• Letter ID: 1753
• Addressee: Malone, Father
• Date: 1947-03-03
• Repository: University of Virginia, Alderman Library, Charlottesville, Va.

To Father Maline [typographical error for Malone?],  Mar. 3, 1947 ; UVa 

Yes, may quote the few lines about Father Noel Chabanel,whom she found very interesting, more than any of his fellow martyrs.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1753]

• Letter ID: 1748
• Addressee: Austermann, Eleanor
• Date: 1947-01-16
• Repository: University of Virginia, Alderman Library, Charlottesville, Va.

To Eleanor Austermann,  Jan. 16, 1947 ; UVa 

Sorry not to have written in so long, but often thinks of her. Last six years have been sad, with the deaths of brothers Douglass and Roscoe. Has spent the last two summers in Maine, but has never found a place where she could work so well as at the Shattuck Inn [in Jaffrey, N.H.]. Appreciates her Christmas card, with its fine photograph of the inn. Still regrets the beautiful woods were destroyed by storm. Hopes to come there again.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1748]

• Letter ID: 1712
• Addressee: Garbat, Dr.
• Date: 1945-06-27
• Repository: University of Virginia, Alderman Library, Charlottesville, Va.

To Dr. Garbat,  June 27, 1945 ; UVa 

His letter with good news about her blood count and information about the typical slow recovery from major surgery has greatly encouraged her. Won't be able to come in before she leaves town. Has been seeing her oculist and her dentist and time is full. Leaving soon for Northeast Harbor, Maine, for two months.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1712]

• Letter ID: 1709
• Addressee: Halter, Mr.
• Date: 1945-05-24
• Repository: University of Virginia, Alderman Library, Charlottesville, Va.

To Mr. Halter,  May 24, 1945 ; UVa 

Has no particular favorite among her books. Some carried out her plan for them better than others.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1709]

• Letter ID: 1698
• Addressee: Sergeant, Elizabeth Shepley
• Date: 1945-02-05
• Repository: University of Virginia, Alderman Library, Charlottesville, Va.

To Elizabeth Shepley Sergeant,  Monday, Feb. 5, [1945?] ; UVa 

Where is she? How is she? Worries about her during such cold weather. Hand is bad, and has many letters to write to soldiers who have read her books in Armed Forces Editions. Little time for personal letters. Please write.   W. S. C.   [Stout #1698]

• Letter ID: 1660
• Addressee: Sergeant, Elizabeth Shepley
• Date: 1944-03-09
• Repository: University of Virginia, Alderman Library, Charlottesville, Va.

To Elizabeth Shepley Sergeant,  Thursday [Mar. 9, 1944?] ; UVa 

Glad she can come to dinner on Saturday March 18. Sorry for the sloppy handwriting, but hand still in the Ober brace.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1660]

• Letter ID: 1659
• Addressee: Roseboro', Viola
• Date: 1944-02-12
• Repository: University of Virginia, Alderman Library, Charlottesville, Va.

To Viola Roseboro',  Feb. 12, 1944 ; UVa 

Has thought of her often this winter, not just because of Ida Tarbell's death but because of the world's death. So glad Roseboro' was able to travel before this disaster of a war. Why did the world have to come to destruction in their lifetimes? and after they had already been through one war? Heard Sir James Jeans say humans want to believe the world will live forever, since they know they personally cannot. So why does their generation have to see this? Hasn't written because so many of her younger relatives have had their lives uprooted by the war. Hates to think of Nebraska boys off on Pacific islands, where the suffering is the worst. Human fallibility brought it on—or no, it was scientists who brought it on. Would like to come see her, but has not been well since gallbladder operation.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1659]

• Letter ID: 1644
• Addressee: Creighton, Mary Miner
• Date: 1943-10-30
• Repository: University of Virginia, Alderman Library, Charlottesville, Va.

