604 St. Nicholas Avenue
New York City

July 5, 1945

Dear Sergeant Davis:

Thank you very much indeed for your letter and a
picture of the medal pinning which you sent me. I
know Collins George and was very much amused at the
picture and also the type of medal being pinned on
the other sergeant. I know my Simple-Minded Friend
will be amused, too.

At this moment I am talking with a young lady whose
name is Marjorie Greene, who says that she knew you
in Atlanta (which, I understand, is in the South).
She sends you her very best regards from up North
where she is now.

I myself have just returned from an eight-week's tour
of Alabama, Georgia, Texas, and points down that way,
but nobody has given me any medals as yet. I reckon
I will have to go to war to get one.

With very best regards to you, I am

Sgt. Griffith J. Davis
ASN 34758776
92nd Div. Hq. - G-ª Section
APO 92, C/o Postmaster
New York, New York

Headquarters 92d Infantry Division

Torre del Lago Puccini
(Between Viareggio and Pisa)

04 August 1945

My Dear Mr. Hughes,

It was indeed a delightful surprise to find in the mail
this week an autographed copy of your poem "Freedom's Plow".
I read it, enjoyed it, and passed it among the men in my
section so they could enjoy it too. My expression of thanks
is for all of us - not myself alone.

Back in the days when I was sweating out a year to join
the Boy Scouts (now I am sweating out points in the Army) I
had a creative interest in poetry. I remember one on "Paul
Revere", another on "April" etc. The original "manuscripts"
were stuck in the family scrapbook for my younger sister to
exhume years later (to my utter consternation). In those
days I recall Dad taking me to a Langston Hughes lecture at
Morehouse College. Seeing a fellow poet was indeed to my
liking.

Through successive levels of school I have read a number
of your works. In college "Literature of Democracy" under
Hugh Gloster I studied your excellent pieces quite exhaustive-
ly and enjoyed them.

Now, I say all this to bring out that poetry is not a
"high falooting" word with me. A few years back when I was
more esthetic I got my "kicks off" with Longfellow and
Browning and those guys. Now in a world of Senators from
Mississippi, racial discrimination in North and South, in
civilian life and armed forces, I have become more attached
to "keeping my hand on the plow" and making "America America
to me". In these days, the writings of "Strong Man" Sterling
Brown down at Washington and Langston Hughes of Sugar Hill
are my favorites. Colloquially speaking, I get my "kicks
off" when I read your works, certainly, I derive much enjoy-
ment and real encouragement from them.

Again, thanks a lot for sending me the copy of your
poem "Freedom's Plow". I appreciate it greatly.

Baltimore, Md 7-Aug 46

This shot was made in your
city a month ago when Philippa
Schuyler played with the NY
Philharmonic. The conductor
that evening was Thor Johnson.
They are shown immediately after
she finished her last encore.
Lewisohn Stadium was filled to
capacity with approx 25,000.

Griff Davis

Mr. Langston Hughes
634 St Nicholas Avenue
New York-30, New York

Baltimore 7 Aug 46

Just to spike up your postcard album a bit. A lot is being said these days about "international cooperation" and mixing "religion and business." Here is an example I found other day "just off "The Avenue" a la Baltimore.

With greetings.

5

WAVES

Griffith J. Davis
1410 East Chase Street
Baltimore-13, Maryland

Mr. Langston Hughes
634 St. Nicholas Avenue
New York-30, New York

Baltimore

24 August 1946

Dear Mr. Hughes,

A couple blocks down the street from where
I live here there is a store-front church. I
do not recall its very exalted name but there
was a blackboard in the window yesterday which
had this cryptic message scratched on it:
"LOOK A GRET EVANGELIST B HER AUGUST 25"

With this note I want to announce my coming
to New York between Tuesday (27th) and Thursday
of next week. I am driving up with a couple of
my well-heeled Baltimore friends going up to do
their fall shopping. I plan to bring my camera
paraphernalia along to make a half dozen informal
photographs of you.

When I get there I will stop by your Saint
Nicholas place and leave a note if I cannot
contact you or your aunt there personally.

With kindest regards.

BELL ATOP THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail
The Right prevail
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"

With best wishes for the Holiday Season,

GRIFFITH J. DAVIS

GRIFFITH J. DAVIS

223 CHESTNUT STREET, S. W.
BOX 272
ATLANTA, GA.

1 March 1947

Dear Langston,

The more I look at this picture from a one column cut
standpoint cropping around the head area the more I become
against it. I believe the head of the foot-in-the-chair
grinning pic has more punch and personality of the type
to catch the eye. What do you think?

Below is copy of letter sent EBONY this morning with
the transparency.

"As promised earlier in the week I am sending you an
Anscocolor transparency of Langston Hughes posed before a
souvenir Asian drapery. I am sending it to you an
inspection basis as a possible cover shot in connection
with the Langston Hughes at Atlanta University series sent
earlier. If you need to enlarge the variety of black and
white photographs you now have on hand I can take more and
mail on short notice.

