Hunt is on for author of poignant 1950 letter

Published on Monday 14 June 2010 11:20

IT'S been hidden in the pages of an Edinburgh guidebook for nearly 60 years.

But having come to light decades later on the shelves of an American library last week, the search is on to trace the author of a poignant letter.

Concealed in an Edinburgh Festival Guidebook published in 1949 and discovered in Florida was a yellowing, handwritten note penned by a grateful young Edinburgh student thanking an American woman for a clutch of food and care parcels.

In the years immediately after the Second World War it was not uncommon for packages containing snacks, sweets and clothing to be sent across the Atlantic to hard-up British citizens.

The recipient of one such parcel was student Humphry L Kinman, of 223 Leith Walk, who was so overwhelmed by the selfless act of generosity that he sent a gift back to his American benefactor with an inscription and heartfelt letter.

Dated 1950, the three-page letter contains clues to the austerity of life in the Capital in those post-war years, but also expresses genuine gratitude for the charitable donations.

Mr Kinman wrote: "Here in Britain we all appreciate the sacrifices which you all are making to help us. I personally found the parcel very useful as I am a medical student in my final year at the university and hospital here in Edinburgh and as I live in lodgings this parcel has been of great help in stretching out our rations."

Little is known about Humphry, who would now be in his 80s, but the new custodian of his letter and guidebook is eager to trace him, or his surviving family, to return the items six decades on.

Gerry McMullan contacted the News to help him locate Mr Kinman after be met a delegation of American community leaders from Sarasota, Florida, last week.

One of the party, Kenny Kirschener – the former mayor of Sarasota – had discovered the personal letter in the dusty Edinburgh city guidebook while scouring through the library of his great-aunt, who had died some weeks earlier.

Knowing he was soon travelling to Scotland on business, Mr Kirschener decided to bring both items with him in a bid to reunite the letter with its author.

He left them in the care of Gerry McMullan, a Fife councillor and chair of the Dunfermline Sarasota Sister City Association, who greeted the delegation and is continuing the search for Mr Kinman.

"It's a fascinating story," said Mr McMullan. "The Americans are really keen to find this man."

He believes Mr Kinman could be an academic, but he was not registered in Edinburgh University records from the time.

&#149 If you think you know Mr Kinman or have any information relating to him or his family, e-mail [e-mail]