CEDRIC DOVER

Work Concerning American Negroes

Books

1. Half-Caste. Secker & Warburg; London, 1937

2. Know This of Race. Secker & Warburg; London, 1937

3. Hell in the Sun. Secker & Warburg; London 1943

4. Talking to India. A symposium edited by George Orwell.
Allen & Unwin, London 1943. (Three chapters by C.D., including
a study of Paul Robeson.)

Books to be published in 1947

1. Brown Phoenix An autobiography.

2. Sun Gonna Shine. A small book for the Worker's Musical Association on the folksongs of the Negro - spirituals,seculars, ballads, worksongs, blues - approached from the viewpoint of social and creative interest. There is an enormous but not very informed following in England for Negro folk music which it might stimulate. (To press in November).

3. Singing Brown. Poetry and Life in Negro America
This is a big illustrated book which is now being prepared for press. Negro poetry is quite unobtainable in Britain (and in countries reached by British publishers), and our most determined enthusiasts can only get Johnson's, Cullen's and Sterling Brown's anthologies by special arrangements with public libraries.
Moreover, a straight anthology would not meet the present need as there is not sufficient background for appreciating it. I have tried to present the background, an approach, and the poetry in the same book, to reveal Negro life through Negro poetry. The style is personal, one function of the book being to express my gratitude for the kindness and friendship which so many Negroes have shown me. Another function, which I trust it will fulfil. is to pave the way for a critical poet's anthology published here, as well as collected editions of the work of Negro poets, beginning with Claude McKay, Langston Hughes, Sterling Brown and Margaret Walker. I would be most happy to help in finding publishers and in any other way I can.

The book commences with a fragment of autobiography, incorporating tributes to the many friends who made my visit to America in 1937 - 38 so fruitful. Two chapters of perspectives follow and one on Negro poems on poetry and poets. The first group of chapters deals with what may be called the poetry of patriotism - the river, America, country, city, Africa etc. The second group concerns the golden brown, travelling men, nostalgia, death etc. The third group discusses the early poets and folk poetry - spirituals, seculars, ballads, worksong s, blues. The last group concentrates on social poetry and folk verse - religion, race-mixture, poverty, injustice, lynching, two wars, protests, definite social criticism, co-operation, faith in the

2.

future - and is concluded with a chapter on the next
steps in Negro poetry. There are also intercepting chapters
on the New Negro movement, Women poets, Beale Street, ebony
gowers (Braithwaite and others who had the ivory tower approach),
a discussion centred in Uncle Tom's Cabin, portraits of
Dunbar, Hughes, McKay, James Weldon Johnson, Sterling Brown and
Paul Robeson. Other portraits are "worked in". Finally, the
book includes a "Who's Who", bibliography and index.
Altogether there are 45 chapters and I think they cover most
phases of Negro life, problems and poetry. The illustrations
aim at being more than individual portraits. An effort is
made through them to give a visual picture of Negro life and
achievements in other fields. Thus, James Weldon Johnson is
shown at home reading poems to his students, while Langston Hughes
is represented by a photograph of the head done by Ramos Blanco.

4. A large omnibus volume including a revised rearrangement of what I wish to preserve from my earlier books and periodical writings on 'race and colour'.

## Other Works

This began in 1935 when the Rosenwald Fund sent me, through the kind offices of Charles S. Johnson, a small 'Negro library', which has been put to many uses, including the pain of lending them to interested persons. In 1937 - 38 this library grew, chiefly through the generosity of Negro friends in America, and was augmented by a large collection of photographs presented by the Harmon Foundation which was increased by determined begging on my part. These books and photographs have done and are still doing good work, as they have been shown to, and discussed with, a large number of people. As recently as this year they were part of my equipment when I was lecturing and running a magazine at an Army College. Between January and June, when I left the Army, we had many lectures and discussions on race and colour problems, recitations of Negro poetry, and much inspiration from the photographs. The art syndicates were the most influenced. The puppetry group on several successive courses staged "Frankie and Johnny" and "Loving Henry" and other items using puppets built up on the photographs, while the exhibitions of the art studio regularly contained work which could be traced to them. One soldier who had come to do drama changed his course to sculpture on seeing the work of Negro sculptors, and produced a most sympathetic and interesting head of a Negro girl. The college magazine and other activities also reflected this interest.