"Sometime this month FIELDS OF WONDER, a book of purely
lyric poems, will be released by A. Knopf publishers crowning
a quarter century milestone for the "people's poet", his first
poems having appeared in the early 1920's. According to Mr.
Hughes the new book, his first since the war, is an "affirmation
of wonder and mystery of life". The themes range from love
to oppression, from the big city to the cotton field; their
essence is that warm insight into individual human experience
which has always provided the most satisfying kind of poetry."

gjd

June 12, 1947

Mr. Griffith Davis
Atlanta University
Atlanta, Georgia

Dear Grif:

Thank you very much for the scrapbook and the extra pictures. I have shown them to the Ebony people, and several other folks.

Ebony is very much interested in your work, both your photography and your writing, and want to have a conference with you when you get here. Your Palmer spread is scheduled for their educational issue in the early fall.

Horace Cayton at the above address says he would be happy to put you up here at the House, and to aid in putting you in touch with writers and artists in the city. I have a list of most of the writers for you with their addresses which I will leave with Miss Magdalene Crawford, Mr. Cayton's secretary, who will give it to you when you come.

It is quite chilly up here so be sure to bring your top coat, as I am about to freeze without mine. They have steam on today in the hotel.

I will be in New York at 634 St. Nicholas Avenue by the time you get here, so drop me a line there.

All good wishes to you for a happy trip.

LH:mc

15 July 47

Mailing you today the booklet I borrowed on Henri Bresson.
I have another book which I have not completed reading as
yet - Viva Mexico.

Just completed this week a pic story on Atlanta Negroes.
Ebony desires to buy. Life expressed interest. The latter
are smoking it over in connection with unpublished story
on New York's Harlem.

Have overcome the hump of commitments in Atlanta but still
have few more.

This next weekend I go to North Carolina on another Ebony
assignment. Should take couple days and then back thru
Charleston for a day.

Hello to Butler.

Atlanta

27 July 47

Dear Lang,

Speaking of matadors (and who isn't) I met one up in Columbia, North Carolina (population 1,090) last week; bull, that is, not matador. You see the snapshot inclosed.

It happened that Mr. Pure-Bred Guernsey Bull (nicknamed Ferdinand) and I were on amiable terms that day. We agree that while so many fight the bull in Mexico and shoot the bull in the U. S. there was really no reason for us not to rub noses Eskimo-style in North Carolina.

Unless something unforeseen occurs this week I expect to be leaving for Chicago within the week.

845 Beckwith SW
Atlanta

AIR MAIL

Mr. Langston Hughes
634 St. Nicholas Avenue
New York 31, New York

2.

EBONY is starved for southern features, Johnson told me recently, and already they have responded to a feeler in their direction on the Atlanta story. If LIFE rejects I am pretty sure EBONY will bite but they pay low. I am not very familiar with OUR WORLD who are rapidly assembling a corps of photographer-writer teams.

Mrs. Toomer is in New York at present studying at Columbia. She is living at the Theresa Hotel. Her home address, however, is 240 Sunset Avenue, NorthWest.

I will let you know exactly when I leave here for Chicago. Unless something unusual comes through I hope to get away next Monday.

Regards to all I know there.

3966 Lake Park Avenue
Chicago, Illinois

Mr. Langston Hughes
634 St. Nicholas Avenue
New York, New York

36

Chicago

31 August 47

Dear Langston,

I was just reading Horace Caytons Courier
piece based on the vaudeville routine line, "How
High Is Up". You probably read how perplexed he
is about the term "democracy". It seems that
everybody with a different shade of opinion about
democracy and what it stands for labels each
other "communist". This seems to be what the
house committee is doing in its recent special
report. I saw the enclosed clipping in this
morning's Tribune.

My work here is progressing very well. This
week I finished establishing a darkroom and pro-
duced the first prints. My story on the Columbia,
North Carolina credit union just completed was
perked up when an interracial group that was
spending the summer there got run out of town by
a mob of 400 whites. I have pictures of this
group which I am using in the story.

Over this weekend I have been making several
purchases in equipment etc. I have a new camera
of the Rollei type - the small one I have, you recall.
Magazine photography requires certain apparatus
which I seldom used in Atlanta. I have observed some
of the photographers in the game here in Chicago and
added to mine. By next Wednesday I will have spent
approximately $300 for new equipment a very heavy
cut into the fund labelled for Mexico.

Did you read of Horace Cayton's marriage to
Ruby Wright? His third wife, fourth wedding I
understand.

I have free passes to all the professional
football games played here in Chicago by the Rockets.
Friday night I went to the one between the Los Angeles
Dons and the Rockets. I made photographs of the Negro
professional players.

This weekend I mailed you a copy of EBONY that came out this week. It contains that Palmer story which was dreamed up at your place after your speaking engagement there.

I received a note from Summersette sometime ago who was in New York. He mentioned that he had seen you the day before. That bird has really gotten around this summer. Once a card from L. A. told me he was en route to Mexico D. F. then Chicago New York and no telling where else.

