Oregon resident returns grandmother's 1943 library book after 82 years with note about late fees

A library book checked out 82 years ago was finally returned to a library in San Antonio, Texas in June by an Oregon resident — along with a note: "Grandma won’t be able to pay for it anymore."

The book — "Your Child, His Family, and Friends" by Frances Bruce Strain — was borrowed in July 1943, according to the library. 

"After the recent death of my father, I inherited a few boxes of books he left behind. Going through them, I found the included volume of ‘Your Child, His Family, and Friends’ by Mrs. Frances Bruce Strain from 1943," the letter read.

At the time, the sender’s father was 11. Identifying only as P.A.A.G., the writer said their grandmother, Maria del Socorro Aldrete Flores (Cortez), must have checked it out.

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"In that year, she transferred from Mexico City to work at the US Embassy. She must have taken the book with her, and some 82 years later, it ended up in my possession," the letter continued. "When I noticed it was from the San Antonio Public Library,  I decided to send it back to you. I hope there is no late fee for it because Grandma won’t be able to pay for it anymore."

The library posted images on Facebook showing the book’s 28-day checkout period, with fines of three cents per extra day.

Three cents in 1943 equals about 56 cents today, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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That adds up to roughly $900 in overdue fees — or more than $16,000 with inflation.

But there was no need to worry about Grandma footing the bill. 

"We can certainly put the writer at ease there, because we have been fine free since 2021," the library said in a post on Facebook.

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Published in 1943, "Your Child, His Family, and Friends" guided parents on child development and healthy relationships.

In 1943, The Cincinnati Enquirer called it "a complete guidebook to the personal relationships of the child with his family and the outside world."

The library said the book was in good condition and is now on display in the Central Library lobby.

Once the book is taken off display, it will be donated to the Friends of San Antonio Public Library and put up for sale.

Ukrainian designer predicts Zelenskyy will wear military suit for high-stakes Trump meeting

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will likely opt for a more formal look when he meets with former President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on Monday, according to a designer who has previously collaborated with the European leader.

"Tomorrow he most likely will not appear in a polo," Ukrainian designer Elvira Gasanova told Fox News Digital. "… I think he will choose a black military suit or a military-style shirt with trousers — perhaps a jacket."

Having previously come under fire for his informal attire, Zelenskyy is likely to choose "a more serious look — though less symbolic," according to Gasanova.

"After the recent ‘no suit’ drama, he will likely approach this question differently," she said.

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Zelenskyy has at times faced criticism for his informal wardrobe, including during his tense February visit to the Oval Office. That meeting with Trump and Vice President JD Vance escalated into a heated exchange between the three leaders over what "cards" Ukraine holds and whether Zelenskyy has expressed sufficient gratitude to the United States.

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"Why don't you wear a suit? You're at the highest level in this country's office, and you refuse to wear a suit," one reporter asked Zelenskyy at the time. "… Do you own a suit?"

Unlike many politicians, the Ukrainian president does not have personal stylists, according to Gasanova, who is the founder of Ukrainian fashion brands GASANOVA and DAMIRLI. 

Gasanova said she has previously designed clothing items for both Zelenskyy and Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska.

"We have sent various items to the President’s office — from vyshyvankas and polos to suits," she said. "There have been only a few fittings with Volodymyr — he simply does not have the time… Besides, it is stressful for him, as his body is constantly changing."

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The pressures of Russia’s full-scale invasion have taken a physical toll on Zelenskyy, leading to weight loss during high-stress periods, while regular training helps him rebuild muscle mass, Gasanova said.

"At the moment, he is in Brussels, and he will decide for himself what to wear tomorrow," she said.

The upcoming meeting follows just days after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.

The high-stakes meeting was the first U.S.-Russia summit since June 2021, which was under former President Joe Biden’s administration and only eight months before Putin invaded Ukraine. 

The White House and Press Office for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

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