A Calendar of the Letters of Willa Cather

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To Ferris Greenslet,  Oct. 22, 1943 ; Harvard 

Has received two letters from him. Since he mentions he has been fishing, assumes he is well. The second [saying that they need to reprint O Pioneers! and would like to do so with another company's imprint along with their own on the title page in order to utilize that company's quota of paper, under wartime rationing] is most unwelcome. Why should her books be victimized, since they are not long and do not sell huge numbers? Understands that in England the system is to trim down popular hits in order to protect small-market books. This might mean, for example, trimming part of the margin off The Robe [ Douglas ] to save paper for printing Julian Huxley or T. S. Eliot. Is not signing the consent form he sent.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1643]

To Alfred Knopf,  June 20, [1944] ; HRC 

Shocked to learn of his father's death. Greatly respected him—as she also does Alfred. Thinks of them both as people of quality.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1672]

[To Elsie Cather, sister] ,  [October 20, 1937] ; partial letter, top of page cut off and possibly pages missing ; UNL-Rosowski Cather 

. . . On another topic, has just started a novel and needs a book their father had. He tried to give it to her, but she did not want to take a book so personally valuable to him, especially while living at the Grosvenor. Doesn't want to have it forever, as it should be in father's home, but could really use it for a time. Please ask Carrie Sherwood to get it and send it. It's called The History of the Valley, and it was written by Andrew Kerchival or Andrew Kerchway [The book is A History of the Valley of Virginia by Samuel Kercheval, and this copy is also part of the Rosowski Cather Collection at UNL]. Father rebound the book and stored it in the back parlor secretary. If Carrie has trouble finding it, perhaps Elsie could retrieve it when she goes to Red Cloud for the dedication of their mother's window [a window in Grace Episcopal Church] on All Saints' Day. Will return it in the spring.   Willie 

To Bess Seymour,  [January 21?, 1906] ; UNL-Rosowski Cather 

Thanks for the letter about the baby [probably Mary Virginia Auld, niece, born November 11, 1905], who likely had a rich Christmas. Had a good trip to New York, but unfortunately was too busy to see the Wieners. Will someday show Bess the beautiful dress she bought for the dinner [Cather attended a dinner at Delmonico's in New York celebrating the 70th birthday of Mark Twain in December 1905]. Auntie Gore's letter said that Douglass Clark has nine children, that Perry's kids are living in Winchester and Walter works at a bank, and Howard Gore's wife is wintering in Switzerland and sending Sidney to school there. Auntie doesn't seem to enjoy their living abroad. Was good of Alec Bentley to visit his father. Is Mrs. Governor Garber still in Red Cloud? Sends affection to everyone, particularly the baby. Tell Mollie hello and please write and get Jess to write, too. PS: Is wearing garters Jess gave her. Received many Christmas gifts, including silk stockings, a leather bag, a pin, hand-embroidered clothing, and books.  Willie 

To Douglass Cather,  July 8, 1916, from Taos, NM on letterhead of the Brown Palace Hotel, Denver, CO; ; UNL-Southwick 

Has returned to Taos with Edith after days in the heat of Denver. Taos has very mild evenings and only brief periods of heat during the day. Fine horses are available; Edith is an accomplished rider, and Cather can get along well enough to handle irregular terrain. Is Douglass still coming north this July? How far? To Albuquerque? If it is possible to see him, would like to, but otherwise won't travel far, though if Edith is up to it they might drive near Espa�ola around the Rio Grande pueblos. Edith has to return to New York by July 25, and her holiday, though fascinating, has not been relaxing. When she leaves, Cather might travel to Lander, and will get to Red Cloud as some point. Hopes to convince mother to spend some time in Denver with her, since Elsie reports that she isn't in good health. Would like to be in Red Cloud for several weeks, but won't do it if no one wants her around. Regrets coming home the previous summer. Her very being seemed to annoy everyone. Douglass shouldn't think her too smug, it's just that writers have to promote themselves or forget about it. Doesn't self-promote near as much as most. Doesn't believe it would do family any good for her to give up, though quitting is tempting sometimes. Had a difficult winter and wrote very little, just two short stories [possibly "The Bookkeeper's Wife" and "The Diamond Mine"], and one of them was really weak. The death of Judge McClung and the marriage of Isabelle were big blows and gave her the unsettling sense of losing a home. Will survive, but is not too enthusiastic. Maybe going on trying after losing interest is a sign of character. Doesn't want to dwell on depressing facts, though. Why can't she and Douglass have fun together more? Yes, is difficult to be around, but any woman who has made good money in a business is difficult and she's no different. Nevertheless, the two of them still ought to enjoy one another's company, as they did in Denver the year before. Likes Douglass more than nearly everyone else, except when he's grumpy; and when he's grumpy, will just leave and accept it with detachment. Will, however, relish all positive feelings from her family, all of whom she likes very much, even more so now than when she was young and tried to change everybody. Still tends to believe in her own way of thinking first, but now tempers it with the knowledge of past errors. Has mellowed since last year. Three close friends died [?], and the family's displeasure last summer may have helped too. Is drained of spirit now--but that's bad for writing. Will probably never write well again. One needs to be transfixed with the material to write well. Hopes at least to be able to support herself still. Two stories were rejected recently for being dull, and the editors were right. Please plan on meeting somewhere—really has gotten more easy going.   Willie 

To Sidney Florance,  August 11, [1945] ; Drew U (Caspersen 54) 

Has followed his advice and asked Mr. Crowell to ask $3,200 for the Osborne land. Dropping of atomic bomb has made all her doings seem very small and unimportant. He need not return enclosed newspaper clipping; Major Eliot has been the most reliable analyst of the war.   Willa Cather 

To Mary Ellen Chase,  November 23, 1929 ; Smith 

Appreciates the invitation by Chase and President Neilson to lecture, but cannot accept due to travels this winter. After Christmas will be leaving to see mother in Pasadena. Hopes to stop in Northampton on the way to see nephew at Amherst and niece at Smith, and wishes to see Chase and Miss MacGregor as well to discuss Grand Manan plans. Thanks for sending "The Golden Asse". The book will travel west with her unless she has the chance to look at it sooner. Suspects that Virginia was nervous when Chase had her to tea.   Willa Cather 

To Samuel Avery [Chancellor of the University of Nebraska],  June 3, 1917, from Number Five Bank Street, New York ; UNL-Cather Collected 

An honorary degree from the University of Nebraska would be deeply gratifying, and please pass that along to the University Senate. Would love to come to Commencement ceremonies June 13, but cannot leave New York at present due to other obligations, and must regrettably decline. Would have arranged to be there if she had been given more advanced notice. Profoundly thankful for the invitation.   Willa Sibert Cather 

To Zoltan Engel,  February 20, 1936 ; NYPL 

Appreciates the lovely Rudyard Kipling medallion, and does not know of any colleges that would like a Kipling medallion; they all seem more interested in T. S. Eliot.   Willa Cather 

To Roscoe Cather,  July 10, [1908] on postcard of Palazzo Ducale, Venice ; UNL-Roscoe 
Image of front of postcard showing Palazzo Ducale, Venice, Italy
Front of postcard #2063

Finally, someplace as lovely as Sandy Point in its heyday. Has been in Venice ten days. Isabelle has left for home to be with her sick father. Will take ship from Genoa in two weeks.   Willa 

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© 2004-2019, Willa Cather Archive. Andrew Jewell, editor. Updated July 2019. The Willa Cather Archive is freely distributed by the Center for Digital Research in the Humanities at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. UNL Logo