Temporary record

Most of these letters were written to his parents during Alfred Sawyer's senior year at Dartmouth. Sawyer discusses the courses and lectures during his senior year, the weather in Hanover, and his participation in a debating society. His interest in the 1878 election and the Republican party is prevalent in several letters. Sawyer writes about plans to vote 'straight Republican' and asks his father to make sure he is on the Check list for voting. In a letter dated May 5, 1878, he writes in some detail about plans for observing Mercury crossing the sun the next day. The final letters mention the changes in his reading habits during his college years from novels and travel literature to law and political economy and his preparations for commencement. Alfred worries about his father's hard work, but never states what he does. The only Sawyer listed in the 1881Directory of Franklin and Franklin Falls, New Hampshire Directory is George W. Sawyer, the owner of Sawyer's Great Grocery Store. This may be his father's store.

M-3029.2

Subjects

College students--New Hampshire
Dartmouth College--Students
Political parties--New Hampshire
Voting

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