GEORGE HAVEN PUTNAM - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 06/22/1927 - HFSID 202377

GEORGE HAVEN PUTNAM
He responds to an autograph request by urging the collector to join the advocacy groups Putnam leads.
Typed Letter signed: "Geo. Haven Putnam", 1 page, 8½x11. New York City, 1927 June 22. On letterhead of the Free Trade League to Charles O. Mitchell, New Haven, Connecticut. In full: "I have just returned to my desk in New York after my usual annual sojourn in the London office. I find, with a mass of correspondence reserved for my attention, your note of April 29th. At the bottom of this sheet you will find the autograph desired. I should be glad if you might be interested in accepting membership in one or more of the organizations for the direction of which I have assumed responsibilities: The English Speaking Union, The League of Nations Association, The Free Trade League, the Washington Irving Memorial. I am, Yours very truly".
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. Normal mailing folds. Toned. 1½" vertical tear from top edge through "L" of banner. Numerous small tears at right edge. Otherwise, fine condition.