• Letter ID: 0508
• Addressee: McNeny, Helen Sherman
• Date: 1920-06-15
• Repository: Willa Cather Pioneer Memorial and Educational Foundation

To Helen McNeny [in Red Cloud],  June 15, [1920], from Paris, postcard ; WCPM 

It's cold and wet. Has a head cold, but enjoys Paris anyway.   Willa Cather   [Stout #508]

• Letter ID: 1461
• Addressee: McNeny, Nell Sherman, and Sprague, Helen McNeny
• Date: 1939-11-24
• Repository: Willa Cather Pioneer Memorial and Educational Foundation

To Nell and Helen,  Nov. 24, [1939] ; WCPM 

Sorry to hear of Bernard's death [Nell's husband and Helen's father]. He was so helpful to her parents. Knows from experience that they will never stop missing him.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1461]

• Letter ID: 1689
• Addressee: Weisz, Irene Miner
• Date: 1945-01-06
• Repository: Newberry Library, Chicago

To Irene Miner Weisz,  Jan. 6, 1945 ; Newberry 

Has kept hoping to write a letter by hand, but has been in brace since December 16. Is afraid of losing the story she was enjoying working on. Cries every time she reads her letter. In the early days, when making her living in newspaper work or teaching and sending money to family, wrote for the joy of it. Over the years has managed to recapture many happy memories by writing. The world has been good to her, but Red Cloud has not. Hard to believe Helen McNeny would lecture on Granville Hicks, who built his career attacking her, in the Auld Library! Naturally, this delights people in Red Cloud who like to spend their time figuring out where she got everything in her books. Truth is, most of the time doesn't know— they just came to her, without her even realizing she wasn't making them up. Remembers how angry Mrs. Fred Garber was about A Lost Lady; she told Douglass she ought to have sued. Never meant to write about Mrs. Garber, but in the shock of learning of her death the story came to her. Wrote an honest recording of feelings she evoked. Mustn't show this letter to the likes of Helen Mac!   Willie   [Stout #1689]

• Letter ID: 1654
• Addressee: Weisz, Irene Miner
• Date: 1943-12-31
• Repository: Newberry Library, Chicago

To Irene Miner Weisz,  Dec. 31, 1943 ; Newberry 

Greatly appreciates pudding she sent, which conveys real friendship. Has had a difficult year. Three old friends in Pittsburgh died, and has not heard from Carrie in a long time. Must have hurt her feelings or offended her in some way. Really did mean to go to Red Cloud in the fall, but coming back from Maine to find no household help was daunting. Didn't get anyone until November 1, and then had problems. Mary Virginia's visit helped, but only because she kept her distance, stayed at a hotel and only dropped by for brief visits. Sad, but any kind of pleasure or emotional excitement is exhausting. Nerves seem messed up since the operation. Would be impossible to go to Red Cloud, where there would be such emotional strain, both happy and troubling, not to mention scoffers like Helen Mac. Afraid she would cry all the time. Elsie has made things hard, too. [sentence blacked out] No use saying any more about that. All together, things have been difficult. Has received a nice letter from Mary, who says there are two sides to every story, which is true. Carrie seems to have given up on her. Wishing her a happy winter in Mexico and hopes she will come to New York next spring. Then she can see for herself how things are.   Willie   [Stout #1654]

• Letter ID: 1966
• Addressee: Cather, Mary Virginia (Jennie) Boak
• Date: 1928-04-09
• Repository: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Archives and Special Collections, Philip L. and Helen Cather Southwick Collection (MS77)

To Mary Virginia Cather,  Monday after Easter [April 9, 1928] ; UNL-Southwick 

Easter was very cold after some warmer weather. Decorated the altar with Elsie in father's memory. Gave lilies to Molly and Hazel Powell and took daffodils to father's burial place. He always loved them; daffodils in Virginia are the earliest flower in her memory. Went to dinner with Will and Charles at the hotel, then saw Mrs. Turnure and Clifford. Had supper with Molly. Since the weather was poor, was glad Elsie did not travel. Odd to get a card from the Peggs. When that young man's wife and baby died, sent him snapdragons like those sent to father. It was very sad. His wife had a tumor within her when she was pregnant, and the tumor choked the baby. With proper medical care, she could have been saved. For many days the baby within her was dead. Dr. Stockman did not call Creighton until it was too late. Albert is devastated. Lizzie is now at the Macs [McNenys], though she comes by and lights the fire in the kitchen every morning. Has been to dinner there. Helen has the grippe. Has put silk curtains up in the dining room. The old bed is painted, and old "walnut" table mended and painted. Molly came over for dinner on Good Friday and Saturday and complimented her cooking. Has polished father's oak furniture, but will have it painted if mother wishes. Please write.   Willie 

• Letter ID: 1988
• Addressee: Cather, Elsie
• Date: 1923-09-19
• Repository: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Archives and Special Collections, Philip L. and Helen Cather Southwick Collection (MS77)

To Elsie Cather,  September 19, [1923], from Aix-les-Bains, France ; UNL-Southwick 

Those were just typographical mistakes and they got by both her and Edith. Should have read the first printing [of A Lost Lady] for such mistakes, but has not been well and did not suppose it would sell so fast. Did wonder about using the telephone in the novel, but no specific date was given and the events take place over a rather long stretch of time. The final section was meant to be set in 1900 or so, but it could be 1903 or 1904, and telephones were available at that time. Time was tricky in the book, as about fifteen years preceding and following the action had to be dealt with. The actual incidents of the plot took about a decade, but the reader had to feel the alterations brought by about thirty years, so was not too specific. Has Elsie seen the large advertisement in the Atlantic and the kind pieces in the Bee and World-Herald? Judge Vinsonhaler says it is fine for Mary Virginia to make the presentation of the portrait if mother is unwilling. Vinsonhaler is very kind; Shotwell, that friend of Nell McNeny's, is the problem. Bakst had beautiful photographs taken with her in his studio; would Elsie like one? Will send one to Carrie for sure. Risked illness and ventured up to cold Mount Revard, and it was marvelous. The new snow on Mount Blanc made the scene breathtaking. Paris newspapers have been printing glowing pieces on her recently. She stumbled across them by chance and sent to her publisher. Has a secret: the Figaro editor told her that she nearly received the French Legion of Honor for Claude, and would've gotten it if the full committee could read novels in English. Since it will be translated into French soon, the editor believes she will eventually get the honor. All of the French who have read the book seem to be transformed into her publicists. Would enjoy the attention very much if she were only feeling better. No, did not use Margie's knife as an ice-pick, but damaged it cutting soup bones. Is pleased Sambo's alligator is no longer living; the Mathenys have become ridiculous. Recently had word from Isabelle that her Italian cook delivered a stillborn girl and nearly died in the process. Is very saddened, as Bagina and her husband were so excited about the pregnancy. Did not see the interview mentioning Hochstein, as it appeared in the New York Herald when she was home for Christmas, and all the papers were sold out. Wonders how the Hastings paper got it. [The article, entitled "Fiction Recalls Violinist Lost In War: An Interview With Willa Cather," appeared in the New York Herald, 24 December 1922, sec. 8, p. 4, cols. 1-4; p. 12, cols. 3-4. It was reprinted in the Commercial Advertiser, 3 September 1923, p. 2, cols. 1- 4; p. 3, col. 1.]   Willa