August 2018 Auction Ends Thursday, August 30th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/30/2018
Lengthy autograph letter signed by Clara Barton, spanning eight pages, to Dr. Harriet N. Austin, an early American female doctor who pioneered the field of women's health. Austin ran a sanitarium in Dansville, New York called Our Home on the Hillside, where Barton recuperated after the Civil War. After her stay there, Barton purchased a home in Dansville herself. In this letter, Barton writes of her longing for home, her activities in Washington, DC and the medical case of Robert C. Schenck, a General in the Civil War who was having health problems. At this time, Barton was in Washington promoting recognition of the International Committee of the Red Cross; as its President, Barton would convene the first meeting for the American Red Cross less than a month after penning this letter. Dated 6 May 1881, letter reads in small part,
''My dear Harrie: I was delighted to get your letter an hour ago...I am glad you dreamed of me. I think it a good omen, and I hope it means that I am coming home soon. I was never so anxious to get home as I am now. I did not want to leave when I did, and I have wanted to get back every day since, not that my stay has not been made pleasant - it has, - everything has been done to make me comfortable and happy...I wanted to see my old orchard come into bloom. I want to hear our own robins and orioles...It is delightful how you are all prospering, and that 'Father' is so well and doing all the work of all the peoples, and that the Cure is so full, and gives such promise - the just reward of faithful endeavor. I have long been wanting to write you or Father about a friend of mine to whom I have recommended your institution and I promised to ask for publications, which until now I have not done. It is General [Robert C.] Schenck - he has not been well since he left England I should think, and it is thought here that he will not recover, he has been pronounced a victim of 'Bright's Dream' etc etc - all of which I 'take little stock in', and persist in my own belief that eighteen months or two years at the Cure would ret[urn] him very tolerably 'on his feet' again - literally he is not off of them, but seems like a person whose tendencies are [?] paralysis, but his mind is clear, bright as ever I knew it, he is through with all medicines, has a physician 'for company' he says, has studied his own care till he has arrived at a world of good sound [?] conclusions, his diet is largely milk, little or no meat, rests and tries to enjoy himself, goes every summer to Vermont near Bennington and lives in the country, will go this summer, but intends to go first to friends in Ohio and I have been conscious that he should stay at Dansville either going or returning. He is very much improved since a year or more ago, he was thought to have dropsy then, was wondrous in size, but his milk - skimmed milk diet has entirely remained thus he is natural in size now and his flesh seems good & he is gaining in good weight - still he is supposed to, and declared to be, 'incurable', all of which I do not take at its full value. I will send his address with this, and if it is your pleasure, it would be his. I know to have you send him such information as you feel dispensed in regard to your institution & its methods.
I do see Mrs. Taylor very often, yesterday we went to Georgetown to tea with Mrs. Caroline M. Dall, returning in the evening. The evening before we passed together at Judge & Mrs. Omar D. Conger, staying till 11 oclock and tore ourselves away then, no company but ourselves & [?], but we have always such a jolly time there. They call Conger the 'Thad Stevens of the Senate with a few of the rough corners smoothed off.' - but he is certainly a most genial friend...
I have had a busy morning, have made the following calls - Judge Wm. Law - since 1st Comptroller of the Treasury (an old time friend) - Mr. [William] Windom - secty of US Treasury - Mr. Blaine - of State Dept - Surgeon Genl Barnes, an Asst. Surg. Genl Crane - also old army friends...Good Bye my dear, good bye I hold your hand and kiss you / Yours Clara''.
Eight page letter on Barton's own letterhead from ''The Red Cross of the International Convention of Geneva''. Card-style bifolium stationery measures 5'' x 8'' as folded. Mounting remnants and folds, overall in very good plus condition. With full transcription.
Clara Barton Autograph Letter Signed to Dr. Harriet N. Austin, a Pioneer in Women's Health -- ''...he is...declared to be, 'incurable', all of which I do not take at its full value...''
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