ALS, two pages on two adjoining sheets, 4.5 x 6, Northampton, Massachusetts letterhead, January 9, 1937. The reverse of the second page bears a hand addressed free-franked panel. Coolidge writes Mrs. Karl Putnam in Northampton. In part: “When the corn cob pipes arrived Florie opened the box and passed them over to me with the inquiry, ‘Are these anything of interest to you?’ having forgotten all about the matter. I replied that I was interested only on your account and hoped that you had not forgotten.” In fine condition, with central horizontal fold and light soiling.
Accompanied by a corn cob pipe, approximately 10.25-inches tall, and a note presumably from Mrs. Putnam that reads in full, “In 1927 when President Coolidge had a summer vacation he went to South Dakota and visited the Sioux Indians. They gave him this beautiful feather head dress. He was given many pipes made of corn cobbs [sic]. This is one of them.” Accompanied, as well, is an unsigned portrait of Coolidge and a clipped photo showing the president in the aforementioned headdress.
As noted in her letter, Coolidge and his wife, Grace, vacationed in the Black Hills of South Dakota during the summer of 1927, during which time he visited with the Sioux Indians. Coolidge's public policy toward Native Americans included the Indian Citizen Act of 1924, which granted automatic US citizenship to all American tribes. He had morally regretted the state of poverty to which many Indian tribes had sunk after decades of legal persecution and forced assimilation—a stance many tribes appreciated, including the Sioux. During his visit, photographers captured Coolidge, in suit and tie, wearing a grand ceremonial feathered headdress presented by Chief Henry Standing Bear, who officially declared him an honorary tribal member. A decade later, Mrs. Coolidge recalled the trip, “having forgotten all about the matter” until she saw the unusual pipe. Very unique correspondence and an even more unique gift! Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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