Letter, Ann Anthony Mason to Anna Dann Mason
A letter from Susan B. Anthony’s niece, Ann Anthony Mason, to Anthony’s former housekeeper and secretary, Anna Dann Mason. Ann Anthony is writing from her sister Lucy’s home in Moylan, Pennsylvania, after Lucy’s death. She reports that she and her brother are making an inventory of Lucy’s possessions to carry out her will and that she misses her sister greatly. She reports that she cannot find the Chinese vase in which Anna had expressed an interest and asks her to clarify which items of Lucy’s she would like to inherit.
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AAB.
Moylan, Pa
C/o J.M. Shelmire.
Dear Anna Dann:
Remember how Aunts
Susan and Mary used to call you
so? I was “Annie O,” altho no one else
ever called me so except in imitation
of dear Aunt Mary.
Here at Moylan in
my sisters lovely home I have to
face the problem of being here without
her. It is very lonely but very beautiful.
Sister Lucy was ever a delightful hostess.
Mrs. Kraft has transferred
your inquiry to me: I can find no
Chinese vase answering your description
over –
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nor any at all except the base of
a lamp. It is blue green with a pattern
of leafy vine, about a foot tall. Could
that be the one? I know that Lucy
has had this for a good many years.
If this is the one, you shall have it,
if not, perhaps there is something
else you might enjoy having that was
my sisters. There are several small
bits of bricker brack and a few pictures.
My brother and I have just finished
making a complete inventory. Lucy
disposed of nearly all of her possessions
when she rented her home ten years
ago but even the small amount
left was considerable.
As you probably know, I am one
of the two executors of my sisters
will. She used to speak of you to
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me and sometimes mention your letters
with their vital interests.
On my way home from camp,
I stopped over-night in Rochester.
If I had had time I wanted very
much to at least telephone you.
My counsins the Moshers gave me
your address. I have not your
husbands initials.
There is much to be done here.
Each day I find enough to fill
a complete eight hours – and there
is more and more. I want to carry
out every wish that I know my sister had.
Sometime I hope we may
meet again. I feel as if we had
a great many memories in common
With very dear remembrance –
Ann Anthony Mason