The American Academy of Arts and Letters

633 WEST 155 STREET
NEW YORK 32, NEW YORK

November 28, 1958

To

Dr. William Carlos Williams

Dear Dr. Williams:

I have the honor to inform you that you have been duly elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Announcement of this will be made at the Annual Meeting, to be held at a quarter past eleven o'clock at the Academy building, 633 West 155th Street, New York City, on December 5th, 1958. Formal induction will take place at our May Ceremonial.

I hope very much that you will be present at the meeting, and that you will attend the luncheon which follows.

March 16, 1959

Dear Doctor Williams:

It is the custom of the American Academy of Arts and
Letters to honor newly elected members with an exhibition of their
works, opening at the time of the Annual Ceremonial in May, and
running through most of the month of June. Books and original
manuscripts are shown, along with other pertinent literary material,
as well as informal photographs or drawings when available.

Several years ago, when we held a large show of poetry,
we were able to borrow several versions of various poems by you from
the University of Chicago and the University of Buffalo. The many
drafts of "Burning the Christmas Greens" were particularly interest-
ing. I am sure Mr. Abbott would lend them to us again, but I should
prefer to show something else. Have you, for example, preserved any
of the original drafts of *Paterson*?; or have you, as an alternative,
any early drafts of the poems in the Caedmon recording? I am planning
to mount a phonograph behind the exhibition case with earphones
attached so that visitors may hear you reading without disturbing
other visitors, so "The Descent," "To Daphne and Virginia," "The
Botticellian Trees," or any of the others on that recording would be
appropriate.

All material should be in our hands no later than April 20,
in order to allow enough time for mounting and cataloguing. It will
be returned within a week of the close of the exhibition. Since we
carry insurance on all material borrowed "from wall to wall," please
let me know what valuation to place on each item you send us.

With all good wishes,

Dr. William Carlos Williams
9 Ridge Road
Rutherford, New Jersey

DR. W. C. WILLIAMS

9 RIDGE ROAD
RUTHERFORD, N. J.

Nov. 24, 1959

Dear Felicia Geffens:

All in all the best person I can think of to speak at the May ceremonial honoring the name of Blashfield is Aldous Huxley. It may surprise you. You may think it inappropriate that I have chosen an Englishman to speak for an American painter but as an artist AND a speaker Huxley's reputation is known on both sides of the atlantic.

Besides Aldous Huxly has recently shown himself on our own platform. He I think will be thoroughly familiar with Blashfield's American reputation and cannot but be familiar. with it. I dont see how a painter's international reputation can be left in better hands.

Sincerly yours

November 19, 1959

To the Members of the Institute:

The Board of Directors of the Academy and the Council of the Institute are meeting on December 15 to name a Blashfield speaker for the May ceremonial. As you may know, the speech may be on any subject relating to the arts.

As this address is one of the most important features of the ceremonial, the person chosen should be a man or woman of great distinction, who is a good speaker, and who may be depended upon to give a thoughtful and original speech.

If you have any name to suggest for the Blashfield speaker kindly send it to me as promptly as possible.