On April 23, 1894, Paul Laurence Dunbar initiated a new life insurance policy. He was 21 years old and living in Dayton with his mother Matilda.
The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company doth hereby agree to pay upon receipt of proofs of the death occurring more than ONE YEAR after the date hereof, of Paul L. Dunbar the sum of FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
Age Next Birthday,
22 YearsWeekly Premium,
24 CentsMetropolitan Life Insurance Company policy document, April 23, 1894. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 3).
Paul's life had already been insured as early as January 1888, when he was 16 years old. According to two Metropolitan receipt booklets, weekly premiums of ten cents were paid until his new policy with higher rates took effect. As Paul's career took him around the country and across the ocean, he made sure to keep up with his insurance premiums. Over many years, he maintained a series of booklets to record hundreds of payments, each one signed or initialed by a Metropolitan agent. Instructions on the booklet read: "Send this Book to the Company every time you make a payment and it will be promptly returned to you with the amount duly receipted herein." In the fall of 1901, Paul was in Washington, D. C., and his mother Matilda was staying with relatives in Chicago.
I arrived home from Lexington on Tuesday afternoon pretty well tired out too. The insurance book came this morning and I will attend to it at once.
Paul Laurence Dunbar to Matilda Dunbar, September 19, 1901. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 2).
In early 1902, Paul was living in New York City and adjusting to new circumstances after separating from his wife Alice. He didn't have a bank account in New York, but gave money to his literary agent Paul Reynolds, who paid his insurance premium.
Feb. 24th, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company 4.80
Paul R. Reynolds to Paul Laurence Dunbar, May 5, 1902. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 1).
The next year, Paul was touring Kansas and Missouri, where he wrote to his mother about his insurance.
Please send the insurance book to the Metropolitan Life in New York. I have sent the money to them, but they cannot record it because they do not know the number of our policy.
Paul Laurence Dunbar to Matilda Dunbar, February 18, 1903. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 2).
As an adult, Paul's weekly premium was 24 cents, and a typical payment was $4.80. However, in the final months of his life, Paul's payments to the insurance company increased dramatically. Prior to his death in February 1906, the final two checks to Metropolitan were for $51.40 each.
Dayton, O. June 13th 1905
Winters National Bank
Pay to the order of Metropolitan Life Ins Co $51.40
Fifty-One and 40/100 Dollars
Paul Laurence Dunbar
Check to the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, June 13, 1905. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 2).
Dayton, O. 12/5/1905
Winters National Bank
Pay to the order of Metropolitan Life Ins Co $51.40
Fifty-One and 40/100 Dollars
Paul Laurence Dunbar
Check to the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, December 5, 1905. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 2).