Evan Call Family - 19310613

Historical Context

This letter, dated June 13, 1931, was written by Evan to his father, Thomas Call, from Lowell, Massachusetts.

The Financial Strain of the Great Depression

Written in June 1931, the letter unfolds against the backdrop of the Great Depression. At this time, Latter-day Saint missionaries were entirely self-funded (often supported by family back home rather than a centralized church fund). Evan’s remark that he had only 95 cents left in his pocket highlights the real economic anxieties facing young missionaries and their families. His request for $30.00 to purchase a sturdy, two-trousers suit was a significant financial ask at a time when cash was incredibly scarce.

The Evolution of "Lady Missionaries"

Evan spends a large portion of the letter praising "Sister Johnson" and "Sister Buckwalter." While the Church had been calling single women to formal missions since 1898, "Lady Missionaries" were still a relatively unique sight in the early 1930s. Evan notes that their presence "aroused curiosity" among the public, who were unaccustomed to seeing young women preach on street corners. His observations reveal that these women were highly effective, articulate public speakers, often outshining their male counterparts in drawing and keeping a crowd.

Immigration and the Eastern States Mission

Evan is serving in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts—major textile mill towns that were historically part of the church's Eastern States Mission. His description of Lowell as a city of "all nationalities of foreigners" accurately reflects the massive waves of immigration that flooded New England industrial hubs in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. For a young man coming from a rural town in Wyoming, navigating a dense, diverse, and confusing industrial city with "streets running all directions" represented a profound cultural and psychological shift.

Lowell, Mass.
98 Chelmsford St.
June 13 – 1931

Dear Father,

I was surely glad to receive your letter telling some of the interesting news. I was getting a little anxious too because I had only ninety-five cents in my pocket at the time when our District Pres. handed me your letter.

I'm very glad to hear that Esther Burton is going on a mission, and she will probably have the chance to see her brother in the mission field.

I would enjoy seeing someone I know from home, in fact I would be very surprised because I haven't met a soul I have met before since I left home. A person never does more serious thinking than when he first arrives in the Mission field. And it takes a person some time to adjust himself to the change in life, the change of people and also the change of weather and conditions.

[Written vertically in left margin:] It sound like that old gang of [unreadable] is all getting married.

Lowell is a city of about a hundred and twenty-five thousand people. Other half of the population being Catholics. There are a great many Greeks and Jews and all nationalities of foreigners. The streets run all directions and it makes it very hard to remember your way around.

My companion Elder Hall and I went to Lawrence, Mass. last night and held a street meeting. There are two of the Lady missionaries working there who are surely excellent preachers. Sister Johnson, who is from Salt Lake City is one of the most influential speakers I've ever heard and she surely lays it out to them on the street corner. She has an excellent voice and can be heard clear across the street above the voice of all the autos and street cars. She is so sincere that people will stop and listen to her when they won't take any notice of any Elder.

Her companion Sister Buckwalter from Spanish Fork Utah is also

very good on the street corner.

With the lady missionaries we have a great deal more success because they being young and good looking can arouse curiosity. It is very unusual for the people in the world today to see such young people as ourselves out preaching religion. The crowd just stood spellbound while we talked and even after the meeting was over they stayed around. It was wonderful.

I am telling you now about this meeting because it was an outstanding one and the Spirit of the Lord was there and its a thrill you can get no other place it seems to me.

The Lady Ms are coming here to Lowell tonight and we are going to hold a street meeting here tonight.

My testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel has been strengthened much since I arrived here and I know that this is the true Church of Christ which I represent. I know through the promptings of the Spirit and the study of

the life and works of Joseph Smith that he is a true prophet of God and I am proud to bear this testimony to the world.

Of course it is very hard for me to express myself as I'd like, and I am having a hard struggle to make myself do things. But I know that if I put my trust in God that He will open up the way.

This letter will seem to you more a testimonial than a letter but I'm writing this because it is on my mind.

I can get a suit for between twenty-five and thirty dollars. I should get something reasonably good because a cheap suit is so hard to keep pressed in this damp climate close to sea level. I like to get one with two pair of trousers as our work is so hard on trousers. This of course would make it more expensive now. I should have $30.00 to buy a fairly good suit.

I haven't more time now to write, but I do trust in your faith a prayers at home.

May we ever strive to do good,

Your son, Evan.

[Written vertically in right margin:] I have written very hurriedly and hope you can understand.

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