The correspondence with family, friends and business associates gives a view into Jewett's family and social life as well as her life as a writer. The letters to and from Annie Fields include a consoling note after the death of Fields' husband, James T. Fields, in 1881. Jewett and Fields's long friendship is documented in their own letters and is mentioned in letters to others including letters that Fields and Mary Rice Jewett wrote to others after Sarah's death dealing with her estate. Close family relationships are presented in the many letters to Mary Rice Jewett particularly in the care the aunts took of nephew Theodore Eastman after his mother Carrie Eastman, Jewett's sister, died. The letters to Abbie S. Beede, who typed manuscripts for Sarah and Annie, shows the development of the relationship with Beede from distant to friendly with Jewett sometimes asking Beede for her opinion of a particular story.
To date, only a portion of the correspondence has been digitized. The transcriptions were part of the collection as it was acquired by MWWC; as such, their accuracy has not been verified but they are presented as-is. If you find an error in a transcription, please email your correction to ltaylor6@une.edu.
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I had no intention of letting so long a time pass...
Ellen Mason
Letter from Ellen Mason to Sarah Orne Jewett discussing Kate's health, reading, drawing class, spring.
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It was so pleasant to come home...
Mary Rice Jewett
Letter from Mary Rice Jewett to Sarah Orne Jewett discussing weather, visitors, furniture, early spring.
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There is no going abroad for joys...
Mary Rice Jewett
Letter from Mary Rice Jewett to Sarah Orne Jewett discussing weather, visitors.
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Your letter urging me to come to you...
Annie Fields
Letter from Annie Fields to Sarah Orne Jewett discussing a difficult meeting, sales of "The Marsh Island," visitors.
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I hope that you and Mary can come...
Annie Fields
Letter from Annie Fields to Sarah Orne Jewett discussing a reading event, Alice Howe, fatigue.
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The noble box of "green growing things"...
Annie Fields
Letter from Annie Fields to Sarah Orne Jewett discussing a gift from Jewett ("noble box of green growing things"), weather, fatigue, visitors.
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Just one word this Saturday morning...
Annie Fields
Letter from Annie Fields to Sarah Orne Jewett discussing the weather, visitors.
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Aldrich and Lillian have just gone...
Annie Fields
Letter from Annie Fields to Sarah Orne Jewett discussing Jewett's writing, How to Help the Poor, gossip.
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As for Mrs. Forbes dearest...
Annie Fields
Letter from Annie Fields to Sarah Orne Jewett discussing her poor health and fatigue.
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Have you seen Janet Ross's vegetable book...
Annie Fields
Letter from Annie Fields to Sarah Orne Jewett discussing social plans, weather, Janet Ross's vegetable book, request for "Japanese balls for children."
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I felt a bit anxious yesterday...
Annie Fields
Letter from Annie Fields to Sarah Orne Jewett discussing plans for luncheon, weather, foot pain.
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Although we could say so little...
Annie Fields
Letter from Annie Fields to Sarah Orne Jewett discussing the wedding of Diana Rockwell to Eliot Sumner, written on their wedding invitation.