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Ellen M. O'Connor to Walt Whitman, 20 November 1889

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I am at home, but not yet sleeping in the home, as the stove has to be repaired, & the men are slow. Hope you are all right!

With love— Nelly O'Connor.  loc.02983.002.jpg

Correspondent:
Ellen M. "Nelly" O'Connor (1830–1913) 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 African Americans, Ellen would remain friendly with Whitman. The correspondence between Whitman and Ellen is almost as voluminous as the poet's correspondence with William. Three years after William O'Connor's death, Ellen married the Providence businessman Albert Calder. For more on Whitman's relationship with the O'Connors, see Dashae E. Lott, "O'Connor, William Douglas [1832–1889]" and Lott's "O'Connor (Calder), Ellen ('Nelly') M. Tarr (1830–1913)," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998).


Notes

  • 1. The envelope for this letter bears the address: Walt Whitman | Camden, | New Jersey. It is postmarked: Washington D.C. | NOV 20 | 12:30 PM | 89; Camden, N.J. | NOV 21 | 6 AM | 1889 | Rec'd. [back]
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