1940 March 25 : letter to Helen Crawford
Collection: Laura Ingalls Wilder Correspondence
Title
1940 March 25 : letter to Helen Crawford
Subject
Wilder, Laura Ingalls, 1867-1957
Authors, American--Correspondence
Description
Letter from Laura Ingalls Wilder to Winfield, Kansas children's librarian Helen Crawford regarding her family, her books and writing, and birthdays
Creator
Wilder, Laura Ingalls
Source
Winfield Public Library, Winfield, Kansas
Publisher
Winfield Public Library, Winfield, Kansas
Date
1940-03-25
Rights
The copyright in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s correspondence is owned and controlled by Little House Heritage Trust, and may not be reproduced or otherwise copied or used without the Trust’s written permission. All rights reserved.
Format
image/jpeg
Language
English
Type
Correspondence
Citation
Wilder, Laura Ingalls, “1940 March 25 : letter to Helen Crawford,” Winfield Digital Collections, accessed May 19, 2024, https://www.winfield.digitalsckls.info/item/1.
Text
[Envelope]
Mrs. A. J. Wilder
Mansfield, Mo.
(in pencil) #1
Helen D. Crawford
Children's Librarian
Winfield Public Library
Winfield
Kansas
(postmark)
MANSFIELD
MAR
26
2 PM
1940
[page 1]
Rocky Ridge Farm
Mansfield, Missouri
March 25, 1940
Dear Miss Crawford
As you thought my books are biographical. They are my earliest memories of Kansas and Indian Ter. in Little House on the Prairie.
My fathers family lived there in 1870-71 exactly as I have written. As you see it was only for a short time.
The family records show that J. J. Ingalls of Kas. was a distant connection of my father, I think a second cousin.
[page 2]
We know nothing of the Wilder family there. Have only heard that there are Wilders living in Kansas.
My husband is the Almanzo Wilder of my book Farmer Boy. He was born in northern New York My father C. P. Ingalls was born in New York state.
I was born in Wisconsin in The Little House in the Big Woods.
You may have heard of our daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, perhaps read some of her stories. She is now living in New York City.
I am pleased that the children
[page 3]
and you like my stories and especially that my tales in Little House on the Prairie agree with the stories you have heard of those days. I was at first a little uneasy as to just how reliable my memory might be but I have had several letters agreeing with it as yours does.
If there is anything more you would like to know about me I will gladly write again.
Mr. Wilder and I celebrated our birthdays this winter by giving a party to a crowd of friends. He was 83 and I 74
Sincerely
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Original Format
Letter
Title
1940 March 25 : letter to Helen Crawford
Subject
Wilder, Laura Ingalls, 1867-1957
Authors, American--Correspondence
Description
Letter from Laura Ingalls Wilder to Winfield, Kansas children's librarian Helen Crawford regarding her family, her books and writing, and birthdays
Creator
Wilder, Laura Ingalls
Source
Winfield Public Library, Winfield, Kansas
Publisher
Winfield Public Library, Winfield, Kansas
Date
1940-03-25
Rights
The copyright in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s correspondence is owned and controlled by Little House Heritage Trust, and may not be reproduced or otherwise copied or used without the Trust’s written permission. All rights reserved.
Format
image/jpeg
Language
English
Type
Correspondence
Citation
Wilder, Laura Ingalls, “1940 March 25 : letter to Helen Crawford,” Winfield Digital Collections, accessed May 19, 2024, https://www.winfield.digitalsckls.info/item/1.Text
[Envelope]
Mrs. A. J. Wilder
Mansfield, Mo.
(in pencil) #1
Helen D. Crawford
Children's Librarian
Winfield Public Library
Winfield
Kansas
(postmark)
MANSFIELD
MAR
26
2 PM
1940
[page 1]
Rocky Ridge Farm
Mansfield, Missouri
March 25, 1940
Dear Miss Crawford
As you thought my books are biographical. They are my earliest memories of Kansas and Indian Ter. in Little House on the Prairie.
My fathers family lived there in 1870-71 exactly as I have written. As you see it was only for a short time.
The family records show that J. J. Ingalls of Kas. was a distant connection of my father, I think a second cousin.
[page 2]
We know nothing of the Wilder family there. Have only heard that there are Wilders living in Kansas.
My husband is the Almanzo Wilder of my book Farmer Boy. He was born in northern New York My father C. P. Ingalls was born in New York state.
I was born in Wisconsin in The Little House in the Big Woods.
You may have heard of our daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, perhaps read some of her stories. She is now living in New York City.
I am pleased that the children
[page 3]
and you like my stories and especially that my tales in Little House on the Prairie agree with the stories you have heard of those days. I was at first a little uneasy as to just how reliable my memory might be but I have had several letters agreeing with it as yours does.
If there is anything more you would like to know about me I will gladly write again.
Mr. Wilder and I celebrated our birthdays this winter by giving a party to a crowd of friends. He was 83 and I 74
Sincerely
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Original Format
Letter