Letter from Myra Bradwell to Abram Wakeman
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Myra Bradwell to Abram Wakeman
Subject
Myra Bradwell's letter about Mary Todd Lincoln place in the mental asylum
Description
In this letter, Myra Bradwell contacts Abram Wakeman on behalf of Mary Todd Lincoln, seeking assistance in proving her sanity and leaving the "insane asylum."
The widow of Abraham Lincoln was committed to the institution by her only living son, Robert, a few years after her husband's death. In this time, it was easy to pin a woman as insane in order to wield control of her finances and life.
The letter is written on Chicago Legal News letterhead paper, perhaps Bradwell’s way of affirming her legal knowledge and authority. Bradwell’s clear direction and rhetoric in this letter shows that she utilized her legal knowledge to free Mary Todd Lincoln from the mental asylum.
This letter can also affirm that Bradwell turned to the law in more than just women’s political rights to gain justice for her fellow female peers.
The widow of Abraham Lincoln was committed to the institution by her only living son, Robert, a few years after her husband's death. In this time, it was easy to pin a woman as insane in order to wield control of her finances and life.
The letter is written on Chicago Legal News letterhead paper, perhaps Bradwell’s way of affirming her legal knowledge and authority. Bradwell’s clear direction and rhetoric in this letter shows that she utilized her legal knowledge to free Mary Todd Lincoln from the mental asylum.
This letter can also affirm that Bradwell turned to the law in more than just women’s political rights to gain justice for her fellow female peers.
Creator
Bradwell, Myra, 1831-1894
Source
Insanity File Collection; Mary Todd Lincoln Correspondence
Publisher
Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection - https://www.lincolncollection.org/search/results/item/?q=myra+bradwell&item=106305
Date
1875
Rights
Digital File 71200908502612_2; available through the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Handwritten letter, 13 cm, on Office of the Chicago Legal News Company letterhead.
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Dear Sir,
I write you at the request of Mrs. Lincoln. She is at an Insane Asylyum at Balaria Lee's & is very desirous of seeing your - or communicating with you by letter. She is quite well & as I think not insane. She will not be obliged to remain there much longer I hope...
Yours respectfully, Myra Bradwell
I write you at the request of Mrs. Lincoln. She is at an Insane Asylyum at Balaria Lee's & is very desirous of seeing your - or communicating with you by letter. She is quite well & as I think not insane. She will not be obliged to remain there much longer I hope...
Yours respectfully, Myra Bradwell
Original Format
Handwritten letter, 13 cm, on Office of the Chicago Legal News Company letterhead.
Citation
Bradwell, Myra, 1831-1894, “Letter from Myra Bradwell to Abram Wakeman,” The Activism of Myra Bradwell , accessed May 2, 2024, https://myrabradwell.omeka.net/items/show/26.