Cover letter from Henry F. Rivers to Minnie, Johns Island, 28 June 1965, enclosing the FitzSimons eulogies
Book 1, Page 474 ·1965
Transcription
A short cover letter in blue ink, written on a single album leaf.
Box 424 Rt. 3 Johns Island S.C. June 28, 1965.
Dear Minnie,
In sorting my papers, I ran across a copy of [an] Eulogy to Sam, and one in News & Courier to Mr. Huger.
Would like you to read them, because the one for Sam surpasses anything I ever read about anyone, and knowing personally that what is said is the unvarnished Truth.
Perhaps Marguerite has no copies and would like to have them for her family book.
Meant to talk to you outside of Church but didn’t see you leave — at least I don’t think so, I’m so stupid.
Give my best to Donald. Ev. joins me in
Best wishes,
Henry.
AI Notes
A handwritten cover letter in blue ink from Henry F. Rivers at Box 424, Rt. 3, Johns Island, S.C., dated June 28, 1965. The recipient ‘Mr. Huger’ is consistent with the Charleston Huger family. ‘Minnie’ is the compiler’s sister Mary Annie FitzSimons Allston (m. Donald McKay Allston) — not to be confused with their mother Minnie Perry FitzSimons, who had died in 1934. Marguerite is the recipient’s first cousin Marguerite FitzSimons (m. Dr. Robert Pringle), sister of the WWI aviator Samuel Gaillard FitzSimons. Rivers reports that while sorting his papers he found copies of two eulogies — one for ‘Sam’ (the WWI aviator Samuel Gaillard FitzSimons; copy on pp472-473) and one for ‘Mr. Huger’ (subject not yet identified; the eulogy appeared in the News & Courier) — and is sending them along, suggesting Minnie might pass them to Marguerite for her family book. The ‘Sam’ eulogy is the Maj. Peter Gething piece pasted on pp472-473.
The letter accompanies the handwritten copy of the eulogy for Samuel Gaillard FitzSimons mounted on pages 472-473 of this album. “Minnie” is the compiler’s sister Mary Annie FitzSimons Allston; “Donald” is her husband Donald McKay Allston. “Marguerite” is their first cousin Marguerite FitzSimons (m. Dr. Robert Pringle), the aviator Sam’s sister. The “Mr. Huger” eulogy referenced is not present on the surrounding album leaves at this scan; the surname is the well-known Charleston-Huguenot Huger family.