Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Edith Abell in Washington, D.C. to Gertrude Starkey Pitcairn. "First Class" seal pressed into upper left corner. Edith received Gertrude’s letter from her father today. She had intended to stop over in Philadelphia, but business calls her to New York immediately. She hopes to be home when Gertrude arrives. Edith will meet her at the station if she sends a telegram. Edith’s mother will be very glad to see Gertrude; She still cherishes a knitted ball that Gertrude left...

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 Rev. Rudolph L. Tafel in London to John Pitcairn Jr. Tafel hopes J. Pitcairn and W. Childs have arrived safely back in Paris after their long and interesting journey. He and his wife look forward to receiving them in London for a long stay before they return to America. His wife has recovered from an illness, and they are both beginning to feel the “good effects” of the trip through Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. Their time with Pitcairn and Childs has renewed...

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...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Robert M. Glenn at Hotel Mirabeau, Paris to his mother, Mary Aitken Glenn (1819-1896). R Glenn has been greatly enjoying Paris. He describes buildings decorated with busts and carved flower garlands, and streets so smooth and level that riding over them feels like being on velvet carpet. The cabs are very cheap, so he and Ernest have been sightseeing around the city every day. He tells his mother not to worry too much about the war; They wouldn’t even know it existed...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Robert M. Glenn in Paris, France to his sister, Mary Aitken Glenn (1842-1925). Hotel Mirabeau letterhead. R Glenn and Ernest are staying at a beautiful hotel in Paris with gardens and a fountain. Although the Parisians are complaining about the heat, Glenn says it’s only been 80 degrees and they haven’t perspired once. Yesterday they both received letters at Dr. Hearmann’s which they read while sitting in the Garden of Tuileries. They also visited the Arc de Triomphe...

Scope and Contents Letter from “Robbie” Glenn in Bejucal, Cuba to his mother, Mary Aitken Glenn. R. Glenn writes to his mother about the train ride he and his Uncle John took from Bejucal into Havana, which included passing by an insane asylum and the Captain General’s country residence. At the Hotel de Colon in Havana, the waiter hit R. Glenn with plates and served him a rotten egg. R. Glenn sends his love home and asks his mother to tell Aunt Susan’s folks that he has a “paraquite” (parakeet) that screeches...