It is difficult to define the value of such work, but I feel
that it has been useful. From time to time I have tried to
enlarge it by lectures, articles and radio talks. My radio
work incidentally, included a play on the life of Paul Robeson,
which was translated into Hindustani and broadcast to India.
It had a big response there, the background music (from Robeson's
records) being very sensitively received.

3.

I am now planning a further set of radio talks on aspects of Negro culture and life, especially poetry, and have agreed to do various lectures, one day and weekend courses, in connexion with the adult education movement. These lectures will focus on the sociological aspects of 'race and colour' problems, but will include 'The Negro in American Civilisation' and more specific discussion of poetry and cultural achievements.

I believe therefore that, in a very modest way, I have been a sort of 'unofficial ambassador' for Negro culture in the circles that I reach, thus complementing the work of those who have specialised in other fields, notably political problems, music and ballet. But my sources need replenishing, and I should be most grateful for further material; books, articles, periodicals, photographs of new artistic work, portraits of personalities, records and so on. I hope it will also be possible for me to visit Africa again in the near future.

CEDRIC DOVER

3 ST PETER'S SQUARE

LONDON W.6

January 27, 1947

Dear Langston:

I read in your column the other day how extra busy you were, and am therefore presuming you have not had time to get round to my Air Mail letters. In case they might have gone astray these were the points raised:

1. Guillen book. I think it should have a little introduction on Guillen set against a glimpse of Caribbean poetry in general - but of course this is up to you.

2. *Selections from your Poetry.* I suggested some titles and poems for a 50 page book, which I like and which I think would appeal to British and overseas readers. What do you think? If you're too busy to get the MS prepared just send me your list and I will have it done. Of course, financially it will not be a very lucrative proposition since at 10 percent royalty 5,000 copies at 2/6d. will fetch less than £100, and not much more than £100 if the price is raised to 3/6d. But I'm hoping you will think of this little book in terms of other values. The Guillen book should be a better financial proposition, as it can be published at a higher price.

3. Can I have some of the typescript poems you sent published in a good literary magazine and have the Editor send you direct what he pays for them? Naturally, I'll stand out for the highest prices.

I enclose a synopsis which will give you a clearer picture of *Singing Brown*.

The contacts, by the way, which you gave me have been most productive. Thanks. Incidentally I have contacts with progressive theatre groups. Any use to you?

All the Best,

Also address of
Oliver Pitcher sent.

April 23, 1947

Mr. Cedric Dover
3 St. Peter's Square
London W. 6, England

Dear Cedric Dover:

Please forgive me for being so very long in answering your letters, but I have never been so busy before in my life. The opening of my show, "Street Scene," was delayed in New York from August until January, and for that reason all of my fall lecture engagements had to be transferred to spring. But this spring I was engaged to teach Creative Writing here at Atlanta University, so I have been here four days a week teaching and every week-end I have been flying all over the South to such cities as Richmond, New Orleans, Birmingham and others filling lecture engagements. The results have been that my mail has piled up like a mountain and I simply have not been able to keep up correspondence as I should have, particularly since I do not have a permanent secretary.

I am sending you my new book of poems, *Fields of Wonder*, and also some new pictures.

I do not believe that you had better use any of the manuscript poems which I sent you for magazine publication since some of them have possibly been submitted to magazines which appear in England anyway such as the "Poetry Quarterly," and some of the American magazines where my poetry appears which have exclusive English-speaking rights. As I believe I previously wrote you for permission to use any of my poems that have already appeared in my books, you must have the written permission of my publishers, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 501 Madison Avenue, New York City. If you use my poems from manuscript or from magazines you should have the permission of my literary agent, Maxim Lieber, 489 Fifth Avenue, New York City. All of this is necessary in order to keep track of copyrights, etc. I give you my personal permission to use any of my poems that you like but the above permissions must also be secured. Now, as to what poems you should use, I leave that choice entirely up to you, except that I wish you would submit your final choice to me just in case there are some poems that I feel might be outdated, or which I might have revised since they were written.

