American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography, including The Larry Ness Collection of Native American Photography

BARTON, Clara (1821-1912). Autograph letter signed ("Clara Barton"), as official government correspondent for the "Office of Correspondence with the Friends of the Missing Men of the United States Army." Addressed to Mrs. James R. Ames. Washington, D.C., 8 January 1866. 1p, 8 x 10 in. (creasing, light soil). Barton notifies Mrs. Ames that she has referred her letter to "Mr. Dorence Atwater of Conn. who kept and has the Death records of Andersonville from which the graves are identified. If the name of your husband appears on his record he will inform you." With original transmittal cover in Barton's hand, free-franked ("H. Wilson") by Senator Henry Wilson of Massachusetts, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs from 1861-1873.

[With:] Partly-printed form from the "Office of Correspondence with the Friends of the Missing Men of the United States Army" signed by Barton ("Clara Barton"). Washington, D.C., 15 July 1865. Barton's form notifies recipient that "Your communication respecting Three missing soldiers has been received and forwarded to their friends; for which favor please accept my sincere thanks."

[Also with:] A cover addressed to Barton. -- Two checks from Hanover National Bank, both signed by "E.J. Hanks," one of which is made out to "Miss Clara Barton" in the amount of seventy-five dollars. -- A deposit receipt from "The Bankers' & Brokers' Association" with manuscript notation on verso "Papers / E.J. Hanks / Treas. / Sanitary Fair. / February / March / 1864."

More commonly referred to as the "Missing Soldiers Office," the "Office of Correspondence with the Friends of the Missing Men of the United States Army" was started by Barton after her request to Abraham Lincoln for the creation of the appointment was accepted in March 1865. As word of her efforts to locate missing soldiers spread, overwhelming numbers of letters flooded her small office. Using her own funds, Barton hired a small number of assistants to help manage and respond to all inquiries. The office created a form letter such as the one offered here to more efficiently respond to the large volume of inquiries. As part of her ongoing work, Barton also partnered with Dorence Atwater to create a detailed list of those who died at Andersonville Prison. In her final report to Congress, Barton provided an extraordinary account of the work in which she had been engaged, stating that in four years the Missing Soldiers Office “had received 63,182 inquiries, written 41,855 letters, mailed 58,693 printed circulars, distributed 99,057 copies of her printed rolls, and identified 22,000 men.”