• Letter ID: 1846
• Addressee: Cather, Elsie
• Date: 1913-10
• Repository: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Archives and Special Collections, Susan J. and James Rosowski Cather Collection (MS228)

To Bobbie [nickname for Elsie Cather],  [October? 1913] , from 1180 Murray Hill Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA ; UNL-Rosowski Cather 

Is working hard after two weeks in Virginia, and Isabelle is preparing for her sister Edith's wedding.  Pleased Elsie is doing some horseback riding.  Wishes to get back to beautiful Nebraska.  Sending a review from the Nation [97 (4 Sept. 1913): 210-211].  Likes beating out Norris and Phillips [Nation reviewer compared O Pioneers! to their work].   Willie 

• Letter ID: 1894
• Addressee: Cather, Elsie
• Date: 1913-10
• Repository: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Archives and Special Collections, Susan J. and James Rosowski Cather Collection (MS228)

To Bobbie [nickname for Elsie Cather],  [October? 1913] possibly sent with #1846; UNL-Rosowski Cather 

Enclosed review [of O Pioneers!] is from the Nation [97 (4 Sept. 1913): 210-211], which rarely publishes a positive review of a novel. Used to see Phillips at the Waldorf and said to herself that she understood the west better than he did, but no one would ever believe a woman. Now they do! Is very pleased. Please send back after Roscoe sees it.   Willie 

• Letter ID: 1879
• Addressee: Cather, Charles F.
• Date: 1913-04-17
• Repository: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Archives and Special Collections, Philip L. and Helen Cather Southwick Collection (MS77)

To Charles Cather,  [April 17?, 1913] , from 5 Bank Street photocopy, not original; UNL-Southwick 

Appreciates the interest check and is pleased Mr. MacArthur accepted the loan. If he has trouble placing other $700 just mail it back so it can earn interest in the bank. Is working on McClure's Autobiography, which will come out in the fall and winter. Father will like it. Will soon begin correcting proof on new novel [ O Pioneers! ]. Publishers have high expectations, and the book will go on sale September 1. Howard Gore wrote to inquire if she was close to William Jennings Bryan and could persuade him to give Gore a diplomatic appointment in Holland. [Bryan served as Secretary of State 1913-1915.] Gore is smart, but also a kiss-up. Alex Pendleton wrote; is sounding old. Unfortunately can't make it to Winchester this spring. Tell Uncle Billy Parks hello. Heard wonderful old stories from him last summer. Has been thinking about their drives when she was in Red Cloud last spring.   Willie 

• Letter ID: 0281
• Addressee: Greenslet, Ferris
• Date: 1914-05-02
• Repository: Harvard University, Houghton Library, Cambridge, Mass.

To Ferris Greenslet,  May 2, [1914], from New York ; Harvard 

Glad the book is selling fairly well. How did the Heinemann edition do? Is going to Pittsburgh in a few days. Miss Lewis sailing for Naples toward the end of the month.   W. S. C.   [Stout #281]

• Letter ID: 0291
• Addressee: Greenslet, Ferris
• Date: 1914-12-13
• Repository: Harvard University, Houghton Library, Cambridge, Mass.

To Ferris Greenslet,  Dec. 13, [1914], from Pittsburgh ; Harvard 

Will finish the novel by summer at the latest. It will be twice as long as O Pioneers! and more interesting. How about calling it The Song of the Lark?   Willa Cather   [Stout #291]

• Letter ID: 0295
• Addressee: Greenslet, Ferris
• Date: 1915-03-28
• Repository: Harvard University, Houghton Library, Cambridge, Mass.

To Ferris Greenslet,  March 28, 1915, from no. 5 Bank Street, New York ; Harvard 

Is sending most of the novel. About 20,000 words yet to write. Believes it is very good. Feels envious of Doubleday's sales methods. Houghton Mifflin ought to push this book more than they did O Pioneers! Parts of the story are drawn from her early years, including the death of the railroad man, which happened when she was about thirteen. Story is full of the West. Has hit it with this one!   Willa Cather   [Stout #295]

• Letter ID: 0311
• Addressee: Greenslet, Ferris
• Date: 1915-06-30
• Repository: Harvard University, Houghton Library, Cambridge, Mass.

