Where's Armand?

The State Department Called

From the Armand Diaries:

October 9, 1946. A lot has happened in three weeks. To chronicle: Last Friday, Mr. Murphy of the State Department phoned me at school from Washington, D.C. Would I accept position in Port au Prince, Haiti, in Cultural Embassy, now privately (?) run, teaching beginning English to adult Haitians. Possibility of two other candidates for job, but my qualifications best and probably would be accepted. To be ready to go in week or so and stay till July 1 or same time next year, latter preferred.

Mary and I compared notes, decided to try for job, saw Stathers. He saw dean, but they decided it would be too hard to get someone to take my classes (I planned to stay only till July and Mary to take my French class till next semester-February; maybe Mrs. Heck one class, Mrs. McBride one or two French classes, after some shifting around), especially bad 3 weeks after school opened and with big classes (I have 161 students) and so much new help.

I had hoped they would see value of getting me to return with experience in spoken French, etc. They didn't see it. Their view not unreasonable though Stathers apparently let Shortridge think Mary would leave immediately and leave him with no one in Latin either. Pretty well promised me raise and professorship in June.

In short, as instructed, I called Murphy collect to Washington to say no go, and wrote, that night, letter to his department, saying why and that I'm open for other similar jobs if they come when I can go. Rally died thus.

The salary was 2000 per annum + 1350 for rent + 440 bonus = 3790 and raise to 4040 after January '47 and monthly allowance spaced out over two years to pay or help pay for M's transportation. Supposedly living cheaper there than here and health conditions reasonably good. Phone was Republic 5600, extension 3307.

Photo of Haitian President Estime (1946 - 1950): Life.com

Introducing The String of Pearls

This group of tap dancing women, ranging from 52 to 80 years of age are keeping the "Where's Armand?" spirit alive and well. I watched them rehearse once during my first visit to Morgantown, WV, and it looked like a grueling workout.

Cindy Heiskell (third from left), has long been an Armand fan. She's the one who started the campaign after his arrest in 2006 by changing her t-shirt from Where's Armand? to read Free Armand! These days Cindy and her friends love to take their show on the road to visit the less-than-hyper-mobile-elderly. Folks in wheelchairs roll back and forth while others clap in time to the music and the smiles on the dancers' faces match those of their audience. Young seniors entertaining the older ones!

Where's Armand? salutes the String of Pearls and everyone who views the aging process as the time to "take their show on the road". Keep it up ladies, we're going to keep track of you!

Watch an energetic stage performance by the String of Pearls on You Tube
(03:18 ) and/or become a fan on Facebook.

Rocking

There's an ongoing series on PBS titled "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" that I'm sure Armand would not have missed. Although the series is nearing the end of its debut broadcast, I'm hoping to add some of Armand's adventures to the archives.

In fact, if you ever come across a project or website that is looking for reader submitted stories and photos, such as PBS is doing, please let me know. It will be another way to answer the question, Where's Armand? He'll be everywhere.

I plan to submit this photo to PBS when I locate a diary entry to match "Armand on Mt. Lassen". On the back of the photo he wrote,

David Ashcraft, Park Ranger shoots me and some rocks in both hands.  It is known when these rocks formed on the mountain in an eruption 5/27/1915, I think it was.  I'm about a half year older!  Taken high on Mt. Lassen.

I wonder if Armand took any photos during these adventures, which I also think would enrich the PBS project:

• Climbing the Tetons
• Climbing the Tetons, Part 2
• Climbing the Tetons, Part 3

Photo: Courtesy of Tomas & Ann Hill

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