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William O. McDowell to Walt Whitman, 21 August 1891

About This Item

  • Title: William O. McDowell to Walt Whitman, 21 August 1891
  • Date: August 21, 1891
  • Creator(s): William O. McDowell
  • Whitman Archive ID: loc.03088
  • 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: Cristin Noonan Amanda J. Axley Stephanie Blalock
  • Cite this page: McDowell, William O.. "William O. McDowell to Walt Whitman, 21 August 1891." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 11 May 2025. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: loc.03088.xml (TEI)
 loc.03088.001_large.jpg PAN-REPUBLIC CONGRESS COMMITTEE.1 OFFICE OF SECRETARY AND TREASURER, 20 SPRUCE STREET.2 WM. H. ARNOUX, Chairman. WM. O. MCDOWELL, Secretary. NEWARK, N.J., Aug 21st 1891. "Walt Whitman" My dear Sir

On Oct 12th (Discovery day3 falls this year on Sunday) our Pan Republic Congress organizing government in Independence Hall4 Phil to adopt and added to all peoples and to organize the Human Freedom League5 In the evening we have a public meeting in the Academy of Music6 The time, the place, the work are all suggestive and is it to be wondered at that our Comt turn to you for the poem of the occasion.

Hoping that you will favor us I am Very truly yours W O McDowell  loc.03088.002_large.jpg  loc.03088.003_large.jpg  loc.03088.004_large.jpg The Enclosed letter settles many things ahead of elaborate publicity see notes Dec 14 1891

Correspondent:
William Osborne McDowell (1845–1927) was a New Jersey businessman who was involved in numerous business endeavours, including the mining industry, the railroads, and land speculation. McDowell was one of the founders of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the American Revolution. He was deeply interested in International Affairs, especially conflict resolution, and went on to found the Pan Republic Congress, the Human Freedom League, and the League of Peace, which was a predecessor of the United Nations. McDowell was a Nobel Peace Prize nominee in 1913.

Notes

  • 1. The Pan-Republic General Committee's work was focused on establishing international customs regulations, standards for weights and measures, and international conflict resolution. [back]
  • 2. This letter is addressed: Walt Whitman | Camden | N.J. | It is postmarked: NEWARK, N.J. | AUG 22 | 10 PM | 91; CAMDEN, N.J. | AUG | 23 | 9 AM | 1891 | REC'D. [back]
  • 3. Columbus Day, also referred to as "Discovery Day," is a holiday honoring Christopher Columbus's landing in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492. [back]
  • 4. Independence Hall is a historic civic building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where both the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted. [back]
  • 5. The Human Freedom League organization was charted on October 12, 1891, by the members of the Pan-Republic General Committee. Human Freedom League members favored peace over military force, equality among all regardless of race, reglion, or sex, equitable education, and liberty regulated by law. ("The Human Freedom League," Frederick Douglass Papers: Subject File, 1845–1939; Human Freedom League, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.). [back]
  • 6. The Academy of Music is a concert and opera house located in Philadelphia, Pennslyvania. [back]
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