Archive of more than 30 letters from Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower to Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Schrepferman, comprising seven TLS signed “Dwight D. Eisenhower,” four TLS signed “D. E.,” and four ALS and 17 TLS variously signed “Mamie,” “Mamie Eisenhower,” and “Mamie Doud Eisenhower,” most dating from Eisenhower’s presidency and on White House letterhead, circa 1951-64. Alvin and June Schrepferman, who were Denver neighbors of Mamie’s mother, Elivera Carlson Doud, developed a friendship with the Eisenhowers in the early 1950s that continued throughout the presidency and beyond; Alvin Schrepferman would also become one of Ike’s gol¹ng buddies. The letters cover a wide range of topics, from thanks for gifts and contributions, holiday greetings, and family news to Ike’s prowess on the links, his heart attack, plans for his presidential library, and more. Some excerpts from Dwight Eisenhower’s letters follow. October 9, 1951 (on his ¹ve-star “Supreme Commander” letterhead): “I don’t know just when Mrs. Doud [Mamie’s mother] plans to come back to Denver for a while, but I do know that Mamie is doing her best to keep her Mother here for a good long stay…. If so, it will be a great comfort to Mamie and me to know that you are next door to her….” October 14, 1954: “My prize possession is the attested copy of the score card of my ‘triumph’ on October 11.” (This letter was written on Ike’s 64th birthday, in the midst of a two-week stay in Colorado; on October 11, he played a round of golf at the Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver.) October 22, 1954: “The concrete evidence of your support of our policies has been turned over to the Republican State Committee of Colorado….” October 21, 1955: “Thank you very much for your nice birthday card, and the for the books and recording you sent to help while away the hours of enforced inactivity that face me here in the hospital….” (Eisenhower had suffered a heart attack on September 24). November 9, 1956: “Mamie and I are terribly glad the campaign is over, though it was exciting and fun. But the international pressures were so heavy during the last few days that the political activities had to be almost entirely shelved, as you know….” October 22, 1956: “I do now know whether you were at Stapleton the other day…. By and large these political rallies are just about the poorest excuse for any social engagement that I know!…” February 9, 1960: “Mamie asked me to reply to the section [of your letter] dealing with Dr. Alter’s desire to have the of¹cial papers of this Administration deposited at the University of Denver…. As long ago as March of 1955, a group was formed in Abilene which has as its basic purpose the erection and maintenance of an Eisenhower Library next door to the Eisenhower Museum there. It has been long agreed that my of¹cial papers are to be housed in the Library, there to be made available to scholars and researchers of the future…. The majority of my papers will be sent there immediately after this Administration’s responsibility ends…. I see no way in which I could even partially satisfy [Dr. Alter’s] desires….” A few highlights from Mamie: November 22, 1951: “Hope to go to Rome Sunday when ‘Ike’ goes down…. Ike just back from a two day inspection trip in Germany & Holland….” December 3, 1952: “We left … for Augusta where we spent a wonderful ten days at the Bobby Jones’s cottage…. Regarding the Inaugural gown: I have received several letters from Neusteters, as well as offers from many, many other shops and designers all over the country, but have not made up my mind on the matter yet….” December 17, 1959: “Mother continues to weaken and become more frail, so my visit with her was a sad and heartbreaking one….” November 25, 1960: “I have just learned of your contribution to the University of Denver Libraries in memory of my Mother…. Your kindness at the time of Mother’s passing … [has] brought a great measure of comfort to me in my bereavement….” April 25, 1962 (from Palm Desert): “Ike has been on the golf course every day except when he had a bad cold. Tell Alvin he shot a 76 to-day…. We plan to leave here Sunday stopping in Abilene to dedicate the Eisenhower Library May 1st….” Also included is a White House card signed by Mamie Eisenhower, adding a brief note signed with her initials; two unsigned telegrams sent to the Schrepfermans by Dwight Eisenhower; and approximately 10 letters from secretaries and other members of the Doud family. Accompanied by the original mailing envelopes. In ¹ne to very ¹ne, clean condition overall, with only the very occasional hint of handling wear. Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
