311
●
(EDUCATION.) WASHING-
TON, BOOKER T.
Autograph Letter
Signed, to a Miss Jones, expressing
his profound appreciation for a
bequest of $3000 to Tuskegee from a
Mrs. Baker.
Single leaf of Tuskegee sta-
tionary, written on both sides and dated
30 January 1891; creases where folded; a
faint “border” no doubt resulting from a
mat, when this letter was framed.
Tuskegee, 1891
[3,500/5,000]
“
Dear Miss Jones: Miss Williams’ letter with
the note from you has been received and it
would be useless for me to attempt to say how
deeply they touch me, and it is so hard for me
to realize that I am not going to see dear Mrs.
Baker again in this life. The gift of $3000 for
the benefit of my dear little children is more
than a surprise to me. I do not know how to
express myself regarding it. This unexpected
and generous gift will permit me to give my life more fully than ever to the cause of my race. The condi-
tions that my children would be left in were I to be taken from them has for some time been a burden on
my mind. The bequest to the school will be of the greatest help.” He continues and expresses regret at
not being able to attend the funeral, and suggests that he might visit his correspondent when next in
Boston. This letter is a sharp departure from the usual short typed acknowledgement of a donation.
Washington was, and needed to be a tireless fundraiser for a school that was founded with only $2000
in 1881. Tuskegee was almost always functioning on the edge, and had it not been for Washington’s
ceaseless lecturing tours and fundraising efforts, the school might have failed. In the end, it was this gruel-
ing schedule that killed Washington. Doctors had repeatedly warned that if he did not slow down, his
body would shut down-which it did on November 14th, 1915.
310
[
SEE TEXT OVERLEAF
]
I...,160,161,162,163,164,165,166,167,168,169 171,172,173,174,175,176,177,178,179,180,...310