Vintage 1933-34 Detroit YWCA Books Lot & WWII Ephemera ltr Grace Whitney Hoff For Sale

This is a fascinating group of three vintage books connected to Grace Whitney Hoff and the Detroit YWCA, along with two original pieces found tucked inside the books.Grace Whitney Hoff was the daughter of Detroit lumber baron David Whitney Jr., whose historic mansion on Woodward Avenue is now The Whitney restaurant and is also well known for its reported paranormal activity.The group includes Grace Whitney Hoff’s A Message for To-Day, two rare Along the Way poetry books published through the Detroit YWCA in 1933 and 1934, a devotional/prayer piece marked “G.W.H.”, and an original 1942 Detroit YWCA Camp Talahi postcard.What makes the Along the Way books especially interesting is their direct connection to Grace Whitney Hoff. The first volume’s foreword specifically thanks Mrs. Grace Whitney Hoff for providing the surroundings for inspirational writing for the poetry group.Together, these pieces bring together several parts of Detroit history, Grace Whitney Hoff, the Whitney family, the Detroit YWCA, women’s literary history, Camp Talahi and WWII-era Detroit.Details* 3 vintage books plus 2 original paper inserts* A Message for To-Day * Written by Grace Whitney Hoff * Blue cloth hardcover with gold lettering * Includes a period devotional/prayer piece found inside the book * The piece is marked with the printed initials “G.W.H.”* Along the Way – Volume One * Detroit YWCA poetry anthology * First anthology published in 1933 * Original string/cord binding * Features poetry written by members of the Detroit YWCA poetry group * Foreword specifically thanks Grace Whitney Hoff* Along the Way – Volume Two * Published December 1934 * Ellen Linton Poetry Club * Grace Whitney Hoff Federation * Industrial Department * Detroit Young Women’s Christian Association * Original string/cord binding* Original 1942 Detroit YWCA postcard * Postmarked Detroit, Michigan * Dated April 3, 1942 * Sent by Bertha Walters, Chairman * References a Camp Talahi Committee meeting * Includes a 1-cent Jefferson stamp * Features the wartime postal slogan “Buy Defense Savings Bonds and Stamps”* Great interest for collectors of: * Detroit history * Michigan history * Grace Whitney Hoff * The Whitney mansion * Detroit YWCA history * Women’s history * Vintage poetry * Camp Talahi memorabilia * WWII-era memorabilia * Historic paper ephemeraConditionVintage pre-owned items sold as-is.A Message for To-Day shows light age-related wear with some spotting and foxing to interior pages.Both Along the Way volumes show expected wear for books from the 1930s, including edge wear, toning, staining and handling. The original string/cord bindings are still present.The 1942 postcard and G.W.H. prayer insert show age-related toning and light handling wear.Please review all photos carefully, as they are considered part of the condition description.ReturnsNo returns.Please review all photos and description carefully before purchasing.ShippingCalculated shipping based on buyer location.USPS Media Mail with tracking.PaymentSecure payment accepted through .🐇 Rabbit Hole FactGrace Whitney Hoff, author of A Message for To-Day included in this lot, was the daughter of Detroit lumber baron David Whitney Jr., and her family home became one of Detroit’s most famous historic and haunted landmarks.Built between 1890 and 1894, the Whitney mansion is a massive Romanesque Revival home on Woodward Avenue with 52 rooms, 20 fireplaces, 218 windows, Tiffany glass and Detroit’s first private residential elevator. Today it operates as The Whitney, a well-known fine-dining restaurant with a third-floor Ghostbar.The mansion is also famous for decades of reported paranormal activity and has been featured on the Travel Channel, including programs such as America’s Most Terrifying Places, as well as other paranormal and haunted-location television features.And the connection to Grace goes beyond the mansion. In the first Along the Way anthology included in this lot, the Detroit YWCA poetry group specifically thanks Mrs. Grace Whitney Hoff for providing the surroundings for inspirational writing.So this collection ties together Grace Whitney Hoff’s own writing, Detroit women’s history, the YWCA, the Whitney family, and one of Detroit’s most famous haunted mansions, all through three books that survived from the early 20th century.