To Ferris Greenslet,  June 30, [1915], from New York ; Harvard 

Likes the jacket, but the copy is wrong—Moonstone, Colorado, not Arizona. Also, Thea and Fred go to Mexico, not New Mexico. Wishes it could say something about her artistic growth in the cliff dweller ruins. Actually, not so very happy with the cover. Couldn't it be more like British edition of Pioneers? Henry James seems patronizing in his essay on the Fieldses.   Willa Cather   [Stout #311]

• Letter ID: 0375
• Addressee: Greenslet, Ferris
• Date: 1916-12-16
• Repository: Harvard University, Houghton Library, Cambridge, Mass.

To Ferris Greenslet,  Dec. 16, [1916], from New York ; Harvard 

People she knows from Sweden and Norway have indicated possible interest there in translations of O Pioneers! and The Song of the Lark. Could he take it up with publishers, perhaps enclosing a copy of Edward Garnett's article in last February's Atlantic? Is enclosing a list of the best people to write. He can get their attention by mentioning that reviewers have thought Thea Kronborg was modeled after Olive Fremstad. Please send three dozen copies of the advertising booklet for her to send to people who inquire. Finishing some short stories for Reynolds to place, but will start on the next book soon. Hopes he can come to New York to discuss the Scandinavian possibilities. Will have a phone in soon and send him the number. Might he be there next Thursday [Dec. 21] for dinner with the Hambourgs, S. S. McClure, and Harry Dwight? McClure will tell everyone about the war.   Willa S. C.   [Stout #375]

• Letter ID: 0377
• Addressee: Greenslet, Ferris
• Date: 1917-01-21
• Repository: Harvard University, Houghton Library, Cambridge, Mass.

To Ferris Greenslet,  Jan. 21, 1917, from New York ; Harvard 

Has heard people are having trouble finding copies of O Pioneers!. Latest statement seems to indicate they are letting it go out of stock. Since it is selling a few hundred a year in its fourth year, would think they would want to keep it available. Certainly an author wants that.   Willa Cather   [Stout #377]

• Letter ID: 0394
• Addressee: Greenslet, Ferris
• Date: 1917-10-18
• Repository: Harvard University, Houghton Library, Cambridge, Mass.

To Ferris Greenslet,  Oct. 18, 1917, from New York ; Harvard 

Glad to accept contract for Continental rights of the next book. Will certainly accept reduced royalties on O Pioneers! in a soldiers' edition. Century will start "Office Wives" series in January and wants the book rights. Trusts Houghton Mifflin will not mind. Wants to discuss the physical design of the novel when he comes to town. Will invite Benda to dinner and ask him about doing head and tail pieces. Otherwise, would prefer no illustrations. Has tried drawing her own.   Willa Cather   [Stout #394]

• Letter ID: 0398
• Addressee: Greenslet, Ferris
• Date: 1917-11-18
• Repository: Harvard University, Houghton Library, Cambridge, Mass.

To Ferris Greenslet,  Nov. 18, [1917?], from New York ; Harvard 

Sending first two chapters. Should run no longer than 65,000 words. Wants same type as O Pioneers! on rough, cream-colored paper. Please send proofs of the pages they set for the dummy, so she can see the visual effect. P.S.: Has no other copy of these pages, so don't lose them!  Willa Cather   [Stout #398]

• Letter ID: 0411
• Addressee: Greenslet, Ferris
• Date: 1918-03-07
• Repository: Harvard University, Houghton Library, Cambridge, Mass.

To Ferris Greenslet,  Mar. 7, [1918], from New York ; Harvard 

Thanks for his support. Would rather plan for fall, not summer. Will send three more Benda drawings tomorrow, including one of Lena Lingard almost splitting her clothes. Will they please send Benda his money right away, also gift copies of O Pioneers! and The Song of the Lark? Now well and will send more copy soon.   W. S. Cather   [Stout #411]

• Letter ID: 0461
• Addressee: Greenslet, Ferris
• Date: 1919-05-19
• Repository: Harvard University, Houghton Library, Cambridge, Mass.