Had visitors from Atlanta last week. The Sellers sisters (I believe Claggett took you by their home when I was in the clinic) along with their ma and pa and driver came in for four days. A relative who was to put them up disappointed them. A two a.m. telephone call from Juanita told me of their distress so I arranged for them to stay here in my building in a vacant apartment the landlady reserves for guests. Had tough time at first with two chicks both equally jam-up. Finally got a joker for one and concentrated on the other with pretty good success.

See where Ebony's story on Negroes teaching in white colleges made Newsweek this week. The Big Ten in magazines seem to regard Ebony as a glorified feature agency on Negroes and their lives which incidentally puts out a magazine. Its all in a pregnant stage and I'm tagging along for awhile. You know it takes a lot of work to build a "national reputation"!

LANGSTON HUGHES
634 ST. NICHOLAS AVENUE
NEW YORK 30, NEW YORK

September 5, 1947

Dear Griff:

I received all of your letters and have been delighted
to hear from you. I hope you are finding your work both interest-
ing and profitable and are enjoying your damn self as well.

Majorie Greene says to tell you "hello," since she is
right here now helping me write this letter. Without her amiable
and efficient assistance, I would be nowhere, since practically
all my desk drawers are full of mail <u>again</u>.

I wrote a letter to Alston about ten days ago at
Atlanta. I notice from the envelope that it was forwarded to
Columbus, and from there it came back to me marked "Address unknown."
Do you know where he is? Also what was EBONY'S reaction to the
article which I sent them? I have not heard "yeah" nor "nay".

Thanks for sending me the *Tribune* clipping which I am
answering in my forthcoming *DEFENDER* column.

No, I did not read about Horace Cayton's wedding,
but if you see him, give him my congratulations. I hope I get
out to Chicago soon so you can take my picture with your new
camera.

*Our World* is making quite a publicity campaign on
my poem, "Freedom Train," in the forthcoming issue, out next
week. Sammy Heyward has set it to music and W. C. Handy is
publishing it.

I have a nice idea for a picture story for you
and me to do, to be called "DOWNTOWN." The idea being this:
that in many of our large cities now, Negro professional and
business men have downtown offices in contrast to the fact that
not too long ago most Negro offices centered entirely in the
Negro district. Some of them even have white secretaries and
receptionists--CHICAGO, NEW YORK, CLEVELAND, DETROIT, among
others, immediately come to mind, so if you are in any of those
cities, get shots of some of the attractive downtown Negro offices,
disc jockeys, etc., and I will write the text. Ask EBONY if
they like the idea.

I am as far from Mexico as you are, but I still have
my money, and maybe will go at the end of the month.

Plenty good wishes, and write soon,

39

September 5, 1947

Dear Griff:

I received all of your letters and have been delighted to hear from you. I hope you are finding your work both interesting and profitable and are enjoying your damn self as well.

Majorie Greene says to tell you "hello," since she is right here now helping me write this letter. Without her amiable and efficient assistance, I would be nowhere, since practically all my desk drawers are full of mail again.

I wrote a letter to Alston about ten days ago at Atlanta. I notice from the envelope that it was forwarded to Columbus, and from there it came back to me marked *address unknown*.
Do you know where he is? Also what was EBONY's reaction to the article which I sent them? I have not heard "yeah" nor "nay".

Thanks for sending me the *Tribune* clipping which I am answering in my forthcoming DEFENDER column.

I have a nice idea for a picture story for you and me to do, to be called "DOWNTOWN." The idea being this: that in many of our large cities now, Negro professional and business men have downtown offices in contrast to the fact that not too long ago most Negro offices centered entirely in the Negro district. Some of them even have white secretaries and receptionists—CHICAGO, NEW YORK, CLEVELAND, DETROIT, among others, immediately come to mind, so if you are in any of those cities, get shots of some of the attractive downtown Negro offices, disc jockeys, etc., and I will write the text. Ask EBONY if they like the idea.

Sincerely,

8 Sept 47 Monday

Received your letter today. Rushing like heck to get
out to Kansas and Nebraska tomorrow morning. Gave
Horace your congratulation message. He was posing
for All-American News camera in the courtyard answering
a question concerning the length of women's skirts.
Very profound this guy.

I meant to write earlier and tell you the score on the
Atlanta manuscript. It was received. I have been
working on it to inject the high-blood pressure style
of Ebony. When I finish and Burns takes a gander we
will ship it back for your approval. In many spots
it sounded like a sociological report. In some places
there was too much overemphasis like the 27 Club.
See you soon. Gave Johnny the pic-story idea. No
comment as yet. Trying to join the American Society
of Magazine Photographers a hinkty organization.

GRIFF

Tuesday - 4 November 47

Got a raise and promotion yesterday. My official
title, it sez here, is now "Roving Editor". I think
its raving. Anyhow I'm the hobo of the outfit,
catching freights all about and keeping an ear to
the public.

