The Walt Whitman Archive
Life & Letters
Correspondence
About this Item
Title: Eliza Reynolds to Walt Whitman, 16 October 1868
Date: October 16, 1868
Whitman Archive ID: loc.01828
Source: The Charles E. Feinberg Collection of the Papers of Walt Whitman, 1839–1919, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 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.
Editorial note: The annotation, "Mrs. Reynolds.," is in the hand of Walt Whitman.
Contributors to digital file: Alex Kinnaman, Elizabeth Lorang, Beverley Rilett, John Schwaninger, Ashley Lawson, Caterina Bernardini, Amanda J. Axley, Erel Michaelis, Jeff Hill, and Stephanie Blalock
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October the 16/18681
Walter Whitman dear friend
hearing you was in the city i have taken the liberty of addressing you a few lines i am the wife of Henry Reynolds2 and my son3 is called after you, my husband went out West about a year and a half ago since which time we have not heard from him. we are very much in need, and your name sake is a nice boy, between 13 and 14 years old, and i thought perhaps you might take an interest in him. we would be very glad to have you call and see us at 302c East 26 street as soon as possible or drop me a line
yours Respectfully
Mrs Reynolds
Correspondent:
Eliza Reynolds (b. 1828?) was the wife of
the car driver Henry Reynolds (b. 1827–before 1880) and the mother of a boy
named after Whitman. Walter Whitman Reynolds wrote to Whitman on February 9, 1870, April 26,
1870, and May 13, 1872. In this last
letter, Reynolds begged Whitman, "friend Walt I want to know if you will be kind
enough loan me twenty dollars as I want to get a pair of pants and a coat." If
Whitman replied, his letters are not extant. According to Whitman's daybook, his
namesake Reynolds visited him on September 1, 1889.
Notes:
1. This letter is addressed: Walter Whitman Esquire | World Office. [back]
2. According to the 1860 U. S. Census, Henry Reynolds (b. 1827–before 1880) was a "car driver" in New York. [back]
3. Walter Whitman Reynolds (b. 1854), named after the poet, was the son of Henry Reynolds (b. 1827–before 1880), a car driver, and Eliza Reynolds (b. 1828?). Walter's mother Eliza Reynolds, wrote to Whitman on October 16, 1868, imploring Whitman to get to know his namesake. She described Walter as "a nice boy, between 13 and 14 years old" and told the poet: "i thought perhaps you might take an interest in him." Walter Whitman Reynolds wrote to Whitman on February 9, 1870, April 26, 1870, and May 13, 1872. In his May 1872 letter, Reynolds begged Whitman, "friend Walt I want to know if you will be kind enough loan me twenty dollars as I want to get a pair of pants and a coat." If Whitman replied, his letters are not extant. According to Whitman's daybook, his namesake Reynolds visited him on September 1, 1889. [back]