January 15, 1882

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Inquires after an extra copy of a pamphlet detailing the events which took place in Harper's Ferry. She details information of the publisher, Osborn P. Anderson, a free Black man who was with Brown at Harper's Ferry. Expresses hope that Anderson was still alive, though she had read in the news he may had died some years ago.

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February 25, 1882

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Discusses local plant life, her obligations as a mother, and his friendship with her father.

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3 August 1885

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Apologizes for a delay in her response. States that she was busy with family concerns to write often. Also mentions that she would not have taken the vaccine given for smallpox.

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January 16, 1886

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

One lettera ddressed to Alexander M. Ross from Anne Brown Adams dated January 16, 1886. Mentions hardships of motherhood and awaiting word from a publisher to printpapers that she spent. Thanks him for suggesting soda as a remedy for her sore throat. Expects that he was happy to see his "refugees." This may refer to people he aided with seeking emancipation.

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2 January 1887

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

One letter from Anne Brown Adams to Alexander M. Ross dated July 31, 1887. Pertains to one of her children receiving a vaccaniation, their illness and her opinion of Franklin Sanborn's book which mentions her father. Cannot believe "that people would be so united in suppressing a truth." Is upset by the publishing of so many private family letters that she sees as irrelevant. Wishes authors would instead speak to her and Solomon, since John Brown confided so closely in them. Saddened that she cannot get his writings concerning John Brown published in any newspaper. Suggests she try the "…

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31 July 1887

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

One letter addressed to Alexander Ross from Anne Brown Adams dated July 31, 1887. Mentions the health of her children and reading The Life of Frederick Douglass. Does not find truth in Douglass's account of meeting John Brown. Believes that Uncle Tom's Cabin is a suitable work to teach her children about slavery. Recounts that there was a false narrative in the biography which led her children to be skeptical of Frederick Douglass's biography.

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19 October 1887

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Discusses the Alcott family in Concord and her approval of sick patients eating very little. Inquires after the Alcott family, with whom she used to live. Mentions Louisa May Alcott. States her firm belief that underfeeding sick patients can be good for them, and that overfeeding them is harmful. Ends with "As ever a friend of liberty, truth, and progress."

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15 December 1887

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter

Title: to Garibaldi Ross

Brief biographies of the men involved in the raid on Harpers Ferry, and discussion of her job keeping house for the men as they prepare. Writes to Alexander Ross' son, because "Your father has requested me to tell you the story of my life at, or recollections of, Kennedy Farm, during the Summer of 1859." Gives a physical description of the house, the finding of the house, her life during this time, and then biographies of the raiders who lived there. Presents "John Brown, not the one the world knew him, but my father, as I knew him." Claims "He told me of his plan to make a raid on Harper…

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28 December 1887

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Discussing newspaper articles related to her father, John Brown, and others' opinions of him. "I find now, since all the men who had any knowledge of his affairs, have written recollections and confessions, that he told me more of his plans than he ever confided to his most intimate friends." Discusses her troubles studying when younger, vegetarian diets, tooth decay, and Ross' plan to feed every Englishman for nine cents a day.

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15 May 1888

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Knows that John Brown first conceived of raiding Harpers Ferry before going to Kansas, no matter what magazines say. Reporters "say 'It is impossible to trace exactly how and when the Harper's Ferry invasion first took shape in John Brown's mind, but the indications are that it grew little by little out of his Kansas experience.' Now in reply to this I will say that my father explained his plan to capture Harper's Ferry in all its details, to me, the winter before he, or any member of his family, were in Kansas." Declares Brown also thought of New Orleans instead of Harper's Ferry, but…

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1 July 1888

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Discusses at length her faith in God, and how despair only makes it stronger, as her father taught her. Mentions smallpox incidents nearby and greater women's rights in California. Her oldest son, fifteen, has run off to become a locomotive engineer and she fears he may have drowned in heavy rain. Recipient inferred from content.

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26 August 1888

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Discusses George L. Stearns, who supported John Brown, and his family. Mentions Edwin A. Brackett's bust of Brown, of which she only saw the mold. Says her runaway son has returned, and she is very busy with ten children. Recipient inferred from content.

