Jacobs, Harriet Brent. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Title

Jacobs, Harriet Brent. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Creator

Jacobs, Harriet Brent

Contributor

Post, Amy Kirby, 1802-1889

Date

185 ?

Description

Handwritten letter from Harriet Brent Jacobs to Amy Kirby Post, 185-. Jacobs writes to Post that she wishes she had more time to work on her book.

Subject

Post, Amy Kirby, b. 1802

Is Part Of

Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Rights

The organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Identifier

786

Location

Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Transcription

(Page 1)

[Text aligned vertically along left margin on Page 1]

to all my dear friends pray write me a

[Text aligned horizontally across top margin of Page 1]

     line soon yours truly
                    Harriet
            Cornwall Jan ^11^th^

My Dear Friend

            It has been a
long time since I have
had a line from you
and I have resolved ma
ny times to write. but
variance hindrances es [sic]
have prevented- me.
dear Amy. if I was not
so tied down to the ba
by house. I would make
one bold effort to see
you- patience. perhaps it
will not be always
thus. I have kept Louisa
here this winter so that
I might have my eve
nings to write. but poor
Hatty [sic] name is so much

(Page 2)

in demand that I
can not accomplish much.
if I could steal away
and have two quiet
Months. to myself. I
would work night
and day though it sho
uld all fall to the
ground to get this time
I should have to explain
myself. and no one here
accept [sic] Louisa knows
that I have even written
anything to be put in
print. I have not the
Courage to meet the
criticism and ridicule
of Educated people.
the old proverb where
there is much given
much is required
with myself nothing

(Page 3)

given and their must be
but little expected
William wrote me that
you was [sic] in New York
while he was there
I was in New York
the week before Louisa
and myself I stoped [sic]
ten- days to do the Winter
shoping [sic] for Mrs Willis
having a young baby she
could not go herself
and I had the little
Girl potrait [sic] painted
while there and I had
a long distance to go
to the Artist and
they refused one day
to take one in the Cars
it made Mr Richard
Willis very angry and
he wrote a long article
which I will show you

(Page 4)

some day and inserted
it in his own paper
he is Brother to Mr
N P Willis and he is
the Couloured [sic] Mans
friend dear Amy will
you let me know if
you have heard any
thing of Brother I have
not had a letter and I
think it so strange I
dont know where to
write will you please
try and get my Brother [sic]
Daguerotype [sic] from Miss
Charlotte Murray and
keep it for me if this said
Book should ever come in
existence I want to have
an Illustrated Edition and
the whole family in love

Annotations

Harriet Brent Jacobs, a former slave and abolitionist, is writing from Cornwall, New York to Amy Post, a close friend and benefactor. At the time she wrote this letter, Jacobs was living and working in the Willis home, Idlewild, in Cornwall, New York. Cornelia and Nathaniel P. Willis had paid for Jacobs's freedom from slavery. Louisa was Jacobs's daughter. William Cooper Nell was a former slave and abolitionist. Charlotte Murray was one of Jacobs's friends from Monroe County.

Tags

Abolitionism; Personal

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Jacobs, Harriet Brent, “Jacobs, Harriet Brent. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 23, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/3077.

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