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1. ABBOTT, Grace (1878-1939). Signature.
This influential social worker helped to organize (1908) and direct (1908-17) the Immigrants' Protective League; she was crucial to the 1918 ruling declaring child labor laws unconstitutional (1918), and served as chief of the U.S. Children's Bureau from 1921 to 1934. Uncommon signature, heavy stock 3" X 2" card, n.p., n.d. Very good. Minor age toning; mounting traces on verso. "Head of national Child Welfare" inked below her signature in another, very small hand. A bold, attractive example.
Price: $45.00
2. BERRY, George L. (1882-1948).
Printed Document Signed.
The long-time president of the International Pressmen and Assistants' Union of North America (1907-48) was appointed U.S. senator from Tennessee by that state's governor at the death of Senator Nathan L. Bachman in 1937 to complete his term, but served only until 1938, failing in his bid for election. Printed DS, 4pp (rectos only), 8" X 10½", n.p., 1936 December 12. Very good. Light even age toning; tiny staple hole at upper left corner of each, not affecting text. "Excerpts from speech of Major George L. Berry, Coordinator for Industrial Cooperation," a mimeographed press release intended "For Release / Morning Papers." In this NBC radio broadcast, Berry addresses President Roosevelt's Council for Industrial Progress. Huge, bold full signature (using what must have been an enormous-nibbed fountain pen) near the top of the first page. Most unusual in this format. A tremendous example from the height of his fame.
Price: $150.00
3. BOOTH, Ballington (1857-1940).
Typed Letter Signed.
Second son of William Booth (Salvation Army founder); commander of army in U.S. (1887-96); after fall-out with father, founded Volunteers of America (1896). TLS, 1p, 8½" X 11", Volunteers of America letterhead, New York, NY, 1903 October 3. Addressed to the editor of the "New York Independent." Good. Faint ink transfer of text, minor soiling. Excellent content in which Booth tries to quell a rumor that the Volunteers have "Cut loose from the Churches"-- "Surely this, of all movements in existence, has shown the most friendly attitude as an interdenominational auxiliary to the Churches." Large, flamboyant signature.
Price: $150.00
4. BRIDGES, Harry (1901-90).
Signature.
Australian-born American labor union leader; founder and president (1937-77) of the International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union. Scarce signature, dated 1980 March 24, on a special heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p. [San Francisco, CA]. Fine. With original envelope. Excellent example of this surprisingly scarce signature.
Price: $80.00
5. BURRITT, Elihu (1810-79).
Autograph Letter Signed.
American philanthropist, pacifist, reformer and social activist whose early training as a black smith combined with an uncanny ability to learn languages earned him the moniker "The Learned Blacksmith"; in 1846 he formed the League of Universal Brotherhood, organizing world peace congresses and traveling and writing tirelessly for the cause. ALS, 1p, 5" X 8", New Britain, CT, 1873 May 21. Addressed to Mrs. Ogden. Very good. Paper clip rust stain at center of left edge. Cordial note to a lady acquaintance: "I remember with great pleasure meeting you at the Lake House, Lake George, last summer. I hope you and your sister and all near & dear to you are quite well, -- that you all weathered the long cold winter & spring comfortably... I want to send you one of my little books as a souvenir of my acquaintance with you...." A charming example.
Price: $95.00
6. GOUGH, John B. (1817-86).
Signature.
British temperance lecturer who toured the United States for many years, delivering thousands of lectures to thousands of audiences -- truly one of the best known temperance advocates of the 19th century; later in life he took up other reform causes as well. Large full signature and "Most truly / Your Friend" on a 6½" X 4" album leaf, n.p., 1878 January 18. Very good. Interestingly and curiously, below Gough's signature is that of his second wife, MARY E. GOUGH. Accompanied by a handsome turn-of-the-century 5" X 7" steel-engraved portrait showing Gough later in life.
Price: $50.00
7. GRAND, Sarah (1854-1943).
Signature.
This pioneering feminist was an Irish author of anti-marriage novels of the "New Woman" school of the late 19th century in such works as "Ideala" (1888), the bestselling and controversial "The Heavenly Twins" (1893), "Adnam's Orchard" (1912), "The Winged Victory" (1916) and short story collections "Our Manifold Nature" (1894) and "Variety" (1922). Bold signature and "Chicago, 15th November 1901" in dark brown ink, heavy stock 3½" X 2½" card. Very good. Mild age toning; mounting traces at corners. A bold example signed during a tour of America campaigning for women's suffrage.
