2003 Mail

Although I love and am very proud of our Harrisburg Haldeman family, I must say I am appalled at the narrow-mindedness and lack of heart-filled vision my Uncle expressed in his writings. I had never known of his racial views until I read your postings on this very informative and thus important web site. As a record keeper for my family and having seen this new information, I am now in the process of retyping his 1860 memo, "African Slavery Regarded From An Unusual Stand-Point" for our records.

Interestingly his parents, Jacob Miller Haldeman (1781 - 1856) and Eliza Ewing Jacobs (1789 - 1884), although both coming from slave-holding families, never owned a single slave in their lives. Grandfather Jacob certainly had the money to have done so, but preferred to hire all his help with his New Cumberland and Harrisburg Mansions along with his many business ventures. I wonder where Richard got his ideas? (just a thought) I wish to thank you very much for setting forth the historic and helpful information you have. God speed to your success in spreading accurate education to our wonderful community.

Yours truly,
Jason E. Shuff

P.S. I have enclosed a Mathew Brady photo of Uncle Richard J. Haldeman.

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [reproduction number, e.g., LC-DIG-cwpbh-02600]