I've lived long enough to find
That happiness is in the mind,
Not in things one has at hand
Nor in those one can command.

That truly perfect satisfactions
Only come from right attractions.
Friendship is a lovely thing—
It truly satisfactions bring.

I've been always blessed with friends
The kind on whom the world depends.
They've kept me steady through the years
In times of laughter and of tears.

So, in the spirit of this day
I'm calling on you to say
Bless the Lord for friends so fine
May I be worthy to call you mine.

Christmas, 1945

WM. B. FEAKINS

["From the desk of\nMarian Searchinger\nPATRICIA FEARL", "June 27, 1963", "Dear Langston,", "Here are the contracts for", "\"TAMBOURINES TO GLORY\" !!!!!!!", "I have clipped the pages to\nbe signed or initialled....but\njust for reference purposes\nthey are:", "Page 7 - Minimum Basic Pdn Contract", "Page 11-f (Tenth add'l clauses", "Page 11-g ( \"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES

March 3, 1965

Department of Journalism

Mr. Langston Hughes
c/o Alfred A. Knopf
501 Madison Avenue
New York, New York

Dear Mr. Hughes:

As a student in graduate Journalism at UCLA, I have been
assigned to write a magazine article on the Negro Revolution.
I have chosen to write about the modern "Uncle Tom" and his
effect on the achievement of racial equality.

This letter's purpose is to ask you for your opinion on the
matter. How would you define today's "Uncle Tom"? how does
he compare with the "Uncle Tom" of yesteryear? How does he
feel about today's civil rights struggle? How is the struggle
affected by him? How do you feel about stereotyped television
programs (like the old Amos 'n Andy series) that have been
assaulted of keeping the image of the American Negro a
subservient one?

Please express your opinions on the preceding questions and
elucidate and expand as you wish. If the finished article
is good, and with your help it will be, it will probably
be published. Of course, I will notify you of publication
in advance.

Please respond as soon as possible keeping in mind that the
article is to be completed in late March.

Thank you.

2041 Holland Ave.
Bronx 62, N.Y.

May 13, 1964

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 E. 127 St.
New York, N.Y.

Dear Mr. Hughes;

A mutual friend in Los Angeles, Paul Lewis, referred
me to you, thinking you might be interested in a
microscopically budgeted feature film an associate, Leo
Malek, and I wish to shoot this summer.

It grew out of a short I did on a Youth Board worker
and his attempts at reaching a teen-age gang, called
**111th Street**. Since I did it entirely by myself, it is
somewhat flawed, yet it was accepted by several film festivals,
including Venice, Edinburgh, and San Francisco.

Still, it was an unsatisfying film, and I've returned
to this same subject, this time to do a full scale feature.
The people who have so far involved themselves in the project
feel that while the general subject area has been mis-worked
in many films, this script brings a perception that is very
new, and exciting.

We wrote it at a distance of three thousand miles
and three years from the scene, and that has undoubtedly
affected it somewhat. We should certainly like to know where
it falls short in those areas. More importantly, it is the
type of project that calls for the willing cooperation of
a community, and, knowing of the position of respect you occupy
we should like to talk to you further. Could you either write
me at the above address, or call me at UN. 3-9574 or CY. 8-1000?

August 6, 1964

Dear Mr. Feinglass:

It is wonderful to have your letter with news direct from Mississippi. I remember my redding of poetry once years ago at Rust when I did a tour of Mississippi in less parlous times. I hear tell there was a piece in the TIMES a few days ago about the first performance of the Freedom Theatre, but I didn't see it. I sent them all my plays to Jackson some time ago. And last week I sent a box of books to Rust.

Today I am posting you three packets of material, so be on the lookout for them. BLAKC NATIVITY and 4 other of my plays, some books, some SIMPLE columns, and a sheaf of poems the young folks might like.

Give them all my love and best regards--
(but DON't ask any of them to write me
letters--as I get sometimes 200 a week and
simply cannot answer them all. Right now
there are dozens daily as a result of my
BOST columns on the riots, most still unread.
Just by luck my part time assistant pulled your
note out of the pile when he saw it was from
Mississippi. I'm glad he did, and I hope
you receive the material safely.)

Best wishes and thanks for all you are
doing.

SUITE 717
36 WEST 44TH STREET
NEW YORK

GRAND CENTRAL

STA

Langsten Hughes, Esq.
20 East 127th Street
New York, New York

Mr. LangstonHughes
20 East 127th St.
New York, N.Y.

Annette L. Feldman
5627 N. St. Louis Avenue
Chicago 45, Illinois

January 4, 1950

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

Dear Mr. Hughes,

I have a letter from Phyllis Ross of The Eternal Light Program, giving me permission to use the script "In Henry's Backyard", for a P.T.A. program. I have been unsuccessful in trying to locate the music for the ballad, "Henry, Henry, Who was White" and Miss Ross suggested that I write to you.

I would very much appreciate any assistance you can give me in acquiring the music. I have been unable to ascertain whether it has been published. If it has I shall be happy to purchase it. I hope you can help me.

Sincerely,

Annette L. Feldman (Mrs. S.H.)
Program Chairman
Peterson Parent-Teacher Association

Mrs. S.H. Feldman

Peterson School
Parent Teacher Association
~~5500 North Christian~~ Ave.
5627 St. Louis
Chicago 45

Peterson School
Parent Teacher Association
5500 North Christiana Ave.
Chicago

January 19, 1950

Dear Mr. Hughes,

Thank you for making the contact with Tom Glazer.

It was very kind and wrote out the music personally for the ballad that I had asked you about.

Thank you for the copy of "Freedom's Plow". I am happy to have it and presume that should we like to use it we may. I shall make an effort at my earliest convenience to hear the recordings which were made by Musette.

FELLOWSHIP HOUSE, INC.

1431 Brown Street
Philadelphia 30, Penna.

20

BUILD YOUR FUTURE
WISELY, SAFE
U. S. SAVINGS

“Simple” sent 6-2-56
MR

Mr. Langston Hughes
% Alfred A. Knopf
501 Madison Ave
New York, New York

20 E. 127th St.
New York, N.Y.

THE FELLOWSHIP OF RECONCILIATION

Box 271, Nyack, New York • Elmwood 8-4601 • Direct New York City wire: LOrraine 8-8200

**NATIONAL CHAIRMAN**
Robert W. Moon

**TREASURER**
Lloyd Berg

**EXECUTIVE SECRETARY**
Alfred Hassler

**DIRECTOR, FIELD WORK**
Glenn E. Smiley

**DIRECTOR, CHURCH RELATIONS**
John C. Heidbrink

**DIRECTOR, PUBLICATIONS**
James S. Best

**DIRECTOR, YOUTH WORK**
Brewster Kneen

**SECRETARY EMERITUS**
A. J. Muste

November 12, 1964

Langston Hughes
C/o New York Post
75 West Street
New York, New York

Dear Langston Hughes:

Hands reaching to one another has always symbolized
man's quest for peace and brotherhood.

You may wish to send this peace greeting to your friends
as well as to those outside your immediate circle who would be particularly
refreshed and renewed by this message.

It is truly a card for all seasons and for all people.

RG/bb

P.S. The enclosed plan makes it possible for us
to mail in your behalf this personal greeting.

NATIONAL CHAIRMAN

Robert W. Moon

TREASURER

Lloyd Berg

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

Alfred Hassler

DIRECTOR, FIELD WORK

Glenn E. Smiley

DIRECTOR, CHURCH RELATIONS

John C. Heidbrink

DIRECTOR, PUBLICATIONS

James S. Best

DIRECTOR, YOUTH WORK

Brewster Kneen

SECRETARY EMERITUS

A. J. Muste

November 30, 1964

Dear Langston Hughes:

I hope that my letter of November 12th has reached
your personal attention, as I have been eagerly awaiting your
reply.

RG/bb

HOWARD UNIVERSITY

WASHINGTON 1, D. C.

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

April 20, 1950

Mr. Langston Hughes
c/o The Chicago Defender
3435 Indiana Ave.,
Chicago, Ill.

Dear Mr. Hughes:

First, to refresh your memory, we met when I was assistant Public Relations Officer at Tuskegee Air Field during the war, and talked later at the YMCA in Pittsburgh where you autographed a picture of you speaking to a group at the Tuskegee Officer's Club. I mentioned a poetry manuscript to you on both occasions and you remarked (out of courtesy no doubt, as I have done to many students) that you would like to look at it later.

Well the manuscript is almost ready and I wondered if you would examine it and do me the honor of writing a preface or introduction if you think the material worthwhile. Two of the lyrics are prize poems, one having won a Fantasy Magazine contest judged by the late James Weldon Johnson. Illustrations are being done by Miss Frances Inge, Director of the People's Art Center, St. Louis. Miss Inge is a graduate of Carnegie Institute of Technology and has exhibited in several well-known shows. Since we talked in Pittsburgh I returned to school, picked up a Ph.D. (to earn a living) and am now teaching English at Howard.

I would appreciate hearing from you and would like to send you the manuscript or bring it and the illustrations to you some weekend when you happened to be in New York.

