File:Henry Grant Mayberry to Alice Mary Longfellow, 8 October 1895 (f4242a9d-8bdf-4775-866a-935abd17a080).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1007.001/002.003-001#065

[printed letterhead: Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute]
[Endorsed: “Ans.”]
Tuskegee, Ala. Oct 8-95
Dear Miss Longfellow,
It is with no little pleasure that I write to you. Since I wrote to you last I have gotten along in school very nicely.
I spent my vacation in Birmingham. Ala. I am glad to say that it was spent very profitably indeed.
I was successful in getting work of which I was very proud.
The last letter I received from you gave me many good advices which I have tried to put in practice.
You spoke of me going out amoung my people and helping them. That is one thing that is very much needed here in the black belt of Ala; and I hope we will turn out from this school year after ^year, teachers to help them. When I say teachers I mean those that are capable of such a position. [p. 2] When I wrote you before I spoke of being a Doctor; But after reading your letter I changed, and, have decided to work among my people.
I know you would be glad to know of the many good societies with our school, We have the Young Men's Christian Association, The Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor and the Young Ladies Missionary Society. The Y.M.C.A does Missionary work. Young men go out in the country and help the poor by reading the Bible to them, or cutting wood in winter We sometimes fix up their houses. There are so many thing [sic] a person may do to help them along.
Mr. Washington's great aim is to turn out young men and women that will be willing to do any thing their hands find to do. We have here in our school nearly 650 students, and there are more who want to come; But we haven’t room to accommodate them. The Young Negro boys and girls see the neccessity [sic] of an education. Not only a mental education but an industrial education-
[p. 3] We have connected with our school nearly any industrial course a man or woman wants to follow. We turn out here year after year blacksmiths, carpenters, wheelwrights, shoemakers, harness makers and a good many other useful men. We also have young women to graduate from several departments as dress making, cooking, and those who work in the Laundry
When I write to you again I hope I may be able to say more about this great work that is going on in Tuskegee.
Yours Gratefully
Henry Grant Mayberry

• Keywords: long archives; document; alice m. longfellow papers (long 16173); organizations; tuskegee institute; education; correspondence; Manuscripts (1007.001); (LONG-Subcollection); Correspondence (1007.001/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Scholarship Student Correspondence (1007.001/002.003); (LONG-SubseriesName); Letters to Alice Longfellow (1007.001/002.003-001); (LONG-FileUnitName)