On the Tarbell Trail

[Rob Wick]

Today reminded me of just exactly why I love the work I'm doing now.

Anyone who has studied the Wilma Minor affair (where the Atlantic Monthly, under the editorship of Ellery Sedgwick, published forged letters between Ann Rutledge and Lincoln) knows that Tarbell had originally said she believed the letters to be genuine. However, if one looked in her papers at Allegheny College you could never prove it, simply because there are very few letters between her and Sedgwick (or anyone else for that matter where Minor is concerned). I personally don't want to believe that Tarbell would have destroyed any letters, but she made a carbon of just about every letter she ever wrote, and saved even the most mundane ones to her, such as one from a home economics group that wanted her to participate in a poll that asked several famous people what they liked to put on their salad (she replied in a letter, the carbon of which she kept, that she had nothing to offer them).

Following a hunch, I contacted the Massachusetts Historical Society where Sedgwick's papers are housed. I originally asked for the complete files on Minor as not only will the story play a major part in my Tarbell book, but it also will be a huge part of my Sandburg book. I assumed that the files might cost me a couple hundred dollars, which, while not really affordable, would be much cheaper than flying out to Boston (and less stressful, since I hate flying). My jaw dropped when I found out it would cost not a couple of hundred dollars but a COUPLE OF THOUSAND DOLLARS to get the entire file copied as there are around 2,000 papers in the file. Needless to say, I demurred.

I then asked for just the Sandburg and Tarbell files, which will only cost me $25.

Today I received the letters, and I have to say that not only did it show that indeed Tarbell believed the Minor forgeries to be genuine, it gave me an interesting insight into her mindset, especially where Ann Rutledge is concerned. Take, for example, this passage in a letter written on October 19, 1928 from Tarbell to Sedgwick which Sedgwick bracketed.

My faith is strong that you have an amazing set of true Lincoln documents--the most extraordinary that have come to us in many, many years. We have never had any such direct proof of the amazing power of affection and tenderness in the man as in these marked passages to Ann. They marvelously conform [confirm?] what many of us have read between the lines. As for those that would not believe unless they had it down in writing, the [Worthington C.] Fords and [Senator Albert J.] Beveridges, here you have it.

Thirteen days later Tarbell wrote Sedgwick another letter that portends second thoughts in Tarbell's mind.

My desire that the material be genuine might influence my judgement, but certainly there is no question which I have raised so far that you have not been able to answer satisfactorily.

Of course we know how it all turned out.

Best
Rob