Historical Context

This letter, dated January 5, 1936, was written by Evan and intended for his good friend and mission companion, Harden Young.

The envelope is a fantastic window into the 1936 postal system. It cost 3 cents to mail a first-class letter at the time. When it reached Monrovia on January 13, 1936, the mail carrier could not find Harden D. Young listed in the city directory. Consequently, they stamped it "NOT IN DIRECTORY", checked "For better address," and sent it all the way back up to Afton, Wyoming, leaving the letter preserved and ultimately unread by its intended recipient.