"Mrs. Annie Fellows Johnston's Real People" Picture Folio
"Mrs. Annie Fellows Johnston's Real People" was published in 1910 and copyrighted by Mrs. Henry (Mary Craig) Lawton at The Beeches. The picture folio shows real people and places in Pewee Valley Annie Fellows Johnston used in her "Little Colonel" stories. The publication appears to have been a fundraising project for the Ladies Aid Society of the Pewee Valley Presbyterian Church, based on the letter Mary sent to Annie below.
The Beeches
Feb. 22nd, 1910
Dear Cousin Annie,
If I had a thousand pens, they would all fail to convey to you the full measure of gratitude and appreciation in the heart of “The Committee,” not only for so cordial a consent, but for sympathy, and such substantial support. Our plan is to have six pictures of people occupying a full page, with a few words of explanation and small pictures of places between copyrighting the whole, carefully refraining from using any expression that will infringe, yet identifying names and characters. When we get it in shape, we will let you look it over, if not too much trouble, for we do want to start right and succeed. We do not want to be in too big a hurry, but this time have it just right.
“The King’s Daughters” organization has disbanded. We are now “the ladies Aid Society,” so the publishers can’t touch us there. The ladies felt that our fees, that always went to the National Society, could be better used at home, so they decided to drop out and reorganize. We will keep you posted if you will let us. You are so good.
I can’t tell you how sorry I am to hear you have not been well, and John is ill again. How I wish I could do something to help you both!
Love from us all dear lady, but mostly me.
Always devotedly
Mary Lawton
The Beeches
Feb. 22nd, 1910
Dear Cousin Annie,
If I had a thousand pens, they would all fail to convey to you the full measure of gratitude and appreciation in the heart of “The Committee,” not only for so cordial a consent, but for sympathy, and such substantial support. Our plan is to have six pictures of people occupying a full page, with a few words of explanation and small pictures of places between copyrighting the whole, carefully refraining from using any expression that will infringe, yet identifying names and characters. When we get it in shape, we will let you look it over, if not too much trouble, for we do want to start right and succeed. We do not want to be in too big a hurry, but this time have it just right.
“The King’s Daughters” organization has disbanded. We are now “the ladies Aid Society,” so the publishers can’t touch us there. The ladies felt that our fees, that always went to the National Society, could be better used at home, so they decided to drop out and reorganize. We will keep you posted if you will let us. You are so good.
I can’t tell you how sorry I am to hear you have not been well, and John is ill again. How I wish I could do something to help you both!
Love from us all dear lady, but mostly me.
Always devotedly
Mary Lawton
Pewee Valley pioneer female photographer Kate Matthews, an active member of the church, took some of the pictures included in the folio. Our thanks to Ed Shadburn for providing the Pewee Valley Historical Society with a copy.