George M. McComas to Rev. John Kimball, Jan. 19, 1869

Title

George M. McComas to Rev. John Kimball, Jan. 19, 1869

Date

01-19-1869

Creator

G.M. McComas (George March)

Recipient

Rev. John Kimball

Description

George M. McComas writes to education superintendent John Kimball regarding his recent visit to Hendon Hill, where he found the people despondent over their inability to finish building the school due to the debt they had accrued. To cheer them, McComas suggested that the Bureau would provide desks and other furniture, as well as $100 to help pay off their debt. He is concerned that he has made promises that cannot be kept. McComas reports that the schoolhouse is 40 x 24 feet and plainly finished. He hopes Kimball will supply the furniture and money, and asks him to write concerning the matter. He also reports that the deed for the property will be executed within the week and that he will send a copy to Kimball. In an endorsement of Jan. 20, 1869, Kimball forwarded the letter to Maj. D. G. Swaim, the bureau's Assistant Commissioner for D.C. The endorsement states that the Freedmen's Bureau has already spent $200 to build the Hendon Hill school, and recommends giving them $100 more.

References

Bvt. Maj. D. G. Swaim

School

Bel Air aka Hendon Hill

Source

Smithsonian, National Museum of African American History and Culture

Courtesy of the U. S. National Archives and Records Administration, FamilySearch International, and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Transcript

Baltimore Jany. 19th 1869

Rev. Jno. Kimbal

Dear Sir

I returned yesterday with Mr Marine from a visit to Hendon Hill. We addressed the colored people there on Saturday and Sunday evening. And I have reason to believe with some effect. As we found them in a state of great dispondency owing to the debt hanging over them and had determined to do nothing untill they had liquidated the debt and were almost discouraged in making any further efforts to that end. I have seen the receipt for the ground and the deed is drawn and will be executed this week it is to five colored trustees in trust for the [[strikethrough]] moral and [[/strikethrough]] educational and moral improvement of the colored people. The house is 40 x 24 plastered and in and in other respects plainly finished. We succeeded in dispelling the gloom which hung over them in part by promises which I do not know wether we shall be able to fulfill, viz that you would furnish them with the desks and furniture and probably 100$ to liquidate their debt, which is now about 150$. All of which I hope you will do as they have concluded to start the school at once and received at the time the promise of 25 day scholars and many more night scholars and a subscription from the colored people alone of 15$ per month, which subscription is to be further increased by circulation, and will no doubt be a success. I hope you will do the best you can in this case as I think by this aid at tis time you will secure some use of the money already advanced by the Government in the building and a guarantee on the deed that it will be of service to the people for whom it was designed. We just arrived there in time to save the whole affair, I think from proving a total failure. I hope you will write me at once respecting the furniture about Desks I think would be sufficient with the other usual appendages. As soon as the deed is executed I will send you a copy, which will be done during this week. I should like to communicate to them the last of this week when they may expect the furniture and how much you will aid them in their indebtedness. They need encouragement and aid it did me much good to see what satisfaction it offered them at [[strikethrough]] trep?ing [[/strikethrough]] seeing and hearing us, and knowing that some white persons had some interest in them.

Yours Respectfly
[[signature]] Geo M McComas [[/signature]]



[Note on small scrap of paper, left as a calling card.]

Called to see about the application for the Hendon Hill School, please let me know as things are at a stand

Yours Truly
[[signature]] Geo M McComas [[/signature]]



[Endorsement by Kimball on McComas’s letter]

Washington DC
Feb 20' 1869

Respectfully forwarded to Maj D G Swaim. We have aided in building this house to the amount of about $200.00. I recommend that further aid to the amount of $100.00 be given. Copy of deed is in the office

[[signature]] John Kimball [[/signature]]
Supt of Education

IIIF Manifests

https://ids.si.edu/ids/manifest/NMAAHC-007675723_01293

https://ids.si.edu/ids/manifest/NMAAHC-007675723_01294-000001

https://ids.si.edu/ids/manifest/NMAAHC-007675723_01295-000001

https://ids.si.edu/ids/manifest/NMAAHC-007675723_01296-000001

https://ids.si.edu/ids/manifest/NMAAHC-007675723_01297-000001