Damiaan’s Letter Returns to Tremelo, Belgium

Why this is here: Father Damien addressed the letter to Hugh B. Chapman, who organized several fundraising campaigns to support Damien’s work in Molokai.

A delegation from Tremelo, Belgium received an authentic letter from Father Damien during a ceremony at Westminster Cathedral in London. The letter, dating from 1888, was handed over by the Saint Francis Leprosy Guild with assistance from Patrick Van der Vorst, a priest at the cathedral.

The letter connects Father Damien’s work in Molokai to fundraising efforts led by Hugh B. Chapman in London.

The Damiaanmuseum will exhibit the letter to the public starting May 17th as part of Belgium’s Museum Week. The museum already holds a collection of letters from Chapman to Damien, recognized as a Flemish Masterpiece in 2013.

The museum plans to digitize the letter to allow for permanent display and research access, but will return it to the archives at the end of the month due to concerns about light exposure. The letter is also nominated for “Museum Piece of the Year.”