Archive Record
Images
Additional Images [8]
Metadata
Object Identification Number |
2011.013.178 |
Object Name |
Letter |
Donor |
Snow, Carey |
Scope / Description |
Set of nine letters to Annelise and Warder Stoaks from Annelise's maternal aunt Karen Laugesen and her friends Kamma Ley and Anna Christiansen. One of the letters has an envelope. The letters were all stapled together as a set (the staple was removed during the cataloging process). They are all written in hand in blue pen. The letters are written between 1972 and 1977, but they were not put in chronological order before they were stapled together, and the ordering here follows the order they were found in. In the letters, Karen write about her daily life at her senior apartment and later at a nursing home. Letter 1: One page of ruled paper with writing on both sides. At the top center on the front of the page is an address for a nursing home and below this it says "23 - Maj". The letter is signed on the back of the page. Karen begins this letter by thanking Annelise for her letter of May 16 (not in the collection), in which Annelise writes that she and Warder will make a flying visit to Denmark. Karen writes that she is looking very much forward to seeing them, as she is feeling very lonely. She then writes about how bad her memory has become and about how she can not use her fingertips. She also writes that she lacks the passion to do anything, and she writes that she is too old to make new friends. She then writes that Kamma, who often comes to visit her, has been away for a while. 6 1/2 x 8. Letter 2: Two pages of ruled paper, both with writing on both sides. On the front of the first page, it says "12 - 7 - 1974." at the top edge. The letter is signed on the back of the second page, and an address is written below that. The paper has a watermark with a picture of an airplane. At the beginning of the letter, Karen thanks Annelise and Warder for the birthday greeting they sent her, and she writes about the other birthday greetings that she got. She writes that she invited a few friends out for coffee, as she has no space at home for visitors, and many of her friends were on their summer holiday. Then she writes about how much Kamma has helped her in spite of having many other things to take care of as well. She writes that Kamma is a real angel and that she does not know what would have become of her without Kamma. The whole family is very kind to her, she writes, and she writes about how she was invited to stay with Kamma's sister Gudrun and her husband Jarl for eight days in the spring. There she also visited Jarl's mother Kamilla, she writes. She then writes that she is invited to Kamilla's birthday in October, and she writes about how the party is going to be. Then she writes that she would like to hear about how Annelise and Warder are doing, and whether they have sold the boat. At the end of the letter, she writes that she has to write to Annelise's mother as well. She writes that she has no energy to write letters to all her friends who have been so faithful to her through the years, but she loves to receive letters from them. After the signature, she has written her address and corrected the house number. 7 1/2 x 10. Letter 3: One sheet of paper that has been folded like a booklet. There is writing on all four pages, and page two through four are numbered at the top corner to the viewer's left. On the front, it says "6-1-74," at the top corner to the viewer's right. The letter is signed on the back of the booklet near the bottom of the page. Karen begins the letter by writing that she hopes she will find the energy to write back to all her good friends who sent her Christmas and New Year's greetings, and she writes that it makes her very happy to feel that her friends have not forgotten about her. She then writes about her Christmas in Aarhus with Jarl and Gudrun Hansen. She writes that they really make her feel welcome, and she writes about how they had to save energy because of the oil crisis. Then she writes that she sends Annelise a book about acupuncture, and she writes about how it has helped her friend Kamilla's daughter Tove. She writes that it would be wonderful if Annelise could get rid of her back pain. She then writes about Annelise's paternal aunt Gerda who has fallen and is in rehabilitation. Gerda was able to spend Christmas with her sister Ellen, Karen writes, but it has been difficult for Ellen to visit Gerda at the hospital, because the weather has been cold and the roads have been icy. Karen then writes about how overcrowded the busses are, about how everyone has to save energy, and about how private cars are not allowed on the roads on Sundays, and she writes that it reminds her of the war. Then she writes about her New Year's Eve with Kamma and her family, and she writes that Kamma has been her lifeline since she moved from her old apartment. She then writes about the Christmas greetings she received from family and friends in the U.S., and she asks Annelise and Warder to greet them all from her. She writes that she thinks about them a lot and that it is a shame that they live so far away. 5 3/4 x 8 1/4. Letter 4: Two pages that both have writing on the front and blank back sides. The first page is shorter than the second page, and the bottom edge on both pages is unevenly cut. At the top of the first page, it says "Kbh. 25 - 8 - 72". The letter is signed at the bottom of the second page. Karen begins the letter by thanking Annelise and Warder for their letter of August 20 (not in the collection), and she writes that she is happy that