2270 South Vine
Come with me as I meet my Mother through this series of letters, she died when I was 6 months old and this is my very first real glimpse into her world, who she was, who she wanted to be and how she loved my Father.
A collection of 36 letters hand written by my Mother Joyce at University of Denver and sent to my Father Earl at University of Colorado Boulder when they were first engaged in 1952. The letters span from September 1952 - January 1953. My Mother died from Breast Cancer in 1971 at the age of 40. The original language of the letters is read intact to maintain the integrity of the authenticity of her words, 1952 is a very different time culturally and economically.
2270 South Vine
Letter 31 01/05/1952 Fingers Crossed and Twelve Credit Hours
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January 5th, 1953 — Joyce begins the new year in Denver with a flurry of errands and anxious hope. She’s back to campus life, juggling scholarship appeals, registration forms, and part-time work at the Chuck Wagon diner. Her letter unfolds like a diary of determination: she’s met with faculty, called the dean, written to a reverend for a reference, and still finds time to call her piano teacher and do her laundry.
It’s a portrait of a young woman pushing forward despite disappointment — her scholarship was denied, though Mr. Piernaud promises to try again, and Dean Federer seems willing to help. She’s taking twelve hours of coursework — American History, Family Life, and Composition — and praying she can afford to stay through the third quarter.
Between the lines, her exhaustion softens into tenderness: she misses Earl constantly and clings to their next phone call as motivation to “live through Wednesday.” Even in her uncertainty, Joyce’s tone glows with grit and love — a woman balancing ambition, financial strain, and the ache of distance with her usual unbreakable humor.
Topics Include:
- Registering for winter quarter at Denver University
- Scholarship rejection and appeal process
- Meetings with faculty and deans
- Writing reference requests to clergy
- Managing limited finances and piano lessons
- Changes at work (Johnny leaving the Chuck Wagon)
- Illness and uncertainty in her friend group
- Balancing school, work, and love
- Hope and perseverance in 1950s college life
January 5th 53 dear sweetheart so far today I've registered called May written Reverend Hall about writing a reference letter to See you Colorado University seen mrs Roper about the same thing and visited Nisha and Maggie mr
Piernaud told me I didn't get my scholarship, but he'd tried to get it reconsidered. So I went over to Dean Federer's office. He's on the board, but was out of town the day they met. But I explained to him why I needed it, et cetera. And he went to see Piernaud to get info about why it was rejected, have it reconsidered, and look into any other possibilities.
I'm not very hopeful, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. My registration is complete except for payment. I'm taking 12 hours only, American history, five, family life, five, and composition, two. I'll just pray for third quarter. Johnny has left the chuck wagon. Boy, am I sorry about that. I reckon we're putting soup and pickles and lettuce, et cetera, back for further use.
From the way May talked, she was glad to see him go. Probably too clean for her. Marie is sick in bed with the flu too. Tomorrow I have to go over to May's with my schedule and see about work. I have my doubts about how things will go now. I must call Miss Seaman for a time for piano lessons. I'll do it right now, excuse me. I got one o'clock on every other Wednesday.
I'd sure have liked to have had a lesson every week, but until I find out for sure about the scholarship, it's every other Wednesday. Sweetheart, I missed you all day long, and I'll be so glad to hear your voice tomorrow. But I'll probably feel worse on Wednesday, but I'll hear your voice and see you Thursday. So I'll live, I guess.
My laundry is waiting for me, so bye for now my darling. All my love, always,