To Mary Miner Creighton,  Oct. 30, 1943 ; UVa 

Sending her annual checks for the guild at the Episcopal church and for the Red Cross. Is it true that the Old Age Pension in Nebraska has been cut? If so, will increase amount to several older people there. Rationing a real bother and the quality of food often poor after one manages to get it. Mary Virginia is in town and a cheering presence, as ever. People do need cheering up these days! Terrible things happening to people she knows in England, and friends in France have been killed or are missing.   Willie   [Stout #1644]

• Letter ID: 1626
• Addressee: Field, Mrs.
• Date: 1943-04-19
• Repository: University of Virginia, Alderman Library, Charlottesville, Va.

To Mrs. Field,  Apr. 19, 1943 ; UVa 

Remembers her well though it was long ago. Sorry to hear Mr. Field has died and she has left Shepherdstown. Met a professor from Shepherdstown last fall. So now she is in Santa Barbara! Remembers that area as being very pleasant. Was there during mother's illness. Sorry not to be able to write by hand, but has sprained the tendon of right hand.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1626]

• Letter ID: 1586
• Addressee: Roseboro', Viola
• Date: 1942-08-29
• Repository: University of Virginia, Alderman Library, Charlottesville, Va.

To Viola Roseboro',  Aug. 29, 1942 ; UVa 

Hopes Miss Bloom let her know about the operation. Did read the manuscript she had sent. In first reading of chapter on Jerry Macauley entirely misread her purpose and wondered why not a clearer picture, with details. Then realized her intention was to give the subjective effect Macauley had on her, a different matter. Reading it that way, enjoyed it a great deal. Hopes her eyes are better and heat not bothersome.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1586]

• Letter ID: 1569
• Addressee: Ackroyd, Rose
• Date: 1941-12-27
• Repository: University of Virginia, Alderman Library, Charlottesville, Va.

To Mrs. Ackroyd,  Dec. 27, 1941 ; UVa 

Treasuring the card and photograph [of Mrs. Anderson], taken when she was older, but recognizes her nonetheless. Yes, remembers her Uncle Snowden clearly. Remembers once when she was about five years old, when she and Marjorie had gone to visit at Mrs. Ackroyd's grandmother's house on Timber Ridge, a heavy rainstorm came up and Snowden rode up on his horse and took her home riding in front of him on his cavalry saddle.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1569]

• Letter ID: 1561
• Addressee: Akins, Zoë
• Date: 1941-12-06
• Repository: University of Virginia, Alderman Library, Charlottesville, Va.

To Zoë Akins,  Dec. 6, [1941?] ; UVa 

Glad to receive her card. 1942 promises to be a bad year. Does admire Churchill, though. Suggests she read Gregor Ziemer, Education for Death [1941], which was called to her attention by Sigrid Undset.   Willa   [Stout #1561]

• Letter ID: 1542
• Addressee: Ackroyd, Rose
• Date: 1941-05-16
• Repository: University of Virginia, Alderman Library, Charlottesville, Va.

To Mrs. Ackroyed [Ackroyd],  May 16, 1941 ; UVa 

Enjoyed her letter. Her grandmother, Mary Ann Anderson, a childhood favorite in Virginia. Used to watch out the window for her to come up the road when in bed sick. Saw her again on visit to Virginia after graduating from college. Walked together up the beautiful Hollow Road to her house on Timber Ridge. Mrs. Anderson always took such a keen interest in people's lives. Mrs. Ackroyed's Aunt Marjorie and Uncle Enoch went to Nebraska with the Cather family. He went to California two years later with two other men from Winchester and only wrote once after that, but Marjorie stayed with the family until she died. Remembers hours spent with Marjorie on the back porch or in the kitchen. Is enclosing a recent picture of Willow Shade, now in bad repair, and has circled the window from which she used to watch for Mrs. Anderson. P.S.: The woman who wove their rugs was Mrs. Kearns.  Willa Cather   [Stout #1542]

• Letter ID: 1540
• Addressee: Willard, Mary
• Date: 1941-05-06
• Repository: University of Virginia, Alderman Library, Charlottesville, Va.