<table><tr><td>CLASS OF SERVICE</td></tr><tr><td>This is a full-rate Telegram or Cable-gram unless its deferred character is indicated by a suitable symbol above or preceding the address.</td></tr></table>

WESTERN
UNION

JOSEPH L. EGAN
PRESIDENT

1201

<table><tr><td>SYMBOLS</td></tr><tr><td>DL=Day Letter</td></tr><tr><td>NL=Night Letter</td></tr><tr><td>LC=Deferred Cable</td></tr><tr><td>NLT=Cable Night Letter</td></tr><tr><td>Ship Radiogram</td></tr></table>

The filing time shown in the date line on telegrams and day letters is STANDARD TIME at point of origin. Time of receipt is STANDARD TIME at point of destination

LD1208LR NL PD

CHICAGO ILL NOV 26 1947

LANGSTON HUGHES

HOLD FOR ARRIVAL STEVENS HOTEL CHGO

PUBLISHER JOHNSON WILL HAVE SHIRT SLEEVE TURKEY AT THEIR HOUSE

6018 ST LAWRENCE SEZ COME AT FOUR WILL PHONE AT TWO MY NUMBER

DREXEL 5032

GRIFF

1020P

THE COMPANY WILL APPRECIATE SUGGESTIONS FROM ITS PATRONS CONCERNING ITS SERVICE

THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said:
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

GRIFFIN J. DAVIS

45

50

Griff Davis
4138 Lake Park
Chicago-15, Illinois

Mr. Langston Hughes
634 St Nicholas Avenue
New York-31, New York

February 18, 1943

Dear Griff:

I am just back from a lecture trip in the South as
far as Florida. I had only one day in town but man-
aged to fill out your application for you before
leaving for Dover, Delaware, and other points tomor-
row morning. I ran into a big snowstorm which caused
my itinerary to be changed all around, since I was un-
able to get to Elizabeth City on the Coast in time for
an engagement there and had to stop there on my way
back North.

I will be in Chicago for a couple of days during March
and hope to see you.

Take a "leave of absence," old man, which will probably
make them give you a new salary offer, whereas if you
resign you may not get that.

This is not for publication, so do not spread it abroad,
but it looks as though the American Legion is bent, bound,
and determined to prevent my speaking for the Springfield,
Illinois, Urban League, on Thursday, March 11. The
League seems determined to go through with it, so there
might be material for a good picture story if there is
a picket line thrown around the program by the reaction-
aries in Abraham Lincoln's and Vachel Lindsay's hometown,
so maybe you might like to come down there with me and
bring your camera. If so, let me know.

Lots of good wishes to you.

Sincerely,

Mr. Griffith Davis
4138 Lake Park Avenue
Chicago, Illinois

NATE WHITE

March 29, 1948

Mr. Griff Davis
Ebony Magazine
5125 S. Calumet Avenue
Chicago 15, Illinois.

Dear Griff:

Enclosed you will find a copy of Lang's set of poems entitled
MADAM TO YOU which he has asked me to send to you — since
there is a possibility that you may do a picture spread for EBONY
from them. I'll bet Acapulco was some place, huh? I heard from
Butler Henderson and Charlie last month and they're still down in
Pine Bluff cramming "cullud" heads with knowledge. Take it slow,
old man and don't drink any of your Hypo!

Davis
Canton Hotel
200 NE 2d Street
Oklahoma City, Okla

Mr. Langston Hughes
634 St. Nicholas Avenue
New York 30, New York

Sunday 20 November 49

Dear Lang,

Same tune but another station. Yesterday I moved over from Monrovia to Brewerville where I am starting a series of shots on this new mining company. Liberia has the richest iron ore in the world. Only now is it being exploited.

**TACKLING** There have been some fly by night companies which have come in here since 1910 but they stayed a short while and pulled out. Some folks say that behind the Bomi Hills, the iron producing hills, there is a diamond mine. They say that these early prospectors really came in to fill up ivory tusks with diamonds and then pull out under excuse that they didn't find what they wanted. This company 60% American and 40% Dutch by the financial sheets is the first to go into this mining operation with full guns - building roads from the port up to the hills 45 miles away, building permanent camps, importing millions of dollars of heavy equipment. And so within five years iron will be Liberia's chief export. The country has gained some by the operation. Where there were formerly narrow footpaths there are roads going through the western bush. Where crossing the river was a risky business depending on tides, crocodiles, canoes, etc there is a large concrete bridge. I understand that ten per cent of the ore produced will be Liberia's cut.

The Lott Carey Baptist Mission is located about a mile up the road from here. In fact this mining headquarters is situated on their ground. Last night with nothing to do I thought I would walkup the dark road to see some of the folk over there whom I had met last week. It was a dark walk even with the flashlight. I met no one along the road.

