GEORGE HAVEN PUTNAM - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 02/21/1929 - HFSID 287797

GEORGE HAVEN PUTNAM
On letterhead of the Free Trade League, the publisher expresses regret that the US had not joined the League of Nations.
Typed Letter signed: "Geo. Haven Putnam", 1 page, 8½x11. New York City, 1929 February 21. On letterhead of the Free Trade League, George H. Putnam President, to Ellis D. Robb, Atlanta, Georgia. In full: "I have this morning your friendly note of the 19th. I may report that I am already responsible for two volumes of Memories; one has to do with my college days in Paris and in Germany, and the other gives the record of my years as a publisher. The books are described in the accompanying list. [Item not included.] I think that probably they are all not in the town library. I have recently returned from a trip southward where I was speaking in behalf of the English-Speaking Union, the World Court, and the League of Nations. I had engagements in Savannah and I gave five lectures in Florida. Later I had a similar appointment in Columbus, Ohio. I find my audiences keenly interested in the reshaping of the international policy of the United States. They share my mortification that, in this matter of the comity of nations, the United States should join itself not with the fifty-four civilized states that have come together in the League, but with Dahomey and Afghanistan. I am, Yours faithfully". George Haven Putnam (1844-1930), studying in Germany when the Civil War broke out, returned to fight for the Union cause. Captured at the Battle of Cedar Creek (October 1864), he spent the war's duration as a POW, writing about this experience in a 1912 book. When his his father George P. Putnam died in1872, Putnam became President of what was now G. P. Putnam's Sons Publishers. He held that post for 54 years. Putnam was active in many civic causes, as this letter attests. Earlier he had lobbied successfully for stronger international copyright protection laws (1891). Putnam wrote several books, ranging from military history to children's stories. Edges and corners frayed and chipped. Multiple notches at edges. Toned and lightly creased. Multiple mailing folds. Unknown stains at lower right corner. Otherwise, fine condition.