Library of Congress Acquires Martha Washington Letter

The institution purchased a rare 1760 document detailing the recovery of Martha Washington's daughter.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Botany

Library of Congress Acquires Martha Washington Letter

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The Library of Congress has acquired a 1760 letter written by Martha Washington to Margaret Green. The document, which describes the health recovery of Martha Parke Custis, marks the first item in Washington's own handwriting held by the Library of Congress Manuscript Division.

Why it matters

The acquisition provides researchers with unprecedented access to an original primary source document from Martha Washington. It serves to expand the national collection of historical materials regarding the Washington family.

The letter was written on September 29, 1760, and details the use of cinchona and bitters to treat a young Martha Parke Custis. Researchers can analyze these historical medical notes to understand the period's pharmacological practices.

The players

Library of Congress

This is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the de facto national library of the country.

Martha Washington

She was the inaugural First Lady of the United States and the wife of President George Washington.

Martha Parke Custis

She was the daughter of Martha Washington who died at age 17.

Mary Todd Lincoln

She served as the First Lady of the United States during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln.

The details

Purchased for $47,500 through the James Madison Council Edwin L. Cox Legacy Trust, the document offers insight into 18th-century medical approaches. The Library also acquired a letter written by Mary Todd Lincoln from 1865 to accompany its expanded historical archive.

Martha Washington wrote the letter on September 29, 1760.
Martha Parke Custis passed away on June 19, 1773.
The acquired Mary Todd Lincoln letter dates to 1865.

The Big Picture

The acquisition significantly elevates the profile of the Library of Congress Manuscript Division by filling a notable gap in its presidential-era collections. This addition shifts the scope of the institution's primary sources by providing a rare, verified sample of Martha Washington's personal correspondence.

Future public engagement opportunities will allow the public to view these historical medical notes directly. This access provides scholars and citizens a tangible connection to 18th-century healthcare methods through original handwriting.

The takeaway

Historical documents provide a unique window into the personal lives and medical trials of early American figures. Readers can appreciate how archival preservation ensures these fragile links to the past remain available for future study.