Lot 115

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Description:

Woodrow Wilson 1915 TLS Re: Patriotism and "children of foreign-born parents"

TLS, 1p, measuring 7" x 9", dated April 22, 1915, Washington, D.C. A letter from Woodrow Wilson to one Mrs. Everett M. Raynor, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution's New York branch, in which he discusses the organization's efforts to encourage patriotism in the children of foreign-born parents. Written during the immigration boom of the Progressive Era, by 1910 approximately three-fourths of New York City's population were immigrants or first-generation Americans (i.e., their children). Indeed, between the years 1905 and 1914, an average of one million immigrants arrived at Ellis Island per year. Boldly signed by President "Woodrow Wilson" at conclusion, the letter exhibits expected surface toning and darkened handling marks at edges, along with slight creasing to top and middle. Else, very good condition with interesting connections to New York's immigrant history.

In full:

"I am very much interested in the work the Daughters of the American Revolution are planning to do along practical lines of patriotism in interesting the children of foreign-born parents in the public schools. When you have the opportunity, will you not be kind enough to convey to these clubs of youngsters my very warmest good wishes and tell them that as an American I am heartily glad to share with them the opportunities of this great country and believe that if they will take to heart the lessons of our history, they will be able to help the country to even greater things than it has done yet?"

While Wilson did share many of the racial ideologies of Nativist thinking, his time in office was largely uneventful in regard to major changes in immigration policy. Notably during his presidency, two separate acts were brought to him for approval, one in 1915 and another in 1917, both of which he vetoed because of their inclusion of a literacy test requirement for incoming citizens, which he strictly opposed. However, the Immigration Act of 1917 would pass over his veto, in turn paving the way for the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 signed by Warren Harding which heavily restricted the number of incoming immigrants, specifically Southern and Eastern Europeans, by establishing a system in which quotas were determined based on country of origin. This act, as well as the revised Immigration Act of 1924, reflected many politician's racially motivated fears inspired by the initial surge after World War I and the ever-growing Eugenics movement in the U.S.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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May 31, 2023 11:00 AM EDT
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