they are feeling better and are planning a trip to Germany. She is very happy, she writes, that they are going to stop and see her in Copenhagen on their way back, and she writes that they are welcome to visit her at the sanatorium on their way to Germany if they have time. Then she writes that she is invited to her friend Kamilla's 80th birthday in Aarhus in October. She writes that she is also invited to stay a few days with Kamilla's son Jarl and his wife Gudrun after the party, but she writes that she is not going to come at Christmas then. She then writes that she does not understand what kind of work it is that Warder does for his and Annelise's friend Erivan but that they can explain it to her when they visit her. She then wishes them safe travels and writes that she is looking forward to seeing them. Then she writes that it is 25 degrees Celsius outside and that she is sitting inside with all her windows open. Page 1: 5 x 8 1/4. Page 2: 8 1/4 x 8 1/4. Letter 5: One sheet of paper that has been folded like a booklet. There is writing on all four pages, and page one through three are numbered at the top corner to the viewer's left. On the front, it says "24 - 3 - 75" at the top corner to the viewer's right. The letter is signed on the back of the booklet near the bottom of the fourth page. At the beginning of the letter, Karen writes about how happy she was to receive a postcard from Annelise and Warder form Las Vegas where they celebrated their silver wedding anniversary. She writes that she does not remember hearing about their wedding back in 1950, but she writes that she remembers hearing about thir first house where she also visited them twice. She them writes that she had been looking forward to visiting their new house but that luckily she has pictures of it. She also writes that she would like some pictures from when they visited her last year. She then writes that Annelise's and her mother's letters are a great joy to her in her loneliness. She used to love to write letters, she writes, but now she does not have the necessary energy. She writes that age and a concussion after a fall has given her problems with her memory too. Then she writes that she wishes that they lived closer to each other and that she feels very lonely. She then writes about how lucky she is to have Kamma, and she writes that she can not put in words how much Kamma has done for her. Therefore she has invited Kamma on a trip to Jugoslavia, she writes, and she writes about the beautiful and historic island they will be visiting. She then writes that she hopes Annelise and Warder are now rested and ready to enjoy their lovely house by the beach. She also mentions that Kamma is invited to spend the Easter holidays with her sister Gudrun and her brother in law Jarl. She then writes about the mild winter weather and all the spring flowers that are already blooming, and she writes that she enjoys it all from her living room window. She asks Annelise and Warder to greet Annelise's mother as well as Warder's family, and she asks if Bonnie had a baby boy or a baby girl. 5 3/4 x 8 1/4. Letter 6: Two pages. The first page only has writing on the front, but the second page has writing on both sides. On the first page, it says "Skodsborg 3/6. 75" at the top corner to the viewer's right. The letter is signed on the back of the second page. Karen begins the letter by thanking Annelise for her last letter (not in the collection), and she writes that it is a shame that they do not see each other more often. But she often visits them, she writes, and she enjoys the films they have recorded of the house. Then she writes that now that Warder is retired, they really have time to enjoy life, and she writes that she is happy they took a trip to California. She also writes about her and her sister Magda's trip to California with their relatives Grace and Sophus. She writes that she is very happy that both Grace and Sophus and Julia and her husband came to Denmark. She writes that she felt that they enjoyed meeting their Danish family, and she was happy that she could go with them on their trip even after her long stay in the hospital. She would not be able to do the same today, she writes, and the last year has been tough for her. But she is happy she can visit he sanatorium, she writes, and she writes about how she enjoys the fresh air, the views, and the peacefulness. She writes that it will be difficult going home, but she has to be content as long as she can take care of herself, she writes. She then writes that she hopes Annelise and Warder are enjoying life in their lovely house by the sea, and she asks them to write to her about how the whole family is doing. 5 3/4 x 8 1/4. Letter 7: Two pages that both have writing on the front and blank back sides. The beginning of the letter is missing. On the first page, there is a "3" at the top corner to the viewer's left. The letter is signed at the bottom of the second page. Karen writes that she cheers up when she is lucky enough to go to her favourite places, where she gets delicious food served at well-provided tables and have nice people around her, and where her suitcases get transported from door to door. She is not capable of carrying anything herself, she writes, and she can not even go shopping for groceries. She then writes that she really wishes that they did not live so far apart and would be able to have a chat every once in a while. Kamma calls her every day, she writes, but mostly to announce that she is on her way, and she writes that telephone prices have gone up a lot like everything else. She