(Oil painting of the ship U.S.S. Vincennes, attributed to Charles Wilkes) In 1838, Lieutenant Charles Wilkes led the first US expedition to Antarctica. The flora, fauna, maps and other findings from the Exploring Expedition (or Ex Ex, as it was known in the family) made up the first exhibit at the Smithsonian Institute – the building designed by his nephew, James Renwick, Jr.
Dearest Jeanie… Highlights of the Wilkes - Smedberg Papers (1853-1913)
Jeanie spent winters in New York, attending balls, weddings, and the opera. She went on calls with her mother and sister. The family attended The Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. From time to time, she would visit her cousins Janey and Eliza Wilkes in Washington, DC. In the summer, the Smedberg family joined countless New Yorkers in packing up the entire house to escape the heat in the mountains of New York. The Smedberg family, of course, returned to Devasego.
This page is an example of a crossed letter. To save money on postage, nineteenth-century correspondents would sometimes write over a page they had previously covered with text. The second time the handwriting would go up and down instead of left to right. With a little practice one can read it.
The first seven lines of Jack's letter to Jeanie are shown in the image at the head of this page. A transcription follows:
Washington July 8th 1853
My dear Jeanie,
In the spring of 1848, the recently promoted Commodore Charles Wilkes and his youngest son, Edmund, traveled south to investigate the estate of his uncle, William Renwick, who had left behind an interest in a gold mine near Charlotte, North Carolina.
Jack was still away at sea.
Washington March 11th 1853
My dearest own Jeanie,
Devasego July 10th My dear Jack, Your letter of the 6th which I received yesterday has made me sad & thoughtful all day, & I feel too much the need of a talk with you to postpone the writing till tomorrow. Do not let my saying that it made me sad, induce you to tear up your “blue letters,” or refrain from writing for while the thoughts suggested may be sad it is very pleasant to feel that it all moods & at all times you take pleasure in writing to me & confiding each feeling as it arise to me.
New York March 13th (1853)
Dear Jack,