Richard Watson Gilder , New York , to Colonel Thomas Wentworth Higginson , [ Cambridge ]

Extent:

4 p.

Scope and content:

[Says he has mixed feelings about getting an honorary degree from Harvard; says he was a "poor devil" who would not have made it into Harvard's freshman class; explains that he has not had a proper education, but went to his father's school, dabbled in ancient and modern languages and read some law; says he does not want to sail under false colors; asks him to express views; says he felt the same way when an honorary degree was bestowed upon him by Dickinson College; states that he heard that a degree will be given to his friend Grover Cleveland; hopes they can all go up there together; talks about his "Ode."]

Names:

Harvard
Dickinson College
Richard Watson Gilder
Thomas Wentworth Higginson
Grover Cleveland

Access and use