My favorite items from the Wistar, Pennock, Lukens, Miller, and Davis family papers are Sarah Wistar Pennock’s (1840-1909) letters that she wrote between the ages of six and thirteen. I believe that I’m drawn to her correspondence specifically because of my nearly ten years of experience as a high school teacher. Adolescents experience a lot of developmental changes during those pivotal four years as they test boundaries, foster new relationships, learn more advanced skills, and prepare for their next challenge: adulthood. It was a privilege to witness my former students transform into the accomplished individuals that they are today. After spending many hours arranging and describing this new collection, I now feel the same about following Sarah’s transition from childhood through adulthood to motherhood.
Of all the members of the extended families featured in this collection, only Sarah’s childhood perspective is included amongst the materials. Affectionately nicknamed “Sallie” as a young girl, Sarah penned numerous letters to her parents in large, looping cursive on blue, wide-ruled paper. One of her earlier letters (below, on the left) written in October 1846 when she was six years old, describes a party that she attended with two other girls, Maggy and Jenny. Young Sarah expressed complex feelings about the day; she had fun at the event, but also wished that she could have shared her cakes and candies with her parents. She also shows enthusiasm about an impending family move, but laments that none of her friends will be there to play with her.
Four years later, Sarah wrote a letter to her father, Caspar Wistar Pennock (1799-1867), about a trip that she and her mother, Caroline Morris (1811-1882), had taken to Philadelphia. At ten years old in 1850, Sarah has grown into a young lady, often visiting matriarchs of other families within their inner social circle. She penned her letter (see image below) on light-colored, college-ruled paper in small, neat cursive as she described her busy weekend in the city: watching a play at the theater; spending quality time with her cousins; attending Sunday church services, etc. Though Sarah was a product of the 19th century, her childhood interests weren’t much different from those of ten year olds today.
By age thirteen, Sarah’s handwriting flows across the page (see image below) as she describes a crowded train ride; a “splendid” new dress for her trip; and a concert performed by German opera singer, Henriette Sontag, in Philadelphia. Her positive review of both Sontag’s singing and the featured violin reflect how Sarah’s domestic upbringing and formal education prepared her for her anticipated presentation to society.
The finding aid for the Wistar, Pennock, Lukens, Miller, and Davis family papers can be found here.
Unique at Penn 