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Eliza Reynolds to Walt Whitman, 16 October 1868

About This Item

  • Title: Eliza Reynolds to Walt Whitman, 16 October 1868
  • Date: October 16, 1868
  • Creator(s): Eliza Reynolds
  • Whitman Archive ID: loc.01828
  • 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: Alex Kinnaman Elizabeth Lorang Beverley Rilett John Schwaninger Ashley Lawson Caterina Bernardini Amanda J. Axley Erel Michaelis Jeff Hill Stephanie Blalock
  • Cite this page: Reynolds, Eliza. "Eliza Reynolds to Walt Whitman, 16 October 1868." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 18 January 2025. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: loc.01828.xml (TEI)
 loc.01828.001_large.jpg October the 16/18681 Walter Whitman dear friend

hearing you was in the city i have taken the liberty of addressing you a few lines i am the wife of Henry Reynolds2 and my son3 is called after you, my husband went out West about a year and a half ago since which time we have not heard from him. we are very much in need, and your name sake is a nice boy, between 13 and 14 years old, and i thought perhaps you might take an interest in him. we would be very glad to have you call and see us at 302c East 26 street as soon as possible or drop me a line

yours Respectfully Mrs Reynolds  loc.01828.002_large.jpg  loc.01828.003_large.jpg Mrs. Reynolds.  loc.01828.004_large.jpg

Correspondent:
Eliza Reynolds (b. 1828?) was the wife of the car driver Henry Reynolds (b. 1827–before 1880) and the mother of a boy named after Whitman. Walter Whitman Reynolds wrote to Whitman on February 9, 1870, April 26, 1870, and May 13, 1872. In this last letter, Reynolds begged Whitman, "friend Walt I want to know if you will be kind enough loan me twenty dollars as I want to get a pair of pants and a coat." If Whitman replied, his letters are not extant. According to Whitman's daybook, his namesake Reynolds visited him on September 1, 1889.

Notes

  • 1. This letter is addressed: Walter Whitman Esquire | World Office. [back]
  • 2. According to the 1860 U. S. Census, Henry Reynolds (b. 1827–before 1880) was a "car driver" in New York. [back]
  • 3. Walter Whitman Reynolds (b. 1854), named after the poet, was the son of Henry Reynolds (b. 1827–before 1880), a car driver, and Eliza Reynolds (b. 1828?). Walter's mother Eliza Reynolds, wrote to Whitman on October 16, 1868, imploring Whitman to get to know his namesake. She described Walter as "a nice boy, between 13 and 14 years old" and told the poet: "i thought perhaps you might take an interest in him." Walter Whitman Reynolds wrote to Whitman on February 9, 1870, April 26, 1870, and May 13, 1872. In his May 1872 letter, Reynolds begged Whitman, "friend Walt I want to know if you will be kind enough loan me twenty dollars as I want to get a pair of pants and a coat." If Whitman replied, his letters are not extant. According to Whitman's daybook, his namesake Reynolds visited him on September 1, 1889. [back]
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