Coming back I asked the Rev Wright over there (a Georgia boy) why people did not walk at night. He said the people believe this to be the heart season. Heartmen, according to the story, go around now up until Christmas and ambush people on the road and cut their hearts out for their chiefs. The chiefs hoping to be maintained in office or to help maintain a goo' friend in office displays these hearts to the people to whet up fear. I walked the rest of the way with my own heart in my throat. Today I have been ambling all over the place shooting road construction mostly. Fellows insist upon working on Sunday so they can make more time. On Sunday they get time and a half. Late this afternoon a worker carried me through a hut village where workers stay - some as bachelors, some with wives and family and some living with goo' friends (common law). They were doing a little bit of everything from knitting a sweater, weaving a floor mat, cooking chop, chomping rice, getting haircuts, sewing on a Singer machine, cutting up cassaver leaves.

Liberia is not bad. From what I can gather it has changed considerably within the last five years. The war really brought along a new spirit among the people. There are people immigrating here from the British zones like the Gold Coast and Nigeria. They see unlimited opportunities. An ordinary clerk can easily find a job here because Liberian boys are not as well prepared. Mrs. Inez Richardson Wilson is all wet as far as I'm concerned. She did not move outside of Monrovia and see the people. In fact she was not well received by the Liberians (America, that is) since she first got here. When the boat pulled in near shore (the harbor was not finished) she refused to go down the side steps to the surf boat which took the folks into shore. She expected the President to be there in his private yacht. And she did not keep her feelings to herself either. Within ten months she was a dead duck around here, so she conveniently got sick and came home two years and two months earlier than her contract.

Tell Mrs. H., Emerson, Nate and Gerry, etc etal hello. Hope to wind up around late December and then take cruise down coast to Nigeria and Gold Coast for a couple weeks each. Will let you know definitely so you can drop note to Azikiwe.

End of paper and my full ten cents airletter worth.

Griff

- 2 -

76

I've begun work on the biography of ex Parole Commissioner, Samuel J. Battle, first Negro to become one of New York's Finest, and am waiting for page proofs of my new book, SIMPLE SPEAKS HIS MIND, which will be hitting the bookstalls sometime in early April. You can add to this the audition stage of my other Broadway show, JUST AROUND THE CORNER. Never a dull moment hereabouts, as usual.

Nothing exciting happening over here these days. With the exception of the H-Bomb and Ingrid Bergman's new baby (which seemed to have created some kind of public chain reaction of its own among heretics and believers) I'd say that the news you get from Time & Newsweek is about as inaccurate and believable as any we get here from the Dailies.

Hope you're not courting any Tsetse flies or Liberian Goo-Fungus dust viruses. Everybody over here seems to be beset by occupational Strep. (Whatever that is!)

Everyone sends their regards, including Mrs. Harper & Emerson, Ernie & Alice, Helen, Maudelle, Rachel, Billy, Nate & Gerry, LANGSTON HUGHES, and a small stray dog on the corner who doesn't seem to know the difference between our front lawn (scant that it is) and a fireplug.

When you get to the Champs Elysees, for the Folks Begere) Picadilly Circus, or Monte Carlo, drop us a postcard or a small phalllic statue. Luck and a "Travellin' Light & Good" Old Time.

Sincerely,

NATE, & BROTHER HUGHES

April 17, 1950

Mr. Griff Davis
77/11 San Vincenzo
Genova, ITALY

Dear Griff:

Since you are in Italy, you will probably want to see some
"cullud" folk. Here are a few friends who are now in Rome:

Mrs. Thyra Edwards Gitlin
% A. J. D. G.
Via San Basilio 9
Rome, Italy

Sr. Antonio Ghirelli (Translator of my works)
via Sforza Pallavinini I (Technical editor & staff chairman
Rome, ITALY of La Republica d'Italia)

Mr. & Mrs. Ulysses Kay (Wife Barbara)
The American Academy in Rome
Via Angelo Masina 5
Rome, ITALY

Enclosed is a letter which arrived today for you.

Mrs. Harper has taken a vacation from us. She has gone to Kansas City and is no doubt having herself a ball. Folks here in the house send you their regards, including Nate & Gerry. SIMPLE SPEAKS HIS MIND came out on April 14th in a paper-bound $1.00 edition and a $3.00 cloth-bound edition. The BARRIER opens in summer theatres shortly. About to go into rehearsals. Will open on Broadway in early fall.

Drop us a line soon, WORLD TRAVELER!

Sincerely,

LANGSTON HUGHES

LH/nvw

Poem (writ by hand, age 17)

Ethiopia
Is no Utopia
gjd

Addis

3 June 50

Dear Lang et al,

Now that I have read half of Simple in print I can say its great! Each
evening before dowsing off to sleep I read two or three stories. Received
the autographed copy with my suit which Alice sent sometime ago. Thanks
a lot.

Safranski, my agent, sent me a copy of Simple to my Genova address. Girlfriend there wrote me in Italian the other day telling me what mail had arrived and where. A package from Bāak Star contained una libro called "Simple Speaks His Mind".

Expect to be leaving here in a week or so. Staying a week longer than planned. People are rather slow in getting things done. Have been criticized for wanting to get things done in an hour what takes 24 hours. Funny thing about Ethiopians they think they are white. And some are blacker than me. Hee hee!

Finally got an interviewwout of Haile Selassie, the Emperor. Did this one for the Times though I am still waiting opportunity to shoot pictures. Might have come out in by the time you receive this letter. Probably around the 6th or 7th.

