College Letters from my Father

My Father (Herbert Baer) attended Michigan State College for the 1941-42 school year. He sent a series of leters home. His mom passed them on to my mom who in turn passed them on to me.

I attended college here at Michigan State University 39 years later and continue to work at the university so these letters are an interesting look at MSU's history and my dad as young man.

1941-09-23 -- Acrobat File
Settled into new Mason-Abbot dormitory; figuring out schedule and finding way around campus; electric razor.
1941-10-06 -- Acrobat File
laundry has not yet arrived (guess clothes are washed in Buffalo and mailed to college); rainy weather; article about potless frosh.
1941-10-13 -- Acrobat File
Saturday morning German class; tennis; does not like Military Science; archery; "ultra modern" Jenison Field House; Lansing described in less than flattering terms.
1941-10-20 -- Acrobat File
Vitya Vronsky and Victor Babin play pianos at the "huge" MSC Auditorium; squirrels are acquired; new Fords.
1941-10-27 -- Acrobat File
Squirrels are eaten; saw play "Man Power"; canoeing.
1941-11-03 -- Acrobat File
Sopth-Frosh Brawl, tear gas is used.
1941-11-10 -- Acrobat File
Attended two movies ("Underground" and "That uncertain Feeling") and a dog show; Thanksgiving travel plans.
1941-11-13 -- Acrobat File
Bad grades; travel plans; MSC football game with drunken fan.
1941-12-01 -- Acrobat File
Return from Buffalo, runs out of gas on the Ambassador Bridge; attends the ballet; coffee hour with the professors.
1941-12-08 -- Acrobat File
"Minor Riot" article; went to see the poet Alfred Noyes.
1942-01-12 -- Acrobat File
Cold but no snow; lecture and movie by adventurer John Graig; "Babes on Broadway"; handball and blisters; bloody film in Military class; boxing; send skates.
1942-01-19 -- Acrobat File
Nice weather; handball; becomes precinct Freshman representative; defense meeting; not much interest in air-raids -- being so far inland; dance; judge at a beauty contest.
1942-02-09 -- Acrobat File
Attended movie/lecture on the war in China; Farmers Week.
1942-02-15 -- Acrobat File
Missing skiing.
1942-02-16 -- Acrobat File
Letter to his dad (who seemed to be unemployed at the time); play where the guys dress up as girls.
1942-02-17 -- Acrobat File
Letter to his grandmother -- thanks for the nut bread; midterms.
1942-03-02 -- Acrobat File
Starting taxes.
1942-04-11 -- Acrobat File
Tennis; flat feet.
1942-04-12 -- Acrobat File
"The Male Animal" on tour in Lansing; more work on taxes;
1942-04-19 -- Acrobat File
Letter to his mother; new dormitory letterhead; started working at the Mason-Abbot kitchen; tennis; Y.W. dance with young women working in Lansing; Non-traditional student in Speech class;
1942-04-27 -- Acrobat File
Letter to his sister; Canoeing; ducks; turtles.
1942-05-03 -- Acrobat File
Descriptions how pans are washed; canoeing date rained out; the new Air Corp.
1942-05-10 -- Acrobat File
East coast gas rationing; sugar rationing; looking for summer job in Detroit.
1942-05-11 -- Acrobat File
Frosh Frolic; a "jernt" (no idea what that means -- internet not helpful) called the Clear Head; a "Chicken in the rough" place (what?); shoes are mailed; "Beer Bust"; amusement park.
1942-05-19 -- Acrobat File
Just after 20th birthday; good grades; tea.
1942-05-26 -- Acrobat File
Blind date to Spring Term Party; King's Row show.
1942-06-01 -- Acrobat File
Endurance swim class to prepare for sinking ship; Midwest gas rationing; hot weather.
1942-06-15 -- Acrobat File
Pajama clad students block traffic on East Lansing's main drag; Water Carnival; sighting of MSC's legendary president John Hannah.