Letter from Alfreda Helen Baker to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 11 May 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Alfreda Baker

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In this letter from Alfreda Helen Baker (b. 1893) to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1877-1946), Alfreda expresses her condolences regarding the death of her husband, Francis. Alfreda offers words of comfort and implores Hanna to tell her how she is doing. Alfreda Helen Baker was a consulting surgeon who graduated from Queen's University Belfast who worked at a number of hospitals in England and Northern Ireland. Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, suffragette, nationalist, language teacher, was the founder of the Irish Women’s Franchise League and a founding member of the Irish Women Workers’ Union. She was the widow of Francis Sheehy-Skeffington who was summarily executed on 26 April 1916. She was active during the Rising, bringing food to the Volunteers in the G.P.O. and the College of Surgeons. Four days passed before she found out what had happened to her husband, Francis (1878-1916), and it wasn't until almost two weeks later that the full details of his execution emerged.

 National Library of Ireland Sheehy-Skeffington Papers, Collection List No.47; MS 33,605/1-30 https://letters1916.ie/item/3569 English Alfreda Baker 1916-05-11 Trevena, Cornwall, England Hanna Sheehy Skeffington Female Easter Rising Ireland 1916 Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 Travena May 11: '16 Darling Friend When I wrote to you, I knew no details—now that some news is forthcoming, I mustwrite to you to tell you that my heart is brim—img over with sorrow and sympathy for youand little Owen. I wish that I could see you,you dear thing — do keep holding on to the thoughtof the reality and truth of the fact of life beingonly just begun here, in this world we callEarth. Dear Mr Skeffington is alive more trulythan when here, and had been spared whatfalls to the lot of most of us, a long illness, anda gradual decay of his powers— It must bewell-nigh impossible for you to bear your lifefrom day to day — even from hour ot hour — buta brave woman, honored by being the wife—comrade of such a brave man, has much tolive—up—to hasn't she? The cruelity of the separationand the butter loneliness are oh! so hard for you—my heart is wrung to even think of it — I saw the obituary notice in The Irish Times andI don't think anything could be better than theR.I.P, provided The I.P. does not exclude fulland joyful and unimpeded energy and vitalforce, which, I believe he now has, in a verymuch fuller sense than ever. My grief is foryou, and what are you doing? How do yourdays pass? The children join me in warm love, dearMrs Skeffington— Always,dear. Yours lovingly— Alfreda Mrs MacBride asks me to send you her loveand deep sympathy. Alfreda Baker Letter from Alfreda Helen Baker to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 11 May 1916Letter from Alfreda Baker to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 14 May 1916Letter from Alfreda Baker to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 9 May 1916 Trevena, Cornwall, England Letter from Alfreda Helen Baker to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 11 May 1916Letter from Alfreda Baker to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 9 May 1916