The Walt Whitman Archive
Life & Letters
Correspondence
About this Item
Title: Ellen O'Connor to Walt Whitman, 13 March 1888 [Postscript]
Date: March 13, 1888
Whitman Archive ID: loc.02952
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.
Contributors to digital file: Jeannette Schollaert, Breanna Himschoot, and Stephanie Blalock
 image 1 |  image 2 |
Walt Whitman
Camden,
New Jersey.
March 13.1
P.S.2
The man who treats Wm with the "massage" thought the morning the best time, so comes at seven A. M. & is to come every day at that hour. He thinks he can help Wm. I hope so.
We both send love—
N.
Correspondent:
Ellen M. "Nelly" O'Connor was the
wife of William D. O'Connor (1832–1889), one of Whitman's staunchest
defenders. Before marrying William, Ellen Tarr was active in the antislavery and
women's rights movements as a contributor to the Liberator and to a women's rights newspaper Una. Whitman dined with the O'Connors frequently during his Washington
years. Though Whitman and William O'Connor would temporarily break off their
friendship in late 1872 over Reconstruction policies with regard to emancipated
black citizens, Ellen would remain friendly with Whitman. The correspondence
between Whitman and Ellen is almost as voluminous as the poet's correspondence
with William. For more on Whitman's relationship with the O'Connors, see Dashae
E. Lott, "O'Connor, William Douglas [1832–1889]," Walt
Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New
York: Garland Publishing, 1998).
Notes:
1. This postal card is addressed: Walt Whitman, | Camden, | New Jersey. It is postmarked Washington | Mar 13 | 8PM | 88 | D.C.; Camden, N.J. | Mar | 14 | 1PM | 1888 | Rec'd. [back]
2. O'Connor sent Whitman two postal cards dated March 13, 1888. This, the second postal card, was intended as a postscript to the first. [back]