Letters from Grandma by Mildred Dales

About the book

Mildred has written "Letters from Grandma" in the form of letters, telling in interesting and sometimes humorous detail, what it was like when she grew up in rural upstate New York. Each letter focuses on a topic, such as flies, bathing, hair care, washing, summer activities, plumbing, fresh air. With delicacy and humor, Mildred also describes such sensitive subjects as bathrooms (or the lack thereof) and feminine "monthly times".

Mildred's remarkable writings show how daily life was lived in the early part of the 20th century, and how families struggled and prevailed with dignity, humor and hope. Prevalent in these letters is a vivid description of a large, poor family that worked diligently to obtain feed and other necessities, but also maintained the integrity, and strong sense of family. In addition, the letter depict in detail the striking differences in everyday life between that time and now, showing the incredible changes that have occurred during this century.