Item 4: Letter from Park Benjamin Sr. to “My dear sir,” possibly [David Chase Harrington], [1858] October 28
Item — Box: 11, Folder: 4
Dates
- Created: [1858] October 28
Creator
- Benjamin, Park, 1849-1922 (Person)
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Letter
Condition Note:
Good.
Measurements:
7 13/16 in. x 4 15/16 in.
Description:
This letter is from Park Benjamin Jr. and it was written to someone, possibly Mr. David Chase Harrington of Scranton on October 28 [1858]. The letter is in regards to the changing of arrival dates and best routes to get to Wilkes-Barre and Scranton to deliver a lecture at The Young Men's Literary and Debate Club of Scranton. During the winters of 1858 and 1859, the club hosted a number of lectures by prominent orators including Horace Mann, Horace Greeley, J.G. Holland, George William Curtis, Benjamin P. Shillaber (Mrs. Partington), Bayard Taylor, William C. Prime, Dr. Isaac I. Hays, and Park Benjamin among many others. The creator of this letter, Park Benjamin Sr. was born in Demerara, British Ghana but early on was sent to New England where he attended Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. He is known for being a poet, journalist, editor and founder of newspapers. He became an editor and founder of the newspaper The New World, and eventually became a known lecturer, public reader, and periodical writer. Within this letter, he is most likely writing to Mr. Harrington, who suggested the formation of a Young Men’s Literary and Debating Club of Scranton with other distinguished gentlemen on October 23, 1857. He became its first President so he would most likely be the person that Park Benjamin would have written to in regards to scheduling his lecture in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton. In the letter, he mentions two possible lecture subjects, “American peculiarities” and “Youth and Beauty” and he ended up presenting two lectures at Wyoming Hall in Scranton, one lecture called, “Amusing Traits of American Character” and a poem, titled, “Fashion.”
Location:
New York
Transcription:
75 West 45th
New York Oct 28
My dear sir:
Can you not possibly give me November 24 and 25 instead of Dec 1 & 2? I might come the latter dates; but it is doubtful. Pray reconsider this matter, and give me 24 and 25 of November, if you can.- If you cannot, I will do my best to come here, 1 & 2- though I may have to go West. I shall know by the time I get your reply- If that reply tells me the best way to get to Wilkes Barre from New York. Can I leave here and by what route the same day; so as to reach you in season, or miss it & have ten day previous?
My understanding as to terms was $75 and any necessary expenses for two lectures, was that yours? Please write soon
Truly -y
Park Benjamin
P.S. My subjects will, I think, be “American peculiarities” -prose- and “Youth and Beauty -a lesson” poetic. Both are more or less borrowed.
Park Benjamin
P.S. My subjects will, I think, be “American peculiarities” -prose- and “Youth and Beauty -a lesson” poetic. Both are more or less borrowed.
Creator
- Benjamin, Park, 1849-1922 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu