1856 – Two letters from Samuel Longfellow to a younger associate, one of which clearly expresses a desire for romantic attachment
Brooklyn, New York: 1856. Unbound. While the modern term "gay" did not exist during his lifetime, historical evidence strongly indicates that Samuel Longfellow, a Unitarian minister and brother of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, was attracted to men and had romantic relationships with them. Historians and National Park Service rangers who preserve his legacy at the Longfellow House historic site recognize him as a prominent figure in 19th-century LGBTQ+ history.
Samuel Longfellow chose to remain a lifelong bachelor, devoting himself to his ministry, transcendentalism, and social justice causes like abolition and women's rights. Because of the strict moral codes of time, Samuel's personal life was complicated, and he intentionally left behind a limited paper trail. However, ample documentation confirms his orientation. Shortly before his death, Samuel destroyed between 25 and 30 of his private diaries to protect his intimate feelings from public view. One of his surviving journals contains a record of his heartbreak after parting with a college classmate, William Drew Winter. His close friends compared Longellow’s lifelong relationship with Samuel Johnson to a marriage, and in one his early diaries, Samuel explicitly documented his first kiss with a man named William Tiffany, identifying it as one of the most significant moments in his life.
One long passage in these letters, both of which were written in 1856, reads in part:
“I was most pleased to receive a letter from you as I was afraid you might not like to write. . .. I was wondering whether I should see you again. Our meetings have always been unexpected. The first time I saw you remember was at Exeter when I was left by the cars. When we sat all the summer evening at the door of the Hotel & talked together. I took a great liking to you then. Don’t you think we sometimes feel drawn to some persons the very first time we see them? So I have felt an interest in you ever sense. . .. I expect to be in Boston in August and hope to see you then & have you spend the evening with me. You must write me again, & believe me Truly Yours. Sam’l Longfellow”
Both of these four-page letters are in nice shape, and both were sent from Brooklyn. Neither has its mailing envelope.
. Very good. Item #010762For more information, see "A Sacrifice of Inclination": Samuel Longfellow” at the National Park Service website and “The Many Loves of Sam Longfellow” at the Ranger’s After Dark Facebook page.
At the time of listing, there are no other writings by Longfellow expressing his homosexuality for sale in the trade. The Rare Book Hub and ASBA show none have appeared at auction. OCLC shows none are held in institutional collections.
.Price: $500.00