Horace Mann – reformer, public education champion. ALS, 1 page, 4to, Boston, March 29, 1845. Writing as Massachusetts’ first Secretary of the State Board of Education, Mann responds to a Mr. Buchman who had sought advice on local school officials’ discretion and powers to spend money.
Mann was a social reformer and leading advocate for improved public education nationally. He succeeded John Quicny Adams in the House of Representatives and later became the first president of Antioch College in Ohio. This is a nice example of one of the nation’s first advocates for strong public education giving advice to other local educational leaders on the management of schools.
The letter is in generally very good condition with overall toning, heavier browning or mat burns in spots at extreme edges, a spot of paper compacting along a portion of one line of writing (3rd line from the end of the letter), and the start of a fold tear on the right center edge. Mann’s signature is fine and clean. Mann’s autograph is not a rare, but his letters do not appear frequently and those with early education content are scarcer and certainly more desirable.
Boston March 29, 1845
Mr. Buchman
Dear Sir,
You ask my opinion respecting the duties of a presidential committeeman & for what purpose he may appropriate the proportion of school money coming to the district. I answer that in my opinion the law is plain, the presidential committee may use the money for the three items only – wages of teachers, their board & fuel for the school. All expenses connected with the school house, repairs, furniture must be borne by the district … the value of the schools is too great to be forfeited by any disagreement among the citizens, whose duty is to sustain and improve, & not to ____ it.
Very Truly yrs.
Horace Mann
#6516
Horace Mann – reformer, public education champion. ALS, 1 page, 4to, Boston, March 29, 1845. Writing as Massachusetts’ first Secretary of the State Board of Education, Mann responds to a Mr. Buchman who had sought advice on local school officials’ discretion and powers to spend money.
Mann was a social reformer and leading advocate for improved public education nationally. He succeeded John Quicny Adams in the House of Representatives and later became the first president of Antioch College in Ohio. This is a nice example of one of the nation’s first advocates for strong public education giving advice to other local educational leaders on the management of schools.
The letter is in generally very good condition with overall toning, heavier browning or mat burns in spots at extreme edges, a spot of paper compacting along a portion of one line of writing (3rd line from the end of the letter), and the start of a fold tear on the right center edge. Mann’s signature is fine and clean. Mann’s autograph is not a rare, but his letters do not appear frequently and those with early education content are scarcer and certainly more desirable.
Boston March 29, 1845
Mr. Buchman
Dear Sir,
You ask my opinion respecting the duties of a presidential committeeman & for what purpose he may appropriate the proportion of school money coming to the district. I answer that in my opinion the law is plain, the presidential committee may use the money for the three items only – wages of teachers, their board & fuel for the school. All expenses connected with the school house, repairs, furniture must be borne by the district … the value of the schools is too great to be forfeited by any disagreement among the citizens, whose duty is to sustain and improve, & not to ____ it.
Very Truly yrs.
Horace Mann
#6516