Griffing, Josephine Sophie White. Letter to Sojourner Truth and Amy Kirby Post.

Title

Griffing, Josephine Sophie White. Letter to Sojourner Truth and Amy Kirby Post.

Creator

Griffing, Josephine Sophie White

Contributor

Sojourner Truth and Amy Kirby Post

Date

1867-03-26

Description

Handwritten letter from Josephine Sophie White Griffing to Sojourner Truth and Amy Kirby Post. Griffing describes the work of the Freedman's Bureau.

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

1626

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)

                            Wash March 26. /67.
                               My dear Sojourner & Mrs Post
                            I have delayed writing hop
ing to be able to answer you that the people would
come as desired by you. But I cannot yet say
certainly in regard to any thing [sic] about it. We are
moving Heaven and Earth, to speak figuratively
to inspire the people to go - But all the causes
that you rember [sic] to here Existed last year.
Sojourner are still Keeping them here. Then
the Southern Ag’ts have been here for men, and
have said so much against the climate
and character of the North that that also
helps to indecision. The Bureau is now giving
us all facilities for getting them where they
can support themselves. And no stone is left
unturned that promises to influence them
to go- where I see I can do any thing [sic]. We do
send some almost Every day [sic], but cannot
get the women to go without the men &
indeed cannot get many sent now of any
kind. Dr Glennon writes me to day [sic] that

[Text aligned vertically along left margin of Page 1]

Sojourner I enclose to you a dollar that Miss Jackson of Providence sent

[Text aligned vertically along top margin of Page 1]

you in a
letter to me
you Know she
is my best
Friend & the
best of the
Freedom friends
there – Excuse
this
hardly
letter
with
great
love
children
[forever?] us
love to
you also
J.C.S

(Page 2)

there are fewer persons in the Hospital and
very few who are able bodied- whenever
there is he will get them to us that we may
send them to homes.
      I have been to Alexandria today & find
many there who should go -but am not sure
that they will go- I go over to talk in their meet-
-ings next Sunday- We shall try to send up
a company as soon as we can- Miss Wilber
came to the Office a few days since & has written
you on a certain point & we shall be glad to
hear from you as soon as possible.   One thing
I wish to Know – can we send a company
of such as we can find perhaps two thirds men
& one third women – can we find a man & wife
and two children –who are young – nearly all
our applications say – no young children as though
Black Babes were 12 years old when they were born
-Is Mr Balors in good feeling toward your work
- or not- I see he is out of patience with us for not
sending him the people he sent for. But we could
not do it. He cannot see our difficulties. We have
three thousands application for laborers, & cannot
send all to one place-&only a few to Each.
with much love- to you both- your friend J.S. Griffing. Agt.

Annotations

Josephine Sophie White Griffing, an abolitionist from Washintgon, D.C., is writing to fellow activists, Sojourner Truth and Amy Kirby Post. The Freedman's Bureau was founded after the Civil War to help former slaves find food and housing, education, health care, and employment. Dr. Glennan was Truth's nephew, who worked at the Freedman's Hospital in Washington D.C.

Tags

Freed Slaves

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Griffing, Josephine Sophie White, “Griffing, Josephine Sophie White. Letter to Sojourner Truth and Amy Kirby Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 24, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/3913.

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