Letter from Calvin Coolidge to his Father

Date: April 14, 1891

Context: Coolidge discusses his time at St. Johnsbury Academy.


Dear Father, 

Probably you received my card this morning. I am very much pleased with the school here and think I shall get along all right.

I went to see Putney about as soon as I got here, he told me to come here to board, I looked about some with a fellow who has been here a spell that I used to know at Ludlow but found no more satisfactory place. I pay $4,25 a week and get everything the same as though I was at home, shirts, collars, and cuffs are sent to the laundry for me, if l had a roommate it would be $4,00, there is a fellow com­ing here and if he wants a roommate he will room with me, the fellow I used to know pays $3,50 but he says wood lights and washing make it cost him over $4,00. There is a good bath room here and my room is heated by hot air furnace, if l had not come here I should have to have gone to the hotel and that would [have] about made up the extra 25¢ a week even if I could have found a cheaper place and I do not think I could have done much of any better.

Two Clayton boys are here they board at the same place too they have a little better room and I think pay a little more accord­ingly.

My cold is much better but not quite well yet.

The fare up here from the Junction was $1,83

I have met a number of the boys they all seem very pleasant, and I think I shall have a pleasant and profitable term.

They have the free delivery system here so when you write me put on 4 Main Street.

Putney has my Latin and Greek and Hardy my Mathematics, Hardy is a classmate of Sherman, and a very pleasant man.


Citation: Your Son, Calvin Coolidge

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The Coolidge Foundation thanks Marisol Balderas, who prepared this document for digital publication

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