Entrance to Women’s Building, University of Illinois

October 23, 1924

Dear Florence,

Rreceived your letter to-day.  Will answer later.

Lieber Papa, Diesen Brief schneibe ich Dir aus champaign.  Heute bin ich deinen.  Brief bekommen.  Dankeschon Hoffentlich geht es sie familie gut.  Grusse sie, bitte, von mir.  Mit herzlichenn grusse.  Deine Gorther, Elma

P.S. I’m copying this from a letter in the German grammar book.)

Ms. Florence Gerlich

Hollywood, Illinois

Hollywood, Illinois is  a small community in Cook County, Illinois.  The owner of the property sold lots to attendees of the Columbian Exposition of 1893, and developed it into  a subdivision.   To transform into the community it is today, took a bit of community organizing as quoted by the Hollywood Citizen Organization:

Way back in 1915, a group of public spirited citizens residing the weed-infected, countrified, dirt road community of Hollywood, IL decided that an improvement association should be formed.  They desired representation in the Village of Brookfield board meetings, also greatly needed improvements.  Thus the Hollywood Citizens Associations was born."
-- by Edith Hyler from the History of Hollywood, IL

The University of Illinois was founded in 1867.  And both Elma and Florence Gerlich attended.  One supposes that her sister's correspondence encouraged Florence to attend.  Ancestry.com lists a Florence Gerlich from Cook County, Illinois being born in 1909, making her 15 years old when she received this postcard.  Both Florence and Elma are listed in Board of Trustee records from the University of Illinois that seem age-appropriate.  This Florence Gerlich died in 1975, and the only son listed died in Los Angeles in 1993.

Just for fun, I ran the German portion of this card through Google Translate:

Dear Dad, This letter I Schneiber champaign from you. Today I am your. Letter received. Hopefully it's already thank you family well. Grusse they ask of me. With heart lichenn salutation. Your Gorth, Elma