A series of occasional posts, where we let our former colleagues "tell their story".
My story? Well, a lot of it is about getting things from here to there.
I was born in Atlanta, and then our family moved to Kansas. I worked my way up to become a special messenger
in the Governor's Office, if you can believe it.
The Afro-American, October 1, 1932
My family and I moved to Washington, and I took up working for the Archives in '36.
When you've got endorsements from governors, that can certainly help put you where you want to be!
NAID 12091064
Working around here, it was always "Get this there as quick as possible!" We had a pretty good staff, though;
we didn't put up with any slacking off. There was even a piece about the mail staff for our newsletter:
"Archiviews," May 1948 (from NAID 7839999)
But I had left that job by the time this article came out. For my last several years at the Archives, I was an
Archives Assistant in the War Records Branch, working under Dr. Dallas Irvine.
I made to my 70th year in 1951, and by then I was ready to settle back in Topeka with Marguerite.
Dr. Grover gave me a nice farewell party.
"Archiviews," December 1951, page 2 (from NAID 7839999)
64-NA-1-142 (NAID 12167417)
"Dr. Wayne Grover, Archivist of the U.S., presided at a farewell ceremony for Mr. Hiram O. Caldwell,
Archives Assistant, who retired Friday, November 30, 1951 after 15 years of Government Service.
Mrs. Caldwell was also at the ceremony."
64-NA-1-139 (NAID 12167411)
Mr. Caldwell, wife Marguerite, and daughters Barbara and Annette, with Dr. Grover.
It was so nice to see all my old colleagues there.
64-NA-1-143 (NAID 7873496)
Staff members greet Mr. Hiram O. Caldwell at his retirement ceremony.
Mrs. Caldwell and their daughters speak with Dr. Grover, at right.
All the work for all those years was worth it; helped my family grow and thrive, and do some good in the world.
My Marguerite made a wonderful legacy for herself, too. Here is some of the story of her life.
from Findagrave.com
The Caldwells' headstone at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Topeka, Kansas