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Walt Whitman to Thomas Jefferson Whitman, 15 September [1886]

About This Item

  • Title: Walt Whitman to Thomas Jefferson Whitman, 15 September [1886]
  • Date: September 15, 1886
  • Creator(s): Walt Whitman
  • Whitman Archive ID: nwu.00004
  • Source: Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections, Northwestern University. The transcription presented here is derived from Walt Whitman, The Correspondence, ed. Edwin Haviland Miller (New York: New York University Press, 1961–1977), 50–51. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the correspondence, see our statement of editorial policy.
  • Contributors to digital file: Stefan Schöberlein Kyle Barton
  • Cite this page: Whitman, Walt. "Walt Whitman to Thomas Jefferson Whitman, 15 September [1886]." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 09 May 2025. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: nwu.00004.xml (TEI)
Camden1 Sept 15 noon

Lou got home last night all safe2—She & George came here ab't​ 10 last night—She told me many little particulars I was glad to hear, though all is so sad—Nothing special in my affairs—I am writing some—have just sent off a piece to Harpers3—(they may take it, & may not)—I have written a piece ab't​ "War Hospitals" for the Century—which they have taken & paid me for—(Both mag's pay handsomely)—I send you & Jess a letter just rec'd​ from Hannah—We have had several inquiries here about dear Hattie's death—two ladies call'd​ yesterday who had seen Hattie here at Lou's. Love to you, dear brother—Love to you, Jessie dear—

Walt Whitman

Correspondent:
Thomas Jefferson Whitman (1833–1890), known as "Jeff," was Walt Whitman's favorite brother. As a civil engineer, Jeff eventually became Superintendent of Water Works in St. Louis and a nationally recognized figure. For more on Jeff, see Randall Waldron, "Whitman, Thomas Jefferson (1833–1890)," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998).

Notes

  • 1. This letter is addressed: Thos: J Whitman | 2437 2d Carondelet | Avenue | St Louis | Missouri. It is postmarked: Camden | Sep | 15 | 5 30 PM | N.J. [back]
  • 2. Louisa ("Lou") Whitman (Whitman's brother George's wife) had traveled to St. Louis to help Whitman's brother Jeff and his daughter Jessie after the death of Jeff's other daughter Mannahatta ("Hattie"). [back]
  • 3. See the footnote to Whitman's letter to Thomas Jefferson and Jessie Louisa Whitman, September 11, 1886. [back]
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