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Original January 1924 handwritten letter sent from the historic Davenport Hotel in Spokane, Washington, to Miss Alice Tallman of Guthrie, Oklahoma.
Written by Freda, this unusually personal multi-page letter tells of a bitter family and inheritance dispute following the death of her father. Freda describes her father\'s second wife as a “vile” person and “vile creature,” alleging that the woman influenced her father to change his will during his final illness, prevented Freda from seeing him while he was dying, and was attempting to deprive her of her inheritance. Freda discusses consulting lawyers, the difficulty of contesting the will, the financial burden of the fight, and the emotional toll the situation has taken on her.
Despite the family turmoil, the letter also contains touching reflections on her late father, mother, husband, baby, and her friendship with Alice.
Written across multiple sheets of attractive illustrated Davenport Hotel stationery featuring an image of the landmark Spokane hotel. Includes the matching illustrated Davenport Hotel envelope, postmarked Spokane, Washington, January 23, 1924, with two 1-cent Benjamin Franklin stamps.
The reverse of the hotel envelope includes an interesting period postal notice explaining that undeliverable letters mailed in hotel envelopes would be sent to the Dead Letter Office unless the writer supplied a return address.
A fascinating piece of 1920s social history combining family drama, inheritance and probate history, women\'s personal correspondence, postal history, and Spokane/Davenport Hotel ephemera.
Original antique item, not a reproduction. Please review all photographs for handwriting, content, age-related wear, folds, toning, and condition. Part of a larger historical correspondence group.
