{"value"=>"<p>This series contains the typed transcripts of correspondence written by Mary spanning the years of 1846-1865. It also contains a handwritten book of poetry which Mary had written from 1837-1842, when she was ages 7-12. The letters are primarily to her brother, William. She writes of her schoolwork and matters concerning the family, including her father giving her and George Hale, her brother-in-law, some of his old letters from people such as Andrew Jackson and the marquis de La Fayette, and her father's offer to run as vice president for General Taylor, which he declined.</p> <p>Mary also talks quite a bit in the earlier correspondence about her frustrations with her family and society at large, fairly typical for a teenager. She gossips about her friends and shares news of deaths due to scarlet fever. When she goes to Abbott's Institute at 18 years of age, she writes about the courses she is taking, and her educational progress. She also talks about her friends there, their experiences in New York City, and the differences in education for males and females.</p> <p>After her marriage to Edwin in 1850, she writes about the difficulties of adjusting to life in Edwin's ancestral home, Greencastle, and to life in a new marriage. A common theme in the later letters in this series is the politics which led up to the Civil War, and the current events of the war. This concern continues on after Mary and Edwin move to Europe. Once in Europe, she tells her family about their life in Paris, where they had temporarily settled, and about her children Harrison and Samuel growing up, and the birth of Alfred in 1859.</p> <p>This series also contains several diaries and a book of poetry that Mary had written during her childhood.</p>"}