Arthur Huff Fauset
Chairman

Dr. Charles Johnson
Treasurer

Pearl Rachlin
Secretary

Eunice Matthews

Richmond Barthe

William Stanley Braithwaite

Glenn Carrington

Robert Claybrooks

Harold Jackman

Dr. Benjamin Karpman

Dr. Y. H. Krikorian

Dr. Robert E. Martin

Myron O'Higgins

Max C. Otto

Peter Pollack

Maurice Russell

Arthur D. Wright

Dr. Robert Martin

Mr. Langston Hughes
PLAYHOUSE theatre
c/o 137 West 48th Street
New York City

Arthur Huff Fauset

4948 Walnut Street, Philadelphia 39

Dear Langston : In the midst of your undoubtedly heavy schedule due to your play (about which hearty congratulations!) the Alain Locke Committee has asked me to inquire if you would be good enough to assist a few of us (notably Arthur Wright, Attorney Thomas B. Dyett, Maurice Russell) to get an interview with Duke Ellington, a warm personal friend of Locke's in order to see if we can interest him in arranging a reception for the purpose of raising funds to underwrite writing and publication of a memorial biography by William Stanley Braithwaite, who has agreed to do this. The money will go to the cost of research and Braithwaite's general expenses. It is hoped to have the biography ready by the time of the 5th anniversary of Locke's death, with appropriate ceremonies at Howard University.

Could you give us an assist? Perhaps the simplest thing would be to have three or four of us meet with Duke Ellington in New York. If you could break ground for us, and especially if you would accompany us, it would be a great help. I enclose a list of committee members.

Warm regards,

9-12-57

September 21, 1957

Dear Arthur:

I have just recently returned from some weeks in
California to find your note awaiting me at the
theatre.

Duke Ellington is out of town at the moment so I cannot reach him by home. I have not seen him for more than a year, in fact, not since the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival, but if I can contact him personally I shall certainly tell him about your project. Meanwhile, I think the best thing to do would be to write him a note in care of his sister: Mrs. Ruth Ellington James, 334 Riverside Drive, New York. It might also be wise to write Ruth directly too, or phone her at RIVERSIDE 9-1069, and explain the whole thing to her so she can relay the information to Duke or tell you where and when you can phone him. To my knowledge Duke has never been known to answer a letter, so it would be wise for you to reach him directly if it can be ascertained when he will be in New York again. I know Duke thought very highly of Dr. Locke and I feel certain that he would be interested in helping the proposed biography come into being.

Cordial regards to you and I hope to have the
pleasure of seeing you again soon.

Mr. Arthur Huff Pauset
4948 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, Pa.

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 127th St
New York City 35 NY

AHF
Apt 4-B
405 W 54
NYC 19

KINDLY FORWARD

LANGSTON HUGHES
c/o ALFRED A. KNOPF, INC.
501 MADISON AVENUE
NEW YORK CITY 22

it

405 West 54

NYC 19

Dear Langston : For at least 2 weeks now I have
been wanting to write you about that inclusion
into the National Academy. I guess my delay
measures the amount of my envy!

At any rate, in my opinion, except for DuBois,
who already is in, no one in our group deserves it
more, and I am indeed so happy to see you in there
numbered among the truly elite of our artists. You
have set a wonderful, inspiring example by your
devotion, assiduousness, pluck and God only knows
what all else, in addition to many fine literary
accomplishments.

 Yep, I'm in NY now, have been for some time, but
in hiding, and doing just-to-make-a-living work,
which cuts me out of writing for the present; and
even out of trying to see friends (which I never
was a good hand at doing) because my hours run
from early morning to quite far into the night.

(Got chucked from the NY system for the same old
you know what : (after the Krushshev incident).

Some day I will get in touch with you tho, and
I'd be glad to have a long chat with you about
writing (2 finished mss) and Africa...But these
can weight until I have more time.

Good luck, Langston! (and confidentially : Jessie's
not at all well, but it is the kind of age-deterioration
which precludes any possibility of one like yourself
seeing her, with I fear little or no chance of recovery.
...strictly confidential...she is receiving fine care
in the home of a brother of mine and his wife in Philly)

AHF

3-12-61

Arthur Fauset
Author of SOJOURNER TRUTH

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