November 10, 1955

Mother Mary Columba
The Foreign Mission Sisters
of St. Dominic
Maryknoll, N. Y.

Dear Mother Columba:

I am deeply grateful to you indeed for so graciously sending me a copy of IN AND OUT THE ANDES by Sister Maria del Rey at the kind suggestion of Miss Mabel Knight. I am also writing Miss Knight to thank her for this beautiful gift. For sometime now I have been interested in the noble and adventurous work of the Maryknoll Sisters and what I have read of them inspires in me the greatest respect and admiration.

With all my good wishes to you and your work,
I am

Sincerely yours,

LH/g

Langston Hughes

July 16, 1964

Dear Clark :

Nice to have a communication from
you, and I am glad you saw beneath the
semi-satire of my column to what I
really meant to say. Some readers some
times dig only the surface.

Those are fine letters you wrote
Gregory and Pearson. There wouldn't be
much point in writing David Lawrence,
would there? X!?

I've been seducing books and things
to the Freedom Schools and Theatre. 25
copies of my PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE
NEGRO went recently, co-contribution of
the authors and Crown. And I've another
box about ready to go off.

Cordial regards to you,

Kent Foreman
6031 S. Prairie Ave.
Chicago 28, Ill.

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 E. 127th Sts.
New York 35, N. Y.

May 20, 1960

Dear Sir;

Please find inclosed twelve poems. They come from a
projected volumn of Poetry to be titled "The Wanderings of A
Grave-digger". None of these poems have ever been published
before, in fact, this is my first attempt at publication..
It is my understanding that I may do so here and reserve all rights.
I have been encouraged to submit these poems to you by several
people, among them Margaret Burroughs, David Crowder, and Oscar
C. Brown, Jr.

I am twenty five years old and a native chicagoan.
I began writing poetry a little more than a year ago as a
kind of a personal saftey valve and it seems to have run away
with me. I am, by training, an actor and I probably read poetry
as well, if not better, than I write it. It seems that I
have been locally tagged as a "Beatnik Poet", but as I am not
familiar with the critereon of the "Beat", I cannot testify to
its accuracy.

"Tradesman is the introductory poem. "Chicago "
is the closer. Kindly look with lenience upon my typing.
It is, at best, abominable. Any critisisms you care to
make will be gratefully received.

October 3, 1960

Dear Mr. Foreman:

Please forgive my long delay in writing
you about the poems you were so kind as
to allow me to read. I submitted--with
selections from some 50 other poets--to
the proposed publishers of NEW NEGRO POETS,
these of yours:

BRIEF ENCOUNTER
FROM JONATHAN TO DAVID
A REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PAST

University presses are notoriously slow in
making up their minds. But the book is
still under consideration. However the
editorial opinion seems to be to limit it
to perhaps a dozen or so of those poets
already blessed by publication in the little
magazines--VOICES, NAKED EYE, YUNGEN, PARIS
REVIEW, POETRY, etc., now less famous, the
"avante guarde" school--this has not been
settled. In any case, I would like to
keep your poems listed above for the
time being.

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 127th St.
Manhattan, N.Y.

<table>
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    <td>BUILD YOUR FUTURE</td>
  </tr>
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    <td>WISELY, SAFELY</td>
  </tr>
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    <td>U. S. SAVINGS LIBERTY</td>
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</table>

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 127 Street
New York City

GENE FORRELL

175 RIVERSIDE DRIVE - NEW YORK CITY - SCHUYLER 4-6043

March 29, 1956

Dear Mr. Hughes,

Alston Anderson recommended that I get in touch with you about a project I mentioned to him yesterday. I am a composer and have hit very enthusiastically upon an operatic theme in a particularly prominent activity of one of the Negro communities in the south. Alston thought you might be interested in making a libretto on the subject as I certainly feel impelled to compose music for it.

If you are interested and can call me at the above number, perhaps we can talk more specifically about it either at my place or at Alston's, as he has already suggested.

1631 1/2 West 35th St.
L.A. Cal.

