correspondence of Nat Goldman, an auditor for the Textile Workers Union of America CIO. Most of the letters were sent by Nat Goldman. He writes to his girlfriend Rebecca "Reba" Baron in New York City, New York, and tells her of his travels and work for the union. Most of his letters are from Virginia, but there are a few from his travels to Tennessee, Connecticut, and Wisconsin.

Goldman's letters consist of flirtatious writing to Baron and also describes his work for the union as well as locals' adminstrative work, finances, and accounting books. In a letter to Baron dated November 09, 1948, Goldman writes, "The enclosed letters speak for themselves. I have no comment nor any excuses. I have not changed nor can I change my beliefs." The first enclosed letter from William Pollock, the General Secretary-Treasurer of the Textile Workers Union, includes accusations against Goldman, such as "He has condemned vociferously the Union's support of Truman and liberal candidates ... His support of Russian policies is without question, positive proof to me that he is a Communist ... he refused to condemn the witch hunts on true trade unionists in the Soviet, and the slaughter of millions of Christians in the Soviet ... I must say he is without a doubt, the strangest liberal I have ever met or seen ... his hatred for Brother Sol Stetin knows no bounds."

The collection includes a single letter from Baron to Goldman. In the letter dated February 12, 1948, she writes, "Today may be Lincoln's birthday and a holiday in some places, but not at 469 Broadway. I had to work, and all day too." She later jokes about his hotel room, "Your room sounds quite enchanting. All that and roaches too. Perhaps you can strike up an aquaintance with one. Perhaps you can even train it."

Goldman wrote each letter using the stationery from the hotels he stayed at during his travels. The hotels he stayed at include Hotel Marbrook, Buena Vista, Virginia; Hotel Caroll, Lynchburg, Virginia; Hotel Beverly, Staunton, Virginia; New Lakeview Tourist Court & Motel, Jackson, Tennessee; Hotel Chisca, Memphis, Tennessee; Hotel Badger, Burlington, Wisconsin; The Wauregan Hotel, Norwich, Connecticut.

Dates

  • 1947

Creator

Language of Materials

From the Collection:

Materials in this collection are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Extent

From the Collection: 0.2 Cubic Feet (1 box)

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository

Contact:
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308