stormdog: (Kira)
MeghanIsMe ([personal profile] stormdog) wrote2015-10-07 11:41 pm
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Angry Businessmen of the 1920s.

I have a fantastic letter, sent to me by the Clark University archives, that I want to share with you. It's from one of the inventors I'm researching, Charles Williams, to Wallace Atwood, a professor of geography who later became president of Clark University. Williams is complaining about Gilbert Grosvenor, president of the National Geographic Society, essentially jerking Williams around as he tried to get funding to produce his index globe invention. Some quotes:

"I’m simply sick and tired of the childish and unfair way he has acted. He’s said he would take it time and time again, but wanted some changes made. I’ve changed and changed for him and we’re back where we started with my original design." (With "my original design" strongly underlined.)

"...spent a lot of time and money on him but am through monkeying with him any longer. He’s a child."

"Every body here has expressed themselves as delighted, except Grosvenor can’t come down to sign up, acts more like he’s a brainless girl trying to buy a spring hat."

The hotel stationary that Williams wrote on is pretty nifty in itself. The header reads:

Hotel Hudson
European
(Formerly the New Fredonia)
Wm. W. Danenhower, Manager

Hot and Cold Running Water and Long Distance Telephone in every room
Garage connected. Phone Main 7973.
1329 and 1331 H St. N. W., Washington DC