Lyn Smith Manduley Letters May 4, 1939 - April 22, 1945
COLLECTION GUIDE
Prepared by Ruth Olivera, April 1994; revised by Devin Dittfurth, August
1998.
The collection consists of handwritten and typed letters that Evelyn
Smith Manduley (1906-) sent from Peru to her parents Mr. and Mrs.
Frederick S. Smith of Morristown, New Jersey, during a six year period
when she lived in Lima with her husband, Manuel Manduley.
The letters end abruptly with no exact date of the Manduleys' time of
departure from Peru.
A free-lance writer, Evelyn Smith Manduley contributed to such
publications as the New York Times, the Baltimore Sun,
Life, and the Inter-American Monthly (later named the
Inter-American), under the pen name, Lyn Smith Manduley. Her
husband, Manuel, was a naturalized United States citizen of Cuban birth
who worked first for the Peruvian airline, Panagra, and later for the
United States government. He was a writer as well, and occasionally
contributed to his wife's articles.
Information on the lives and careers of both the Manduleys, along with
photographs, appear with the publication of their articles in the journal
the Inter-American (L970/(051)I611/LAL). See Vol. I, No. 5,
September 1942, Lynn Smith Manduley, "Citadel of Freedom," on San Marcos
University: Vol. II, No. 2, February 1943, and Vol. II, No. 4, April 1943,
Lyn Smith and Manuel de J. Manduley, "Wings and Wheels for South America,"
(Parts I and II) on transportation; Vol. III, No. 1, January 1944, and
Vol.III, No. 2, February 1944, Lyn Smith and E.H. Clayton, "'EL Rey de los
Andes,'" (Parts I and II) on the Faucett airline, and Vol. V, No. 11,
November 1946, Lyn Smith Manduley, "The People's Warrior," on Raúl Haya de
la Torre.
The collection reflects what life was like for those in the
American colony of Lima
during and after the war. Evelyn wrote to her family on a weekly basis,
but only a fraction of the letters are preserved in this collection. Many
of the envelopes bear the marks of the inspections of the United States
censors. As the letters begin, in 1939, Evelyn and her new husband have
just moved to Peru, and have been already living abroad for several years
when the United States enters World War II. Until that time, Evelyn has
been strongly opposed to any action that would involve her
country (see June 5, 1940). Yet, once war is declared, she gives her full
support to the war effort, as a member of the American colony. She
works with the American Womens' Unit for War Relief- takes part in
numerous war benefits (see June 5, 1942 and February 22, 1945, for
example)- entertains American troops and various dignitaries passing
through or stationed in Lima, both in her home as well as a facility which
would be equivalent to the American USO. Entertaining visiting Americans
was always a responsibility for Evelyn. Among Evelyn's guests have
been the wife of
the American Ambassador to Peru, the American Consul, and even Mr. and
Mrs. Herbert Hoover, Jr. (see August 27, 1940). Evelyn duly reports
other, more mundane activities such as her experience with the household
help. Evelyn also writes of the difficulty in balancing the problems
encountered in managing a home
in
a foreign country with her research,
interviewing, reporting, and
writing.
The cost of living is a constant concern for Evelyn. Although her
husband surely must earn an adequate salary, there seems never to be
enough money to live at ease. Thus, the price of everything is mentioned
in the letters: food, rent, imports, transportation, servants' wages,
fabrics, the dressmaker and tailor, the beauty shop, furniture,
entertainment, etc. For instance, the cost of a shampoo, finger wave, and
manicure is said to be one dollar American or five "soles." The
Manduleys make ends
meet by renting out their spare room. Shortages seem
to be due mostly from the difficulties of transporting goods during war-time.
Meat, rice, and coffee are scarce, while such
commodities as
sugar and gasoline are plentiful. In her letter dated May 11, 1942,
Evelyn expresses her concern for the impoverished Peruvian families who
will bare the brunt of the shortage and the ensuing rise in food
prices.
Gardening is a particular interest of Evelyn's. She often writes of
the
flowers and vegetables she is planting in her roof garden or backyard.
Evelyn will occasionally comment on the current
developments in Peru. In the letter of October 10, 1944, she gives her
opinion of the upcoming presidential election. In the letter of
October 12, 1942, she writes of the Peruvian Festival held in Honor of "El
Señor de los Milagros," as well as describes the various
Independence
Day celebrations of July. Evelyn also gives some information on the
guano industry in her letter of August 20, 1940.
The effects of the earthquake of May 24, 1940, are mentioned by Evelyn
in the June letters of that year (unfortunately the two letters written
immediately
after the quake are missing). Evelyn tends to dismiss the severity of the
quake in Lima and the portrayal of it in the New York Times.
Evelyn does admit, however, that there is minor damage in the city and
quite extensive
damage in Callao and Chorillos.
The Manduleys make several trips: to
Cuba in February of 1940 - to Chile in early 1941 - to archaeological site
of
Tiahuanaco in Bolivia, which she describes in July of 1941 - and back to
Cuba and then to the United States in the fall of 1941. They make several
trips around Peru as well. Evelyn describes in detail their trip by car
to Ica and Pisco to the south in July of 1942. Evelyn gives a very
thorough account of the area and resources of Tingo María in October of
that same year. The Manduleys make the excursion is to
gather information on
the inter-oceanic highway under construction for an upcoming article.
Another interesting trip is made to Satipo
on the eastern slopes of the Andes in July of 1944 (including comments on
the Indians and the scenery).
The family affairs of Evelyn's parents and brothers are a predominant
topic in her letters. Evelyn's concern for her family is evident. Her
parents, who own numerous pieces of real
estate, have fallen on hard times and suffer from a variety of health
problems. Evelyn sends home all the money she can, garnered from her
writing assignments, to help them pay their taxes and avoid foreclosure.
She offers advice and moral support throughout the correspondence as well.
Out of her desire not to upset her parents, Evelyn leaves out any mention
to the problems Manuel experiences with Panagra in 1942, until he has
resigned and accepted another position. Surprisingly, but somewhat
understandably, Evelyn does not mention in any of the letters that she is
expecting a baby until after the birth of her son
Carlos in 1943. Thereafter, he is a frequent subject of the letters.
Among enclosures found in the letters are a few clippings and two
small black and white snapshots of the Manduleys' house and of their
favorite beach. Evelyn also sends a sample of a coffee blossom and
some tea leaves from Tingo María. These are retained with the letters, as
are the original envelopes.
Latin American Library Home Page
Last updated: August 19, 1998