Document 1: 1836 Letter
Author: Irene Ball
Recipient: Lucinda Ball and family
Date: September 1836
Source: Ball-Curtis Papers, Record Group 30/6, Oberlin College Archives
Document Type: Typed letter
According to the first transcriber of this letter, “No envelope was used. The letter [was] folded 4 times and then sealed.” Spelling errors are kept, as Irene might have made them herself.
The letter is notable for Irene’s list of necessities for Oberlin students at the time and her lack of interest in marrying William Allan, which would soon change. Irene wanted her younger brother Archibald (nicknamed Mack from his middle name McCullum) to join her to study, and specified all the items he would have to bring, and the work he would have to do. Archibald did eventually receive an A. B. from Oberlin in 1844, then studied at the Theological Seminary until 1847. Irene also explained that although her suitor was an eminent figure in the community, she would not marry him because she was unsure whether the dangerous life of abolitionists was right for her. If a woman married, her husband’s career would determine how she lived. Irene harbored excitement and ambition to become an educated, autonomous woman.
25
Dear Friends
I was at work the other evening in the dining-hall with Emeline1 when the boy who brings letters came in & gave one to me. I siezed [sic] it, looked at Post Mark & saw Lowville, had you been here to have seen how we acted without knowing how we felt you would have thought us crazy—we got the letter open when Lo & Behold! the long wished for, much needed 15$ was discovered to our sight—we read the letter & was [sic] happy to learn that our dear friends were all alive and well—we first read Silas’s2 reproachful, complementary, & with all rather laconic preface, we then ran over the budget of news the gist of which was the weddings, then came Mothers [sic] short, concise yes even stingy epistle—but with all most precious. so [sic] full of that kind & motherly regard so dear to an absent daughter.
Then came the short note from little, warm Mack as Emeline says—and last not least we found Malinda’s3 long, full, valuable page seasoned all along down the page with wit, good nature or better still pumpkin pie—the only fault I find with Malinda’s is this it left us with our mouths watering, as we term it, for some dumplins, fritters, mince pie/pies4, Chicken &c &c. now [sic] one request when MC5 comes I want to tax your benevolence all of you. Silas you get a Box–& you, Mother put in some cheese & some apple or mince pie—you Laura put in some apples & you Malinda put in some of your small round cakes you used to make so good & perhaps some gingerbread & then you Ballard6 take some nails & the hammer & nail it up nicely–& last of all you McCullum bring it safe all the way to Oberlin. Oh I shall certainly judge of your regard for us in the manner in which you fulfill this request—it can be done—a few nights after another letter was brought me then I was alarmed I trembled when I opened it I found Macks [sic] request & attended to it immediately although with some apprehension that he would not get admission—the member of the faculty who has the care of the preparatory department being a good friend of mine has pledged himself that he shall come in [sic] the first of December to board in the institution & the time before that he can board in the Colony which will be some dearer but it will be but for a very short time.
I think decidedly that he had better come this fall he will have a good opportunity for study this winter & he will be much more likely to get a place in the Institution in the spring—indeed if he does not come this fall it is probable he could not get admission atall [sic]—his board would be 1$ per week Tuition 5$ per quarter—for this winter this would make 12$ for Board & 5 for tuition, beside wood & Candles & a thousand little unnameable Sundries would amount probably in all to 20$. then next summer his expenses would be very little as his labor would defray most of them—he will be obliged to work so much in the summer but in the winter there is but little to do—probably by next winter he will be able to teach—for expense for morals & for literary privalages [sic] this institution exceeds any other- [sic] William Abbott came from Sheffield to day to stay a few days—he will enter College probably next fall & and [sic] is very happy to think Mack may enter with him—it will be best to give MC enough money to pay his expenses here & his expenses this winter & perhaps I shall want some—the 15$ has to pay for my board, tuition & incidentals, wood, Candles &c—since I first came my expenses7 all of them average 4$ pr [sic] month that is beside what my work pays—it is exceedingly dangerous to send money to Oberlin by mail—Post Masters know that letters to Oberlin generally have money in them—with regard to Macks [sic] clothes I advise that you make him 4 brown linen Collars to turn over his coat & then let him have 2 handkerchiefs to tie over them—bring a tooth brush no tobacco and plenty of pocket handkershiefs [sic]—Tobacco is not used at all, the students have banished it & it is banished from Oberlin there is not a pound in the place8– before I get on the other side of the leaf I will explain one thing—the hint in my letter about Alabama—
I wrote a letter last week to ask your advise [sic] & almost sent it home but thought I would wait & think more about it & so I have decided for myself—but my decision has left me as free as ever—but I will explain circumstances—this gentleman from Alabama was Rev. W. A. son of Rev. Dr. A of Alabama a slaveholder.
