Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - January - 2009 Issue
Historic Documents from Stuart Lutz
Harry Truman and Jack Lord in 1964.
Item 41 includes three letters from 1943-44 from FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to a clerk in the department, Pearl G. Karel of Pittsburgh. In the first, he offers her employment, for $1,440 per year plus an additional $312 for overtime (she was evidently expected to work 48 hours per week). In the second letter, Hoover notes that he understands she had to return home for an appendectomy and wishes her a speedy recovery. Thirteen days was evidently not speedy enough, for that many days later Hoover writes, "Not having heard from you since you went home to undergo an operation, I would appreciate being advised as to your condition at this time and the approximate date that your physician feels you will be able to return to duty." Hoover was a legend, first for his aggressive crime fighting, but later for his disregard of people's privacy rights and misuse of information he gathered, along with bizarre personal behavior. $200.
We would not intuitively expect to find a connection between President Harry Truman and Hawaii Five-O star Jack Lord, but there evidently was one. That is proved by item 97, a 1964 photograph of an older President Truman and a young actor Lord. It is inscribed by Truman with "Kindest regards & best wishes to Marie & Jack Lord." $600.
Stuart Lutz Historic Documents can be reached at 973-275-9699 or HistoryDocs@aol.com. Their website is www.HistoryDocs.com.
