A Calendar of the Letters of Willa Cather

18 letters found

Search parameters

next

Results 1-10:

To Carrie Miner Sherwood,  Feb. 11, [1919], from New York ; WCPM 

Sending some reviews; please share with Irene. The one in the Dial is the best. Former president of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, Edwin W. Winter, visited to tell her how he liked the book and now drops in like an old friend. Mostly feels glad that her father and Carrie like it.   Willie   [Stout #452]

To Ferris Greenslet,  June 17, 1921, from Toronto ; Harvard 

Edwin Winter writes that he can't find a copy of My Ántonia. Where has he sold second serial rights to O Pioneers!?   Willa Cather   [Stout #545]

To E. H. Anderson,  Nov. 24, 1922 ; NYPL 

Hurrying to leave for Nebraska but will answer briefly. Georgine Milmine, now Mrs. Benjamin Wells, of Aubrey, N.Y., gathered material on Mrs. Eddy. McClure bought the material, subsequently lost (along with a first edition of Science and Health) when the magazine was sold. Milmine couldn't do the writing, and after sampling short segments of it done by several other people he chose her [Cather]. This was shortly after she came to New York. Carefully checked the material and believes it is all accurate except the first chapter, written by Burton Hendrick, now with Doubleday. His resentment at being removed from the project may be part of the reason Doubleday does not bring it back into print. Please keep confidential.   Willa Cather   [Stout #649]

To E. H. Anderson [from Ellen Burns, secretary],  Dec. 11, 1922 ; NYPL 

Yes, write to Mrs. Wells [Georgine Milmine] but do not mention Cather's name. Might also write to S. S. McClure for an account of how the material was collected.   [Stout #658]

To E. H. Anderson,  Feb. 15, 1926 ; NYPL 

Has found someone to do the translations from Swedish she spoke to him about. Did not mind the philatelist in the private working room; has probably finished the research she needed to do.   Willa Cather   [Stout #823]

To Dorothy Canfield Fisher,  Sunday [June 14, 1931] , from New York ; UVt 

Will go to Princeton tonight to receive honorary degree. Only feeling toward Shadows on the Rock is appreciation that it carried her through difficult time. Tried to capture reality of old life in Quebec. Jacques modeled on a nephew who still remembers how she pulled him uphill on his sled during the winter before father died, when he was five.   Willa   [Stout #1054]

To Helen Louise Cather Southwick,  Sept. 22, 1946, extract made by E. K. Brown ; Beinecke 

She and Charles the only family members left with whom she can be honest and be herself.   [Stout #1739]

To Ethel Garber Cather [sister-in-law],  July 23, 1930, from Paris; postcard showing the St.-Martin's Gate in Paris ; UNL-Rosowski Cather 
Image of postcard showing the St.-Martin's Gate in Paris, France
Front of postcard #1876

Going south soon to see friends near Marseilles. Sends love to Jim and children.   Willa Cather 

To Helen Louise Cather Southwick [niece],  December 20, 1939 ; UNL-Southwick 

Is sending humble Christmas cards because Grand Manan friends need help. Carpenter sick with grief after his son's suicide, and Willie Thomas lost everything in a house fire. The people of the island have contributed materials and labor to rebuild his house. Doesn't see Virginia and Margaret very often, though they are in Boston. Attempting to finish a book that was unfortunately delayed by the deaths of Douglass and Isabelle. Glad Helen is near Garber grandparents. Much love.   Aunt Willie 

To James Cather,  July 12 [1934?] ; UNL-Rosowski Cather 

Is writing from a bank vault, where she is doing some business before leaving for Canada. Must tell Jim something: would not respect him more if he hit it big in the oil business. Chance and accomplishment are not the same thing. To work a steady job and support one's family is an accomplishment. That is what Roscoe has done. Making money in gold or oil or stocks is just chance. Real accomplishment is only achieved with persistent hard work. Doesn't mean to lecture, but Jim mentioned he would like to tell her of an accomplishment, and he needs to know that working, staying healthy, and raising children is enough. Jim's children [Helen and Charles Cather], who seem wonderful, would not value their father more if he was rich. Californians value chance too much. Tell the children if they begin to evaluate people based upon their wealth instead of their character she will stop loving them. Doesn't believe it will come to that, but is sincere.   Willie 

next

© 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