FROM HIS FATHER:
In 1934 Eugene MacDonald gave his son, Jack, a choice:
Take a post-graduate course to help him prepare for college; or take a trip to Europe.
JDM chose the latter. Below is a picture of the envelope waiting for him after he boarded the ship, and the two-page letter in that envelope.
Eugene MacDonald’s life had been somewhat of the Horatio Alger type, and some of his life struggles seem to be reflected in the advice he gave to JDM.
One may wonder just how much an influence his Dad was when you note the 6 and 7 day work weeks JDM put in through-out his writing career.
Note: we found these in the Collection in a photos box.
A few weeks into the trip JDM received this letter from his father.
FROM A PUBLISHER ( SHE WAS TO BECOME A MENTOR AND FRIEND TO JDM)
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Although he never sent it, writers and would-be writers, who have received rejection slips will empathize with his feelings when he wrote this--likely in 1946 or 1947 :
