Letter written by a social reformer named Sarah from Washington, D.C.

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A letter written on April 17, 1865, from Washington, D.C., signed by "Sarah" and addressed to "My dear friend." Sarah thanks her friend and the friend's "Society" for sending clothing and asks for future donations of sheeting or cloth to make sheets and pillows. These items are being sold to newly emancipated people in and around the city. Sarah speaks condescendingly of African American people, noting "No race ever came up faster in the march of civilization." She notes that the plain donated clothing is more appreciated than fancy goods, and hopes that new bedding supplies will encourage greater cleanliness. Sarah also speaks about the recent assassination of Abraham Lincoln, her thoughts on how it will impact the post-war politics, and the response of mourning among the African American population. The letter is written in black ink on four (4) pages of a single bi-folded sheet of ruled paper.

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