Chatted for 20 minutes with the Emperor. Lambasted the Italians mostly. But Ethiopia should be proud of what the Italians. They did in five years what the country probably would have achieved in fifty.

Tell Alice thanks for sending me the suit. I wish I had some shoes now. Can't find anything my long narrow size. And Liberia and Ethiopia are not the best places for shoes. This suit Alice sent at least makes me look half way presentable.

Tell her when I get back I will buy herean ice cream cone.

Whats old Nate doing these days? And Mr. Shillinger downstairs. Has Aunt Toy finished painting Kaycee red? Tell Helen to stop chatting long enough to get some air.

Helen wouldn't like it here because of the high altitude. Slightest exertion and you are tired. At first, when I was exerting myself with a princess one night, I thought that I was simply getting old. But now I know you have to take things easy.

Regards,

Griff

PS. Incidentally Homer Smith (Chatwood Hall) is here. Works for Press and Information section. Sends his regards. I am letting him read your book. Told me story you told me once of two white Russian gals fighting over you and him. He's married to Russian gal. Nice friendly type. He's rather anti-social. One of few to get his wife out of Russia.

gjd

77/11 Via SanVincenzo
Genova

27 June 50

Dear Langston,

It looks now that at long last I finally get home. Of course
anything can happen between now and next Tuesday which incidentally
is Independence Day in your neck of the woods. Unless a miraculous
cable comes through to go up to Germany I will catch the Nea Hellas
and probably arrive New York (according to their schedule) on 17
July. Stops at Lisbon, Portugal on 8th of July.

Tell Mrs. H. to put another bed in the hall for another boarder.
At least I would want to make Club 20 base headquarters for a few
days before shoving off for Washington and Chicago.

Spent last week laying up on the beach at Viareggio with my
signorine. Week before that I was laying up on side of a swimming
pool in Cairo with a Cleopatra. I better get home before these
furren gals run me nuts. They got a delicate touch about them
that makes American gals rather crude.

Hello to Alice, Helen, the undertaker, etc ad infinitum.

And how is Nate and Gerry? Did the baby finally arrive? Or were
my initial guesses eight months ago wrong?

% American Embassy
Monrovia, Liberia

2 July 51

Dear Lang, et al.,

Pardon long delay in writing. I had thirty personal letters to write and
originally planned to do them on ten cent airletters. Got here and found the
postoffice was fresh out. They said "sometime in June" they would be restocked.
Now its July so I guess they won't be in. So I am splurging a whole quarter
and writing.

Today, or rather yesterday, I went down to the Port to photograph the new
iron ore conveyer belt in operation. They just completed the thing and it
started running yesterday. Dumbfounded when I found that the first ore
ship to be loaded by the new conveyor was named the "William Harper".

Thanks for forwarding the mail to me. The Steelways check came here but
was sent by boat mail. So you see if the American steel industry can't
afford a 25¢ airmail stamp you know I can't either.

Have placed two of your "Simple" books around. Its being passed all over
town. I typed a note inside that special gift copies - autographed can be
secured from Toy's Bookshop, 20 East 127th Street, New York-35, N. Y. So
if some mail comes thru to that effect you know where it came from. One
woman said she was going to send for six copies to give to some friends of
hers.

Last week I was smothered under with an airplane crash on my hand. Involved
20 miles of jungle walking to get to site of crash. Have sent them off to
LIFE. Have my fingers crossed that they use them.

My June 2 story on political situation in Liberia was read into the Congressional
Record of June 15th. Have sent for a copy. A Senator Smith from New Jersey.

Working out a movie script which I hope to produce next year here if the
proper money comes through.

Thinking in terms of catching an early August boat home. Don't know if
I will reach Gold Coast this trip. Time running out and money getting
short. Airplane crash cost me ninety bucks. Money I will get back six months
from now.

The room arrangement with the sailor sounds okay with me.

Some news scoops have broken my way since I got here - the first iron ore
shipment, a political palaver after the presidential election, the Pan
American airplane crash in Liberia.

Have my radio on. Speaks only French. Going to trade the damn thing in
and get an English talking set.

Hellos to Mr. and Mrs. H, Mr. and Mrs. C, Miss EW, Sonny, Billy, and Chafley
and Butler and Charley and whoever might happen to be hanging out there at
20 East 127th at the instant of this epistle's arrival.

3 September 51

Dear Langston,

In a couple days I was expecting to be getting off the plane at
Idlewild. But it looks as if I will idle while around here
some more. When I got back from Dakar and Accra last Tuesday via
Dakar (the plane overflew Liberia) I found a 21 day assignment for
the U. S. State Department which means at least a month more here.
Had a wonderful time in the parts below here. Saw Azikiwe and
Nkrumah. Sending in picture story on Nkrumah which I hope to
get published somewhere.

Azikiwe is in the midst of an election. I sent in a detailed
despatch on the election to the Courier and the Times. Don't
know whether any of them printed it. But if they did you can
see the seemingly insurmountable ethnic and religious hurdles
that Azikiwe is trying to hurdle besides the British.

