A copy of Botticelli’s Madonna of the Magnificat, from the Uffizi in Florence. Painted by Bertha in 1938, this work was until recently in the collection of Holy Trinity Episcopalian Church in Spokane, which had commissioned it from the artist while she was in Italy.
To Bertha from Beth Cary – October 25, 1938
St. Cloud Mirror
509 5th Ave. S.
Dear Bertha,
I was so glad to hear from you again; was afraid you had gone home last spring without stopping. Thought there might have been illness. Anyhow, my fear was groundless and we will be glad to have you anytime. Alice is away teaching and her bed is empty and waiting. Don’t expect her again until Thanksgiving.
We aren’t on relief yet and still get three meals a day do don’t worry. We try not to. [Note: The US unemployment rate was 19% in 1938.] This has been an exciting fall-politically. State elections are the 8th of Nov. here and things are plenty hot. We hope to oust the farm-laborites this time but it will be a squeeze as they spend state money to buy votes. [Note: The Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party was a left-wing political party that largely dominated Minnesota politics during the Great Depression, and was one of the most successful statewide third party movements in United States history. The Farmer-Labor governor was defeated in the 1938 election.]
The war scare kept us up nights and I’m not so sure that feeding the Czechs to the wolves will help any in the long run. [Note: She is referring to Hitler occupation of Czechoslovakia earlier that year.] It was tense here and Europe must have been a fright like sitting on a keg of dynamite.
Not going to tell you all the news as will see you so soon. Both Leigh and I spoke of you the week your letter was en route – Talk of mental telepathy.
Hope our lovely fall weather holds out a few weeks longer for your benefit. Never can remember seeing such a fall.
Let us know when to expect you.
Lots of love.
How are those tonsils?
Beth
Bertha quoted on December 5, 1928:
“I went to Italy prejudiced toward Mussolini but found a marked improvement in Italian life under him.” Full text here.
Bertha was enumerated in the 1940 census at 2920 West Sherwood Avenue, in Spokane Washington. She is 49 years old, living with her widowed mother Cora (77), and her sister Alice (“Sally’), 37. She lists her occupation as “painter/sculptor” working “at home”. She reports no salary for the past year, but indicates she receives income from another source.
To Bertha from Cora Hendricks – Approx. date
[Note: This is the last letter from Cora Hendricks. She would die on June 3, 1942. She was buried in West Point, New York with her husband.]
My dear children,
I have asked each of you to tell me what you would most like of the things in the house.
You have each named two or three times, and not the same ones in any case, so I am making some lists beginning each with the first choice made and adding what I would particularly like each to have, leaving most things unmentioned. I hope before I die, I may have you all together and let you choose more among the smaller things, if not, I am sure you can do so later.
Unless it should happen that one of you can keep the house, it will be necessary to sell some of the large pieces of furniture, the large pictures, the largest rug, etcetera.
If the jade cannot be sold for a reasonable price, enough to be a useful sum for each of you, I think it might be as well to divide it. I know you all value it. In some way, I think, you can share the smaller rugs, as one can lest use one, and another a different one.
Senn
• Painting by Tenier.
• The two halberds.
• Silver water pitcher.
• Silver cake dish.
• Morris chair.
• Roll top desk and oral table, if he cares to move them.
Sally
• Rosewood bookcase.
• Pie crust table.
• Contents of her bedroom.
• Silver coffee set.
• Silver candle sticks.
• Gold plated spoons and dishes.
• Old fashioned cut glass.
Bertha
• The Spanish console table.
• The two ebony chairs and the chair she uses on her model stand.
• The silver tea set.
• Mexican tea spoons.
• Spanish screen.
• Charles II chair.
• Bookcase or China closet.
• Her bedroom furniture.
