SARA AGNES RICE PRYOR - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 07/13/1911 - HFSID 75900

SARA AGNES PRYOR
Sara Agnes Pryor, co-founder of the Daughters of the American Revolution, wrote this letter in 1911, seven months before her death, about illustrations for an upcoming book of verse.
Autograph letter signed "Mrs Robert A. Pryor". 3 pages,5x6½, 1 sheet folded, front and verso. Written at "3 w 69th St", July 13, 1911. In full: "Dear Sir, May I see two or three examples of what you can offer? The 'verses' are in manuscript - and I wish to embellish the book with pleasing pictures in color, or black & white - about the size of this sheet more or less. Flowers, heads &c: or cheerful artist sketches of almost anything. The picture is to be semi-attached to the top of the page - verses [sic] written underneath. Do not send expensive prints - and not many. I shall need about twenty - & flowers are preferred. Truly yours". Postscripted: "P. S. Copies of celebrated artists' heads or groups also." This letter was written seven months before Pryor's death on Feb. 15, 1912. Pryor (1830-1912), born Sara Agnes Rice, married secessionist Democrat Roger Atkinson Pryor, Virginia's U. S. Congressman from 1859 to 1861 and briefly Confederate Representative from 1862, in 1848. She lived with her children in near poverty in occupied Petersburg, Virginia for two years while her husband tried to establish himself as a lawyer in New York, joining him there in 1867. Roger found success in Democratic circles in New York, but Sara knew he would be viewed with suspicion in both the North and South due to his past views, so she associated herself with a number of patriotic and philanthropic societies to deflect criticism. Her greatest accomplishment was co-founding the National Society of the Daughters of the Revolution in 1890. Sara became an author late in life, writing occasional magazine articles and the books The Mother of Washington and Her Times (1903), Reminiscences of Peace and War (1904), The Birth of a Nation (1907) and My Day: Reminiscences of a Long Life (1909). Lightly toned and creased. Handwriting, but not signature, has bled lightly in places but is legible. Folded once and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition.