• Letter ID: 0511
• Addressee: Cather, Charles F.
• Date: 1920-07-07
• Repository: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Archives and Special Collections, George Cather Ray Collection (MS113)

To Charles F. Cather [father],  July 7, [1920], from Paris ; UNL-Ray 

Has found out the location of Grosvenor's grave. Please let Aunt Franc know. It is registered by the Society for the Care of the American Dead. He is buried in Grave No. 2, Plot B, in the American Cemetery at Villiers Tournelle. From all reports of how the dead at Cantigny were handled, there can be no uncertainty that it is G. P. Will go there next week and take a picture. Isabelle and Jan will go along. Will stay overnight in a home, as there are no hotels. Feeling a little homesick and eager to return to her own country and her own people, although this country and people are wonderful.   Willie   [Stout #511]

• Letter ID: 0589
• Addressee: Fisher, Dorothy Canfield
• Date: 1922-03-08
• Repository: University of Vermont, Bailey-Howe Library, Burlington, Vt.

To Dorothy Canfield Fisher,  Wednesday [March 8?, 1922] ; UVt 

New book will be called a war novel. Would never have written such a thing if she hadn't simply had to before she could go on to anything else. Sprang from her cousin Grosvenor, who wanted to escape the farm and fulfilled his wish by enlisting, only to die at Cantigny on May 27, 1918. Has eliminated her usual pictorial mode in order to approximate the central character's way of looking at the world. He didn't see things as clear pictures.   Willa   [Stout #589]

• Letter ID: 0590
• Addressee: Fisher, Dorothy Canfield
• Date: 1922-04-07
• Repository: University of Vermont, Bailey-Howe Library, Burlington, Vt.

To Dorothy Canfield Fisher,  Friday [April 7, 1922] ; UVt 

Pleased she has offered to review the book. Will want it to be well placed for impact. The fact that Claude was modeled on her cousin is not for general information. Glad to have managed to convey the feeling of the uncultivated person who wants culture. A kind of revenge for the way Dorothy made her feel in France, though a revenge without anger attached. Was with her cousin in Nebraska at the start of the war and felt a strong tie. Feels drained by the effort of writing the book and the closeness to Claude's mind, now lost to her since it is finished. An ordeal but a joyful one.   Willa   [Stout #590]

• Letter ID: 0421
• Addressee: Greenslet, Ferris
• Date: 1918-07-02
• Repository: Harvard University, Houghton Library, Cambridge, Mass.

To Ferris Greenslet,  July 2, [1918], from the Shattuck Inn, Jaffrey, N.H. ; Harvard 

Enclosing proofs of cuts with instructions. Progressing well with proofs. Why did the copyeditor change Mama to Mamma and eliminate subjunctives? Shouldn't be charged for restoring those. Did he see the notice that her cousin, Lt. Grosvenor Cather, was killed in action on May 28?   W. S. C.   [Stout #421]

• Letter ID: 2082
• Addressee: Cather, Roscoe
• Date: 1918-07-19
• Repository: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Archives and Special Collections, Roscoe and Meta Cather Collection (MS316)

To Roscoe Cather,  July 19 [1918], on letterhead of The Shattuck Inn, Jaffrey, NH ; UNL-Roscoe 

Thanks to Meta for the delightful photographs of the twins! Neither she nor Edith Lewis will be able to come to Wyoming, as the rising costs of rail travel make it too expensive. Mother tells her, though, that Roscoe will be in Red Cloud with Virginia this summer. Plans to be there for a month beginning August 15. Hopes he will be there then. Is rejoicing in the reports from France, and especially G. P.'s citation. Many people have asked if the Cather mentioned in all the New York newspapers is her relative. Glad his citation is for such a practical kind of heroism. Is busy reading proofs of her new book at this quiet inn. It is an odd book, or at least different than the others. Did he know that her other novels are included in many college courses? And wasn't he surprised by Jack? Hasn't met the girl, but if she's respectable and a good speller, it will probably be great for him. Certainly Roscoe's marriage has been. PS: The American soldiers are so impressive! (Is having a hard time writing with the terrible ink provided by the hotel).  Willie. 