Price: $55.00
8. GREEN, William (1873-1952).
Document Signed / Unsigned Photograph.
Long-time American Federation of Labor president. Printed DS, 8 1/2" X 14", 4pp, n.p., 1934. Fine. Mimeographed press release of Green's radio address titled "What the N.R.A. Has Done for Labor," delivered over CBS from Wichita, Kansas, on September 3, 1934, boldly signed on the first page. An uncommon autograph on a choice topic. Accompanied by a choice original 8" X 10" glossy news agency photograph (International News Photo) dated 22 May 1947 showing Green conducting business on a park bench in Washington, DC on a hot day.
Price: $175.00
9. HIGGINS, Edward J. (1864-1945).
Signature.
This early Salvation Army worked his way up through the ranks to become that organization's first elected General; he succeeded Bramwell Booth as Chief of the Staff. Bold, handsome signature nicely centered on a sheet of Salvation Army's London "International Headquarters" embossed letterhead, 6½" X 8", n.y. Very good. Very minor wear. An attractive example.
Price: $40.00
10. LIVERMORE, Mary A. (1820-1905).
Autograph Letter Signed.
Women's rights advocate and reformer. ALS, 1p, 5" X 8", Melrose, MA, 1900 May 27. Addressed to Mr. Marden. Declines an editor's invitation to write some articles, as "I have just made a contract for literary work...."
Price: $125.00
11. McCORMICK, Ruth Hanna (1880-1944).
Signature.
This Chicago activist devoted herself to a variety of civic and political reforms, showing a special concern for child labor laws in Illinois. Large, full signature, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., n.d. Very good. Vertical crease near right edge (archivally strengthened on verso) crosses "i" of McCormick, else a handsome piece from this seldom seen reformer.
Price: $75.00
12. MEANY, George (1894-1980).
Typed Letter Signed.
American labor leader; AFL-CIO president (1955-79). TLS, 1p, 8½" X 11", AFL-CIO letterhead, Washington, DC, 1956 October 24. Addressed to George F. Robinson. Agrees to address an "Open Forum" in Daytona Beach and discusses details. Comes with copy of David Levine's hilarious caricature of Meany.
Price: $75.00
13. MEANY, George (1894-1980).
Signed Postal Cover.
American labor leader; AFL-CIO president (1955-79). Signed Postal Cover, 6½" X 3½", cancelled in New York, NY on 16 August 1973. Near fine. Single 3-cent "Labor Day" stamp and 8-cent flag stamp affixed. No decorative cachet at left; no distracting recipient's name/address. NOT a First Day Cover, but a clever admirer had this envelope bearing an appropriate labor-related stamp cancelled in Meany's hometown (New York City) on his birthday (August 16) -- which Meany then signs large and bold in purple fineline on the "sweet spot." Quite nice. Accompanied by a superb and scarce vintage glossy 9" X 7" news agency (International News Photos) photograph. Very good. Slight bit of edgewear. Candid half-length photograph of Meany standing alongside a smiling President Eisenhower. The original, usually-absent mimeographed text (printed on cheap acidic paper) is still present, dated 21 November 1952: "George Meany, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Labor (right) shown as he talked with President-elect Eisenhower at the general's Commodore Hotel headquarters today. Shortly after this conference news broke of the death today of William Green, longtime president of the American Federation of Labor... Meany now looms large as possible candidate to succeed Green as head of the labor organization." An unusual signed cover and a choice desirable photograph.
Price: $125.00
14. SMITH, Charles Sprague (1853-1910).
Signature and Inscription.
This American progressive reformer founded the People's Institute at Cooper Union in 1897 to educate the working classes -- when he wasn't busy with his day job as professor of German at Columbia University. "It gives me great pleasure to send my greetings to an appreciative auditor" and full signature in brown ink, heavy stock 3¼" X 2¼" card, New York, NY, 1894 February 2. Good plus. Moderate age toning; heavy mounting traces on verso; faint mounting trace at each corner. A decent example from this lesser-known but interesting reformer.
