ALS, one page, 8.5 x 11, Calvin Coolidge Law Office letterhead, April 14, 1902. Letter to F. F. Haskell. In full: “Mr. Doe flatly refuses to tell where he got his money or what he did with it, the Referee ruling these were proper questions. I want him to answer. Mr. Shaw and I do not know just the form in which this ought to be certified to Judge Lowell. If you will take that in hand I guess it will be better than for me to go to Boston about it. What ought to be done? Woodbury has three patents, No. 445916, 587629, and 372442, the first two I think are in use and the source of his extra $50 per month. Do you know Mr. Cushman well enough so you want to see him to find out if Hurwood & Sons are using and paying for these patents? Or if not can you find out the name of the person who I can summon up here and examine—of that firm? There has been no assignment of patents by Woodbury. This looks like a valuable asset. Any patent lawyer can show you a picture of the inventions if you give him the numbers.” Multiple intersecting folds, several through single letters of signature, and some light wrinkling, otherwise fine condition. Accompanied by an unsigned TLS dated April 15, 1902, from the Crown Cork and Seal Co., regarding the same matter.
Coolidge had passed the bar five years earlier and was practicing law in Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1902 when he addressed the patent issue referenced here. One of the patents had to do with a cotton feeder with another pertaining to a feeding attachment for a carding machine, issued to New Hampshire resident Stephen W. Woodbury. Presumably after an intercession by Coolidge, patents were assigned to aforementioned Harwood & Sons. A great handwritten letter more than 20 years before political aspirations would take the lawyer to the White House. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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