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Kansas City, Missouri, 12 April 1864. 4 pp. in ink on blue-lined bifolium, 9.25” x 7.25”. CONDITION: Very good, separations along several old folds, a few document tape repairs to others.

A letter detailing preparations for the upcoming Kansas City Sanitary Fair—auxiliary to the grand Mississippi Valley Sanitary Fair held in St. Louis—as well as the author’s recent dental treatments.

The author of this letter opens by detailing the severe toothache that has incapacitated her for the past month:

For the last four weeks I have suffered intensely with one of my old distressing toothaches. I was obliged to have a Physician as every throb or pulsation in the tooth I thought would distract me. Dr. pronounced it neuralgia & gave me quinine powders which relieved me for several days. Mr Stevens was absent at Leavenworth over ten days & when he returned he put creosote on the cavity which gave me great relief.

Now, however, she only takes the quinine “when the pain bec[omes] insufferable,” as it “prostrated me so much.” Despite severe pain, she confesses “neither the ability nor the inclination” to have the tooth extracted.

While thus housebound, the writer evidently had ample opportunity to observe the world outside, and informs her aunt that “I see from my window the streets are lined with ladies soliciting, a large proportion of them, contributions for the Sanitary Fair auxiliary to the St Louis Fair which will be held in this city on the 4th 5th 6th & 7th of May.” (In fact, the Kansas City event took place the following week.) Sanitary Fairs—the first of which took place in Chicago in 1863—raised funds for the U.S. Sanitary Commission to support Union troops, and were typically organized by women. “I may attend on the girls account,” the author writes, “but I shall not contribute as I think there are more laudable objects for charity. If I had any thing to spare I would rather give to the Baptist Minister who is a young man of 24 & has a Father & Mother dependant upon him for support.” Despite her own lukewarm feelings, she goes on to describe local preparations in detail:

The ladies gave a Festival about two months since at which they realized over $400…There are ladies here that are donating very liberally. One has given a silk quilt that has 5000 500 pieces in it & another gave a splendid sofa an embroidered Ottoman pin cushion &c. The laboring classes have donated over 400. There will doubtless be some magnificent articles on exhibition. Among others is a painting, so our morning paper states,…of the Virgin Mary valued at $5000 belonging to a gentleman in Cass County Missouri. Paintings will probably be numerous. I have seen some of the most elegant paintings in Missouri that I ever saw anywhere; indeed the wealthy Missourians seem to think paintings to the furnishings of a house what…windows are to its comfort.

According to the Kansas City Journal, the fair opened “at the Court House at 10 o’clock, A. M., Wednesday, May 11th, with National Air by the Band.” The following days saw “sales of FANCY ARTICLES,” a “Grand CONCERT and TABLEAUX entertainment at Long’s Hall,” and a “Grand Ball.” Tickets for most events—except the ball—cost 50 cents, and could be purchased “at Matt Foster’s Bookstore.” In the lead-up to the Fair, the Journal urged readers: “Let us all work together from now till the Fair is over to see how much can be raised. Other towns all over the State are doing generously—nobly—Kansas City must not be behind hand.”

The rest of the letter is devoted to various family matters, including an update on “Samuel”—perhaps the author’s son—who was located at Fort Smith in Arkansas. It concludes with her uncertainty about finances and the future: “Lizzie wants me to come to her this summer but that will be impossible unless some unforseen [sic] good fortune should attend us…We are somewhat undecided what we shall do at present. We may go to Topeka & we may go to Leavenworth & we may remain here permanently. Schooling here is…high. Our school bill for 5 months was $40, which taking into consideration other expenses…is considerable.”

An evocative late-Civil War letter by a well educated but careworn woman in Kansas City.

Item #9026

Price: $675.00