• Letter ID: 2063
• Addressee: Cather, Roscoe
• Date: 1908-07-10
• Repository: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Archives and Special Collections, Roscoe and Meta Cather Collection (MS316)

To Roscoe Cather,  July 10, [1908] on postcard of Palazzo Ducale, Venice ; UNL-Roscoe 

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 

• Letter ID: 0335
• Addressee: Greenslet, Ferris
• Date: 1915-11-17
• Repository: Harvard University, Houghton Library, Cambridge, Mass.

To Ferris Greenslet,  Nov. 17, [1915], from Pittsburgh ; Harvard 

Enclosing an article for Book News. Isabelle's father has died. Has had to forgo going to Chicago with Fremstad, who seems to like the book. Glad the reviews haven't mentioned her. Hasn't heard from McClure.    W. S. C.   [Stout #335]

• Letter ID: 0340
• Addressee: Sergeant, Elizabeth Shepley
• Date: 1915-12-07
• Repository: Pierpont Morgan Library, New York

To Elizabeth Shepley Sergeant,  Dec. 7, [1915], from Pittsburgh ; PM 

Judge McClung died three weeks ago. Wishes she had reviewed the book. Misses Thea's company. Had feared Fremstad might be angry about the book, but she liked it exceedingly.    W.   [Stout #340]

• Letter ID: 0343
• Addressee: Cather, Frances (Franc) Smith
• Date: 1915-12-25
• Repository: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Archives and Special Collections, George Cather Ray Collection (MS113)

To Mrs. George P. Cather [Aunt Franc],  Dec. 25, 1915, from Pittsburgh ; UNL-Ray 

Is sending her love on this special day. Since Isabelle McClung has lost her father as well as her mother and this house (which has been almost a home to her [Cather] for fifteen years) is to be sold, it is her last Christmas there. May never feel so secure in any other house. Even her apartment in New York, pleasant as it is, is not a home in the way this was. Has been spending some time with Jack during the school vacation. New book enjoying good sales as well as favorable reviews. Is eager to get to work on a new one.   Willa    [Stout #343]

• Letter ID: 0315
• Addressee: Greenslet, Ferris
• Date: 1915-07-24
• Repository: Harvard University, Houghton Library, Cambridge, Mass.

To Ferris Greenslet,  Saturday [prob. July 24, 1915] , from Pittsburgh ; Harvard 

For three days has been on the verge of sailing for Bergen, then to Germany to interview German leaders. Since S. S. McClure was going, there had to be someone else, so Isabelle was going. All off when Judge McClung decided he didn't want her to take the risk. Will get back onto the page proofs. It was a more appealing project financially than the novel will be. Would have needed to be tactful in order to be accurate without being or at least seeming pro-German.   Willa Cather   [Stout #315]

• Letter ID: 0317
• Addressee: Sergeant, Elizabeth Shepley
• Date: 1915-07-28
• Repository: Pierpont Morgan Library, New York

To Elizabeth Shepley Sergeant,  July 28, [1915], from Pittsburgh ; PM 

Was about to sail for Germany when Judge McClung decided Isabelle must not go. Will start for Durango August 6. Proofs are finished. Even the page proofs needed a lot of correction. Loves North of Boston [Frost], so bare and strong. Knowing real poetry is being written enables her to tolerate even the likes of Witter Bynner.   W. S. C.   [Stout #317]

• Letter ID: 0092
• Addressee: Fisher, Dorothy Canfield
• Date: 1903-11-27
• Repository: University of Vermont, Bailey-Howe Library, Burlington, Vt.

To Dorothy Canfield,  Friday [Nov. 27, 1903] ; UVt 

Still sorry not to have seen her father. Has seen Minnie Maddern Fiske in Hedda Gabler [ Ibsen ], with Isabelle. Has been to many concerts. Can't be up past ten on a school night or won't be any good in the classroom. Many parties for Edith [McClung]. Has written about 40,000 words of a new manuscript; not ready to talk about it yet. Had a happy Thanksgiving dinner last night; Judge McClung away.    Willie   [Stout #92]

• Letter ID: 0351
• Addressee: Fisher, Dorothy Canfield
• Date: 1916-03-15
• Repository: University of Vermont, Bailey-Howe Library, Burlington, Vt.

To Dorothy Canfield Fisher,  Mar. 15, [1916?] ; UVt 

The Song of the Lark was fun to write, but shows carelessness. Cut out several chapters set in Germany to keep it focused on the Moonstone perspective. They would have spoiled the unity. A few negative reviewers have wished it were a tragedy rather than a success story. The title is a weakness, it's true. Hasn't been up to starting a new book this winter, with Judge McClung's death, the closing of the house, and prospect of Isabelle's marriage [April 3, 1916]. Doesn't get along well with Jan Hambourg. Loss of Isabelle is a severe one. Also, Annie Fields died last winter. So much misery in the world in general, with the war. Wishes they could have a long talk.   Willa   [Stout #351]

• Letter ID: 1952
• Addressee: Cather, Douglass
• Date: 1916-07-08
• Repository: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Archives and Special Collections, Philip L. and Helen Cather Southwick Collection (MS77)

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 Española 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