Editing Francis Marlin Blackthorne (section)

===Early Years (Age 7–18, 1915–1926)===
Blackthorne began writing letters as a child, mostly to historical figures, military leaders, and baseball players.

*Babe Ruth (1918, 1921, 1925) – Ruth sent back a signed headshot and a short note in 1921. No response in 1925. 
*Ty Cobb (1923, 1925, 1926) – Cobb responded with a short but formal note in 1923, dismissive in 1926. 
*President Woodrow Wilson (1919) – No response. 
*Theodore Roosevelt (1918, shortly before TR’s death) – No response. 
*Jack Dempsey (1924, 1926) – A signed photo and a short response in 1926. 
*General John J. Pershing (1920) – A signed form letter thanking him for his patriotism. 
*Helen Keller (1921, 1925) – A heartfelt response in 1921 with an autographed pamphlet about her work.