Your outline of *Singing Brown* looks very interesting indeed, and I certainly am happy that you are helping to introduce our Negro writers to the English people.

Here is an interesting Negro folk poet who has done some rather good ballads:

Rev. D. M. Pleasants
616 N. Fifth Street
Richmond, Virginia

I send all good wishes to you.

LH:wmb

13

Mr. Langston Hughes,
English Department
Atlanta University
Atlanta, 63421 Nicholas Ave
Georgia, new York N.Y.

CEDRIC DOVER : 3 ST PETER'S SQUARE : LONDON W.6

July 8 1947

Dear Langston:

Thank you very much for your letter of April 23, for
FIELDS OF WONDER, and the additional pictures and
material. All this generous help, especially when you
are so busy, is most helpful, and I should add that the
many addresses you gave me have also been very productive.

My book is in first draft, but I am still waiting for
some material I am trying to get. Therefore I doubt
if the typescript will be ready before September. When
it is you can rest assured that your instructions about
acknowledgments, permissions etc. will be punctiliously
carried out - I know how it is.

I note what you say about magazine publications here,
and I will therefore refer enquiring editors to your agents.
Meanwhile, I shall compensate my disappointment by doing
an article on you for "Our Time".

Would you look sometime at a letter I wrote you suggesting
a selected edition of your poems (on the back of which
I also suggested likely titles and arrangements) here
and in India. I think this is important and should be
done before very long. You could do it through your agent -
and I could act as a sort of local carrier. Or I could
send them the likely addresses.

I think, too, that your book on Guillen should be published
here. You can count on me for any help you require.

Every Good Wish,

Yours sincerely,

August 7, 1947

Dear Cedric:

Did I ever send you a copy of my translation of
Nicolas Guillen? If not, let me know and I will
send you one so that you may show it to your
publishers in London.

I cannot at the moment put my hands on your let-
ter outlining an anthology of my poems. However,
I would certainly be happy to see such a book
published. I am writing my American publishers,
Alfred A. Knopf, regarding this, since they own
all of the foreign rights to any of my poems that
have been published in their books, and this
would have to be done with their consent. If
Knopf is agreeable to this idea, we can supple-
ment the book with perhaps thirty or forty new
poems of mine on which Knopf does not control
the rights. Perhaps you would write an introduc-
tion for this book and we could work out a way
in which you might share the royalty.

When are you coming to New York? I would be
very happy to see you again.

With all good wishes,

Sincerely,

Mr. Cedric Dover
3 St. Peter's Square
London W. 6
England

April 15, 1948

Mrs. Cedric Dover
Dept. of Social Sciences
Fisk University
Nashville 8, Tennessee

Dear Mrs. Dover:

This is to acknowledge receipt of the photograph and your
letter of April 8th to Mr. Hughes.

At present Mr. Hughes is out of the city on his annual
cross-country lecture tour which takes him all the way to
the state of Washington on the west coast, and we don't
expect him back in the city before the end of May.

However, I am holding both the letter and the photograph
for his attention when he returns. I know he will be de-
lighted to receive them.

All good wishes to you and Mr. Dover, and for Mr. Hughes,
many thanks for the photograph.

1042 17th Avenue North
Nashville 8, Tennessee

June 15th, 1948

Dear Langston:

Mrs. Georgia Douglas Johnson has written me and asked me to
forward the enclosed to you. She also requests that you send
her one or two verses for PULSE, and to say something for
her advance notice for her new book for schools BRIDGE TO
BROTHERHOOD - she is apparently sending you some information
on the book herself.

I am rather at a loss to understand why she has asked me to
pass these messages on to you, but perhaps she thought you
were here at Fisk at the moment.

We are going to New York in the Fall to the New School for
Social Research - I do hope we shall be seeing something of
you there.

With best wishes from us both,

Fisk University

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

June 18th, 1948

Dear Langston:

We received a message last night from Arna, though Alberta, that you want to let your apartment in New York. The message was not quite clear as to whether you wanted to let it from August on, or for August only.

It seems strange here in Nashville without Arna and Doug, but we are attempting to put our loneliness to good use by dealing with a year's unanswered correspondence.

