Douglass, Frederick. Letter to Ward, Henry A (1874-09-23)
Washington Sept. 23, 1874
Dear Prof. H. A. Ward,
I do not forget you and was glad to
receive a line from you. I did not
need a reference to our voyage on
the Tennessee to recall your form
features and character. You are
better remembered by those who have
once seen you than your modesty
permits you to believe. I am in
sympathy with your efforts to assist
Wilberforce in the manner you
propose and would gladly help
you. I feel quite sure that a cabinet
such as you would set up and arrange
would be of great value to the students
Douglass, Frederick. Letter to Ward, Henry A (1874-09-23)
at Wilberforce and worth a great
deal more money than you will
charge for that work, but how to get
the money is the troublesome questions
here as elsewhere. If I were able I
would gladly make the donation of
$1,200 myself, but I am not able. I am
a Trustee of Howard University and on the
committee for raising means for the
support of that institution, but I am
not for that reason the less interested
in the success of Wilberforce and other
colleges open to colored youth. Besides
I am acquainted with Bishop Payne
and know him as an earnest and
faithful worker for the educationDouglass, Frederick. Letter to Ward, Henry A (1874-09-23)
and elevation of the colored race of
which he is a noble representative.
Now in regard to my friend Gerrit
Smith who send me a thousand
dollars a few weeks ago in aid of
poor students at Howard University.
you know it is the giving men who
give, and he is emphatically a giving
man, one who lives only to serve
and bless the weak oppressed and
struggling. It will be entirely proper
to call upon him. Set the matter
before him in full. You had better call
upon him at his home among the
hills of Peterboro. You will have a
charming visit even if you do notDouglass, Frederick. Letter to Ward, Henry A (1874-09-23)
get the means of putting up a cabinet
at Wilberforce and you may do
this or be put in the way of
doing it.
Wishing you every success in all
your efforts to promote science
Very truly yours
Fredk Douglass
