William Jennings Bryan Sends Photos Of His Young Grand-Daughters – “She Reminds Me Of The Way A Militant Suffragette Might Be Supposed To Look”

WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN (1860-1925). Bryan was a Congressman, Secretary of State, and multi-time Presidential candidate. ALS. 3pgs. N.d. [1913-1914]. Washington D.C. An autograph letter signed “W.J. Bryan” as Secretary of State, on his official letterhead. Bryan wrote to a Mr. Bergen concerning his family and a trip to Asheville, North Carolina. “My dear Mr. Bergen, I enclose some pictures we have recd of the children and grand-children. Little Helen is presented in more attitudes than Mary – in one she reminds me of the way a militant suffragette might be supposed to look. They are all cute. If you have no duplicates of these you might return half and keep half. William got through his examination nicely, stood 87. I have sent him my congratulations. I find that it will be impossible for us to go to Ashville [sic] in the near future…I hope, however, that you can go. I am sure you will enjoy the scenery and be comfortable at the Grove Park Inn. I shall give you a letter of introduction to Mr F. L. Seely who is in charge…Mrs. B joins in good wishes yours truly W. J. Bryan”. The children and grand-children Bryan mentions are his son, William Jr., who had recently graduated from Georgetown Law School, and William Jr.’s daughters Mary and Helen, who were then no older that four and three respectively. (A third daughter was born in 1914, presumably after this letter was written.) His comparison of Helen to a militant suffragette is interesting because Bryan was a supporter of women’s suffrage. The letter is in fine condition, with the ink slightly showing through from the opposite page.