Letter from Richard Strong to Harvey S. Firestone

Creator

Richard Pearson Strong

Date

11/30/26

Transcription

(Copy of letter to Harvey S. Firestone.)

Harvard African Expedition,
on board s/s Wolfram,
November 30, 1926.

Harvey S. Firestone, Esq.
President, Firestone Tire Company
Akron, Ohio.

My dear Mr. Firestone:

It is difficult for me to express sufficiently in a letter our appreciation and thanks for all the courtesy and assistance that you have extended and that has been extended by your son, as well as by Mr. Ross and other officials of the Firestone Plantations Co., to the members of the Harvard African Expedition.

During all the time we were in Monrovia, both before we went into the interior, and after we came out up to the time of our departure, we were your guests and everything that it was possible to do for our interests and comfort was done and many of our difficulties were removed thereby.

You have certainly made a most kind and generous contribution to the welfare of the Expedition and its work and I naturally feel very grateful for all you have done.

It is perhaps superfluous for me to say that we are greatly interested in what you are doing in Liberia. The whole problem appeals to me, for I can see that what you are doing and trying to do will undoubtedly bring great benefit to the country and redound to the welfare of its people. If we can at Harvard on our return be of any assistance to you in furnishing information or in any other way, I hope you will realize how very glad we shall be to respond.

It was of course a great pleasure on our return to Monrovia to meet your son there and to see the successful results which were being accomplished through his efforts. I realize that there were many pitfalls in connection with the negotiations with the Government:, but I trust that these have been avoided and that everything has been arranged satisfactorily ere this.

With renewed thanks and kind regards,

Yours very sincerely,

Type

Diary

Citation

Richard Pearson Strong, “Letter from Richard Strong to Harvey S. Firestone,” A Liberian Journey: History, Memory, and the Making of a Nation, accessed March 29, 2024, https://liberianhistory.org/items/show/1168.