218

Correspondence of abolitionist Abigail Hopper Gibbons and her literary circle.

Various places, 1834-1889
25 letters and manuscript poems; generally minor wear.  

Abigail Hopper Gibbons (1801-1893) was an important New York abolitionist, founded the Women's Prison Association, and served with the Sanitary Commission during the Civil War. Her husband James Sloan Gibbons (1810-1892) was an abolitionist poet, best known for his Union anthem "We Are Coming Father Abraham, 300,000 More." One of their daughters married into the Emerson family, and they had a wide circle of literary friends. This lot includes:

Letter to Abigail by the noted novelist Catharine M. Sedgwick (1789-1867) a few months before her death. Her children "have brought home delightful recollections & hearts full of gratitude for all your kindness. I am delighted that they have seen you in your own home, your 'sphere,' a home sphere  that you have extended to as wide limits as the most ambitious aspirant for women's rights could desire." Woodbourne, [Jamaica Plain, MA], 20 December 1866. 

Letter to Abigail from her future son-in-law William Emerson Jr. (1835-1864), a nephew of Ralph Waldo Emerson describing a party with most of the notables of the Transcendentalist scene. He writes: "We stopped at Lincoln to tea, and found Mrs. Stowe's daughter, nick-named Marny. . . . Yesterday was a great day at Uncle Waldo's. Mr. Whittier, as you know, came in the morning, and Mr. Thoreau, Mr. Hawthorne, Mr. Alcott. . . . in came Miss Cushman, the actress, & Miss Peabody, with some friends, and Miss Cushman, having asserted that Lowell was a great poet, was of course called on to prove it by reading some of his poems." Concord, MA, 16 September 1860.

Retained draft letter from James Sloan Gibbons to William Emerson (1801-1868), the father of William Emerson Jr., concerning the young man's severe illness, and opposing his marriage to daughter Sarah.  Jeffersonville, IN, 8 October 1860.

4 letters from James to Abigail.  On 26 June 1834 in Philadelphia, he notes that "we hold an Anti-Slavery meeting this evening." Philadelphia and New York, 1834-1836

4 letters relating to the death of Abigail's brother Josiah Hopper in Aspinwall [Colon], Panama, 1854-1855.

4 other family letters to Abigail, 1860-1872 and undated. 

Letter from James to young son Isaac Gibbons (1841-1846) circa 1845, with a manuscript poem addressed to Master Isaac dated 14 February 1846.

4 family letters addressed to James, 1845-1855 and undated.

One letter from daughter Lucy Gibbons Morse (1839-1936) to the extended family.  She was a noted illustrator; she married poet James Herbert Morse (1841-1923). The letter concludes with a small sketch of her holding her baby. Boston, 1 May 1876.

Another letter from Lucy Gibbons Morse to sister Sally Emerson. "Julia & I passed a lovely evening with Mrs. Sedgwick. . . . Mrs. S told us about Gen. Lockwood's order concerning the contrabands at which we were delighted." 

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