1835.03.22 - Elizabeth Huntington to Mary Huntington, Mar. 22nd, 1835

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