• Letter ID: 0194
• Addressee: Cather, Frances (Franc) Smith
• Date: 1911-05-16
• Repository: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Archives and Special Collections, George Cather Ray Collection (MS113)

To Mrs. George P. Cather [Aunt Franc],  May 16, 1911 ; UNL-Ray 

Has just seen a report of G. P.'s accident in the Red Cloud newspaper. It appears he is out of danger but must be in a lot of pain. Has always been afraid of automobiles, and gasoline seems inherently dangerous. Only a week ago an explosion a couple of blocks away caused several apartment buildings to burn down. G. P. is a very strong young man, but this is a terrible ordeal. Elsie is enjoying Northampton. Hopes to see her next week during a trip to Boston.   Willie   [Stout #194]

• Letter ID: 0390
• Addressee: Cather, Frances (Franc) Smith
• Date: 1917-09-09
• Repository: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Archives and Special Collections, George Cather Ray Collection (MS113)

To Mrs. George P. Cather [Aunt Franc],  Sept. 9, [pm. 1917], from the Shattuck Inn, Jaffrey, N.H. ; UNL-Ray 

Understands her regret that G. P. has enlisted, but he has always wanted to be in the military and this is his chance. It's a time of return to basics: men carrying guns. For herself, feels proud of him and glad he can go, especially as an officer. Wishes Jack were going. Was sorry not to see her, but the heat was debilitating and she and her friend fled back East. Was too worn out to work for a while, but now is working every morning in a tent about a mile from the inn. Douglass's reports about Mother are disheartening. Wonders if she should go to California to see about her. Address is at Hotel Garfield on O'Farrell Street in San Francisco. Elsie is delighted with her school and with Albuquerque. On the whole, families are pretty good things to have.   Willa   [Stout #390]

• Letter ID: 0418
• Addressee: Cather, Frances (Franc) Smith
• Date: 1918-06-26
• Repository: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Archives and Special Collections, George Cather Ray Collection (MS113)

To Mrs. George P. Cather [Aunt Franc],  n.d. [June 26, 1918] , from New York ; UNL-Ray 

Knows she must be thanking God for a son who could make them all so proud with his courageous deeds, showing he was a true man and not an inferior one. She and Uncle George are the only ones who deserve the glory he has brought to the family [referring to a newspaper notice of G. P.'s death on the parapet of a trench].   Willie   [Stout #418]

• Letter ID: 0419
• Addressee: Cather, Frances (Franc) Smith
• Date: 1918-06-12
• Repository: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Archives and Special Collections, George Cather Ray Collection (MS113)

To Mrs. George P. Cather [Aunt Franc],  June 12, [1918], from New York ; UNL-Ray 

Feels inadequate to write, but wants her to know that her loss [of Grosvenor] is present in her thoughts. Everything else seemed to fade into unreality when she saw G. P.'s name in the newspaper under the heading "killed in action"—a title that sets men apart in glory. Now feels she carries a name of honor because it was his name. It was Isabelle who showed her the newspaper notice. Somehow, had not believed he would be harmed in the war. Knows she must be glad he found his mission in life. Remembers talking with him about the war news in August, 1914. He was not content on the farm; this great endeavor was the kind of effort he needed and craved. Very few men have both the courage and the ability to serve the country in this great challenge as he did. Sends love and sympathy.   Willie   [Stout #419]

• Letter ID: 0440
• Addressee: Cather, Frances (Franc) Smith
• Date: 1918-11-11
• Repository: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Archives and Special Collections, George Cather Ray Collection (MS113)

To Mrs. George P. Cather [Aunt Franc],  Nov. 11, [1918] ; UNL-Ray 

Thinking of her on this day of peace. For the first time in all history the sun rose on a world without monarchies. A fulfillment of Ralph Waldo Emerson's prediction that God would one day say He was tired of kings. Wishes Grosvenor had lived to see it, but he is now God's soldier, as the line in Macbeth says. The old is gone for good. Now more than ever the flag belongs in churches.   Willie   [Stout #440]