To Mary Willard [in San Francisco],  May 6, 1941 ; UVa 

Is grieved to hear of May's death. Knew her even before she knew Isabelle. Edith Lewis phoned Ethel Litchfield, who was so overcome she had to hang up without saying anything. Called back and implored her [i.e., Cather] not to die before she did because couldn't bear another death of a dear friend. Feels that way herself. Such a precious group of friends. Remembers how they enjoyed folk dancing classes. May was the best dancer of the group and the youngest-looking. Hasn't seen Ethel recently. Brother Roscoe ill in Colusa, California with a heart lesion. Don't answer, just wanted to say she shares her grief.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1540]

• Letter ID: 1529
• Addressee: Roseboro', Viola
• Date: 1941-02-20
• Repository: University of Virginia, Alderman Library, Charlottesville, Va.

To Viola Roseboro',  Feb. 20, 1941 ; UVa 

Hand in splints again. Appreciates her words of sympathy about the reviews of Sapphira and the Slave Girl, but is used to it. New York reviewers say every time that her new book is not as good as the previous one. If that were true, they should have dropped into the abyss by now. There were only two good reviews of My Ántonia in the whole country, by Fanny Butcher and by Grant Overton. Is asking Miss Bloom to enclose Henry Seidel Canby's review of Sapphira. Actually, the reviews Knopf has sent for her to read have seemed surprisingly good.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1529]

• Letter ID: 1514
• Addressee: Sergeant, Elizabeth Shepley
• Date: 1940-12-13
• Repository: University of Virginia, Alderman Library, Charlottesville, Va.

To Elizabeth Shepley Sergeant,  Dec. 13, 1940 ; UVa 

Has not written because of thumb problem; hand now in splints. Can't even sign a check. Will soon go into the French Hospital and be pampered by nurses there. [signed by Sarah J. Bloom] Thanks for sharing the enclosed letter. It's true, the Germans will never change.   W. S. C.   [Stout #1514]

• Letter ID: 1516
• Addressee: Roseboro', Viola
• Date: 1940-12-13
• Repository: University of Virginia, Alderman Library, Charlottesville, Va.

To Viola Roseboro',  Dec. 13, 1940 ; UVa 

Enclosing a letter written by Margaret Kennedy that Julian Street shared and did not want returned. Very tedious to have hand in splints here at the holiday season. Miss Lewis sends greeting.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1516]

• Letter ID: 1510
• Addressee: Akins, Zoë
• Date: 1940-12-01
• Repository: University of Virginia, Alderman Library, Charlottesville, Va.

To Zoë Akins,  Dec. 1, [1940] ; UVa 

Why she not come in November? Nieces come, Menuhins come, others come, Zoë not come. Is to be in hospital most of December because of tendon damage. Is using this Indian language to write tersely while splint is off for a while.   Willa   [Stout #1510]

• Letter ID: 1509
• Addressee: Roseboro', Viola
• Date: 1940-11-28
• Repository: University of Virginia, Alderman Library, Charlottesville, Va.

To Viola Roseboro',  Nov. 28, 1940 ; UVa 

Greatly appreciated her letter about the book. Writing it allowed recovery of early memories and escape from painful events. Glad it rings true to someone born a southerner.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1509]

• Letter ID: 1502
• Addressee: Roseboro', Viola
• Date: 1940-11-09
• Repository: University of Virginia, Alderman Library, Charlottesville, Va.

To Viola Roseboro' ,  Nov. 9, 1940 ; UVa 

Sending her an advance copy of the book, to be released December 7. Realizes she is not so interested in fiction any more, but much of this is not fiction but family stories and local stories, with an absolutely factual epilogue. Sorry not to have written sooner, but has been back from Canada only a few weeks and very occupied with the book. Easy to catch the manners of southern society, but the problem of evil in an intimate domestic setting difficult to catch. P.S.: House servants spoke one way to them and another way to each other.  Willa Cather   [Stout #1502]