Twelve letters from Daniel Lyman Chandler to his brother Henry and Henry’s wife Charlotte, plus two other family letters, written between 1855 and 1866. Four letters from Chicago, where Chandler worked with horses, are full of details regarding the possible draining of the city, local and national politics, and his thoughts on slavery, religion and temperance. Included is a description of visiting a Chicago cemetery and attending a Jewish service, plus a lengthy report on traveling from Massachusetts to Chicago.

Letters from Ogden, Kansas, 1857-1863, reflect the passions and emotions of an abolitionist living and working in the midst of social and political turmoil. Chandler’s descriptions of life during a time later termed that of “Bleeding Kansas” include the terrible hardships of the emigrants who have arrived to homestead, and his exhortations to his Eastern relatives to send assistance and/or come join the anti-slavery efforts. Letters also include rough maps of Ogden, reports on farming, descriptions of the landscape, comments on national politics and local affairs, and many other thoughts and opinions of an observant and literate correspondent.

One of two undated letters is written on the back of a circular published in English, Cherokee and Creek from Fort Gibson in the Department of Missouri, April 16, 1863, which urges Indians to enlist in the United States army. The two letters not written by Chandler are to his sister-in-law Charlotte, from an unknown family friend and from her son John.