March 29, 1939
Gentlemen:
. . . .We wish to start inquiries with you about adopting a child. We have a daughter who will be five years old this summer; and we have lost two children at birth, one two years ago and one this month.
We are desirous of securing a boy between eighteen months and two years of age with six months leeway either way on this limit. To make a satisfactory little brother for our daughter ___, and to compete with her successfully, the boy should be quite alert mentally and vigorous physically. Since we plan and probably will be able to provide a higher education for our children we should like to have the boy show evidence of a mental capacity which will warrent [sic] such an education. We have understood from our reading on the subject that you are able to judge mental capacity of a child with fair accuracy even at such an early age. We feel that adopting a baby is less hazardous if this is true. . . .
We shall welcome an investigation of our home and circumstances. . . .
Yours, very truly, . . .