Letters from Prague: 1947-1957

410 Pages·2022·7.765 MB·English

by  Doubravka Olšáková (eds.)

Eleanor Wheeler
Letters from Prague
Rethinking the Cold War
Edited by
Kirsten Bönker and Jane Curry
Volume 10
Eleanor Wheeler
Letters
from Prague
1947–1957
Edited by
Doubravka Olšáková
The book was published with financial support of the Czech Academy of Sciences.
The Institute for Contemporary History CAS lists the publication additionally
under the following ISBNs:
978-80-7285-268-0 (print),
978-80-7285-269-7 (PDF),
978-80-7285-270-3 (e-PUB),
for internal and non-commercial use only.
ISBN 978-3-11-069040-8
e-ISBN (PDF) 978-3-11-069050-7
e-ISBN (EPUB) 978-3-11-069054-5
ISSN 2567-5311
DOI https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110690507
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022939902
Bibliographic information published by the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie;
detailed bibliographic data are available on the internet at http://dnb.dnb.de.
© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Cover image: decisiveimages / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Printing and binding: CPI books GmbH, Leck
www.degruyter.com
EleanorMitchellWheeler V
Eleanor Mitchell Wheeler,74, of Grapeview,died December 26,1981. She was
born July 9,1907, in Ketchikan, Alaska.
SheattendedschoolinGrapeview,China,LatviaandSwitzerland,andgrad-
uated from Reed College in Portland,Oregon in 1930. It was there that she met
her future husband, George Shaw Wheeler.They were married the day George
graduated from Reed,June 13,1929.
Mrs. Wheeler was a translator, translating four languages into English, a
journalist, author, hostess andgourmet cook.
ShejoinedherhusbandinBerlin,Germanyin1946.Theylivedthereforone
yearbeforemovingtoCzechoslovakia,whereWheelerwaswiththeAcademyof
Sciences in Prague until 1971.They retired to Grapeview in 1977.
WhilelivinginPrague,Mrs.Wheelerworkedasatranslator,andauthoreda
book entitled “Lidice”, about the Nazi occupation.
Sheisthemotheroffourchildrenlivinginfourdifferentcountries:Frankof
Toronto,Canada;ThomasofChicago,Illinois;NoraofCzechoslovakia;andMary
Jo Hawker of Nice, France. Each of her children have three children.
Inadditiontoherhusband,childrenandgrandchildren,sheissurvivedbya
sister, Emilie Louise Spooner of Grapeview.
‘Throughout her life, Eleanor put the rights and welfare of others first, and
alwaysworkedforapeacefulworld.Shewillbemournednotonlybyherfamily
but a host of friends in manycountries,’ said Mr.Wheeler.
It is suggested that donations in her memory be made to the North Mason
Friend of the Library, P.O.Box 161, Belfair, 98528, or to Reed College, Portland,
Oregon 97202.
Belfair Herald, 7 January 1982
VI GeorgeShawWheeler
George Shaw Wheeler ‘29,October 18,1997, at his daughter’s home in Prague,
Czech Republic. He had been a resident of Grapeview,Washington, for many
years. George married Eleanor Mitchell ‘30 after graduation from Reed, and
theymovedtoChicago,wherehebecameassistanttotheheadoftheeconomics
department at the Universityof Chicago.
In 1935, hewenttoWashington, D.C.,toworkfor the U.S.government, first
with the National Labor Relations Board and then with the Wage and Hour Di-
vision.WiththeonsetofWorldWarII,hebegantoworkfortheForeignEconom-
ic Administration, and in fall 1944 he went to London to beginworkon de-Na-
zification activities.
Afterthewar,hewasstationedinGermanyandwasinchargeofthede-Na-
zificationsectionoftheManpowerDivisionoftheOfficeofMilitaryGovernment,
workingon labor policy issues.When his contract was not renewed in 1946, he
and his family moved to Czechoslovakia to find work.There, he wrote his first
book,AmericanPolicyinGermany,1945–50,andin1954washiredbytheCze-
choslovakianAcademyofSciencesasaneconomistandwriter.HeearnedaPhD
from Charles University, Prague, in 1961.
GeorgeandEleanorremainedin Pragueuntilthe Russiantakeoverin 1968,
whentheyreturnedtotheUnitedStatesandhetookateachingpostintheeco-
nomicsdepartmentatWashingtonStateUniversity.Afterretiringfromthatinsti-
tution, George and Eleanor moved to New Hampshire,where George taught at
Franconia College until his retirement in 1977.
A second book, The Human Face of Socialism: The Political Economy of
