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Acknowledgments The task of finding and collating letters that Woolson rarely dated by year has been enormous, and I could not have completed it without the help and encouragement of numerous people. Kristin Comment began the project with me and purchased and transcribed many of the early letters. With Kathleen Diffley’s prompting, Victoria Brehm and Cheryl Torsney helped me comb through folders of material at Western Reserve Historical Society. Vicky also helped me with proofreading and provided detailed advice on the introduction and design of the book. Kevin O’Donnell secured copies of letters from WRHS; Joan Weimer alerted me to the fact that the now privately owned letters to Samuel Mather are copied on microfilm there; Rochelle Johnson discovered a letter at the eleventh hour; Susan Goodman pointed me to a Howells source at the Houghton Library; and Geraldine Murphy offered assistance checking material in New York City. Anne Boyd Rioux photographed letters at the Library of Congress and gave helpful feedback throughout my process of editing; John Pearson demonstrated his admirable work ethic when he spent a few days at my home transcribing letters; and Alice Hall Petry’s edition of Woolson’s letters to John Hay saved me hours of tracking down obscure name references. Librarians and archivists throughout the country and in Canada, Rome, andSwitzerlandwerepromptinsendingmaterial,showingenthusiasmfortheproject ; Holly Klump of Regina Library, Rivier College, helped me secure an elusive source; Sr. Lucille Thibodeau of Rivier College, Bill Weißker, and Silke WeißkerVorgias helped with translations. Karen Kilcup and Pierre Walker supported this project during the review process and the staff at the University Press of Florida helped to bring the manuscript into print. Special thanks to Amy Gorelick, Associate Director, University Press of Florida, who advocated for publication; Nicole McGrath, who tirelessly helped pursue permissions; and Nevil Parker, who guided the manuscript through the editorial process. Helena Berg’s copyediting was invaluable . Special thanks as well go to Woolson family members: Gary Woolson for providing information on Clare Benedict and on Woolson’s brother Charly’s suicide; Samuel Mather’s granddaughter Molly Anderson and great-granddaughter Connie Anderson, who shared Woolson’s letters to him that were preserved by his daughter, Constance Mather Bishop. Connie was especially helpful proofreading these letters and supplying me with family information. Finally, my deepest appreciation and love to my husband, Ron, who never complained when I denied him computer time or a walk in the woods. • ...

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