Lucy Henry Harrison to Stan Henkels

Letter

Patrick Henry's Red Hill

Name/Title

Lucy Henry Harrison to Stan Henkels

Entry/Object ID

04.13.27

Description

A handwritten letter on one page of stationery headed "Brookneal, Va." From Mrs. Lucy Henry Harrison to Stan V. Henkels. Dated February 3, 1911. Mrs. Harrison waits to hear back from Mr. Henkels concerning a discrepancy in his expense accounts for the sale.

Transcription

Brookneal, Va., February 3rd 1911 Mr. Henkels, My Dear Sir: I wrote you about a week ago, in regard to what seemed an error in your bill for express, freight and porterage, on the Patrick Henry relics and papers which were sent you last June. An itemized list of expenses, which you sent me in August, with dates given amounts to $7.10 while on your recent bill, unitemized they amount to $26.60. I wrote at once to ask you to give me another itemized bill and not having heard from you I write again asking you to please do this at once. The check you sent me is for a settlement in full of your account with me and I cannot use it until this expense account is straightened. Very truly yours Mrs. M. B. Harrison Per E. H. K.

Language

English

Dimensions

Width

6-1/2 in

Length

9-1/2 in

Provenance

Notes

This letter belongs to a collection of correspondence primarily from Lucy Gray Henry Harrison (1857–1944) to Stanislaus “Stan” Vincent Henkels (1854–1926) concerning a proposed sale of Patrick Henry family heirlooms in 1910. Mrs. Harrison was Patrick Henry's great-granddaughter and the last Henry descendant to own and live at Red Hill. She grew up in Richmond, Virginia, and moved to Duluth, Minnesota, after marrying real estate millionaire Matthew Bland Harrison (1853–1892) in 1886. In 1905, she inherited Red Hill and moved onto the property, where she lived along with her sister, Elizabeth Watkins Henry Lyons (1855–1920), and her secretary, Elizabeth H. Kerper (1890–1964). Mrs. Harrison inherited many of the family heirlooms that had belonged to Patrick Henry and many of his papers. In 1910, on the advice of Philadelphia neurologist and writer Dr. Weir Mitchell (1829–1914), she contacted Stan V. Henkels about a possible private sale or public auction of some of these pieces. Mr. Henkels was an antique dealer in Philadelphia well-known for his auctions and private sales to collectors. The correspondence from Mrs. Harrison to Mr. Henkels details their business negotiations from May 1910 leading up to the sale of the items in Philadelphia on December 20, 1910. It also includes letters concerning a settling of accounts between them up through February 1911. In August 1910, Mrs. Harrison’s secretary, Elizabeth Kerper, traveled from Red Hill to Philadelphia and met with Mr. Henkels to discuss the expenses associated with the upcoming sale. Ms. Kerper obtained a quote from Mr. Henkels on the expenses of freight and shipping, insurance of the collection, Henkels’ commission, and the cost of creating and distributing the auction catalog. The sale earned Mrs. Harrison a little over $7,300 after expenses, which Mr. Henkels sent to her in two payments in December 1910 and January 1911. Mrs. Harrison references her earlier letter of January 26, 1911 (04.13.26), which included a copy of Henkels’ list of expenses. The Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation purchased this letter from an online seller in May 2004 as part of the collection of correspondence.