Manchester, Mass Aug. 4th  My dear Miss Price,  I am sorry to say I can not give you any of the information you desire about Mr. Lowell   s poems.   I doubt very much whether any one know much about the circumstances given ? 
        ? to certain poems. Writers do not often talk much about those things.   The Commemoration Ode was written at the time of the dedication of the Memorial Hall in Cambridge, which was built in memory of the members of Harvard College who were killed in the war.  Mr. Lowell himself 
        lost two favorite nephews, very fine young men. I think they were also alluded to in one of the    Biglow Papers.     A short biography of Mr. Lowell has been written by Mr. Underwood, which might perhaps give you more information than I can.  Yours very truly,  Alice M. Longfellow 
        December 19, 1887  Dear Madam,  I am sorry you found so much ignorance in regard to the Harvard Annex existing here.   But it is often remarkable how little interest people will take about what is directly in their midst.  I send you some reports, which I hope will answer most of your questions. 
        The Annex is managed by an Executive Committee, mostly ladies,  amp; an Academic board, who are all members of the Harvard College Faculty, although as yet our Society has no connection with Harvard.   The course of Instruction  amp; Examinations are exactly the same as in the College,  amp; all the instruction is given by Harvard professors.  We have a house where the lectures are given, as there are no recitations 
        in common with the college students. However, the evening readings  amp; lectures of the college are open to all.  At the end of the course a certificate is given by our Society to take the place of a degree certifying that the work done is exactly equal with that of a Harvard graduate.  We have over one hundred students this year,  amp; are making good progress, but are greatly in need of 
        larger endowment.  I shall be glad at any time to answer any questions, or you can write to our Secretary.  The Memorial Garden to my father is already laid out on ? W. but the form of the Memorial itself has not yet been agreed on.  Very truly yours Alice M. Longfellow