ChangeinCzechoslovakia,waspublishedin1973andwaslaterpublishedinItal-
ian. Inretirement,GeorgeandEleanorsettledin Grapeview,Washington,where
George remained after his Eleanor’s death in 1981. He was active in the Demo-
craticpartyandenjoyedcooking,sailing,andotheractivities.HemovedtoPra-
guetolivewithhisdaughtersshortlybeforehisdeath.Heissurvivedbytwosis-
ters, including Helen Wheeler Hastay ‘39; a brother, Donald N.Wheeler ‘35; 2
sons;2 daughters;12 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren.
Appeared in Reed magazine: February 1998
Contents
Introduction by the Editor 1
George and Eleanor in Prague 2
Life in Prague after the Communist Takeover in 1948 10
Out of Work 18
American Scientists in Prague 20
The Process of Acculturation 25
The End of Stalinism, 1968, and Return to the USA 29
Conclusion 34
Eleanor Wheeler: Letters from Prague
Introduction 39
1947
Berlin, July 1, 1947
Lucius Clay – US Army – Contract 43
Berlin, September, 15, 1947
USArmy – Germany – Dog 43
Berlin, October 19, 1947
Travelling in Germany – Postwar Prague – Nürnberg Trials 45
November 27, 1947
Moving to Prague 49
December 10, 1947
Settling down in Prague – Religious News Service 52
December 17, 1947
Christmas – Religious News Service 53
December 27, 1947
Christmasin Prague 55
December 31, 1947
Cultural Life in Prague – Hospital – Children 56
VIII Contents
1948
January 3, 1948
Ceremonies – Quakers – Restaurants 63
January 10, 1948
Josef Macek – YMCA – Egon Erwin Kisch 65
February 7, 1948
Travelling in Germany – Black Market – Free Speech – Poland 68
February 17, 1948
Applications – Children 70
February 28, 1948
Communist Putsch 72
February 29, 1948
Hugh Dilworth – Musicals – Truman Doctrine 74
April 7, 1948
Art in Eastern Europe – Death of E. E. Kisch 76
April 27, 1948
Senator Dondero – US communism – Translations 78
April 30, 1948
US Grant Rejection – Religious Education – Slav Agricultural
fair 80
September 13, 1948
Poland – Jews – Donald Ogden Stewart – Saul Carson 82
December 16, 1948
Social Life 85
1949
January 31, 1949
Czech Wedding – Josef L. Hromádka – Stefan Heym 89
May 3, 1949
Peace Conference – Greek Children – Most 91
June 27, 1949
Prague Archbishop – Catholic Action – Episcopal Letter 93
October 13, 1949
Tobacco – Food Tickets 95
October 25, 1949
Class-conscious Love 96
Contents IX
November 7, 1949
Schools in Prague – Export-Import 97
November 14, 1949
Soviet Films – Mariánské Lázně 98
December 2, 1949
Passports – Official Commemorations – Thanksgiving 100
1950
January 1, 1950
Textile Tickets – Price Cuts – Free Market 105
January 7, 1950
Killing the Czar – Health Care System 106
February 14, 1950
Viet Nam Mission – Press Conference 108
February 20, 1950
Bill Gropper – Collection Week 110
February 26, 1950
Prague Butcher – Hospital Bill – Ralph Parker 110
April 10, 1950
Political Asylum – Erding Affairs –Press Conference 112
April 23, 1950
Radio – Photographs 115
April 24, 1950
Espionage Trials – Nechanský – Wahl – US Embassy – Oppression of
Religion 116
April 30, 1950
American “Way of Life” – Pioneer Tie 119
May 2, 1950
May Day – Asylum 121
May 9, 1950
Partisans of Peace – Czechoslovak-Soviet Friendship 124
May 16, 1950
Karlovy Vary – Lectures – Dana Schmidt 126
May 21, 1950
Fighters for Freedom – “Both Sides” 127
X Contents
1951
July 2, 1951
William N. Oatis – Trial 133
July 12, 1951
“Best Teacher” – Film Festival Bulletin – Michurin Club 136
July 30, 1951
Film Festival 138
August 9, 1951
Film Festival – Youth Festival 140
September 20, 1951
Youth Festival – Ralph Parker – Berlin – Accusations 141
September 24, 1951
Julius Fučík – New York Times – Government Changes 143
September 27, 1951
Government Changes – Rudolf Slánský – Evžen Erban – Czech-Ge-
rman Issues – Emigration 144
October 10, 1951
Schweik – Picture of the ČSSR 146
October 22, 1951
Apprentice Uniform – Potato Brigade – Going into Industry 148
November 25, 1951
Thanksgiving – Du Bois Trial – “An Intelligent Man’s Guide to
Women” 150
November 27, 1951
London Book – Family Life 151
November 29, 1951
Rudolf Slánský – L’Humanité – Czechoslovak Army Theater 153
1952
April 23, 1952
Hromádka – World Peace Council 157
May 15, 1952
Family Life – May Parade 158
May 26, 1952
Prague Postal Horses – Queue – Getting Up Early – Scrap Metal –
Marshall Plan Job in Paris 160