Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Anna Aitken in Dunfermline to John Pitcairn, Jr. Aitken thanks Pitcairn for his kind offer to be her escort, however she is sorry to say she has already booked passage with the Cunard Line. She intends to write to Miss Franks Liverpool today, requesting that she secure a place on the Perthia, which sails on the 14th. Maria Hogan had led Aitken to expect a visit from Pitcairn, but his letter settles the question. Aitken reports that her brother’s health is now much...

Scope and Contents Letter from B. F. Glenn at 1700 Green Street, Philadelphia to J. Pitcairn. Glenn plans to travel with his daughter Mary to attend Convention in Cincinnati. As he does not have much experience traveling, he hopes to convince J. Pitcairn to join them, or if not, to give them recommendations regarding route and arrangements. Glenn reports that they are getting along pleasantly in Church matters and that “the storm is over and past.” He writes that things are also going well with their...

Scope and Contents Handrwitten letter from C. Sargent to John Pitcairn. Written at the Logan House in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Rail Road Company letterhead. C. Sargent, who appears to be a coworker of John Pitcairn’s on the Pennsylvania Rail Road, writes to Pitcairn about his two recent fishing trips; one out West in Iowa with his sister Verlinda, and one in Sandy Ridge (PA?) with 7 other railroad men. He hopes Pitcairn will join them on the next one. He mentions Pitcairn’s last letter to him, a...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Dr. George R. Starkey in Philadelphia to his wife, Caira Skelton Starkey. G. R. Starkey, M. D. letterhead. G Starkey received C Starkey’s letter last night but was too tired to answer. In case she hasn’t received his letter of last Thursday, he will recapitulate its contents: C Starkey should remain where she is until she wears out her welcome, be in Boston on the 4th, if disposed, visit Bridg- (?) and elsewhere, and then return home during the second week of July. G...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from E. Westervelt in Philadelphia to John Pitcairn Jr. Westervelt has received J. Pitcairn’s renewed invitation to visit Renovo, but unfortunately his poor health prevents him from leaving the city. He has not heard from his nephew since he last wrote to Pitcairn and so assumes he has made some other arrangement. Westervelt reports on a recent meeting of the three Philadelphia societies at the Broad Street Church “to institute measures for encouraging friendly...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Franklin Ballou in Pittsburgh to ? (name illegible; possibly Herrin Linbrow Gunn or Gums?) in Philadlephia. Date may be 1873 or possibly 1876? Handwriting difficult to decipher. Summary: Ballou’s miserable ears are giving him so much trouble that he has almost decided to come to Philadelphia and have Dr. Turnbull (?) operate on them. This would require two operations with a day in-between, and “as there are no golden chords that would hold [him] to the city of quaker...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Leonard Tafel in New Brighton, NY to John Pitcairn, Jr. Tafel has received Pitcairn’s letter. He supposes they have now returned from their journey, and he hopes Mr. Benade has fully recovered from his sickness. Tafel looks forwards to Pitcairn’s advice concerning the Greek which he desires to commence in April. He writes that the plates for Matthew have arrived from Germany and that copies will be ready on the first of April. He inquires regarding Benade’s...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from the Walter Chalmers household at 37 (34?) Park Lane, Mile End, Calton, Glasgow to John Pitcairn, Jr. J. Pitcairn’s Aunt has received his last letter and handsome gift. She has been in bad health since the New Year, but she still intends to visit J. Pitcairn and her two sisters. They are waiting on word from her sisters, but she hopes to leave Glasgow by boat in May. J. Pitcairn should write if he has any further information. Letter signed by Mrs. (or Mr.?) George...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Robert M. Glenn at the Golden Hotel, London, to his parents Benjamin F. Glenn and Mary Aitken Glenn. R Glenn recounts his visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. The outside was dingy and almost black from smoke. The inside was better but not very grand. Glenn notes the stained glass, 300 ft high dome, the statuary, and the very good boys’ choir. After the service, they went down into the crypt and saw the tomb of the Duke of Wellington, complete with his coronet,...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Robert M. Glenn in London to his mother, Mary Aitken Glenn (1819-1896). R Glenn writes that he arrived in London after a five-hour carriage ride from Liverpool. He, Ernest, and another New Churchman from New York named William A. Tenney (?) paid extra for a private carriage ride, and they amused themselves with talking, singing, and playing cards. They arrived at Shriley’s Temperance Hotel where they only spent one night because there was “a death-like stillness about...