FIRST LADY MARY LORD HARRISON - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 09/24 - HFSID 327087

MARY LORD HARRISON
Letter from the First Lady to an associate, saying she had received his letter but was unable to understand it. She goes on to note that a curiosity he had sent her was simply a campaign caricature for her late husband, President Benjamin Harrison
Autograph letter signed: "Mary Lord Harrison", in blue ink, 4x6. In full: "Dear Mr. Clement Yes, I received your letter - with the certificate, um - I don't understand what it means? The "curiousity" [illegible], was a campaign caricature which I [illegible]. I remember it at the time. Sincerely [signature] Sept. 24th". Mary Lord Harrison's (1858-1948) Aunt Caroline had married Benjamin Harrison. When Mary's mother died, her Aunt Caroline, then First Lady, invited Mary to live in the White House. By that time Mary had been a young widow. She assisted her aunt in her social affairs and served as her secretary. In the summer of 1892, Caroline was taken ill and died October 25, 1892 at the age of 60. On April 6, 1896, in New York City, 37-year-old Mary married her uncle, 62-year-old widower Benjamin Harrison. Conspicuously absent from the wedding were the groom's two children, who were older than the bride and aghast at the union. Mary died in 1948 at the age of 89, surviving her husband by 46 years and both stepchildren. Corners slightly worn. Lightly toned. Stray ink marks on top margin. Slightly soiled. Crease through center, horizontally. Otherwise, fine condition.