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2 December 1888

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Wonders why there is so much evil in the world, is thankful for the good people she has known, and rejoices in the election of Benjamin Harrison as President. Has recently moved from Rohnerville to Petrolia. Wonders "why some people were ever permitted to be born into the world, They never seem to have a kind thought or do a good act, their lives are all wrong. Why did a good God create so much evil and so little that is really good, in the human race?" Despite this, feels lucky to have known some great men, "even if they are lost" too soon. On politics "greatly rejoiced with the results…

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2 April 1889

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Intends to send him all of her recollections regarding Kennedy Farm and preparations for Harpers Ferry Raid, and gives a biography of John E. Cook, one of the raiders. Discusses Cook's upbringing, his marriage, and an affair he had. Tells how Stevens' fiance broke off their engagement hours before he was hung. Upset by comments against her father. Opposed to vaccination of her children. Recipient inferred from content.

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January 15, 1890

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Discusses terrible winter rains and failing health of her sister Ruth Brown Thompson.

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6 March 1890

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Rain has been so heavy all winter that she and her family have been virtually unable to leave the house.

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29 June 1890

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Discusses bad weather, vaccination of her children, and the evil of most human beings. Recipient inferred from content.

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11 September 1890

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Thanks him for his offer of "a scholarship at the College" and hopes her second daughter Bertha can raise the funds to attend, and wonders about requirements for acceptance. Plans to write biographies for more of the Harpers Ferry raiders for him when she gets a chance. Wishes times were not so hard for the family so she could give her children a better education, though admits "there are advantages even in hard times...education is not all in the school books." Recipient inferred from content.

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8 December 1890 - 25 December 1890

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Thanks him for offering to help her daughters attend college. Says Bertha is too ill to go, but hopes Vivian, her eldest, may be able to attend, and awaits Vivian's reply. Second half of letter, dated 25 December, states that Vivian cannot attend college and thanks him for the "Chatterbox," a children's periodical. Reports on the rest of her family. Apologizes again for not yet writing her recollections of Kennedy farm and the preparations for Harpers Ferry, but hopes to do so soon. Recipient inferred from content.

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22 August 1891

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Apologizes for not being able to accept his offer of helping her children attend college. Regrets not being able to allow them a better education. Recipient inferred from content.

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19 February 1892

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Hopes to unmask a man pretending to have been at Harpers Ferry with John Brown. "It is my wish that you publish this Richard W. Howard, who claims to have been with John Brown at Harper's Ferry, as a fraud and a humbug. It is evident that he intends to make a money making scheme out of this, by exhibiting himself as a last survivor. I think he ought to be 'nipped in the bud' before he has time to blossom into a full blown impostor." Sent in response to an article in the Chicago Tribune Ross sent her about Howard. Wants to prove this man was never at Harpers Ferry. She is "certain that…

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2 May 1892

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Discusses her sister, Ruth Brown Thompson and Ruth's husband Henry Thompson. Both have failing health. Argues that Kansas should give Henry a pension, since he fought under John Brown at the Battle of Black Jack to help keep Kansas a free state. Gives some details about the Brown family's time in Kansas, and emphasizes that her father began planning the Harpers Ferry raid before going to Kansas.

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13 September 1892

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Wonders if her children should participate in the "John Brown's Fort" attraction at the Chicago World's Fair. "Mr. Holmes Pres. of the John Brown Fort Co." has asked if her children will come work at the exhibition. At first he promised good wages, but now only offers menial work and little pay. Is now very skeptical, and wonders if she should send her children. Notes that "Ever since John Brown's death, there have been parties raising money on one pretext or another for 'John Brown's poor family.' The poor family have never received but a small amount of what has been claimed to have…

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21 October 1892

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Discusses Ross' plans that somehow involve helping the black community. It is not clear exactly what this plan involves, but she suggests he try using the black newspapers to help his plans. Worries that few African Americans will care about his plan, since "they take too little interest in doing for their own kind. You will recollect that father only succeeded in getting five colored men to join him. He found it much easier to get white men and money from white men to help him. Doing good to others is often very, very discouraging, especially when they do not seem to take the slightest…

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15 November 1892

Adams, Anne Brown, 1843-1926

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander M. Ross

Thanks him for his help. Talks about her hard times financially, and reports briefly on her siblings. Discusses Richard Hinton, who is writing a book on John Brown, and Richard W. Howard, "the pretender" who is offering newspapers a fabricated story about having been with John Brown at Harpers Ferry. Hinton's book, "John Brown and His Men" was published in 1894.

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