Inbound letters, 1894 (Typed transcript).

ArchivalResource

Du Pont, Mary Belin, 1839-1913. Inbound letters, 1894 (Typed transcript).

Inbound letters, 1894 (Typed transcript).

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/122459039

The volume consists of a typed transcript of letters originally sent to Mary Belin du Pont by her daughters Louisa ("La"), Sophie M. ("Tabby"), Isabella ("Bella") and Margaretta ("Peg") in 1894. The transcript was made by Mary Belin du Pont's grandson, W. W. Laird, Jr., and his wife Winnifred Moreton Laird in 1940 as a Christmas present for his aunt Margaretta and her husband R. R. M. Carpenter. The letters revolve around a single incident wherein Sophie, who was suffering from tuberculosis, was sent to Colorado Springs for a cure. Her mother accompanied her, and her sisters later paid her an extended visit. Unfortunately, Sophie died later that year at the age of 23. Most of the letters are from Louisa, who was about 26, as is a travel diary. Margaretta was then only 10 and the letters exhibit a child's phonetic spellings and unpolished grammar. The letters and diary notes record events typical of recreational travel by young middle class women. These include the tedium and unpleasantness of long-distance train travel (including traveling with "hayseeds"), reaction to typical tourist sites (the Garden of the Gods, the Royal Gorge, etc.), games, dances, and family outings. The travel portion is bracketed by letters from the children to their mother in Colorado Springs describing domestic activities back in Wilmington.

1 v.

Hagley Museum & Library