In his travel diary, Spencer makes frequent mention of sending post cards back home. He wrote two such cards to his parents while in the Soviet Union, on July 25 and 31, 1931.
The first postcard features the Mikhailovsky Palace of the State Russian Museum. Built between 1819 and 1825 by Italian architect Carlo Rossi, the Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich's residence was converted into a museum in 1895 following the enthronement of Nicholas II. After the Russian Revolution, private collections around the country were nationalized and relocated to these museum grounds.
The second postcard features the Shabolovka radio tower of Moscow in the background, with a communal apartment complex in the forefront. Built between 1920 and 1922 by Vladimir Shukhov in midst of the Russian Civil War, the tower stands 160m tall. It is 190m short from its original plan due to a shortage of steel at the time of its construction. In 2014, it faced demolition due to deterioration, but was successfully campaigned for by locals for preservation instead1.
Moscow – July 31/31
Dear Mother & Dad – After 4 days in Leningrad, here we are at the hub of this land of almost miraculous achievements. The people have pride in what is being accomplished & enthusiasm for the future. This a typical new worker’s apartment house. There is always a park, club house, children’s nursery & communal dining hall near by, and you can see the radio broadcasting aerial on the roof. We saw this very one. We have been in factories, courts, theatres, hospitals, museums, palaces, clubs, parks, stores, apts [i.e. apartments], playgrounds & sanatoria & have seen a good bit of the country. Love Spen