Tell Aunt Toy and Cousin Emerson hello. Saw you and Nate and
Mr. Battle in Ebony. Note recent issue has the strip tease story
out of so I take it Ebony has been having the bouts with the
Postmaster over lewd material.

Hello to all the housefolks and hangers around.

108

GIVE-ENOUGH
THROUGHLY
COMMUNITY

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

2524 12th Street, NW
Washington, D. C.

19 October 52

Dear Langston:

Only today was I able to locate a stand carrying the Chicago
Defender here. I just wanted to read it in print - the story
"Passing Thoughts - Plus A Few Questions in Passing" in which
you generously passed a couple paragraphs my way.

Thanks a lot for this plug which I am putting into my treasured
scrapbook this week. The MS copy came too which I will put in
alongside.

Muriel and I are still here. Won't leave now until just after
Election Day. I want to put my two votes against Eisenhower.
Will have to travel from D. C. to East Orange, New Jersey to do
it (NJ doesn't have absentee ballot) but I have set aside thirty
dollars to make the trip.

Its more than a notion to be a diplomat. I believe that if I
could go back and choose again I would probably get the notion
out my head. Takes about couple thousand dollars to get set to
go, another couple thousand bucks to get set up there and by the
time you are living then its time to come home and set up again.

Regards to Emerson and Aunt Toy et al from Muriel and me.

May 29, 1954

Mr. Griff Davis,
American Embassy,
Monrovia, Liberia.

Dear Griff:

S.O.S.---Could you send me the names and address of any good writers of short stories in Liberia or elsewhere in Africa---cullud ones---please? As I'm editing an Anthology of African Short Stories and have already some very good work from South Africa and contacts in Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Need a dozen or so more good stories. Peter Abrahams is sending some from London. His autobiography which Knopf is about to publish here is a wonderful story of childhood in South Africa, a very beautiful book indeed. If Liberaha has any good fiction writers, let me know.

I've just had two letters from Azikiwe who's headed this way next week, so I'll see him either here or at Lincoln's Centennial Commencement where he is to speak. Nkruma wrote me a nice letter, too, not long ago. And Haille Selassie, from whom I'll never hear, is in town, and will attend Abyssinia Baptist Church tomorrow. This is Saturday night now, but I imagine folks are already sitting in the church, probably crowded, waiting for him to show up! I hope to catch the prade if I get up in time.

At a party for Alan Patton (CRY THE BELOVED COUNTRY) last Sunday I saw the Dudleys and we spoke of you. Ralph Bunche and all cullud society was there, at the Henry Lee Moons.

Rachel came by this evening looking cool, calm, collected, and well-dressed---since she's married two undertaking parlors.... Saw Nate recently and he has a new girl friend who's moved in and fixed up his apartment real modern and attractive and spic and span. His two front teeth are still out---where the hammer flew up and hit him during his difficulties with Gerry---who's now living in Philly with her baby....The Harpers are still the same. Mrs. Harper was watering the grass the other night at 2 A.M. and today Emerson cut it---which will probably be it's end! Spring has been cold and rainey here, but it finally managed to come up long and green at last, only to get mowed down this evening.

We love the picture of your baby that came at Christmas and Aunt Toy shows it to everybody! She must be grown now, so send some more!

And send me the writers addresses, please, if there are any within your ken. Hope to have news from you-all, too, soon. Best to Muriel and hope all goes well. When will you get your sabatical to come home on leave? Bet you're well tanned by that African sun by now! Write when you have time.

Sincerely,

P.S. Too bad about Capa's death in Indo-China, stepping on a land mine. (I knew him in Spain).

Glad you're not in the war zone....Marian Palfi was in Dutch Guinea recently. She's marrying the director of the Goldberg's TV show this month.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

OPERATIONS MISSION TO LIBERIA

July 21, 1954

Dear Lang:

Look what popped up in this morning's Daily Listener.

Looked high and low for short story writers but nothing doing.

St Clair Drake left Monday night for Gold Coast and Nigeria where he and wife will do a study of mags and newspapers for Ford Foundation.

Congrats on the SRL award. We have started subscribing.

Busy as hell here but hope to be home.

EBT's book comes out Sept 23d. We checked spellings of some of the places.

We come home this fall. Would like to come with Pres. Tubman.

Your boy Haile Selassie really put on a show there for you.

Hello to Aunt Toy and Emerson and the smooth she undertaker when she comes around looking cool again.

Tell Aunt Toy that she has to see Dorothy Madelyn who is Miss Personality Plus. She is starting to walk this week.

Don't know if we're staying with foreign service so if you know any good jobs around throw our hats in.

Just moved into the Audio-Visual Center today. Center will produce a lot of training aids. Erected just as I'm getting ready to go home. Will at least leave this brainchild behind.

Shoving now. Hear the Marciano-Charles fight pix are in town.

