January 31, 1931 – Saturday

Initiation today! Fun from the inside. I got tired tho’. I slept until ten. Helped get ready before I had lunch at 11:30. It started at one and lasted until 5:30. Beautiful banquet at 7. Show later.

January 30, 1931 – Friday

It was clear and sunny today but still cold. There were two serenades last night. One was Delts. I slept from one to five and then played until about one AM. Bad.

January 29, 1931 – Thursday

It has been kind of a let down today. In fact I’ve been a little blue. The weather is colder and grayer too. The flowers are still lovely. I didn’t study in the afternoon as intended.

January 29, 1931

Dear Mother,

I received your check and paid off my creditors (University of Oregon).

Young Fields got off to a flying start here today. He thought that this little old custom of wearing a green lid applied to everyone but him. He doesn’t think that way any more. They summoned him to the library steps, and the young lad took the count for a nice long wooden paddle.

I ate lunch at the Phi Gamma Delta house today. Boy if their house in Corvallis, where Malo and Ray are is anything like this one; I sure wouldn’t want any of it. No foolin, they are just a bunch of dressed up, two for a nickel sheiks.

Yes indeed the weather is great here, in fact I can hardly write this letter for all the fond brothers looking out of my window at a canoe going down the race.

This afternoon at five, we are going to play La Casa Filipina, a game of volleyball.  We have cleaned up the campus so far, but here is where we take a beating. If there is anything our dusky skinned brothers can do its play volleyball.

I received a letter from Howard and Ruth today. Howard has lots of good prospects in the way of jobs, but he says they are also prospects of just remaining prospects. Can you follow me?

That’s all ---

Love, George

January 28, 1931 – Wednesday - Mom's Birthday

Most wonderful birthday I’ve had in a long time. Everybody was wishing me happy day. Steve sent flowers from New York! Sophomores had blind date dinner. Doro, Carrie, Harriet and Wilma sent flowers to me. Swell day!

Jane's Notes: Steve is still very much in the picture.

From the scrapbook there is a florist envelope with this enclosure: "20 Year Old!" Steve.  Another which says Doro, Anne, Janet Young. A third one that says "To our fish face from Wilma & Harriet."

January 27, 1931 – Tuesday

Another heavenly day. Sunshine all day and as warm as spring! I slept until nine thirty. After my one to four lab went to College Side then did errands and rode with Betty B & Jeanne.

January 26, 1931 – Monday

It has been like a spring day. I had a good French lesson and because of my hangover from last night I’ve been so happy all day. Jeanne and I went to show in the afternoon. Had free for Freshmen. Initiation Sat.

January 25, 1931 – Sunday

I was up at nine and Harriet, June and I went to hotel for breakfast. Had pancakes. Studied all afternoon until six. At seven thirty Harry, Harry’s cousin Gill, and Doro and I went to the mid-way.

January 25, 1931

Dear Folks,

Bill came back last night and brought Fay with him. She was over for dinner today, and they are now out trying to find a ride home for her.

We will probably have our Lodge by spring because they only have ten more insurance policies to sell. After all the policies are sold to the alumni; each one of us must take one out for fifteen hundred dollars. This will raise our board bill, two dollars, but I think it is worth it.

This paragraph is going to be the most distasteful of all to write, because it concerns money. My fees this term are twelve dollars; and they must be paid by Saturday, the thirty-first. Gee, it certainly is the bunk to sit here and write for money when this month has been so expensive already. My shine business nets me stamp and occasional show money, but it doesn’t quite reach twelve dollars.

The Gamma Phi’s across the street have been having an initiation during the last week, and Helen burns is one of the lucky ones.

When you all come down I hope Aunt Lil doesn’t smoke; because it might not be received so well. Most girls smoke, but it isn’t quite so common to see older ladies smoke.

Tom Moran has been in the hospital with appendicitis, Jack Blanchard has been in the infirmary with a severe head cold, and Fletch has been there also with the grip. Fletch really isn’t as good a Scientist as he talks.

We have two new pledges now, Ed field and Philip fields. Eddy has a new Ford roadster, and he is very generous with it.  His father is a doctor in Sheridan, and he went home for a visit yesterday.

