In the summer of 1954 I went to South Dakota to work on an archeological salvage project--excavating a large Mandan earlh lodge village.  I wrote to and received many letters from girls I knew. Those letters have disappeared, but I found one from my 5th grade teacher, Miss Edna Ely.  She mentions the details about local archeology because Scout leader Ed Patterson had been conducting excavations of two or three sites in Glen Cove and Muttontown, and I had found a skeleton in a shell midden on the old Eiler Estate where bulldozers were preparing a new subdivision.  Here is the letter:

[letter from former 5^th grade teacher Ms. Edna Ely—return address E.J. Ely]

61 Locust Ave

Sea Cliff, NY

July 14-1954

Dear Wallace,

it was swell of you to write and tell of your activities.  Sounds like you were making progress.  Be sure and write me more about it.

               I got started on my project at Adelphi last Wednesday.  It is 10 years since I've taken any summer school courses.  I find it a little difficult getting back in the groove again.  I told Dr. Girventier she'd have to give me a little time to get oriented in my thinking.  It is not geared to Adolescent Psychology.  I find that the other course in comparative Ed. with Dr. Alexander easier.  He gives us a whole lot of reading.  When I remembered that I expected to do a little sailing over the weekend he agreed it wouldn't be very convenient to hold the main sheets and not let the text get wet.  So we all (the other four men and myself) got an extension of time on the assignment.

               Hope the water you've been swimming in is cleaner than Hempstead harbor is this year.  We've had in epidemic of the dead menhaden again.  It smelled mighty fishy down at the shore on the 4th of July.  Even out in the Sound the gulls have been having a feast.  I began to think I'd do all my swimming in Great South Bay but I did go for a dip today off “Star Dust.”  Dolly hasn't said when she is taking her vacation so I still don't know whether I'll cruise this year or not.  Will be the first time in 12 years.  I sure enjoyed our trips to Martha's Vineyard and Nantuckett  [sic] , and I'd settle for shelter island and the Connecticut River.

               Incidentally I forgot to tell you they have an exhibit in the library of Indian relics.  So some class at Adelphi must be working here on L.I.  When I get time I'll ask about it.  Perhaps it is the Nassau County Anthropology [Archeology] Society.  Probably you know all about that.  I'll sure be happy to have you, and give your morning lectures.  I'm hoping Billy Galuba will turn up in my group.  He has a lot of stuff he and his dad got in Northport.  I'll give the kids a good build up and make them interested.

                                                                                                         Sincerely,

                                                                                                         Edna Ely