Walt Whitman to Elizabeth and Isabella Ford, 3 August 1885

About This Item

Title: Walt Whitman to Elizabeth and Isabella Ford, 3 August 1885
Date: August 3, 1885
Creator(s): Walt Whitman
Whitman Archive ID: bol.00002
Source: Walt Whitman Collection, Bolton Central Library, Bolton, England. Transcribed from digital images or a microfilm reproduction of the original item. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the correspondence, see our statement of editorial policy.

Notes for this letter were created by Whitman Archive staff and/or were derived from Walt Whitman, The Correspondence, ed. Edwin Haviland Miller, 6 vols. (New York: New York University Press, 1961–1977), and supplemented or updated by Whitman Archive staff.
Contributors to digital file: Stefan Schöberlein Kyle Barton Kevin McMullen
Cite this page: Whitman, Walt. "Walt Whitman to Elizabeth and Isabella Ford, 3 August 1885." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 05 December 2025. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
Source File: bol.00002.xml (TEI)

bol_ch.00003_large.jpg 328 Mickle Street Camden New Jersey U S America Aug: 3d '851 Dear Bessie and Isabella Ford

I will at least write a line to say I have safely received your and Edward Carpenter's affectionate generous gift of £50.2 It has come very opportunely & I thank you all—I have been prostrated lately by sun-stroke, but am well recovering from it—

God bless you, dear friends, Walt Whitman

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Correspondent:
Isabella Ford (1855–1924) was an English feminist, socialist, and writer. Elizabeth (Bessie) Ford was her sister. Both were introduced to Whitman's writings by Edward Carpenter and they quickly became admirers of Whitman.

Notes

1. This letter is addressed: Bessie and Isabella Ford | 5 Hyde Park Mansions | London n w | England. It is postmarked: Camden | Aug | 6 | 8PM | 1885 | N.J. ; London N.W. | 7U | AU14 | 85. [back]
2. The Ford sisters and Carpenter, in addition to this gift, sent a second check for $216.75 in May, 1886, and another one for £20 in July, 1887 (Whitman's Commonplace Book). [back]