FORT MYERS, Florida – Workers found an 1899 letter at the Saint Matthew’s House thrift store on Metro Parkway. The man who wrote it helped train thousands of freed slaves after the civil war.
This letter between friends was written by Union Army General Oliver Otis Howard and congratulated his colleague general on his 50th wedding anniversary.
“You’re just living your life and not thinking, ‘Oh, I’m doing something historical today,'” said Howard University historian Dr. Lopez Matthews, Jr .. “You just say,” I’m going to write this letter to my friend and congratulate him on his wedding. “”
After the war he helped found Howard University, one of the first historically black universities in our country.
“He’s a national figure,” said Matthews. “He was known as the blacks’ greatest friend at the time.”
Somehow his letter ended up in St. Matthew’s House, framed, and waiting for someone to take a closer look.
“What caught my attention was just the date,” said Allan Nicholson, donor relations coordinator, “so I just started researching.”
The letter will be added to a collection at the school bearing Howard’s name.
“I love that we can find something like this in southwest Florida,” said Daniel Moore, regional manager of St. Matthew’s House, “an article written in Washington DC between two generals who were really good friends.”
“When people make history, they don’t realize they are making history,” said Matthews.
The letter will return to Howard University later this summer.
See similar https://nbc-2.com/news/2021/06/17/piece-of-hbcu-history-discovered-in-a-southwest-florida-thrift-store/
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from Daily Florida Press https://dailyfloridapress.com/a-piece-of-hbcu-history-discovered-in-a-thrift-store-in-southwest-florida/
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