Price: $35.00
15. STONE, Lucy (1818-93).
Signature and Salutation.
Prominent American suffragette and abolitionist and wife of noted editor and women's rights supporter Henry Brown Blackwell; famed for keeping her maiden name in protest against unequal laws. "And much oblige / Ys truly / Lucy Stone" in black on a lined 4½" X 1" slip (clipped from an ALS), n.p., n.y. Very good. A nice example, bold and legible.
Price: $95.00
16. TARBELL, Ida M. (1857-1944).
Typed Letter Signed. (secretarial)
This muckraking journalist took on big oil in her 1904 "History of the Standard Oil Company"; her 1900 "Life of Abraham Lincoln" earned her high marks among Lincoln scholars. TLS (secretarial), 1p, 8½" X 11", New York, NY, 1923 September 15. Addressed to Lincoln scholar Charles T. White. Near fine. "You ask about 'Back in '58'. Yes, I wrote it -- a Billy Brown story of Lincoln and Douglas debates. It was published some year ago in the American Magazine. It is now in a little volume called 'He Knew Lincoln and Other Billy Brown Stories,' published by MacMillan." Also comments: "I am having trouble in getting your book. I ordered it some time ago but my book man seems not to be able to find it. Who is the publisher?" She probably refers to White's 1921 book "Lincoln and Prohibition." Secretarially signed (and accordingly priced), remember, but given the content and recipient most likely dictated by Tarbell.
Price: $25.00
17. THOMAS, Norman (1884-1968).
Typed Letter Signed.
Known as the "Conscience of America," this Socialist reformer helped found the American Civil Liberties Union in 1920 and ran for U.S. president no fewer than six times; his books include "The Conscientious Objector in America" (1923) and "What's the Matter with New York?" (1932). TLS, 1p, 8½" X 11", New York, NY, 1956 February 20. Addressed to G.F. Robinson. Fine. Agrees to a speaking engagement and recommends other speakers. Accompanied by a superb 1948 glossy news agency photograph (6½" X 8½") showing Thomas close up, testifying before the House Foreign Affairs Committee about a proposed revision of the United Nations Charter.
Price: $125.00
18. TOBIN, Daniel J. (1875-1955).
Document Signed.
Labor official; Teamster president. Partly-printed DS, 1p, 7 ¼" X 10½", Indianapolis, IN, 1931 September 23. Good. Updating form sent out by "Who's Who in America," on orange paper, for their 1932-33 edition, with Tobin's 2" X 1½" biographical entry from the previous edition pasted onto the blank center area. Tobin has approved the entry with a large signature at the close, also adding his home address. Several editor's marks in blue and red pencil and green ink make for an interesting, colorful appearance.
Price: $95.00
19. WARD, Mary A. (Mrs. Humphry) (1851-1920).
Typed Letter Signed.
Matthew Arnold's niece was a bestselling novelist of such works as "Robert Elsmere" (1888), "Lady Rose's Daughter" (1903), "Harvest" (1920) -- but she's more interesting as a social reformer who simply used her fiction to put forth her social gospel; in 1890 she founded a London settlement which became in 1897 the noted Passmore Edwards Settlement. TLS, 1p, 8" X 10¼", Tring, England, 1917 February 20. Addressed to Stalham L. Williams. Very good. Excellent content in which Ward comments to this American admirer on the raging World War. In part: "...the situation has indeed tightened between your country and Germany, and we are all wondering what will be the final outcome.... I am just about to start again for France, intent upon a piece of public work which the Government are anxious for me to do, and where I know beforehand I shall see on both the British and French Fronts, those far-seeing and determined preparations for the tremendous struggle of the coming summer, on which the world hangs at present in suspense." Bold, full signature. Ward also inks "Private" at upper left. A superb example.
Price: $75.00
20. WELLS, Kate Gannett (1838-1911).
Autograph Quotation Signed.
Ironically, this noted American philanthropist turned reformer and writer deplored woman's suffrage! AQS, 1p, 5" X 8", n.p., 1881 October 24. Addressed to Miss Bragley. Very good. Handsome quotation in German: "In Ganzen, Guten, Wahren resolut zu leben" -- being Goethe's famous description of his own higher life. Boldly signed and dated. Unusual.
Price: $75.00
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