Dear Langston:

Because you seem to have
an admirable and unusual balance of kind-
ness and honesty, I have the courage to
ask you something that is to me quite ser-
ious. For many years, aside from writing
a mass of music in a queer idiom that is
of interest to nobody but specialists, I
have been, (purely for the fun of it)
writing books, and now have about a dozen.
And can say truthfully that never has one
been sent to a publisher.

Aside from a few local people
of sense, the stuff has been read by no-
body but Van Vechten (a novel) and Ben De-
Casseres (a biography and a romance). De-
Casseres said he wasn't interested in rac-
ial stuff and Van Vechten wrote a rather
long harangue, urging certain revisions and
encouraging the sending of the thing to
a publisher. This was a year ago and that
yarn is still laying about.

I wonder if you would have
the time and inclination to help a little
with it? I wish to try to make it clear
that I don't wish you to waste your time
with utter nonsense; for I really don't
think I'm quite as dense when alone as
my accursed shyness makes me in public.

Mr Langston Hughes
20 E 197th St.
New York, New York

August 4, 1965

Dear Syvilla:

The more I see THE PRODIGAL SON
(about six times since I've been back
from Europe) the more I appreciate
what you have done for it choreographically,
so simple yet varied, so rhythmically
moving, so visually effective. I can't
thank you enough, therefore this repeat!

All good wishes ever,

Dear Friend:

Fort Road USO, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, invites you
to enjoy its final closing and reception in honor of Lane Col-
lege Glee Club, appearing in concert, and the Veterans of
Lincoln University, May 5th.

The Day's program will consist of the following:

9:00—Breakfast.

11:00—Church - Waynesville, Missouri.

12:30—Luncheon - Waynesville USO.

2 - 5—Social Recreation - Ft. Road USO.

6 - 7—CONCERT - Waynesville USO.

8:00—Buffet Supper and entertainment
Fort Road
USO—Music by L. U. Band.

Operating Agency:
The Salvation Army.

W. J. Neal,
Director.

## OPERATING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

* Mr. Newton Traylor

* Mr. & Mrs. Walter Burchard

* Mr. Floyd Mooney

## FORT ROAD USO STAFF

* Mr. William J. Neal—Director

* Mr. Carlton A. Jordan—Staff Assistant

* Mr. Earl E. Brooks—Program Ass't.

* Miss Elsie Harold—Secretary

* Mrs. Maye E. Jordan—Snack Bar Manager

* Mr. John Phelps—Dir. of Maintenance

FORT ROAD USO IN INTERRACIAL PROGRAM

The Lane College Glee Club and Veterans from Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri, will be guests of honor at the final closing program of the Fort Road USO Club, Sunday, May 5, 1946. Of special note is a concert to be presented by the Lane College group at the downtown Waynesville USO Club at 6 P.M. Sunday evening. This feature, which was secured through the efforts of Director William J. Neal of the Fort Road USO, operating agency of the Salvation Army, will be sponsored jointly with the Waynesville USO, operating agency of the Y.W.C.A. under the direction of Miss Wilda Miller of Waynesville.

The Program for the day is as follows:

9:00 - Breakfast - Ft. Road USO
11:00 - Church services - Waynesville, Missouri
12:30 - Luncheon - Waynesville, USO
2 - 5 - Recreation hour - Ft. Road USO
6 - 7 - Concert by Lane College Glee Club
Waynesville USO - Waynesville, Missouri
8 - 12 - Buffet Supper & entertainment - Ft. Road USO
Music furnished by L. U. Sand.

The Fort Road USO Club, which is scheduled to close June 1, 1946, has long been popular in the Fort Leonard Wood area for the valuable services rendered soldiers and civilians of the Fort Wood area as well as bringing about a friendly workable relationship in the local community of Waynesville, where there are no Negro residents. The Fort Road USO Club was the first service club in the country entirely staffed by Negro personnel. The present staff includes Mr. William J. Neal, Director; Mr. Carlton A. Jordan, Staff Assistant; Miss Elsie Harold, Secretary; Mr. Earl E. Brooks, Program Ass't., Mrs. Maye E. Jordan, Snack Bar Manager and Mr. John Phelps, Director of Maintenance.

