McVean, H. F. Letter to Sojourner Truth.

Title

McVean, H. F. Letter to Sojourner Truth.

Creator

McVean, H. F.

Contributor

F

Date

1867-03-25

Description

Handwritten letter from H. F. McVean to Sojourner Truth. This letter is one of a number of responses Truth received after placing an advertisement in two Rochester newspapers to find jobs in New York State for freed men and women living in Washington D.C.

Subject

Truth, Sojourner, d. 1883

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

1624

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)

                                            Mar 25”/67

Sojourner Truth
                           Respected Madam
Your notice in the Express, has only at this
late date met my attention; I have
been hoping to secure the service of a
colored girl to do general housework, &
I feel assured that my best way of doing
this is to apply to you, and I hope I am
not too late. Our family consists of
three persons, and during the summer
months will be increased by the addi-
tion of one farm laborer, I would
prefer a girl between the ages of
sixteen & twenty, a strong, healthy
girl of sixteen could easily do all I
shall require of her; and I choose
a young girl because, I would wish
to keep her for several years, and
send her to school a part of the time
and have her study a part of the time

(Page 2)

I do not exactly understand that part
of your notice which says speaks
of “applicants selecting for themselves”
after these freedmen arive [sic]; for I
should not like to have you send
procure for me a bright, intelligent
girl that I could help to educate
and fit for a useful place in our
republic of “workers” and when I went
to Rochester for her, find that some
one else had chosen her away from
me, - however perhaps I did not
rightly understand it, and I am ready
to be believe that justice will be the
rule in any undertaking which bears
the signatures of Sojourner Truth &
Isaac Post.   Wishing you much success
in your noble undertaking, which is a double
charity, too the destitute freedmen and to
those who need laborers at the north
             I remain, Yours to command
                    H. F. McVean
Mrs Sojourner Truth               Scottsville Monroe Co

Tags

Domestic Servants; Freed Slaves

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

McVean, H. F., “McVean, H. F. Letter to Sojourner Truth.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 22, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/3911.

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