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Glenn Tilley Morse et al : Collection of Six Original Letters to Glenn Tilley Morse, Various Places, 1896-1929

Collection of six original letters handwritten in black ink on beige paper. All letters, except for the one dated 1919, are addressed to Glenn Tilley Morse and complete. One envelope addressed to Morse in Cambridge, Massachusetts included. Four of the letters are dated 1896, 1919, and 1929. Two of the letters are undated, circa 1890s-1920s. Letters range in size between 4 1/2" x 6" (folded letters) and 8 1/2" x 11" (unfolded letter). Each letter is very clean and intact except for age toning, a few light stains, slight wrinkling, and a few tiny closed tears. Each letter, the envelope, and the entire collection are Very Good. Glenn Tilley Morse (1870-1950) was an American clergyman, historian, and art collector. He was part of the Chase family, a large family that went back for generations. Morse graduated from Harvard University in 1898 and from the Cambridge Episcopalian Theological School in 1901. He lived and worked in Massachusetts. As an art collector, Morse had an impressive silhouette collection which was later donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1950. The following are summaries of each letter in this collection. (1) Letter from Aunt Alice ("A. G. C."), 1896, Avondale, six pages: Aunt Alice writes to Morse about many recent events including a tornado, the demise of an infamous anonymous writer, and the hotel business. She and Uncle Bert advise him to invest in a typewriter company and to sell hotel and gas stock to come up with the capital. (2) Anonymous partial letter, 1919, London, on Food Administration Grain Corporation stationery, one page: the unknown correspondent responds to a past letter and writes that he cannot come to West Newbury for Christmas and spend time with the recipient as much as he would like to. He feels that work should be a priority and that it would be unfair to his coworkers if he took the time off. The unknown writer is working for President Hoover on war recovery. He writes that "Mr. Hoover is anxious to get a final statement on the European end of the Relief Operation and we are trying our best to get things in shape to give him the information he wants." (3) Letter from Violet M. Carleton, January 7, 1929, Andover, MA, three pages: Carleton invites Morse to come and look at samplers "and things of like vintage" from her family's collection. She begins with an eloquent description of a sampler made by her great-grandmother Sephronia Whitney when she was just thirteen years old, which contains alphabets, numerical figures, decorative borders, and floral imagery. Carleton also describes a beautifully embroidered family tree made by Sephronia's sister, Harriett. She then writes about a "black silk shawl, "chair-back cover and cushion," and "paisley trimmed scarves." She encourages Morse to look at the aforementioned items even if he does not commit to buying. Carleton explains that she is looking to sell the items in the hopes that they will wind up in the hands of someone who will care for them. (4) Letter from Florence R. Brooks (Mrs. John Brooks), March 16, 1929, Templeton, MA, three pages: Florence writes to the publishers of the House Beautiful at Concord, NH and requests that they send this letter to Morse because she does not have his address. Florence asks Morse about the value of a silhouette she owns that was made by her ancestor, the noted French silhouette artist, Auguste Edouart (1789-1861). (5) Letter from "Bee," undated, Ardmore, Pennsylvania, three pages: Bee, a friend or relative of Morse, writes that they have given Morse an annual subscription to Studio Magazine as a Christmas gift and briefly notes a recent trip they had been on. (6) Letter from Bee, undated, Lakehurst, New Jersey, two pages: Bee writes with great joy and gusto about booking Morse for lectures about silhouettes, the House Beautiful magazine and other publications, and a recent trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Very Good. Binding: No Binding

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