Letter from Eleanor Roosevelt to Cecil Peterson, May 28, 1942

May 28, 1942

Dear Mr. Peterson:

Miss Ilma has given me your name because I am a member of the board of the Young Men's Vocational Foundation and she suggested that you might like to have an occasional letter and packages sent you.

I am so much interested that you are at the flying school in Tuskegee, because I have seen it. I also understand that you were at Quoddy and because I have seen that, too, I can tell a little bit what your background of training has been.

I am sending you some hard candy and a book which I thought might interest you, and if you will write me what kind of things you are interested in, what you would like to have sent you, and keep me in touch a little bit with what you are doing, I hope I can be a more intelligent correspondent.

I hope you get on well in the Army and that you will write me.

With all good wishes, I am

Very sincerely yours,

[Eleanor Roosevelt]

Mr. Cecil Peterson
Recruit Detachment
Air Corps Advanced Flying School
Tuskegee, Alabama

Letter from Eleanor Roosevelt to Cecil Peterson, June 9, 1942

June 9, 1942

Dear Mr. Peterson:

I remember you very well now that you have reminded me. I am glad to send you a pair of track shoes. I hope by now you have received the candy and the book which I sent to you.

Very sincerely yours,

[Eleanor Roosevelt]

Mr. Cecil Peterson
100 Pursuit Squadron
Tuskegee Army Flying School
Tuskegee, Alabama

Letter from F.D. Patterson to Eleanor Roosevelt, July 26, 1941

Tuskegee Institute
Office of the President
Tuskegee Institute, Alabama

Washington, D.C.
July 26, 1941

Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt
The White House
Washington, D.C.

My dear Mrs. Roosevelt:

I am deeply grateful for the conference you were kind enough to grant me at the White House on Wednesday, July 23rd.

I was pleased to have the opportunity to report to you the progress made to date in aviation, and phases of the defense program in which you have such a warm interest. Likewise I was happy to talk over the possibility of increasing the usefulness of Tuskegee Institute in connection with National Defense, as well as bring to your attention the need in Florida which, I feel, should be met for the best interest of Negro soldiers. I have followed up contacts in connection with both of these matters, and feel that satisfactory progress is being made.

Those concerned in the programs under consideration will, I am sure, be greatly heartened to know of your sympathetic interest.

Respectfully yours,

F.D. Patterson
President

Letter from Cecil Peterson to Eleanor Roosevelt, July 7, 1942

Southeast Air Corps
Training Center
Tuskegee Army Flying School
Tuskegee, Alabama

July 7, 1942

Dear Mrs. Roosevelt,

Since you last wrote, I have been lucky in three ways. My transfer to the new squadron was effected, secondly, I was promoted to Private First Class and since then given charge of a squad and am now an acting corporal.

Your letters and gifts have been very inspiring and have prompted me to try to be a better soldier.

My work is very interesting. Information regarding the squadron functions is restricted otherwise you would be interested to know some of its operations. I hope I could be able to tell you personally after this war.

Soon this short radio course will be over and I'll be of some service to Uncle Sam.

I wish that you would do one thing for me. Just tell the President that there's a private down here rooting for him by the name of C.P. and that I do wish him very much luck.

Hoping you and he both are well, I am,

Very Sincerely yours

Cecil Peterson

Letter from Eleanor Roosevelt to Cecil Peterson, July 16, 1942

July 16, 1942

Dear Private [Cecil] Peterson:

I was glad to have your letter and to hear of your successive promotions. My congratulations to you. I am sure your work is most interesting and I shall look forward to hearing more about it when the war is over.

I will give your message to the President and know how very much he will appreciate it.

We are having a rather quiet summer here at Hyde Park, though I have not yet had many continuous days here, as I seem to have made a good many engagements which take me to New York and Washington and other places that I can reach by train or plane, every few days. Later in the summer I hope to be here for longer periods.

When the President is here we live at the big house, his old home. During these times, however, he seldom gets away from Washington and when I am here alone we live at my cottage, several miles away from the big house. It is in a beautiful location in the woods by a large stream, the Val Kill. The stream has been widened into a lake of about three or four acres in size, just by the cottage, and we have, therefore, a very pleasant view from every angle.

This is beautiful country and we all enjoy being here whenever we can. My children are all far away and none of my grandchildren can be with me this summer. There are, however, two little girls staying with me, who make life interesting and gay for all of us. They ride every day, and swim in the pool. I do not ride, as in former years, as my horse is old and I have not had the time to get accustomed to another. My old horse just enjoys herself grazing in the fields, and this is little enough "old age pension" for her long years of faithful service.

Like everyone else, we are trying to conserve gas and tires. I have a bicycle which one of my boys gave me several years ago, and I have taken to bicycle-riding again and find that I enjoy it very much. I find it very convenient for trips to the big house and running errands in the neighborhood.

I am always pleased to hear from you and I hope that things will continue to go well for you.

With all good wishes, I am

Sincerely yours,

[Eleanor Roosevelt]

Private Cecil Peterson
83d Interceptor Control Squadron
Tuskegee Army Flying School
Tuskegee, Alabama

Letter from Cecil Peterson to Eleanor Roosevelt, May 23, 1943

Esler Field
928th Air Base Security Battalion
Esler Field, Louisiana

May 23, 1943

Dear Mrs. Roosevelt,

Thank you for the advice which I shall be glad to follow.

Last week it looked as though we would have gone by this time but an epidemic of mumps apparently caused us to remain. It is also evident that the 928th will be here for another two to three weeks since unpacking is going on. But, in the Army, anything can happen, anywhere and anytime.

Three days ago I hiked with the organization for 25 mile from 1030 PM to 0400 in the morning and we bivouaced (pitched tents) until 0600 in the morning when we broke camp and returned to the field.

I look forward for another long one this week beginning Monday when the outfit will camp off the ground for a whole week.

I am happy about the news of the final defeat in North Africa. Believe my, there will be more good news soon when we establish out initial bridge heads on the European continent. Once again please convey my most sincere and best wishes to the President in whatever steps he might make to bring closer the end of this war. Thank you.

I hope you are well and that you stay well, God Willing.

Sincerely

Cecil Peterson

[Eleanor Roosevelt's handwritten response on letter: "Glad to hear - Best of luck - ER"]

Telegram from F.D. Patterson to Eleanor Roosevelt, August 6, 1943

WUX TUSKEGEE ALA AUG 6 1943

MRS F D ROOSEVELT

WHITE HOUSE

TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE HAS REPAID ROSENWALD FUND IN FULL LOAN FOR AVIATION PROGRAM. FEEL YOUR PRESENCE AND ENDORSEMENT OF REQUEST DURING ROSENWALD MEETING AT TUSKEGEE WAS A MAJOR FACTOR IN FAVORABLE ACTION. AM HAPPY MEN IN AVIATION NOW AT FRONT ARE JUSTIFYING IN FULL MEASURE THE GREAT CONFIDENCE YOU AND OTHERS EXPRESSED IN THEM. WITH DEEPEST GRATITUDE

F D PATTERSON