Nine letters written by Coombs from Midnapore and Balasore, India, to Nellie Whittemore of Bowdoinham, Maine. The letters include discussions of the activities of Freewill Baptist missionary work, as well as discussions of friend and family matters. Included with the collection are transcriptions of the letters. A tenth letter--from October 1, 1887--has a transcript here, but the original is lost.

Lavinia C. Coombs was a Freewill Baptist missionary who spent many years in India. Born in West Bowdoin, Maine, on November 23, 1849, she attended Litchfield Academy and the Normal School at Farmington, Maine. She taught school for ten years before going to India. Ms. Coombs also edited and financially backed the missionary magazine "Tidings." She died on January 13, 1927.

Also included is a biographical sketch of Coombs that appeared in "My Missionary Friends" by Z.E. Griffins, published in 1929.