Our archive holds a wealth of fascinating correspondence, scrapbooks, diaries, and other materials that offer unique perspectives into the interior lives of some of the most influential people of the 19th century. We invite our public into close contact with some of our most insightful, curious, enlightening, and humorous archival holdings for monthly gatherings where we read letters from our collection. We hold letters from Frederick Douglass, Harriet Jacobs, William Lloyd Garrison, and other progressive thinkers of the 19th century, in addition of course to those written by the extensive and active Beecher family. This gathering will meet and read copies of historic letters from our archive, with the original on display. Together, we will work through not only 19th century handwriting (transcript will be available) but the topics, thoughts, emotional reactions these writers held. 19th century correspondence was both a semi-private and semi-public affair, and letters offer a unique glimpse into the personality and interiority of individuals. We hope you’ll join Cat White, Director of Historic Collections, as we bring our letters out of the archives!