Blast From the Past Project Update: Robin S., 1963
Letter from Robin S. to Jerry West, 1963
September 2, 2024
Dear Andrew,
I was flabbergasted to receive your letter of August 24. I am indeed the Robin S. who wrote a fan letter to Jerry West in 1963. What a thrill it was to reread that letter and his reply (the original of which is in my memory box in the attic), and to remember the joy of being eight again and reading The Happy Hollister books. In the letter I said that I used to read them to my little sister, who was 6 at the time—oddly enough, she was telling her 10-year-old daughter about the books just a few days before I texted her about your letter. They are excited to know that the books have been reissued.
I loved The Happy Hollister books. We were not well-off when I was young, but my mother and grandmother managed to get the money to buy me the books; I believe I had the whole series. In addition to reading and rereading them, I also convinced my gang of girlfriends to act out some of the scenes in our backyard—I remember doing a pirate ship scene. I also remember being astonished that some people called groundhogs “whistle pigs.” My sister loved the book about the Little Mermaid, so when we were in Copenhagen last year, we walked two miles so that she could see the statue. In fact, one of the things I loved most about the books was the opportunity to visit, if only vicariously, places around the world that, at the time, I figured I would never be able to visit in person. (As it turned out, I have traveled the world extensively, thanks mostly to my career; it has been a treat to “revisit” places I first learned about in the books.) Alas, my mother gave my books to a neighbor girl when I left for college; but I did find a partial set about ten years ago in an antique store and bought them for my grandson. I still read mystery books, perhaps because I started young with The Happy Hollisters. I’ll have to reread those books.
How astonishing that your grandfather kept all the old fan letters (and his replies!). What a treasure trove. I would think that publishing a volume, or having a webpage, of that correspondence would be a treat for readers old and new, as well as for researchers. I was a university professor for almost 40 years before my retirement; I have several friends in English departments who specialize in children’s literature and who, I should think, would love to have access to the letters that Jerry West’s young fans wrote him all those years ago. If you decide to do this, you have my permission to include my letter. I enjoyed perusing The Happy Hollisters website, learning about your grandfather and reading the testimonials. I think the correspondence, especially copies of the handwritten letters, would be a great addition.
Thank you very much for contacting me. I would like to have the original of my letter (after you copy it for the fan letter project!). I wish you continued success in your publishing ventures.
Regards,
Robin