A couple months ago, I discovered a published anthology of letters called, "Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience." It's a collection of letters that spans from the first few centuries to the 21st century--an amazing portrait of the human experience. It felt almost illicit reading these because at one point in time, these were private letters between two people or between groups of people. I learned about fair use and the US Mail laws that permit recipients of letters to do as they please with the letter once it's their's, and these resolved my ethical dilemma.

A thought occurred to me that these letters, and written correspondence in general, are a historical document. I can learn so much more about the personal anguish of one soldier in WWI by reading a "Dear John" letter than I can by listening to a history lecture on WWI. For one, written correspondence can reveal more personal details about the person, but also about the event itself, than any textbook can. Both are valuable, of course. I'm afraid, though, if we rely on "factual accounts" of events or just "memories" solely, then we will lose an intimate, vital part of our humanity: our true selves.

I'm a firm believer in the concept that we have many persons inside us. We have a professional persona for work, the student persona for class, the family member for our private lives, and on and on. Then we have the idealized person, the person we are in the depths of ourselves, the person we want to be for the sake of ourselves and other people. My idealized person can answer every question correctly, dispense invaluable advice, and possess an unparalleled tactfulness.

I've found several letters that encourage and goad me on, that give the right advice when I need it most; which, is ironic, considering the very nature of written correspondence: private, generally between two parties. These letters reveal something new about the sender or the recipient: that humans are vulnerable creatures. Take for instance: the written correspondence between a little girl, 11-year-old Grace Bedell, and the then candidate for president, Abraham Lincoln:

Hon A B Lincoln

Dear Sir

My father has just home from the fair and brought home your picture and Mr. Hamlin's. I am a little girl only 11 years old, but want you should be President of the United States very much so I hope you won't think me very bold to write to such a great man as you are. Have you any little girls about as large as I am if so give them my love and tell her to write to me if you cannot answer this letter. I have got 4 brothers and part of them will vote for you anyway and if you let your whiskers grow I will try and get the rest of them to vote for you. you would look a great deal better for your face is so thin. All the ladies like whiskers and they would tease their husbands to vote for you and then you would be President. My father is going to vote for you and if I was a man I would vote for you to but I will try to get everyone to vote for you that I can I think that rail fence around your picture makes it look very pretty I have got a little baby sister she is nine weeks old and is just as cunning as can be. When you direct your letter direct to Grace Bedell Westfield Chautauqua County New York.

I must not write any more answer this letter right off Good bye

Grace Bedell

via Letters of Note : "All the ladies like whiskers"

From Lincoln

Springfield, Ill. Oct 19, 1860

Miss Grace Bedell

My dear little Miss

Your very agreeable letter of the 15th is received—

I regret the necessity of saying I have no daughters— I have three sons— one seventeen, one nine, and one seven years of age— They, with their mother, constitute my whole family—

As to the whiskers, having never worn any, do you not think people would call it a piece of silly affectation if I were to begin it now?

Your very sincere well wisher

A. Lincoln

via Letters of Note : "All the ladies like whiskers"

This is a much different portrait of this man--more vulnerable, personal than we get in history: stern, stove-pipe hat, writer of the Emancipation Proclamation, and victim of assassination. President Lincoln did, in fact, start growing a beard after this letter. Never has there been more influential personal power than in written correspondence. Letters are more personal and sincere, because one has more time to think about the message and it takes more effort to send a letter. I hate that technology positions written correspondence as obsolete and inconvenient, because there is much to be gleaned from personal correspondence.

In fact, the United States Postal Service continues to suffer from the transition from hard copy physical correspondence to virtual communication in the digital landscape of the 21st century. According to Justin Sullivan from AOL, "The Great Recession and increased online communication has taken a toll on the USPS, which has tried to get creative with how to save and earn money,, including a bid to stop Saturday deliveries as well as to start alcohol deliveries." Recently, Congress dismissed the bid to stop Saturday deliveries, but the prospect of alcohol deliveries is still under consideration with the The Improving Postal Operations, Service and Transparency Act. We consume more alcohol than we do written correspondence. To me, this is unbelievable in the context of how enduring written correspondence has been as a mode of communication for centuries. I fear we will go down a path of self-absorption and narcissism, content with just Facebook comments and messages, instead of heartfelt communication.

I propose we start a revolution of written correspondence, a call-back to our roots with pen and paper. A revolution of activity instead of passivity! Maybe we would be more empathetic and thoughtful people. It's just a thought.