Boy we surely worked around here yesterday. We put in all the remaining wood, regraveled the walks, washed the front room windows, cleaned the washrooms and basement, and made beds. You might not think it, but it is all a lot of fun. We play pranks on each other and take a heck of a long time in doing everything.

Last night Phil fields, Jim Travis, and myself went to a show. On the way I lost my frosh lid, and not having the thirty-five cents necessary for a new one, I got up at six-thirty this morning to hunt for it. It was pouring down rain, and I was about the only one stirring that time of the morning. After tramping around the old campus, I finally found my lid, came back home and went to bed again until breakfast time.

I haven’t had a date since I returned. No foolin, I have almost forgotten what a gal looks like at night; and there doesn’t seem to be any desire to find out.

Jack Blanchard’s father was here today to see Jack. He brought us two big boxes of candy and stayed for dinner. He has been all over the Orient; and he is very interesting to listen to.

Boy, Dad, that was a wonderful letter you wrote me; and it places a great responsibility on my shoulders in living up to it. Rest assured though; I will do my best.

I hope you two enjoy the Chi Psi manual; it is very interesting.

Love, George

January 24, 1931 – Saturday

Had my usual classes in the morning and in the afternoon after lunch ironed ‘til about three thirty, then studied an hour at the library. Went to game. Bed at 2.

January 23, 1931 – Friday

This was just Friday. I knew my French today. After lunch played until clogging and afterwards. After dinner, game, they won. What a handsome center they have – studied ‘til one.

January 23, 1931

Dear Folks,

We had my menu today and everybody went back for a second helping. Ed Mergess says it is his favorite pudding; and every time he goes home, his mother has it for dinner. Fanny is going to put it down as her best; so it must be good.

I never saw so much rain in my life except last year and the year before and the year before that. Gee, you just run around here in puddles; and wonder just what it is all about.

We got our Chi Psi manuals and songbooks yesterday, and each of us new brothers signed our names in them. There are lots of them around here; so I am sending mine home for you two to look at. There certainly are some pictures of fine looking lodges in it. You probably will be interested in reading the historical sketch in the beginning and the history of the Oregon Alpha near the end of the book

(Drawing of the Chi Psi symbol)

Here is a plenty crude drawing of the badge, but it is without a doubt the prettiest and most expensive badge on the campus. The Fii Jii only costs two dollars.

I must get my accounting done, ----- Bye.

Love, George

January 22, 1931 – Thursday

Being Thursday I slept until nine. After lunch I went downtown with Jeanne and did some errands. Later wrote about six letters. Actually got my French done tonight. Was Proctor.

January 21, 1931 – Wednesday

Had my usual classes in the morning. At noon I got several magazines so I read in the afternoon. After dinner Jeanne and I went downtown to a show. Harry called up twice.

January 20, 1931 – Tuesday

Slept ten or eleven hours but I’m so far behind that it doesn’t seem to do much good. Sophomores are going to have a blind date dinner. Harry called this afternoon.

January 20, 1931

Dear Mom,

We each made out a menu here for breakfast lunch and dinner which is to be followed. My menu is going to be followed Friday or Saturday and Fannie doesn’t have the recipe for “Sailor’s Duff” pudding. I wish you would send it right away so she could have it by then.

Nothing new has happened – so good-bye.

Love, George

Jane's Notes: Sailor's Duff was a favorite dessert of Dad's that his mother made. Mother made it faithfully. I don't seem to have a copy of the recipe. Maybe someone else in the family does. Fannie must be the cook at the Chi Psi Lodge.

January 19, 1931 – Monday

I’m getting awfully tired of school, French in particular. After lunch read some and wrote some. I got two “Logs” today and devoured them. I wasted the evening. Slept in room.

Jane’s Notes: The Alpha Phi house, like most of the sorority and fraternity houses, had sleeping porches. It was thought that sleeping in the fresh air was healthy, even in the midst of winter. The rooms usually didn’t have sleeping accommodations so the fact that Mom slept in her room for the night probably means she slept on a couch.