Name/Title
Letter, Frederick Douglass to Lewis H. Latimer, September 16, 1894Description
Handwritten letter, Frederick Douglass to Lewis H. Latimer, September 16, 1894. In 1894, Latimer wrote to the great African American leader Frederick Douglass (circa 1817-1895), then living in Washington, DC.Context
Himself a fugitive from slavery, Douglass played a major role in the movement that gained freedom for George W. Latimer, Lewis's father, in Boston in 1842, as he mentions in this reply. Douglass thanks Lewis for his letter, adding that "It makes me proud of you." Douglass’s reference to “dear Mrs. Matthews” probably alludes to the New York-based Black activist Victoria Earle Matthews, a member of Latimer’s network of civil rights advocates.Collection
Latimer Family Papers (1870-1996 ) [QPL Full Collection]Transcription
Transcription
Cedar Hill, Anacostia, D.C.
Sept. 16, 1894
Dear Mr. Latimer, I give you thanks for your excellent letter. It made me proud of you. I was glad to hear of your mother and family. I saw your father for a moment in Boston, last Spring. He seemed in good health then, and I am surprised to learn of his condition now. It is fifty-two years since I first saw your father and mother in Boston. You can hardly imagine the excitement the attempt to recapture them caused in Boston. It was a new experience for the Abolitionists, and they improved it to the full extent of which it was capable. I sincerely thank dear Mrs. Matthews for bringing me to your attention. I shall be very glad to see you if you should ever visit Washington. I am overwhelmed with correspondence here—pardon this brief letter—kind regards to your mother.
Very truly yours, Frederick DouglassTranscriber
Aisha Abdul RahmanLanguage
EnglishLocation
Museum
Lewis Latimer HouseCity
Flushing, QueensState
New York, USAContinent
North AmericaCountry
United States