To Ferris Greenslet,  May 19, [1919], from New York ; Harvard 

Has many things to take up with him. Bill for corrections on proof has brought all this to a head. If Houghton Mifflin really valued her, wouldn't they absorb such costs? Three New York publishers have approached her recently. Houghton Mifflin has not used good reviews effectively to boost sales and has not been diligent about getting review copies out. One reviewer told her Houghton Mifflin seems unwilling to praise this book. Why are they reluctant to quote people who say things like "great writer"? Wishes they would advertise her as Knopf has Hergesheimer, but they do not seem to take a long-term interest in her books. Their stock of The Song of the Lark has dropped to eight copies and O Pioneers! to four. Hates to have books with two different publishers, but wants a press that will believe in her.   Willa Cather   [Stout #461]

• Letter ID: 0464
• Addressee: Greenslet, Ferris
• Date: 1919-05-30
• Repository: Harvard University, Houghton Library, Cambridge, Mass.

To Ferris Greenslet,  May 30, [1919?] ; Harvard 

Thanks for his letter [probably long letter dated May 23, 1919, trying to persuade her Houghton Mifflin did care about her books]. Now understands the proof charges and is content to pay half, but it seems that not much would change in the future. Who is doing the Swedish translation of O Pioneers!? Has been spending a lot of time with returning soldiers from Nebraska. Will not show "Claude" to anyone until fall.   W. S. C.   [Stout #464]

• Letter ID: 0480
• Addressee: Greenslet, Ferris
• Date: 1919-10-18
• Repository: Harvard University, Houghton Library, Cambridge, Mass.

To Ferris Greenslet,  Oct. 18, [1919], from New York ; Harvard 

The Bookman that he spoke of in his October 14 note has arrived. Likes the ad. Swedish edition of O Pioneers! has also arrived. When he reprints, will he please change the color of the binding? Let her know when she can phone him—doesn't have her own phone just now. Will get back to work on "Claude" Monday after this [October 27].   W. S. C.   [Stout #480]

• Letter ID: 0489
• Addressee: Greenslet, Ferris
• Date: 1919-12-28
• Repository: Harvard University, Houghton Library, Cambridge, Mass.

To Ferris Greenslet,  Dec. 28, 1919, from New York ; Harvard 

Hopes he will be in New York before January 7. Please change the mustard-color binding of O Pioneers!. If the company doesn't want to bother with the book, how much would they want for the rights to it? Has agreed to let Knopf bring out a new edition of The Troll Garden in early spring. Will make sure it isn't at the same time as "Claude." P.S.: The Bookman ad was the only time they were willing to make bold claims for the quality of her books.  Willa Cather   [Stout #489]

• Letter ID: 0491
• Addressee: Greenslet, Ferris
• Date: 1920-01-11
• Repository: Harvard University, Houghton Library, Cambridge, Mass.

To Ferris Greenslet,  Jan. 11, [1920] ; Harvard 

Likes the new binding of O Pioneers!. Now how about a new jacket? Still no telephone. Could he come in next Saturday evening [Jan. 17]? He would also be welcome for tea on Friday, when she is customarily in for visitors.   W. S. C.   [Stout #491]

• Letter ID: 0545
• Addressee: Greenslet, Ferris
• Date: 1921-06-17
• Repository: Harvard University, Houghton Library, Cambridge, Mass.

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]

• Letter ID: 0960
• Addressee: Greenslet, Ferris
• Date: 1929-02-03
• Repository: Harvard University, Houghton Library, Cambridge, Mass.

To Ferris Greenslet,  Feb. 3, [1929] ; Harvard 

Does not want a dollar edition of My Ántonia, but will agree to a dollar edition of O Pioneers! provided they keep it in stock in the regular edition also. After the 12th write care of Knopf.   Willa Cather   [Stout #960]

• Letter ID: 1109
• Addressee: Greenslet, Ferris
• Date: 1932-05-02
• Repository: Harvard University, Houghton Library, Cambridge, Mass.

To Ferris Greenslet,  May 2, 1932 ; Harvard 

Only reason she authorized a cheap edition of O Pioneers! was to save Ántonia from the same. But even though he says it is doing well, it is not benefiting her, because sales of the regular edition have disappeared. He ought to adjust her rate of royalties to make up for it.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1109]