IOH-002 · HISTORICAL CORRESPONDENCE
Dr. Bob to Ed Webster
A warm response to The Little Red Book sits alongside thanks for a gift, news of friends and travel plans.
- Creator
- Dr. Bob Smith
- Date
- December 29, 1946
- Place / stationery
- Akron, Ohio
- Source
- Recovery Collectibles, In Their Own Hands Communications Portfolio, September 2026, page 4.
Curatorial and source notes
Two handwritten sides on medical stationery. The portfolio describes mailing folds, toning and staining. Its account connects the book mentioned in the letter with The Little Red Book.
Historical descriptions and supporting documentation are supplied by Recovery Collectibles. Recovery Speakers has not independently authenticated the physical artifacts.
Examine the letter images
Images are extracted from the supplied portfolio. Open a larger image to inspect the handwriting; available detail is limited by the source reproduction.
Reading view: catalog text and selected passages
This is the portfolio’s typed description and selected quotations, not a complete transcription of the handwritten letter.
Dr. Bob Smith to Ed Webster
December 29, 1946 | Akron, Ohio | A response to the release of The Little Red Book
Medical stationery and response to the book Reverse: personal news and “Dr. Bob” signature
Two handwritten sides on personal medical stationery headed “Dr. R. H. Smith — Surgeon.”
“Have enjoyed your little book very much & know that it will prove to be of a lot of help to many.”
Dr. Bob expresses confidence in Webster’s newly released The Little Red Book in a warm exchange between
friends. He also thanks Ed for stones sent as a gift, discusses a jeweler’s plans for them, mentions friends associated
with camp and shares plans for a month in Florida. The encouragement to an author sits naturally alongside the
details of a personal friendship.
CONDITION | Both written sides survive, with original folds, age toning, handling wear and localized brown staining near the
margins. The signature appears at the close of the second side.
Recovery Collectibles | Item record
View the original portfolio page
The preserved source PDF contains this page’s original layout, images and catalog description.
See this letter in the film
Watch the relevant film chapter at 1:10 ↗, or watch the complete museum film.
Preferred archival citation
Recovery Collectibles, “Dr. Bob to Ed Webster,” December 29, 1946, In Their Own Hands Communications Portfolio, September 2026, p. 4. IOH-002, Recovery Speakers Research Center. https://recoveryspeakers.org/research-center/in-their-own-hands/dr-bob-to-ed-webster/
Film and collection: Recovery Collectibles, curated by Tim Fitzpatrick. Collection inquiries · Corrections or source concerns.