Handwritten letter from Henry Schoolcraft of 846 Clinton Boulevard, Michilimackinac to Charles Christopher Trowbridge of Detroit, dated September 2, 1838, sent accompanying devalued money from the wildcat bank, Bank of Clinton

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Description:

Handwritten letter from Henry Schoolcraft of 846 Clinton Boulevard, Michilimackinac to Charles Christopher Trowbridge of Detroit, dated September 2, 1838, sent accompanying devalued money from the wildcat bank, Bank of Clinton. Schoolcraft uses the Ojibwe words, "Ka. onishishin," to describe the currency. "Ka" means "no," and Schoolcraft, in his book, "The American Indians: Their History, Condition and Prospects, From Original Notes and Manuscripts," defines "onishishin" as "that which is good, or fair." The letter reads: Michilimackinac, Sept. 2nd 1838 My dear fri, On returning from a short trip to Lake Superior I found $46 of Clinton money, in my pocketbook to have, in the meantime, become Ka. onishishin. I take the liberty of enclosing it to you, with a request that you will sell it, for what it is worth, or do whatever else you please with it, and be accountable for [?] here after. I add, that I received every dollar of it, from Mr. Wells, as past pay on a check from Maj. G. for salary. Truly yours Henry R. Schoolcraft C.C. Trowbridge Esq. Detroit The recipient and sender's names are handwritten on the verso, in such a way to be visible after the letter is folded.

Date Issued:

1838-01-01T00:00:00Z

Data Provider:

Detroit Historical Society

Collection:

Business/Stores/Retail

Subject Topic:

Banks, Bank of Clinton, Wildcat Currency, Money, and Ojibwe

Subject Name:

Trowbridge, Charles Christopher and Schoolcraft, Henry

Rights:

No Copyright - United States

URL:

http://detroithistorical.pastperfectonline.com/archive/C8227AD1-5F53-4FAF-9475-343011819211