Rev. W. A. who was the gentleman referred to is a man of influence & prominence here at the west—he made proposals to me, I was surprised & felt I was honored—but could not accept he is an abolitionist, is an agent for that cause, his life will be a public one—full of dangers & trials—I did not choose to expose myself to such hardships—another reason I wish to study & improve the superior privaleges [sic] offered me here he would wish to be married within a year for these reasons I could not consent—he does not yet know my decision nor will he untill [sic] just before he leaves here which will be in 2 weeks when he goes out on an agency. they [sic] all tell me I am foolish but I do not esteem it so Now I have committed my honour to your hands do not tell any-one I feel that as friends you have a right to know my circumstances & I would have that foolish suspicion which was occasioned by Emelines [sic] hint stopped—I am as free as ever- You had better send a feather bed by Mack let it be a good one I will take it & Mack may take ours so it will not be injured—send me if you can please 1 pr of sheets as I have not enough & one pr of pillow cases—Mack will want a straw bed & other things—I thought you would get a box to put the bed into & then in the box put the little box of eatibles [sic] & perhaps a box of Candles as Candles are 15 cents per pound—please to wrap the feather bed in an old sheet—I want one—I should like some fine white stocking yarn I am knitting some cotton stockings as yarn was so dear. we have a great deal of time to knit, I should like it quite fine, perhaps single thread—I want an old apron as I have used up my pink Ghinghams [sic]—I very much want flannel for a skirt—My marino dress I mean to keep for my traveling dress as long as I stay in Oberlin if I do I ought to have a dark Calico dress to wear with my old dark one—Mother I leave this for you to decide—I mean to get along as cheap as possible—if you think it best please send one by MC. Emeline wants some stocking yarn–& her old Cloak as she has concluded to make her cloth she got for a cloak into a dress.
She wants some of her Mothers [sic] good pie—some fried cakes—some cheese &c. & I want in addition to those I have mentioned some pickles please remember we have none of these things here We are to have a nice little family here this winter only about 60 at the tables I assure you Oberlin seems like home it is a very dear place to me—Love to all the friends tell Ruby or Mrs. Page I want some of her wedding cake—MC will want some hand towels—please send that piece of white soap I left at home the post [sic] Levy is going so I must close—remember one thing in much, clothes—the élite in Oberlin dress with great care much more than in Lowville—so do not think anything will answer for Oberlin. Mack may come immediately
Transcribed by Ruby Dienstag
1Probably Emeline Cadwell, Irene’s classmate and friend, also from Lowville, New York, Irene’s birthplace.
2Irene’s older brother Silas Dexter Ball (1813-1845).
3Irene’s sister-in-law, married to John Ballard Ball (1811-1903) in 1836.
4 The first transcriber was unsure which it was.
5 McCullum, Archibald’s middle name.
6 John Ballard Ball.
7 From the founding of Oberlin College, the combination of manual labor and education was held as a priority towards the main goal of educating “the whole man” (Robert Samuel Fletcher, A History of Oberlin College From Its Foundation Through the Civil War (Oberlin, OH: Oberlin College, 1943,) 119.)
8 Long before the College was established, tobacco was considered to be an ungodly habit among the Oberlin community, and it was informally banned from the Oberlin campus by students and faculty. (Fletcher, A History of Oberlin College, 110.)
