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Original 1843 stampless folded letter from Charlestown, Massachusetts, addressed to Miss A. M. Cheney, Southbridge, Mass., care of Wm. Edwards. The cover bears a red Charlestown, Mass. Mar. 11 postmark and manuscript 10 postal rate.
This early American women’s education and disability-history letter was written by a young woman connected with the Charlestown Female Seminary. The letter includes a firsthand reference to visiting the Blind Asylum in Boston, almost certainly the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts Asylum for the Blind, and seeing Laura Bridgman, the deafblind student educated under Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe.
The writer states, in part: “Yesterday I went to the Blind Asylum in Boston, was very much interested, especially in Laura Bridgman… she can neither see, hear, or speak; she is only thirteen years old and can perform sums in Algebra, find towns upon the maps and write.”
Laura Bridgman was one of the best-known pupils of the Perkins Institution and became internationally known in the 1840s as an early example of formal education for a deafblind child. This letter is dated March 1843, placing it during the period when Bridgman’s education was attracting public attention.
The letter also contains period content relating to religious life, education, and daily life among young women in Massachusetts. The writer mentions attending meetings, hearing sermons, having a Sabbath school class at the Navy Yard, and refers to “quite an awakening” in the church. A second related note, dated March 10, 1843, discusses school recess, visiting, expenses, and social arrangements. At the bottom is a note reading: “This is a specimen of the Seminary’s handwriting.”
The letter appears to be connected to the Cheney family of Southbridge, Massachusetts, likely including the Cheney sisters associated with A. M. Cheney and L. C. Cheney.
Please note: this is not written by Laura Bridgman. Its importance is the early firsthand 1843 reference to seeing Laura Bridgman at the Boston Blind Asylum / Perkins 1843 folded stampless letter with expected fold lines, age toning, foxing, handling wear, small tears/splits, and areas of paper loss/wax-seal disturbance from original opening. Some ink is light and portions are difficult to read. Overall a well-preserved manuscript letter. Please review photos carefully for condition and content.
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