Letter to Kathryn from Ford Killen
Title
Letter to Kathryn from Ford Killen
Description
Writes of his current situation. Mentions receiving a letter from her. Expresses his love for her but wonders what she would be letting herself in for. Mentions problems of sending her a ring. Writes about his daily activities and his current situation. Says he will write again soon.
Creator
Date
1946-02-26
Temporal Coverage
Coverage
Language
Format
Two page handwritten letter
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
EKillenFReidKM460226
Transcription
ELMIRA STAR-GAZETTE & ADVERTISER
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAM
GANNETT NEWSPAPERS
ELMIRA, N.Y.
Tuesday morning
Feb.26, 1946
My only darling!
I’m not working today; though it isn’t 8 o’clock now I’m out of bed and have the phonograph going – playing “Roll Out The Barrel”, and penning this letter to you. As you have probably noticed, my nerves aren’t so steady the first thing in the morning and if you can read this scratching you will be doing very well indeed.
Yesterday I received a letter of Feb. 19 from you, and how happy I was! I’ve read & re-read it until I think the words will wear off. Darling, if only I could think of words to express my love for you – Webster’s dictionary doesn’t carry words appropriate to tell you what I think; how I miss you and want you; how my love for you overshadows everything else in my live [sic], my work, dreams –
But how do you know what you are letting yourself in for? How do you know I won’t be a wife-beater? I suppose we’ve got to take a chance though. You could be a husband beater for all I know – and what I don’t know about you I’ll learn – I promise, and be faithful and true. If only this waiting wasn’t so long.
Darling, about the ring – or have I written before about it? – if I sent it to you, the customs would be greater than the price I’d pay for it here. If you want me to send you the money and you pick one out, or wait until you get over here for me to give it to you . . . .
And about the Dramatic Course; like I’ve mentioned before – I’m just starting out. I’m in the kind of work I really love – newspaper. I’m a reporter for The Elmira Star – Gazette and The Sunday Telegram. Thank god I don’t work on the Advertiser – which is a morning paper, and would mean working nights. As you can see I’m using the Company’s paper to do my corresponding on.
Today – on my day off – I’m going to interview some war budies [sic]– English mostly, Italian and French. The city is
[Page Break]
getting to be very cosmopolitan. I wish Yorkshire were represented. How I wish Yorkshire were represented.
Darling, I’ve moved out of Miss Blue’s abode. I couldn’t stand living in the same house with her – Miss Blue is Mrs McDougal’s professional name. How right you were in the beginning and I wouldn’t listen to you. Her husband comes from South Sheilds – probably you know where that is – East of England somewhere. He is really a wonderful person, and how much he has to take from that woman! Selfish, Jealous, I don’t know why I was so blind.
Her son; my buddy and I both moved out. We found a nice room centrally located, and now we don’t have to worry about her. When her own son 23 skidooed [sic] & got out, you may be assured that something instigated it. She’s browned off at both of us, but little I care, I don’t like to be dominated, and certainly she is that type.
I don’t know how you do it, but even at the first you sensed what kind of woman she was, & told me, & I was angry. To think I almost let someone like that come between us.
My darling, how I hope you’ll forgive me and I’ll never doubt your judgement again . . . .
This will be a short note this morning, but I’ll write soon & often. Hope you’ve received the other letters I mailed last week, and keep writing to me & that picture you promised – soon, very soon – please because I want to get it in the paper; I want everyone to see “Cathie.”
It is up to you about coming. Do as you think is best - I’ll honor [sic] your decision. You seem to know more about intuition; that is one of woman’s senses which man lacks, so my darling, it’s up to you. I’ve explained everything in the preceding letter.
I’ve got to get breakfast and then go on a jaunt all over town for my newspaper, so until I hear from you again, please pardon this brief note.
All my love forever & ever to you [underlined] alone [/underlined],
Your
“Heathcliff”
453 W. Water St.
Elmira, N.Y.
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAM
GANNETT NEWSPAPERS
ELMIRA, N.Y.
Tuesday morning
Feb.26, 1946
My only darling!
I’m not working today; though it isn’t 8 o’clock now I’m out of bed and have the phonograph going – playing “Roll Out The Barrel”, and penning this letter to you. As you have probably noticed, my nerves aren’t so steady the first thing in the morning and if you can read this scratching you will be doing very well indeed.
Yesterday I received a letter of Feb. 19 from you, and how happy I was! I’ve read & re-read it until I think the words will wear off. Darling, if only I could think of words to express my love for you – Webster’s dictionary doesn’t carry words appropriate to tell you what I think; how I miss you and want you; how my love for you overshadows everything else in my live [sic], my work, dreams –
But how do you know what you are letting yourself in for? How do you know I won’t be a wife-beater? I suppose we’ve got to take a chance though. You could be a husband beater for all I know – and what I don’t know about you I’ll learn – I promise, and be faithful and true. If only this waiting wasn’t so long.
Darling, about the ring – or have I written before about it? – if I sent it to you, the customs would be greater than the price I’d pay for it here. If you want me to send you the money and you pick one out, or wait until you get over here for me to give it to you . . . .
And about the Dramatic Course; like I’ve mentioned before – I’m just starting out. I’m in the kind of work I really love – newspaper. I’m a reporter for The Elmira Star – Gazette and The Sunday Telegram. Thank god I don’t work on the Advertiser – which is a morning paper, and would mean working nights. As you can see I’m using the Company’s paper to do my corresponding on.
Today – on my day off – I’m going to interview some war budies [sic]– English mostly, Italian and French. The city is
[Page Break]
getting to be very cosmopolitan. I wish Yorkshire were represented. How I wish Yorkshire were represented.
Darling, I’ve moved out of Miss Blue’s abode. I couldn’t stand living in the same house with her – Miss Blue is Mrs McDougal’s professional name. How right you were in the beginning and I wouldn’t listen to you. Her husband comes from South Sheilds – probably you know where that is – East of England somewhere. He is really a wonderful person, and how much he has to take from that woman! Selfish, Jealous, I don’t know why I was so blind.
Her son; my buddy and I both moved out. We found a nice room centrally located, and now we don’t have to worry about her. When her own son 23 skidooed [sic] & got out, you may be assured that something instigated it. She’s browned off at both of us, but little I care, I don’t like to be dominated, and certainly she is that type.
I don’t know how you do it, but even at the first you sensed what kind of woman she was, & told me, & I was angry. To think I almost let someone like that come between us.
My darling, how I hope you’ll forgive me and I’ll never doubt your judgement again . . . .
This will be a short note this morning, but I’ll write soon & often. Hope you’ve received the other letters I mailed last week, and keep writing to me & that picture you promised – soon, very soon – please because I want to get it in the paper; I want everyone to see “Cathie.”
It is up to you about coming. Do as you think is best - I’ll honor [sic] your decision. You seem to know more about intuition; that is one of woman’s senses which man lacks, so my darling, it’s up to you. I’ve explained everything in the preceding letter.
I’ve got to get breakfast and then go on a jaunt all over town for my newspaper, so until I hear from you again, please pardon this brief note.
All my love forever & ever to you [underlined] alone [/underlined],
Your
“Heathcliff”
453 W. Water St.
Elmira, N.Y.
Collection
Citation
F Killen, “Letter to Kathryn from Ford Killen,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed June 15, 2025, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/collections/document/39623.