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In this letter Elizabeth Comstock, a former agent of the Kansas Freedmen's Relief Association, relates her experiences during her visit to the East coast in 1881. Comstock and some of her New York colleagues had the opportunity to speak with President James Garfield, giving him four main points to consider regarding the Exodus movement. According to her letter, Garfield was devoted to aiding black refugees. She also wrote of other matters, including how some blacks in southern Kansas were displeased about the dissolution of the Kansas Freedmen's Relief Association; in contrast, Comstock believed the demise of this association had some positive repercussions.
Creator: Comstock, Elizabeth
Date: June 16, 1881
This provides a female perspective on the relief efforts, and perhaps more importantly, describes the President's stance on the issue. This source could be used in the classroom alongside other documents related to the relief effort, or it would be particularly effective as an introductory document that explains how white Kansans hoped to help the Exodusters.
KS:7th:3.5:Exodusters (2005)
Item Number: 210553
Call Number: Governor's Records, St. John, Correspondence Received, Box 13 Folder 19
KSHS Identifier: DaRT ID: 210553
Collections - State Archives - Governor's Records - St. John, John Pierce
Community Life - Clubs and organizations - Charitable - Relief - Freedmen's Relief Association
Curriculum - 7th Grade Standards - Kansas History Standards - 1860s to 1870s (Benchmark 3) - Exodusters (Indicator 5) - Emigrant aid organizations
Date - 1880s - 1881
Government and Politics - State Government - Governors - St. John, John Pierce
Objects and Artifacts - Communication Artifacts - Documentary Artifact - Letter
People - African Americans - Exodusters
People - Notable Kansans - St. John, John Pierce, 1833-1916
People - Notable People - Garfield, James, 1831-1881
Places - Cities and towns - Topeka
Places - Counties - Shawnee
Places - Other States - District of Columbia -- Washington
Places - Other States - New York
Thematic Time Period - Immigration and Settlement, 1854 - 1890
Type of Material - Unpublished documents - Letters
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/210553