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Rockford Dec 22nd 1865
[Stamp] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES [/Stamp]

My dear friend,

I desire to lay before you a plan originated by my brother Mr Ralph Emerson for doing good and helping elevate the Freedmen & women. His idea is this, that in the good work already doing by the American Missionary Society, and the Freedmans Bureau together with the Freedmans commission in educating its blacks there is need of a higher class of school, than they introduce at which the more advanced of their pupils can be fully prepared for teaching their fellows. Something corresponding to the higher grade of schools of the north. Thus in fact carrying the man into Africa. His thought is about this establish in some of the southern cities such a school, to the support of which he, with a little out side help from a few of the friends will pledge say $2500.00 each year for say four years. Those pupils who are able to pay for their tuition those unable to be educated free of cash the enterprise will of necessity have to be entrusted to some good and competent person