Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Goodwin, Mary Francis (fl. 1855-1889) to [Aaron Jeffery]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01896.122 Author/Creator: Goodwin, Mary Francis (fl. 1855-1889) Place Written: St. Louis, Mo. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 19 January 1890 Pagination: 10 p. : envelope ; 20 x 12 cm. Order a Copy

Discusses lack of activities on a Sunday, a damaging "cyclone" [tornado] which had recently raged in St. Louis, the appearance of the flu as it passed through the city, how she mistakenly sending two cents with the last letter, a request that Aaron share all his feelings with her as "it would make me miserable to know that you had a single pain or joy that I could not share with you." Mentions receiving several "callers" but thought that most of the men were too conceited, happenings in St. Louis. There is much cross-writing on several of the pages. Ink smudges on the letter reveals fingerprints. Housed separately [collateral] are the crushed flowers which were sent with the letter.

Goodwin, Mary Frances, fl. 1860-1890
Jeffery, Aaron, fl. 1858-1900

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