We are eagerly looking forward to coming to New York - I have lived in a big city all of my life, and quite frankly, I don't believe I have adjusted too well to the provincialism of Nashville. However, I have enjoyed the year here, especially the opportunity of working with Doug.

With best wishes,

July 2nd, 1948

Dear Langston:

Firstly I must thank you very much indeed for thinking of us
in connection with your apartment - we are very grateful to
you. I have written as follows to Arna today in response to
his letter giving us the details of the apartment:

"We got the telephone message you sent through Alberta, and it was sweet of you to follow it up so promptly with the details. I have delayed replying, as I wrote to Langston as soon as I got the message and thought I would wait till I heard from him. It now occurs to me that he might regard your letter as a reply, so I am hastening to say that the prospect of getting his apartment appeals to us very much indeed. Cross-ventilation sounds like the height of luxury - and the only other information we would like to have is the approximate period for which Langston wants to let the apartment.

The only difficulty I can visualise is financial. It's not
that we think the rent too much for New York, but that we are
completely broke at the moment and Cedric won't get his first
salary - and then only for half a month - till October first.
This means that we could not pay the rent in advance, and perhaps
Langston would even consider letting us pay him the rent in this
fashion: $125 on October 1st, November 1st, December 1st and
January 1st (which will cover the rent from August to December)
and $100 a month thereafter."

We will be looking forward to hearing from you about the apartment,
and I do hope that you will be in New York at least part of the
time when we are there.

With love from us both,

Yours,

July 7, 1948

Dear Carl: A brief note - I am much involved with the Institute of Race Relations here and trying to clear things up before leaving at the end of the month - to say THANK YOU for your letter and cards, and for sending the photograph to Mrs. DeLima. I thought you would have realised that I really am the most damnable subject for a sensitive photographer - cheekbones all wrong, too fat etc. - but I am certainly flattered to know that you want to put me under the lights again. Such courage needs the fullest cooperation, so I have gone on a radical slimming diet (yes, really), and am now (so help me) contemplating some vigorous exercise as well. I feel so anti-social that I hope you're still drinking milk every night.

The very charming picture of Claude McKay reminds me that you might like to have the last letter I had from him. There were several others - many attractively violent - but (I am ashamed to confess it) I destroyed them. I kick myself whenever I think of all the interesting letters I have destroyed, including some by H.G. Wells, Gandhi, Nehru and even a card from G.B.S.

I must look around for a copy of CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY; obviously I must read it.

We both embrace you, too - and to hell with English reticence.

June 17th, 1948

Dear Mr. Knopf:

I must ask you to forgive me for the almost unforgiveable delay
in replying to your letter of August 12, 1947 concerning an
English edition of poems by Langston Hughes. I have been extremely
busy since arriving in America last September, and found it
difficult to organise what I could suggest in this matter, especially
as I could not get a "firm offer" from an English publisher at this
remove.

It seems to me that the chances of getting Langston Hughes published
in England, as English editions of any of the titles you have issues,
are too small to be seriously considered. On the other hand, there
is a great interest in his work as a progressive Negro poet, and I
am certain that a selected collection, made with an eye on the
English market, would find a reputable publisher and satisfactory
sales. I gave Langston last year a list of the poems which I thought
would make such an edition attractive, and it seems to me that he
might find it worthwhile to pursue the idea in collaboration with
yourself. Both Fabers (Geoffrey Faber or T.S. Elliot) and Routledges
(Herbert Read) publish a "selections series" of poets in which
Langston would find himself in excellent company, and I imagine if
they were approached directly or through your agents or through
Raymond Postgate, they would be interested. Tambi Mutu of POETRY
LONDON and Cyril Connolly of HORIZON should also be interested,
though Tambi Mutu is rather vague and dilatory.

Langston has a definite following too in India, and I am sure that a
collection of his poems published there would be very welcome. The
publishing business has improved out of all recognition in India recently,
though the paper and printing situation is difficult, but I feel that
it would be possible to make a satisfactory arrangement to publish
him in Bombay or Calcutta, which would not interfere with the sale
of American titles. In this connexion you might care to consult
Mr. Yusuf Mehroially, Padma Publications Ltd., Lakshmi Building, Sir
Phiroz Shah Mehta Road, Fort, Bombay.