then asks about how Annelise and Warder's German friends' stay went. She also asks them to greet the whole family who were all so kind to her when she visited them. She writes that she is happy she got to visit them twice, and she writes that she cherishes the memories. She then writes that she hope that they are all well and will be able to go on more trips in their caravan. At the end of the letter, she asks them to write again soon. 5 3/4 x 8 1/4. Letter 8 (envelope 1): A small, horizontally oriented card with wavy edges and handwriting on both sides. On the front, it says "København 6/11 - 77" at the top corner to the viewer's right, and it is signed "Moster + Karen" at the bottom corner to the viewer's right on the front. On the back, the handwriting is different, and the back side is signed "Kamma" at the bottom corner to the viewer's right. Karen writes to Magda and Annelise, and she thanks them for a letter, a visit, and the pictures that they sent her, and she writes that she enjoys the pictures every day. She writes that she is not feeling well, her memory is bad, and her one leg does not work properly, but luckily she has Kamma, who comes and helps her with the most necessary daily tasks, she writes. On the back of the card, Kamma also thanks them for a visit in the summer, and she writes that it made Karen very happy. She then writes that the state of Karen's health is unfortunately slowly getting worse, and she writes that it is good that Karen now lives in a place where all her meals are taken care of. 3 1/2 x 5 1/2. Envelope 1 (letter 8): White envelope with two addresses in blue handwriting, one on the front and one on the back. On the front, "Air-mail" has been written in hand and underlined twice in the bottom corner to the viewer's left. At the top corner to the viewer's left, there is a blue sticker with a white frame and text in white saying "LUFTPOST / PAR AVION". Along the top edge, there is a Christmas stamp and two postage stamps. The Christmas stamp is purple and has a picture of a spruce twig with three heart ornaments hanging from it. One of the postage stamps is red and has a picture of queen Margrethe II in profile, and the second one is brown and has a picture of various tools. The second one is turned on its side. Across the postage stamps is a postal mark. On the back of the envelope, there is a small green stamp with the text "A3" at the bottom edge of the top flap. The addressee is Mrs. Annelise Stoaks, Fox Island, Washington, and the sender is K. Laugesen, Bjergstedvej 13 in Brønshøj. The postal mark is from Copenhagen, and it is dated November 7, 1977. 3 3/4 x 5 1/2. Letter 9: One page of ruled paper with writing on both sides. On the front, it says "Hørsholmgade 2 A II 22-5-76" at the top edge of the page. The front of the letter is signed "Anna Christiansen" at the bottom of the page. On the back, it says "Lørdag Eftm. 22/5. 76" a the top corner to the viewer's right. The back of the page is signed "Moster" at the bottom part of the edge to the viewer's right. In her part of the letter, Anna Christiansen thanks Annelise for her letter. She writes that she has not been able to visit Karen for a while but that they have talked on the phone. She writes that she is going to visit Karen that day and that they might take a walk outside, and she then writes about the weather. Then she writes that she hopes that Annelise's mother is feeling better, and she writes about getting old and mentions that she is well herself. At the end of her part of the letter, she promises to continue to keep Annelise informed. Karen begins her part of the letter by thanking Annelise for her letter. She then writes that miss Christiansen is visiting her and that they have walked around outside for an hour and looked at the flowers, the blooming fruit trees and the leafing beeches. She then writes that she is not in good health, and she writes about the nurse who comes and changes her bandages after her X-ray therapy. She also writes about her home care who is only there for two hours at a time three times a week, and she writes that it is difficult for her to do everything that the home care does not have time to do. She then writes that she has problems with her memory just like Annelise's mother. Then she wishes them a speedy recovery. 8 x 10 1/2. |
Language of Material |
Danish |
Title |
Letters and envelope |
Creator |
Laugesen, Karen |
Other Creators |
Ley, Kamma/Christiansen, Anna |
Dates of Creation |
June 12, 1974/Januar 6, 1974/August 25, 1972/March 24, 1975/June 13, 1975/November 6, 1977/May 22, 1976 |
Associated People |
Clement, Annelise Stoaks, Annelise Stoaks, Warder Laugesen, Karen Ley, Kamma Laugesen, Magda Clement, Magda Clement, Gerda Clement, Ellen Filskov, Ellen Haub, Erivan Christiansen, Anna Hansen, Kamilla Hansen, Jarl Hansen, Gudrun |
Search Terms |
Clement, Annelise Stoaks, Annelise Stoaks, Warder Laugesen, Karen Ley, Kamma Laugesen, Magda Clement, Magda Clement, Gerda Clement, Ellen Filskov, Ellen Haub, Erivan Christiansen, Anna Hansen, Kamilla Hansen, Jarl Hansen, Gudrun Skodsborg Las Vegas silver wedding anniversary Christmas New Year oil crisis Brac Bol Split Jugoslavia nursing home plejehjem birthday Aarhus caravan Mamasan acupuncture De Gamles Hjem bilfri søndag war concussion Fox Island Dyrehaven sanatorium Christmas stamp x-ray treatments letter envelope correspondence |
Given In Memory Of |
In Memory of Annelise Magdelene Clement Stoaks |
Date Received by Museum |
06/06/2011 |
Images |
157\2011013178.TIF |
Accession number |
2011.013 |
Collection |
Stoaks, Annelise Clement Collection |