Letter to Mary Johnson of Worthington, Ohio from Emily Beckwith of Somerset, Ohio

This letter was written to Mary Johnson of Worthington from Emily Beckwith in Somerset, Ohio. Beckwith was a friend and former classmate of Johnson's at Miss Marsh's Academy. Beckwith wrote the letter in response to questions about why she left the academy. Apparently, there was some talk from Miss Marsh and others around town suggesting that the reason Beckwith's family had given for leaving was insufficient. She explains to Johnson that Miss Marsh was told a reason and that the school she transferred to is a very good school. Beckwith asks Johnson to pass the information along if discussion of her leaving persists. She then goes on to inquire and reminisce about other friends she left. She concludes the letter with a story about how difficult their road trip was from the Columbus area. In a final note, she asks Johnson to send her love to Caroline Griswold, another friend and classmate.

Johnson was daughter of one of Worthington's founders, Orange Johnson and wife Achsa (Maynard) Johnson. She married Francis Sessions on August 18, 1847. The Sessions were interested in promoting art and art instruction in Columbus. The Sessions art collection formed a basis for the Columbus Museum of Art collection. Francis planned upon his death for his estate to found the Sessions Academy of Fine Arts and museum to foster art education in Columbus.

Little is known of Emily Beckwith other than what can be learned from her correspondence with Mary Johnson. They wrote several letters back and forth.