THE POINT 4 PROGRAM

127

G

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 W. 27th Street
New York City
New York

January 31, 1959

Hey, old Bey, Griffith J.:

TAMBOURINES, inscribed to Congresswoman
Bolton, as a gift from you, went off today.

Thnake!....It's Saturday and Aunt Toy has
Emerson scrubbing like mad---on his day
off! Everything's the same as ever. And
Cartier-Bresson is coming up to see us to-
night. He did the photo for my forthcoming
SELECTED POEMS (Knopf) due out in March.

And your photo of Arna and I on THE BOOK OF
NEGRO FOLKLORE looks fine, everybody says.

I trust you've received a copy by now. If
not, advise. Loved you-all's letters. And
would write if I could, but been on lecture
tours almost continuously since October and
am off for Cleveland, Chi, and Tuskegee for
Negro History Week. So until next time,

Sincerely,

November 1, 1959

Dear Griff:

It certainly is nice to know that you
are all back in the country and the
Harpers and I hope to see you soon.

I am flying to Trinidad this Thursday
for a series of lectures at the library
in Port of Spain but intend to return
around Thanksgiving and so I will be
looking forward to seeing you and the
family then.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Operations Mission to Tunisia

c/o American Embassy
Tunis, Tunisia

10 June 1960

Dear Langston:

On the Voice of Moscow early in the morning of
30th of May, on the North American service, I heard
two of your poems being done in Russian to the music
composed by a Russian composer. The poems were "I'm
Tired" and "A Summer's Night".

I thought I would let you know this so you too
can put in your claim for royalties from those non-
royalty paying guys in Moscow. As I vaguely recall the
Adlai Stevenson mission in the interest of American
writers was never successful.

Muriel and the kids are scheduled to leave NYC
by the American Export line on the 22d of June for
Italy and here. All best to Emerson and Toy.

May 2, 1961

Mr. Griffith J. Davis
U. S. Special Mission
219 Avenue de Paris
Tunis, Tunisia

Dear Griff:

It was certainly good of you to send me magazines and clippings from your part of the world, otherwise I would probably never see them.

It must be exciting in North Africa with all of the things that are going on in Algeria. Meanwhile, the Harlem Muslims are raising sand over here too, and having a good time perturbing our white folks.

I have been out of New York a great deal this winter and spring on lecture trips, and have to go to California again this week since my 85 year old uncle out there is not behaving himself very well. Mrs. Harper also will not pay anybody any mind. When you get to be 92, what will you do?

Maybe by the time you come back on your next leave, my theatre guild show, "Tambourines to Glory" will be in production. They say they are signing Earth Kitt this week - but they have to wait until next year when she has her baby, to enjoy the benefits of her appearing in it. There is always some hitch in anything having to do with the theatre.

Best regards to Muriel and love to the children.

LH:
bh:

Comm Media Office

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Operations Mission to Tunisia

JUN 5 - 1961

Dear Langston:

For the Yale Collection I send you herewith the
bookjacket of your novel "Tambourines To Glory" and a
copy of today's "Action Afrique". Friday night the
editors called me urgently at home searching a photograph
of you. As many as I have taken of you in years past
I have none here in Tunisia. And the U. S. Information
Service here has none either. So we used the clear
photo on the back of the book jacket.

Suggest that you send me two or three glossy shots
of yourself, in informal pose, so that *Action Afrique*
and USIS will be adequately supplied in the future.

All best to you, Aunt Toy and Emerson.

Lang:

Just ran across this and thought you would be interested.

Will be here longer - now until April - then to the USA to go back to school again out in Indiana.

Will breeze in one day like an April shower. Hello to Aunt Toy. Muriel and kids are busy in school in East Orange - ORange 4-3063.

Era Bell goes round the world beginning Dec. 1. 1961

All best,

Griff

Langston Hughes has asked me to tell you
that on Saturday evening, November 2, his
play with music, TAMBOURINES TO GLORY,
opens at the Little Theatre next door to
Sardis. Since this newly renovated
theatre (albeit one of the most beautiful
on Broadway) is really an intimate thea-
tre, Mr. Hughes suggests that tickets for
the opening be ordered early. See the
current announcements in the Sunday papers.
So far in rehearsals the play looks very
exciting indeed.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE
AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Washington 25, D. C.

January 14, 1964

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

Dear Langston:

Guy Tirolien, formerly the Minister of Information in
Niger and now cultural advisor to the President, is in this
country on a leader grant from the State Department. I met him
at a UNESCO conference in Paris a couple years ago when he was
Niger's delegate there. He is a friend of Ambassador Mercer Cook
and practically "lives" in Mercer's extensive library there in
Niamey.

Of particular interest to you is the fact that Mr. Tirolien
is well known among African writers (he is Guadaloupian by birth)
for his various works in the French language. He expressed a desire
to meet you during one of his two visits to New York soon and pos-
sibly see your current show. I promised Guy to drop a note to you
about this.

At the moment of this writing I do not have the exact
dates of Guy's visits to New York but I am asking that they be
communicated to you as soon as possible.

Give my best New Year regards to Toy and Emerson et al.