1832.07.03 - Elizabeth Huntington to Mary Huntington, Jul. 3rd, 1832
In the beginning of the letter, Elizabeth starts by telling Mary about how a stranger from New Salem, who she does not seem particularly fond of, was knocking on her door. She tells Mary about how she proceeds to let him in, but hopes that this third visit is his final visit and that he is more careful about the business they are doing even though it is not that important. In the next paragraph, she tells Mary about the hymns that they sing in church, which shows that she is religious. In the last paragraph, she goes on to state how grateful she is for the welfare of the family even though the business described in the first paragraph sometimes devolves on her. She then, once again goes on to say that she is so grateful that God has blessed her and her family, even more grateful than she was a year ago. She then closes the letter with affection and signs it “EH.”
Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 12 Folder 12)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
1832-07-03
Courtesy of the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Foundation
For permissions contact Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Correspondence
1835.03.22 - Elizabeth Huntington to Mary Huntington, Mar. 22nd, 1835
In this letter, Elizabeth Huntington writes to her daughter Mary, apparently for the first time in a while (she talks about the “awkwardness” of picking up again something that one has neglected). She updates Mary on her family and on other townspeople, and discusses women’s employment a bit. The letter then turns to the topic of education: first Elizabeth talks about educating children inside the classroom, but then she broadens her approach and talks about the duty of parents/mothers to educate their children in morals. She recognizes that it is a hard thing to do, and requires sacrifice and effort, but also indicates that she knows the payoff will be good in the end. There is a strong religious undertone throughout the letter as well, as Elizabeth refers to her faith as the thing that makes difficult times – bad weather, being kept from public worship, the stress of raising children right – bearable.
Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 12 Folder 12)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
1835-03-22
Courtesy of the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Foundation
For permissions contact Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Correspondence
1844.01.27 - Elizabeth Huntington to Frederic Dan Huntington, January 27th, 1844
Mother Elizabeth writes to son Frederic in order to inform him of the state of his dying sister, Helen. Elizabeth reveals her thoughts on death and the afterlife, and talks about their various encounters with family friends. Elizabeth compliments her son on a sermon he has written and rejoices in both his call to faith and his upcoming visit. She ends the letter with a religious statement of hopes for his and everyone’s futures. She adds in an afterthought her thanks for a gift Frederic has given her, praising him for his generosity. She writes vertically as she runs out of room to comment on the coldness of the weather and a sum of money that her daughter will receive.
Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 12 Folder 9)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
1844-01-27
Courtesy of the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Foundation
For permissions contact Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Correspondence
1844.09.05 - Elizabeth Huntington to Frederic Dan Huntington, September 5th, 1844
Elizabeth is writing to her son Frederic about things that happen and the things that she does in her daily life. She discusses his baby and her hope to see her grandson, who is possibly equal to the size of her son Theophilus. She updates him on what his other brothers and sisters are doing in other places or at home. She meets people in Northampton, has calls with people, and goes to church. In the end of the letter, she encouraged him to continue to work and add as much religious instruction to his work as he can.
Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 12 Folder 9)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
1844-09-05
Courtesy of the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Foundation
For permissions contact Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Correspondence
1832.06.21 - Mary D. Huntington to Bethia Huntington, June 21, 1832
This is a letter that Mary wrote to her sister Bethia likely while she was at Miss Emma Willard’s School in Troy, New York. She starts by stating that she is up to date with all her communication, except she has not written to William, because she does not feel like writing in French--she seems to be using her letters to him to practice her language skills. It seems she is just killing time and venting to her sister about how she does not feel well. Mary seems to think that she may even have some kind of “disorder” or condition that is making her feel this way. She tells Bethia that she really wants someone to come and visit her. She may be a homesick teenager away at school, but she seems adamant that someone must come see her. Her quote is a reference to the bible: Exodus 2:22. Overall the letter seems to be a sister venting to a sister, and Mary simply wants someone to be there for her while she is feeling ill physically or mentally. Something to note here though, is the fact that Mary died at the age of 24 in 1839, so it is possible that she in fact did have some kind of chronic medical condition.
Mary D. Huntington
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 20, Folder 7)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
June 21, 1832
Public domain.
1832.06.28 - Mary D. Huntington to Bethia Huntington, Jun 28, 1832
Mary D. Huntington writes to her sister, Bethia Huntington, thanking her for a letter received from her. She goes on to discuss current events in her life at Miss Emma Willard’s School in Troy, New York. These events include, interactions and conversations had with her teachers Mr.Tucker and Mrs.Willard ranging in topic from religion and her studies to current town gossip concerning the recent death of two black townspeople. In discussing school lessons she mentions both French and learning to play the guitar. She then expresses her feelings concerning her family members, from hope for her sister Elizabeth’s plans to worry about her recent lack of correspondence with brothers Edward and William. She especially wants to hear Edward's advice on flowers. Finally, she concludes with caring sentiments about her parents and Fanny and reminds Bethia to write back soon.
Mary D. Huntington
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 20, Folder 7)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
June 28, 1832
Public domain.
