This collection is primarily composed of autograph letters and drafts written by Ann Harris and Richard Chandler between October 1804 and September 1807. The bulk of the material is finished letters written from Harris to Chandler. Material attributed to Chandler consists of nine draft letters to Harris. This collection also includes a small selection of letters written by friends and family of the main correspondents. Topics include local society gossip, working-class social conditions, courtship, love and marriage, and financial concerns.

While nothing is known about Ann Harris or Richard Chandler apart from the contents of this collection, their three-year correspondence provides tremendous insight into the history of working-class women in early nineteenth-century England. The finished letters of Ann Harris tell a story of a woman constantly searching for independence and self-worth in a social class without privilege and only limited freedom. The drafts of Richard Chandler, though minimal both in extent and information, present a man in pursuit of love and happiness struggling to attain what he most wants. The words of Harris and Chandler reveal a deeply loving and troubled relationship that echoes the difficult realities of working-class life at this time.

1.25 linear feet (1 flat storage box)

Copyright has not been assigned to the University of California, Riverside Libraries, Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of California as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.