Letter to Jo Anne Mondowney, Detroit Public Library Director; and Benjamin Shapell, Manuscript Foundation Director

Letter

Dear Mr. Grossman,

Next year the United States of America will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Throughout the course of 2015, there will be a great many tributes and celebrations of Lincoln's life and legacy. His likeness, engrained in the minds of our citizenry, evokes strong feelings of hope, unity, freedom, and the importance of civic virtue. A key component of that likeness, Lincoln's beard, can be traced back to the town of Westfield, NY.

Grace Bedell, then just eleven-years-old, wrote to a bare-faced Lincoln and suggested that "all the ladies love men who wear whiskers." To Grace's shock, the candidate not only responded to her letter, but also heeded her advice and grew a beard. He even paid a visit to Grace Bedell on the way to his inauguration.

The Benjamin Shapell Manuscript Foundation is the trusted guardian of many historical treasures, including Lincoln's return correspondence to Miss Bedell. As you are no doubt aware, this piece was displayed at the Library of Congress in 2009 aside the letter that little Grace wrote to Lincoln. These documents deserved to be returned, temporarily, to Westfield, NY. Any celebration of our sixteenth president in Chautauqua County would be incomplete without an exhibition of this historic correspondence.

Therefore, I am writing to request that the Benjamin Shapell Manuscript Foundation loan the Lincoln letter to the Chautauqua County Historical Society for some duration over the next year. This correspondence, to be displayed at the historic McClurg Mansion in Westfield, NY, would serve as a reminder to all visitors of the importance of civic engagement and Chautauqua County's lasting impact on American history.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer

United States Senator

Dear Ms. Mondowney,

As you are no doubt aware, next year the United States of America will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The year 2015 will see a great many tributes and celebrations of the life and legacy of our sixteenth president. Lincoln's likeness is engrained in minds of our citizenry, evoking passionate feelings of hope, togetherness, perseverance, and freedom. A key component of that likeness, Lincoln's beard, can trace its roots to the town of Westfield, NY.

Grace Bedell, then an eleven-year-old, wrote to the bare-faced presidential candidate and suggested that he "wear whiskers." To the shock of the entire region, Lincoln not only responded to her letter, but also complied. He even paid little Grace Bedell a visit on his way to the inaugural.

The Detroit Public Library has been a trusted guardian of letter that Miss Bedell send President Lincoln. This document deserves to be returned, temporarily, to the village from whence it originated. Any celebration of Lincoln's legacy in Chautauqua County would be incomplete without an exhibition of this historic correspondence.

Therefore, I am writing to request that the Detroit Public Library and the Burton Historical Collection loan the Bedell letter to the Chautauqua County Historical Society for some duration over the next year. This correspondence, to be displayed at the historic McClurg Mansion in Westfield, NY, would serve as a reminder to all visitors of the importance of civic engagement and this region's lasting impact of American history.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer

United States Senator

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