Farnsworth, Hannah Blake, 1802-1879

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A.L. draft. Difficulties arising from having no secretary for writing the Council Minutes as Miss Tracy is resigning. She exceeded her authority and sent to printer without Regent's approval; errors cited, questions of constitutionality of action, etc. Vice Regent of Michigan suggests the Regent live at Mount Vernon. No formal resignation of the secretary acted on. ER-11, p. 149

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Partial copy, incomplete. Explains current situation with Miss Tracy who is living at the Mansion for the time being although resigned from her duties. Afraid she was wrong about Miss Tracy who may have also been irresponsible with finances. Feels Mr. Riggs is upset with her over Miss Tracy's departure but doesn't really understand why. ER-16, p. 150

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A.L.S. Encloses a sample of oak wood "carpeting" she wishes to have laid on the floor of her room at Mount Vernon. Enclosure no longer with the letter. ER-17, p. 248. Undated 069.

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A.L.S. Detroit. Pleased first payment on MV is made. Send $95 for MV Record and will forward $200 for fund. Is preparing subscription books and has met kindness everywhere, plans to personally visit every county and develop its organization. Ann Arbor well organized. ER-10, p. 73

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A.L.S. Detroit. Prefers Feb.22 to Dec. 14 as date of taking possession of Mount Vernon. ER-17, p, 154

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A.L.S. Detroit. Received favorable reports of meeting from Mrs. Comegys and Mrs. Eve, also of improvements. Mr. Corcoran's idea of a "temple of patriotism quite charming." Recommends site of old Tomb and suggests New York artists be asked to submit designs at next Council. Has no money for improvement fund. Hopes to send $150 to endowment fund. ER-17, p. 161

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A.L.S. Detroit. Sends draft for $600. ER-3, p. 295

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A.L.S. Detroit. Sends draft for $100. ER-23, p. 295

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A.L.S. New Rochelle. Asks him to acknowledge he received the Michigan coat of arms, long delayed in reaching Mount Vernon. Has $150 for hall floors. ER-17, p. 248

Scope and Contents A.L.S. Portion of letter missing (cut out).Detroit. Will not attend June Council. Begs Vice Regents Chase and Comegys to be there. Mrs. Mitchell attends to Masons and to repair Tomb walls. Refers to discussion of Association finances with Regent, (refuses a salary), funds advanced by her, etc. Mrs. Ritchie suggests assigning a definite yearly sum to her. Vice Regent Farnsworth holds proxies for Van Antwerp, Fitch, Richie and Sibley. She will turn these over to Vice Regent Fitch if she...

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A.L.S. Detroit. Re Mrs. Morse, absences from Council, and change of state residence. Problems of action against a Vice Regent who does not attend to duties of Association or is in marked opposition to Regent. ER-17, p. 160

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A.L. Fragment, portion of letter cut away. Detroit. Urges Mrs. Comegys's attendance at Council. Mrs. Cutts of Vermont, who has never attended a meeting may be there. ER-17, p. 158

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A.L.S. Detroit. Hopes Mrs. Comegys thought attending Council was worthwhile, so many improvements at Mount Vernon. Asks if any relics have been received such as Mrs. Roger's (Havre de Grace) white satin vest. Pleased with Mrs. Comegys's report, expects Mrs. Sweat's report soon. Pleased affair with the Vice Regent of Louisiana is adjusted. ER-17, p. 161

Scope and Contents A.L.S. New Rochelle. No word received from Regent or Mrs. Tiffey since last Council. Replied promptly to Regent's Appeal for funds for improvements. No funds on hand, no prospects, except several $50 endowment fund pledges, told to collect and send treasurer. Suggests using endowment fund for repairs as Mount Vernon will doubtless go to U.S. Government after Regent's death. Mr. Corcoran's offer to rebuild summer house (on site of old Ice House), should be reproduction of original....

Scope and Contents A.L.S. Fragment, incomplete letter. Re leniency with Regent's household expenses since she works with illnesses. Wonders who could follow as Regent. Mr. Corcoran is ill, thinks "temple" he offered should be built at once. Could Mrs. Eve undertake this? She fears endowment funds will not be finished. Asks about living expenses of Nathan's family, Regent, maid, invited guests. Asks about successor for Secretary Tiffey. Portrait Mrs. Cunningham "generously undertook to procure" is...

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A.L.S. Angel Island. Re her life in California. ER-17, p. 169

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A.L.S. New Rochelle. Secured Michigan coat of arms. Walnut and oak floor most suitable for hall. Asks for several back issues of the Report. ER-17, p. 248

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A.L.S. New Rochelle. After prolonged delay the coat of arms of her adopted state of Michigan has reached Mount Vernon and Hollingsworth has forwarded engraved receipts to Governor and architect of Michigan. Has $150 to be used for hall floor. ER-17, p. 248

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A.L.S. New Rochelle. Specifications sent to her. Doesn't intend putting new floors in rooms adjoining Hall but perhaps ladies furnishing those rooms will do it. Thinks relics of Washington family should be purchased for $12,000 after repairs are all made and endowment fund collected. ER-17, p. 249

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A.L.S. New Rochelle. Asks about work in hall, has $150 for floor. Has confidence in Mrs. Halsted's judgment, tells her to use her vote on H.D. Cooke and Co. if needed. This is her 76th birthday. ER-17, p. 248

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Pledges to collect $1,000 and hopes each state will do the same. Wishes her good health. (No year on letter. Was maybe 1875 since it refers to upcoming centennial celebrations in 1876)

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One printed appeal by Hannah Farnsworth, Vice Regent for Michigan, "Appeal to the Ladies of Michigan," 1858. Also, one printed appeal dated 1868 by Ann Pamela Cunningham "An Appeal from the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union" with a note on the second page by Mrs. Farnsworth about the donations from Michigan. Note is dated 1878.

Scope and Contents The bulk of this collection is correspondence to Mrs. Laughton concerning Mount Vernon and the work of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. Other material includes correspondence from Mrs. Laughton, formal reports and papers of the MVLA, personal correspondence and memoirs, photographs, printed material, and ephemera. The overall dates range from 1850 to 1891 with the bulk of the collection dating from the 1860s-1880s.This collection contains correspondence from a significant...