March 11, 1927
Dear Dame Henrietta:
Owing to some absences and the requirements of our work, and also to my desire to confer with some of the others whom you have approached, I have not been in a position until today to answer your recent letter concerning your very interesting "Bunker Hill" proposal.
In November I suggested to Mrs. Simkhovitch that Dr. George F. Kunz of New York, who inter alia is President of the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society, would make an excellent Chairman of an American Committee to cooperate with you if it were possible for him to accept. I understand Mrs. Simkhovitch passed this suggestion on to you, and that you wrote to Dr. Kunz. He tells me, however, that somehow your first letter to him was not correctly addressed, and was I believe returned to you on that account; after which he received a letter from you recently to which he will soon reply. Although other responsibilities may prevent undertaking the Chairmanship himself, his counsel and assistance will be particularly valuable.
I have also conferred with Mrs. Simkhovitch and Miss Gilson in New York, and with Mr. Kennedy in Boston, where I went last week to speak at a Dinner given by the Women's City Club. As you are in direct touch with them you of course know how cordially disposed they are.
If your option on the land has again been extended, which appears to be rather assured, the practical considerations which must necessarily be taken into account, in trying to raise part of the requisite funds on this side, may be set down briefly as follows:
A. The fact that a good many other projects in England are likewise seeking funds in America. One of the most ambitious is the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, for which a million dollars is being sought [page 2] in the United States. Another is an endowment for a Chair of American History at the University of London. I could instance a dozen more off-hand, and new ones keep coming along, -- most of them admirable in themselves, but increasing just so much the demand upon resources available.
B. As most of our American societies have their hands fairly full in obtaining the funds required for their specified objects, it is necessary under these circumstances for such appeals to effect some distinct working organization of their own to secure the assistance desired; -- as in this instance such an American Committee as has been suggested.
C. Some of those with whom I have talked have wondered a little whether perpetuation of the name "Bunker Hill" in such a memorial, even in the spirit of reconciliation, is altogether desirable. In this respect the reaction might be somewhat different on this side, in the course of the appeal and afterwards. In this connection the query has been raised whether anything essential would be lost, and perhaps the object in view as fully served, if the memorial were to be called "The Field of Friendship," or something of that sort.
In conclusion, I have this further practical suggestion. In case you do not find a suitable Chairman shortly for an American Committee, why not draw up yourself a brief statement and appeal and send it to some of our leading American newspapers with a personal request from you and your general Committee that it be published on or after a specified date? In this you could mention the names of Americans who have accepted membership on the Committee (including mine if desired) and ask that contributions be sent either directly to you, or to someone else on this side, -- as regards which I note that you have referred American contributors to Miss Jane Addams (none better) in one of your circulars. I feel sure this appeal coming thus from you would be cordially received and published, and that might go a long way toward accomplishing what you have in view.
With every good wish, and trusting this letter may be of some real service,
Sincerely yours,
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