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Walt Whitman to Susan Stafford, 12 July 1888

About This Item

  • Title: Walt Whitman to Susan Stafford, 12 July 1888
  • Date: July 12, 1888
  • Creator(s): Walt Whitman
  • Whitman Archive ID: loc.03864
  • 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: Blake Bronson-Bartlett Stefan Schöberlein Caterina Bernardini Stephanie Blalock
  • Cite this page: Whitman, Walt. "Walt Whitman to Susan Stafford, 12 July 1888." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 09 May 2025. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: loc.03864.xml (TEI)
 loc_jc.00388_large.jpg Camden Wednesday Sunset July 12 '881

Still pretty sick here now the fifth week confined here—so weak & no grip on the head—but hope yet for sort of rally—Eva2 was here to-day—Van3 was here last week—Love to you & George4 & Deb5 & Ed6—I have good care—

Walt Whitman  loc_jc.00387_large.jpg

Correspondent:
Susan M. Lamb Stafford (1833–1910) was the mother of Harry Stafford (1858–1918), who, in 1876, became a close friend of Whitman while working at the printing office of the Camden New Republic. Whitman regularly visited the Staffords at their family farm near Kirkwood, New Jersey. Whitman enjoyed the atmosphere and tranquility that the farm provided and would often stay for weeks at a time (see David G. Miller, "Stafford, George and Susan M.," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings [New York: Garland Publishing, 1998], 685).

Notes

  • 1. This letter is addressed: Mrs: Susan Stafford | Kirkwood | (Glendale) | New Jersey. It is postmarked: Camden, N.J. | Jul 11 | 8 PM | 88; Kirkwood | Jul | 12 | 1888 | N.J. [back]
  • 2. Eva Westcott Stafford (1856–1906) had married Susan's Stafford's son Harry in 1883; she was Susan's daughter-in-law. [back]
  • 3. Van Doran Stafford (1864–1914) was one of Harry Stafford's brothers. [back]
  • 4. George Stafford (1827–1892) was Susan's husband. [back]
  • 5. Deborah Stafford Browning (1860–1945) was Susan and George Stafford's daughter. [back]
  • 6. Edwin Stafford (1856–1906) was one of Susan Stafford's sons. [back]
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