1832.06.30 Mary Huntington to Elizabeth W. P. Huntington, Jun 30, 1832
In this letter, Mary writes to her mother, Elizabeth, and agrees that she should accompany her cousin to communion. Mary laments that she cannot have such discussions about religion with her friends, and not only does she wish to make a public profession of her faith, but she wishes that her brothers would join her—even though she does not have the authority to ask them. However, Mary fears that she will not return home from Mrs. Willard’s school before the first Sabbath in August. The examination is to begin July 25 th and last one week, so that the girls may return home sooner, and Mary wishes to know the plans regarding her return in the next letter. She fears that she must wait for her sister Elizabeth, whose homecoming is also uncertain. Finally, there is also a cholera outbreak in New York and Fort Millar, adding urgency to her homecoming. Though Mrs. Willard says she looks pale, Mary writes that her health is as usual, and that she wishes to return home as soon as possible. Even still, Mary asks her family to pray for her and to let her know their plans for her homecoming as soon as possible.
Mary Huntington
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 20, Folder 13)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Jun 30, 1832
Public Domain
1834.11.01 - Mary Huntington to Elizabeth W. P. Huntington, Nov 1, 1834
Mary is writing a letter to her mother about her arrival at Oswego. The first half of her letter she talks about the journey itself, she discusses how she felt sick at one point but has since gotten over it. She then talks about the friends she made in her short time in Oswego. After that, Mary exclaims how much she misses her family back home, but then quickly transitions into how the weather has been since she has been there. She then quickly closes the first part of the letter because it is growing dark.
After the initial part of her letter, Mary writes a lengthy ps. which mainly details what she has done each day. Mary starts her postscript.s by saying what expenses she has accumulated then goes into her day by day account. The first part of her recounting her days is heavily focused on her religious encounter with the people she has been around. She talks about how she may have to conform to their beliefs while she is there in Oswego. Once she finishes talking about the religious portion of her day by day accounts she goes into the ladies she has interacted with since arriving to Oswego. She says the belles are a pleasure to be around and looks forwards to more interactions with them, and jokes that she hopes she does “not become dissipated.” Before she closes her letter again, she notes that she hasn’t been into the town except for church and anticipates going soon. She closes her letter by stating how she misses her family and sends her love and reminds them that they are all protected by the love of God.
Mary Huntington
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 20, Folder 13)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Nov 1, 1834
Public Domain
1835.03.31 - Mary Huntington to Elizabeth W. P. Huntington, Mar 31, 1835
In this letter to her mother, Mary is explaining the stressful things in her life. She writes that people do not understand what she is going through, but she also wants to write about the important things that Spring brings. She had been in Oswego for almost 6 months, and she cannot wait to see her mother and sister. Her time there had been so well, that the time and distance between them have not been so bad, making the letter so important to her staying connected. Mary describes the situation of the teaching position that is needed and asked that her mother propose it to a prospective teacher. Even though she misses her mother, Mary still wishes to stay with her sister on the lake until mid-June. She ends the letter pleaded for her mother to write back quickly, implying that it is of great importance to her to stay connected.
Mary Huntington
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 20, Folder 13)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Mar 31, 1835
Public Domain
1769.01.27 - 1769.05.27 — Elizabeth Porter Phelps to Penelope Williams, January 22, 1769 through May 27, 1769
Elizabeth Porter Phelps sends four letters to Penelope Williams, spanning from January 1769 to late May. In the first letter, Elizabeth expresses her conflicting emotions about her faith and relationship to the church. She goes back and forth in sentences like “sometimes I dispair almost at other times I am comforted tho how dare I be so when I’ve reason to fear I’ve no interest in Christ.” In the second letter in the bundle, Elizabeth Porter Phelps writes roughly a month later (February 26, 1769), expressing many of the same concerns. She writes, “Surely once a month I can find time to write to my friend another Sacrament I’ve turned my back upon Christ + his church,” somewhat poking fun at the fact that she can’t seem to stop breaking the rules of the Church. The letter grows more personal and addresses some of Elizabeth and Penelope’s past interactions, for example, Elizabeth writes “O my dear why have you so much tenderness for me — did I see the tears in your eyes that Sunday when you entered the Room, me thot that you could not speak,” giving readers the first glimpse of there being something more than “friendship” between these two women. The third letter (March 19, 1769) delves further into the intimacy between Elizabeth and Penelope. Elizabeth expresses her joy and relief that Penelope has healed. Based on context from Elizabeth’s diary entries at the time, Penelope had fallen to an unknown illness and came close to dying, but then recovered just before Elizabeth wrote this letter. Elizabeth expresses some of her philosophies on the unavoidable nature of death and the necessity to be prepared not only for your death, but also the deaths of your loved ones. Elizabeth writes more about her love and affection for Penelope, describing “the tenderest effections sparkle” in Penelope’s eyes. She goes on to write “how unwelcome was company just then I long to expressed my satisfaction + joy for your recovery by tears at least — how cruel was it to forbear taking your hand,” further evidencing a romantic aspect to this relationship. The fourth letter in the series is delivered months later on May 27, 1769. She inquires about two dollars and a handkerchief from Penelope, but writes very briefly, in a tone that feels more brisk and reserved than all the previous letters.
Elizabeth Porter Phelps
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 5, Folder 16)
University of Massachusetts Special Collections and University Archives
1769
Public domain
Letter