W. J. Neal, Director
Elsie Harold, Secretary.

2223-H Bonar
Berkeley, California

April 18, 1960

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 127th Street
New York 35, New York

Dear Mr. Hughes:

We are writing to inquire about your availability for
performances in Northern California this summer--prefer-
ably in July. These appearances would include San
Francisco, Berkeley, Sacramento, Palo Alto and San
Rafael, and would cover a period of one month.

If you are interested and available, would you let us
know as soon as possible the following information:

1. Available dates

2. What contractual agreements would apply to these engagements

3. What accompaniments, if any, would be needed

4. What stage props would be necessary

5. Anything else you deem pertinent

We have in mind presenting you at either the Alcazar
Theatre in San Francisco (Bette Davis and Gary Merrill
are presently appearing there in "The World of Carl
Sandburg"), or at the Marines Memorial Theatre, home
of "The Actors Workshop". In the other towns mentioned
above, similar facilities would be engaged and we assure
you that each and every presentation will be in keeping
with your high standards as an artist.

Our best wishes to you and we look forward to an early
reply.

Mr. Hargston Hughes
20 E. 127 St
New York 35
N.Y.

May 26, 1960

Miss Rebecca R. Lewis,
223 Main Street,
Hornell, New York.

Dear Miss Lewis:

Please forgive the delay in answering your
first letter, but it came while I was away
on a lecture tour of the Middle West---
Michigan State University and Wayne in De-
roit, among others, and I have just gotten
back to New York. I very much appreciate
your kind invitation to appear for the
Fortnightly Club in Hornell. But, to my
regret, my writing commitments are so heavy
for the next several months that I have had
to decide not to accept any engagements out-
side the city for the season 1960-61. I have
to stay home and write. But perhaps another
time, a year or so from now.

Sincerely yours,

Mrs. Sula M. Scott
Morris College
Sumter, South Carolina

Mr. Langston Hughes

c/o Alfred A. Knopp
501 Madison Avenue
New York, New York

208 129 P.H.

October 29, 1957

Mrs. Sula M. Scott,
Fortnightly Literary Society,
Morris College,
Sumter, South Carolina.

Dear Miss Scott:

I remember with great pleasure a past visit
to Morris College, and I greatly appreciate
the kind invitation of the Fortnightly
Literary Society to again read my poems
there. But, unfortunately, this season I am
so far behind on my current writing jobs that
I am not adding any more lectures to my
schedule, and do not contemplate being in
your area at all any time soon. But I will
let the Society know the next time I come
South......Again my thanks, and with cordial
regards, I am

January 31, 1960

Box Office,
41st Street Theatre,
125 West 41st Street,
New York City.

Gentlemen:

Enclosed please find my check
for $13.60 for which kindly send me the
following pairs of tickets, on the aisle
center if available:

2--Opening, Tues. Feb. 9 at $2.90 each

2--Friday, February 12 at $3.90 each
Stamped addressed envelope enclosed.

2816 8th Avenue, Apt. 1DA
New York City 30, New York
January 20, 1947

Mr. Langston Hughes
c/o Mrs. Toy B. Harper
634 St. Nicholas Avenue
New York City, N. Y.

Dear Mr. Hughes:

To add to the wonderful contributions you have
made, you can help introduce Violet Banks to music
lovers. She is a very deserving girl who will sky-
rocket to stardom, if given a lucky break. Miss
Banks is a mezzo-soprano of excessive voice and
talent. After several years of intensive work, she
is now ready to make her debut.

Her voice teacher, Frank Bibb who taught Donald
Dame and many other artists of note, says, "Miss Banks
has a mezzo-soprano of fine quality, large volume and
wide range, with interpretative power and sound
musicianship. She is the only colored singer whom I
know who would be capable of doing work of the same
calibre as Marian Anderson."

The point is this: Miss Banks is ready for the
concert stage and needs a manager, sponsor or what have
you. Because of your wide connections in the music
world, I am calling your attention to her with the
hope that you will become interested in seeing that
she is heard.

You may contact her at 213 West 138th St., Audubon 31284, or through me.