Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Dr. George R. Starkey in Washington, D.C. to his wife, Caira Skelton Starkey. Starkey has received Caira’s letter- it was “enjoyed, & accepted as a kind of reproof for my neglect of our anniversary.” He confesses to “some sadness & depression” regarding how far he feels from his ideal spiritual life, particularly in conjugial matters. Looking back, he reflects, “with thee, I can see where we could have helped each other more—indeed much more,- yet it is by...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Dr. George R. Starkey in Washington, D. C. to his daughter, Gertrude Starkey Pitcairn. Addressed to “Darling Baby.” Dated “Sunday afternoon.” Filed under 1876. Starkey has just finished a letter to Pauline and is now writing to Gertrude, telling her to take some medicine. Miss Solter has “ensconced” herself upon Mamma. She is “a good enough girl,” though boring and rather tedious, but Starkey is not ready to forgive her for leaving the old country again. She wrote to...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Dr. George R. Starkey in Washington, D. C. to his daughter, Gertrude Starkey Pitcairn. Embossed seal with the word “Extra” in the center pressed into the upper left corner of the first page. As Starkey is Gerturde’s “accepted lover” and she is “greedy” for his letters, he must cater to her appetite. On Sunday, he spoke with Mamma and prepared her “to recognize the changes which evolution necessarily brings about. So that, if she should fully realize the state of your...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Edith Abell at 173 Charles Street to “Gertie” Gertrude Starkey Pitcairn. “C. V. Mills Congress” seal pressed into upper left corner. Edith, busy with preparations, has failed to keep up her correspondences. She recently saw Mr. Nadleigh at the Apollo Club rooms, and he asked her to send regards to Gertrude. She trusts Gertrude’s mother “has less care” than last time she saw her, when she was very charitably hosting the Pendletons. Edith and her mother are moving to...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Pauline Starkey Wells in Woodside, CA to her sister, Gertrude Starkey Pitcairn. Pauline has been very busy picking apples this week because Uncle Robert couldn’t find another man to help Albert Green with the harvest. She has spent quite a bit of time with Green, which he has evidently been enjoying. Pauline writes about Green, “He really behaved beautifully, and if I had not been so well brought up I wouldn’t answer for the consequences.” However Green has advised...