I hope it will be possible to get something done along the lines I
have suggested and regret that I cannot at the moment be more helpful.
I should however, be very happy if required to assist in the selection
of an edition for England and India as a gesture of friendship which
would compensate itself.

Yours sincerely,

C
O
P
Y

July 6, 1948

Dear Mr. Koshland:

Thank you for your letter of June 22. I would certainly
be happy to assist with editing a selection of Langston
Hughes' poems, but doubt if this would serve as attractive
bait with Faber's or Routledges. They might prefer to see
all of Langston Hughes' poems and make their own selection.
Herbert Read of Routledge's is a considerable figure as
a poet, critic and editor, and if he elected to make such
a selection and to write an introduction it would be very
helpful to sales.

I do not think that a British and Indian edition would
conflict if you look upon them as two separate books with
different titles and some differences in the contents. For
an Indian edition it would be best, I think, to visualise
it as a book of 48 pages and 8 pages prelims - something to
wet the appetite for more rather than a definitive selection.

Mr. William A. Koshland
Alfred A Knopf Incorporated
501 Madison Avenue
New York 22, New York

634 St. Nicholas Avenue
New York 30, New York

July 16, 1948

Dear Dorothy!

I have been so busy with both the Anthology and an N.B.C. radio show to prepare, that my mail has piled up terribly these days, but I really should have answered you as soon as I had talked to my Aunt about your proposition.

You see, decent apartments are so difficult to secure in New York these days that some people are asking bonuses up to $500 to lease or rent them. In many cases renters are offering three months rent in advance. In fact, my Aunt has one such offer now and, of course, since she is buying a house herself, she feels that she must make some profit on the apartment on which she still holds the lease. So I sorry to report that she feels she can let you have the apartment under the conditions which you outlined in your letter, even if she did not have the other two applicants waiting for it. If the apartment were my own, I would be delighted to offer it to you and Cedric for a while as my guest until you got settled in New York, but unfortunately, it is not mine.

I am deeply to grateful to Cedric for his interest in the publication of my poems in both England and India, and I do hope that that will come to pass. If Cedric himself intends to edit such publications, I will be happy to be of what assistance I can to him when he gets to New York. My preference would be to be published in India first, if it came to a choice between the two countries.

I am looking forward to seeing you all when you come to New York and trust that we will have the pleasure of having a drink or two together. All my good wishes to you both.

LN:HHS

Enclosures

Letter from A. A. Knopf, Inc., August 12, 1947

Letter from A. A. Knopf, Inc., June 22, 1948

Mrs. Dorothy Dover
1042 17th Ave., North
Nashville 8, Tennessee

January 12, 1949

Mr. Cedric Dover
& Jones Street
New York 14, New York

Dear Cedric:

Thank you very much for your nice note, and I am
happy to have your new address. I hope we shall see each other
soon.

I do not have any more copies of the Nicola's Guillen
book, having sold all mine at the Schomburg Collection evening
last week. However, you can order them directly from the publishers:

$3.50 per copy;
The Ward Ritchie Press
1932 Hyperion Avenue
Los Angeles, California

I am not ordering any more immediately since I already
owe them a bill and have to wait until I get some cash.

My best wishes to Dorothy.

23

Geoffrey Faber, Chairman. Richard de la Mare, Vice Chairman
Morley Kennerley (USA), T.S. Eliot, W.J. Crawley, P.F. du Sautoy

FABER AND FABER LIMITED
PUBLISHERS

24 Russell Square London W.C.1.

Fabbaf Westcent London

Museum 9543

January 19th 1951

Cedric Dover, Esq.
3 St. Peter's Square,
London, W.6.

Dear Sir,

It was kind of you to write to us about Mr. Langston Hughes and his translations from Lorca. As we already have several Lorca volumes of different kinds, we do not think that we can take up your suggestion and ask Mr. Hughes to send us his work. We shall not, therefore, be writing to him, though we appreciate your thought.

