The Library of Congress announced today that it had acquired a handwritten missive from Martha Washington, dated September 29, 1760, for $47,500 through the James Madison Council Edwin L. Cox Legacy Trust. New York’s Federal Depository Office confirmed the transaction, noting the rarity of the original.
The letter, addressed to friend Margaret Green, details the recovery of Washington’s four‑year‑old daughter, Patsy, from a bout of what historians interpret as epilepsy. In the missive, Martha writes that the child is “much better” after a “fitts & fevours” episode, a phrase that, according to the Library, refers to early 18th‑century remedies involving cinchona bark and bitters.
Until now, no surviving document in Martha Washington’s own hand has entered the Manuscript Division. The Library’s George Washington Papers contain eleven letters attributed to her, but all are copies or drafts in another hand. The new acquisition therefore fills a long‑standing void, allowing scholars to examine her spelling, phrasing, and penmanship firsthand.
Acting chief of the Manuscript Division, Kevin Butterfield, said the letter “adds a layer of intimacy to the story of a future First Lady as a mother dealing with illness in colonial Virginia.” He added that the document will be displayed in the Washington Room, where visitors can view it alongside items from Dolley Madison and Edith Wilson.
The Library plans to digitize the letter and include it in its online catalog by the end of the year, making it accessible to researchers worldwide. The acquisition underscores the institution’s mission to preserve and share America’s handwritten heritage one document at a time.