Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Gertrude Starkey Pitcairn in Philadelphia to her father, Dr. George R. Starkey. “S” seal pressed into upper lefthand corner. Gertrude updates her father on household news. Mrs. Peirsol felt it was impossible to live in a house where it was evident she was not wanted by one of the members. Miss Mary is so sick she can scarcely take care of herself, and Miss Martha cannot leave Mrs. Knight, so Auntie Peirsol has come to stay with the Starkeys. She requires little...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Gertrude Starkey Pitcairn at “Home” to her father, Dr. George R. Starkey. Seal of a woman’s profile pressed into upper left corner. Dated “Last day of fall.,” no year. Possibly 1873/1874, filed under 1875. The family is comfortable, though Mother has a cough and Carrie is ill. “Em” was in for tea this afternoon after taking the oxygen, and she was “all excitement” at the idea of Gertrude going to Boston. After going through the expenses involved (cashmere dress, hat,...

Scope and Contents Typed copy of a letter from Gertrude Starkey Pitcairn in Philadelphia to her father, Dr. George R. Starkey. Gerturde received Starkey’s note with arbutus this morning. Paul and Dora looked for arbutus at the Park yesterday, but they think it will be two weeks before it blooms. Gertrude continues to hear good things about her confirmation, and she is very glad she had the service. She reports that their doctrinal class was well attended this morning, and that interest in the Dickens party...

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 Pauline "Paulie" Starkey Wells in Woodside, Ca to her mother, Caira Skelton Starkey. Paulie misses her life at home and would like to be kept updated on what everyone is up to. Letters from home take so long to reach her that she feels out of touch with current events by the time they arrive. She wishes the children could be with her in California, and she asks her mother to send all the religious teaching she can as it “will be more welcome than you have any idea...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Pauline "Paul" Starkey Wells in Woodside, Ca to her mother, Caira Skelton Starkey. Paul does not want her mother to write when her eyes hurt, but she hopes her mother will ask one of the children to write on her behalf, as Paul gets homesick when she doesn’t hear from home for more than a week at a time. Although she agrees with her mother that she is of little use to Aunt Em, she explains that there is not much for her and Addie to do besides the sewing because Sam...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Pauline “Paul” Starkey Wells in Woodside, CA to her brother, Edward “Ned” Starkey. “S” seal pressed into upper lefthand corner. Paul thinks Ned would enjoy California and wishes he could be there with her. All the animals on the ranch respond to their names, and the dogs, cats, and chickens all eat out of the same dish without any fuss. They have not gone horseback riding yet because Addie has had a sore throat and Paul doesn’t have a riding skirt. However Addie is...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Pauline "Paul" Starkey Wells in Woodside, Ca to her brother, George G. Starkey. “S” seal pressed into upper lefthand corner. Paul appreciated receiving Goerge’s letter with illustrations upon her arrival in California. She has now seen sage brush, antelopes, prairie dogs, and a bear. Aunt Em seems pleased that her niece travelled across the country with the family of Senator Sargent. Paul enjoyed the Sargent’s company very much; Ella Sargent is “pretty, and full or...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Pauline "Paulie" Starkey Wells in Woodside, Ca to her brother, "Dear old Georgie Boy." Although the letter is dated 1875, context clues indicate it was very almost certainly written in 1876. Paulie received a letter from their father yesterday instructing her to figure out how much the travel home will cost. He will send the money, and she may return home at the first opportunity. Uncle Robert will find out the information tomorrow in ‘Frisco. She doesn’t know...