MACGIBBON & KEE LTD

DIRECTORS :

J. MACGIBBON.

R. KEE.

J. KEE

J. M. MACGIBBON

Publishers

2 GUILFORD PLACE LONDON W.C.1 HOLBORN 7332

JM/NMR

2nd February, 1951.

Dear Mr. Dover,

I appreciate very much your kindness in thinking of us in connection with Langston Hughes' translation of Lorca's poems. When we have had more time to consolidate our position it is certainly the kind of thing we shall want to publish, but at the moment poetry is absolutely impossible for us.

It is a disgrace that neither publishers nor booksellers have the courage to try to sell poetry these days, but then it must have something to do with the poets too, at least some of whom have spoilt the market and turned verse into something that can be enjoyed by the cliquy highbrows only.

Cedric Dover, Esq.,
3, St. Peter's Square,
London, W.6.

May 5, 1951

Dear Cedric,

Thanks for your note about the Lorca poems. At last, it seems they are
to be published here by the Beloit College folks, probably in the fall.

Everyone loved your book and I've had several nice letters from the copies
you so kindly sent me to give to friends. The poems are most interesting,
I think, simply and beautifully written.

I've been delighted with the English reviews of my Simple book, particularly
the one in the TIMES. It will be out soon in Italy, too, where my play,
MULATTO seems to be a hit in both Milan and Rome this past season. I wish I
could go to Italy these days, but haven't any plans for getting abroad soon.
I'm all tied up with show contracts, and a book which will keep me busy for
months to come. Both of the shows are musicals and never seem to get done,
always changes and additions and new lyrics to write. One was tried out last
summer, but now has a brand new book so three new songs have to be done RIGHT
AWAY (it's always RIGHT AWAY in the theatre---then months before anything
happens) in preparation for another summer production aimed at Broadway in the
fall, JUST AROUND THE CORNER it's called. THE BARRIER, opera version of MULATTO
did right well at Columbia and the Ann Arbor Drama Festival, but didn't last
downtown, although now they're planning to revive it at City Center next season.
So there's been enough to keep me busy 18 hours a day for the past year! Kind
of tired now!

Hope all is O.K. by you, and that you'll be coming our way again soon. Georgia
Douglass Johnson spoke sweetly of you in Washington recently. Write.

3 ST. PETER'S SQUARE, LONDON, W.6

3 August 1951

My dear Langston,

The selection is wonderful and I am
most grateful. I will look after the necessary
permissions.

Please send me a press photograph by
ordinary mail: those I had are pasted into your books.
Also a signature in black ink on a thickish piece of
white paper.

All the Best,

P.S. Do you happen to have a
spare George Washington Carver
stamp?

3 ST. PETER'S SQUARE, LONDON, W. 6

6 September 1951

Dear Langston,

Thank you very much for the biographical data, the photographs,
and the signature. You're a Swell Person - and I am deeply
grateful. Such cooperation is very heart-warming indeed.

The Number is coming along nicely now and I will do all I can
to make it really SOMETHING.

What news about your Lorca translations? Shall I make another
effort to get the book published here after publication in USA?
It might be easier if the English publisher could buy sheets.
At the very least I can send out 200 notices about the book if
they are sent to me. Also I want to review it in the UNITED ASIA
number.

Keep me in touch.

All the Best,

3/

June 6, 1959

Dear Cedric:

What a pleasant surprise hearing
from you again after so long a time, and to
learn about your book of Negro art. Seems to
me there was once a Barthe drawing of me on
the cover of OPPORTUNITY, but I will have to
look it up for you.....I am sending you a copy
of I WONDER AS I WANDER, and my novel, TAM-
BOURINES TO GLORY Gollancz is publishing on
July 20 and I'm asking that you be sent a copy.
I hope Arna has sent you our FOLKLORE, which
should about bring you up to date on my books.
SIMPLY HEAVENLY is a big hit at the moment at
Karamu Theatre in Cleveland where it has gone
into its second month.....I'm just back from
Bermuda where I closed my lecture season that
took me from New York to Vancouver, Tuskegee
to Toronto this season.....Best regards ever,

Sincerely,

20 E. 127th,
New York 35,
July 7, 1959

Dear Cedric:

I am just back from the Newport Jazz Festival
and find your note.

