Visit 10

My last visit to the archive just about finished James Lardner's folder. I would have read the rest but Tamiment was closing. I plan to finish it off next time. I did get to find out that James didn't make it, which I could have found out by reading a finding aid, I suppose, but I feel as if you always forget whether the person you're reading from died there or not. You don't remember the fact and it doesn't become real until you read the actual letters of condolences. Because you almost feel like they're still alive, when reading the letters. It's much more heartbreaking, then, to read through a box without knowing the outcome. Sometimes I chide myself for not researching the person more before I start reading, but I think I will stop that because, in not knowing, the series of letters becomes so moving.

This folder, Folder 4 Aug-Sept 1938, opened sort of dramatically with postcards indicating to the recipients that Lardner had been wounded. I would just like to compliment whoever arranged the folder this way because the next piece of correspondence was a letter to Mrs. Lardner explaining the exact details of the event, those details for which I had immediately begun to search after the first brief postcards piqued my anxiety for Lardner. The arrangement, therefore, was actually exciting and satisfying. Weird experience, I guess.

As early as September 2, 1938 Lardner knew that Spain was preparing to release the International Brigades: "This paragraph is confidential and possibly inaccurate. From a number of events and opinions and rumors I gather that a gradual and lengthy process of removing the I.B. from Spain has begun. Herbert Matthews, N.Y. Times correspondent...says he thinks it will take six months or so." This excerpt reveals that at least the war correspondents and journalists had access to this sort of confidential information early. I guess it's just surprising to me reading these letters how much information was available and known by the troops. I mean, contrast this war with WWI, where the soldiers barely knew what they were fighting for. In Spain you'd think that foreigners volunteering there would have no ideas whatsoever about the larger picture, but in this war they do. I guess it speaks for the political commitment and international outlook of the volunteers. Because they were passionate they were knowledgeable.

I was going to write about James Lardner's death and my reaction but I think I will save what I have for next blog post after I've finished the last few documents in the box. I want to sort of close totally on the subject. So I need the totality of the information.