Mary Jane Hale grew up in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, with her mother, Jane M. Hale, and two bothers, Reuben and Elias, who suffered from consumption. She probably had additional siblings. Mary Jane married Gideon Welles on June 16, 1835, and they had at least three children: Anna Jane, Tom, and Edgar. At the time these letters were written, the Welles family lived on H street, between 9th and 10th, in Washington, D.C., and Gideon was Chief of the Bureau of Provisions and Clothing for the Navy. He would go on to serve as Lincoln's and then Johnson's Secretary of the Navy.

These six letters from Mary Jane Hale to her mother primarily discuss her children's illnesses and exploits, and her social life in Washington D. C. She also solicited her mother for news about her brothers and friends from home. Her letters do not flow particularly well, and she rarely described anything in detail, probably because she was often writing from the midst of her family, with a "great noise" and "so much confusion" all around her.

Although she often mentioned charitable work, Mary Jane did not appear to take an active part in organizing either church benefits or the work at the nearby Female Orphan Society. She did apply to adopt a girl in 1847, but when the first applicants were refused, the Asylum managers thought it better not to place the girl at all, in order not to further offend the rejected applicants. Even with the help of a couple young women, caring for her family occupied her time entirely. When she could, she strolled on the grounds of the Capitol, and once went to hear John C. Calhoun speak, "though I scare know how to take the time" ([1848 May 15]).

Mary Jane's most extended description was of the May Ball put on by her daughter's dancing school, which had been going on in D. C. "from time immemorial almost" (1848 May 5). She detailed the roles the girls played, the dresses, the flowers, and the procession. Mary Jane also wrote a sustained description of the cameo she had carved in her husband's likeness, which "looks as if it might speak. it is actually a better likeness than anything I ever saw. only think how valuable!" (1847 May 7).

She always referred to her husband as "Mr. Welles," and although little of his character comes through, they appear to have had a happy relationship. She told her mother that when she sprained her foot, her husband "insisted upon carrying me down to my meals, which I think was very unnecessary, but he made believe the victuals tasted better with me in sight," (1848 January 12). She also noted that Mr. Welles "would much rather see me reading" than doing fancy work.

Subject index:

Adoption

1847 May 7

Balls (Parties)

1848 May 5

Brisbane, William Henry, ca 1803-1878

1847 May 7

Burns and scalds

1846 December 17

Calhoun, John C. (John Caldwell), 1782-1850

[1848 May 13]

Cameos

1847 May 7

Female Orphan Asylum

passim

Hale family

passim

Jewelry

1847 May 7

May Day

1848 May 5

Measles

[1848 May 13]

Parent and child

passim

Polk, James K. (James Knox), 1795-1849

1847 May 7

Scarlatina

1847 May 7

Sprains

1848 January 12

Tuberculosis

[1848 May 13], 1848 December 26

Union Benevolent Society

1848 January 12

Washington (D.C.)--Description and travel

passim

Washington (D.C.)--Social life and customs

passim

Welles, Anna Jane

passim

Welles, Edgar

passim

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

passim

Welles, Tom

passim

Women in charitable work

passim

Correspondents:

Hale, Jane M.
Welles, Mary Jane Hale

Provenance:

Acquired, 1994.

M-3021.3
cat. 6/98 rko

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