I haven't the least idea where the original
of Barthe's drawing would be. So I suggest
you write and ask him, also he might be able to
supply you with other portraits of his:

Mr. Richmond Barthe,
"Iolaus"
Cole Gate P. O.,
St. Ann, JAMAICA,
West Indies.

Or perhaps OPPORTUNITY's old files might yield
the photograph of the drawings, or the cut as
that magazine published it:

Mr. Guichard Parrish,
National Urban League,
14 East 48th Street,
New York, N. Y., U.S.A.

The Harmon Foundation has a great many Negro
painting, and might perhaps own this drawing:

Miss Brady, Executive Secretary,
The Harmon Foundation,
140 Nassau Street,
New York, N. Y., U.S.A.

I'm about to go out of town again, so can't do
much about tracking it down for you, but these are
sources of possible help....Cordial regards,

The Studio

17A The Butts

Brentford

Middlesex

11 July 1959

Dear Langston,

Thank you very much indeed for your helpful letter of July 7.
I am in touch with Barthe who is in New York at the moment - and he is
adding to the considerable stock of photographs of his sculpture which
I already possess. THE STUDIO magazine has asked me to do a feature
on him as he is coming here this Fall. This pleases me very much, not
only because he is an old friend, but also because it will pave the
way for other articles about Negro art by, I hope, Negro artists and
critics themselves.

That drawing of you, confound you! handsome face, has become an
obsession with me. Therefore, as Barthe tells me that the original
is somewhere in Canada (you do get around!), he does not know where,
I am writing to Mr. Parrish today. Your reference gives me the
opportunity to ask him for some other things as well. The N.U.L.,
I remember sentimentally, was the first Negro organisation I visited
in 1937.

Miss Brady gave me hundreds of photographs in 1938 and has recently
sent me more materials; but I will ask her if she has a photograph of
the Barthe drawing. She might, as he is a favourite of hers.

When I get it I shall go through an awful struggle deciding whether
I should keep it or give it to you. I hope my better nature wins, but
you know what a sod I am!

All the Best,

Cedric Dover 9 The Butts Brentford Middlesex England

14 May 1960

Dear Langston,

American Negro Art - Studio Books, London, and New York Graphic Society - is now printing and should be out in late June. It is a thematic presentation, enormously illustrated, but I am very conscious that some artists are not sufficiently shown. However, I hope you will like it, especially as there is a linking treatment of poetry and art. You are, of course, in it quite extensively as the poet of the Renaissance and of Harlem; and if my publishers have not double-crossed me on some technical excuse Barthé's drawing of you should be in it too.

Yesterday, I proposed to ASIA PUBLISHING HOUSE - they are the leading Indian publishers and quite up to the standards of the best Anglo-American houses - that they should do a special edition of your poems, with a biographical and evaluative introduction by myself, for the Afro-Asian, Commonwealth and British markets. They favour the idea very much and asked me to pursue it further.

Does the idea appeal to you? There would, I think, be very little money in it, but it should be helpful in other ways, including good repercussions on the sales of your other books. On my part it would be "a labour of love" and I will accordingly arrange for the contract to be between the publishers and yourself, with all dues paid to you directly.

What I visualise is a book of about 160 pages apart from the introduction and etceteras, in which the poems would be mostly short and long-short ones of particular appeal to the "coloured world" and its friends. The simplest procedure would be for you to send me a list of titles covering about 200 pages, which I will then semi-finalise and return for your approval. After that I will have the poems typed (I must have most of them) and go on from there. Some unpublished poems would probably help from the sales point of view.

Art

I have sent you a leaflet about American Negro separately and the New York Graphic Society, Greenwich, Connecticut, has also been asked to send you copies. Nevertheless, it would help if you asked them to send you a substantial bunch which I am sure you could usefully give away by the dozen.

All the Best,

Yours,

May 28, 1960

New York Graphic Society
Greenwich, Conn.

Gentlemen:

I would very much appreciate it if you
would send me a dozen or so of the "Books
on Art" brochure containing the page
announcing AMERICAN NEGRO ART by Cedric
Dover, as I would like to give them to
artists I know in New York, as requested
of me by Mr. Dover.