I read that Simple's adventures are to appear in book form. Congratulations! I look forward to getting a copy.

New York City Association of Teachers of English

CLARA A. MOLENDYK, President
Lafayette High School
Benson Avenue and Bay 43rd Street
Brooklyn, New York

JESSE GRUMETTE, Vice-President
Abraham Lincoln High School

RUDOLPH COOPER, Secretary
High School of Music and Art
135th Street and Convent Avenue
New York, New York

ALICE FEUERSTEIN, Treasurer
Julia Richman High School

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

MARY CARRILLO, Wadleigh High School
MAXWELL NURNBERG, Abraham Lincoln High School
ELIZABETH SMITH, New Dorp High School
EDWARD STASHEFF, Christopher Columbus High School
GEORGE SULLIVAN, Long Island City High School
SHIRER VAN STEENBERGH, James Madison High School
ALICE VIERHAUS, Junior High School No. 37, Bronx
HARRY WOLFSON, Brooklyn High School for Specialty Trades

November 29, 1943

Dear Mr. Hughes,

It was a treat to have you at our luncheon.

I'm going to read your poetry to my eighth grade classes on Thursday and I shall be able to give them a picture of a real, live poet.

AFFILIATED WITH THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF TEACHERS OF ENGLISH

January 9, 1964

Mrs. Blanche E. Ferguson
4125 Rookwood Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46208

Dear Mrs. Ferguson:

Because Mr. Hughes is engaged in
rehearsals for his new song play JERICO-JIM
CROW which opens this very weekend, he has
asked me to answer your letter. Mr. Hughes
plans to be in New York during the period
from March 28 to April 4th and would be glad
to talk with you at that time. You have only
to either drop him a note or phone him at
TR 3-4022 and arrange a time.

In answer to your questions, I
shall be quite brief because you can get more
detailed information when you see Mr. Hughes
personally. Mr. Van Vechten met Mr. Hughes
and Mr. Cullen in 1924 at the Rockland Palace
and the affair was a NAACP ball. An incident
which occurred during ST. LOUIS WOMAN might
be interesting to you which Mr. Hughes will
relate to you during your interview. Some
people whom you might talk with are Arna
Bontemps, Chief Librarian of Fisk University
and Aaron Douglas, an artist who is on the
faculty of Fisk University. Mr. Bontemps
collaborated with Countee Cullen on the play
ST. LOUIS WOMAN. Mr. Hughes met Countee
Cullen as reported by Carl Van Vechten.

Mr. Hughes suggests that you read his autobiography THE BIG SEA in which he writes about Countee Cullen's wedding.

There is an excellent french book entitled LES POETES NEGRES DES ETATS-UNIS by Jean Wagner, published by Librairie Istra, Paris, France, 1963, with a 70 page section on Countee Cullen. It also has a comparison of the poetry of Mr. Hughes and Mr. Cullen. This book may be purchased in this country from:

Stechert-Hafner, Inc.
31 East 10 Street
New York 3, New York

I hope that this information will be of some help to you until you visit with Mr. Hughes personally.

5821 Osceola Rd.
Washington, D.C. 20016

August 28, 1966

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

Dear Mr. Hughes:

Some time ago I began a male choral setting of your lovely
little poem, "Feet O' Jesus". More recently I revised it
for mixed voices. In this setting I made minor textual
changes to neutralize (for want of a better word) the
dialect, so that performance would not possibly give offense
to Negro listeners. The revisions are indicated on the
enclosed pencil sketch of my original male chorus setting.

A music publisher (Lorenz) is now interested in buying the
mixed voices setting, subject of course to appropriate
arrangements for permission with respect to the text.
Lorenz was also concerned about dialect, since it was Lorenz
that suggested "Lord oh" for "Lordy". I suspect, although I
do not know for a certainty, that Lorenz would not want to
use the text in the original version, since its market is
almost entirely in the church choir field.

So that's what this letter is about - whether you will grant
permission and if so what your terms are, the form of acknow-
ledgment you would want, etc. I am perfectly willing to agree
to a 50-50 royalty split, as I have done on some Hillyer and
Sandburg settings I have sold, with a reasonable royalty
advance.

I'm sorry if this has bothered you unnecessarily. I first
wrote Knopf. which "Who's Who" gave as your mailing address;
Knopf referred my inquiry to MacMillan; MacMillan recently
wrote that the poem was controlled by you and gave me the
above address.

So you'll know a little something about me - I'm a lawyer by
profession and a church musician and composer by avocation.
I have a son in medical school, a daughter at Sarah Lawrence,
and a wife in the "Who's Who of American Women" for her work
with handicapped children. I've had quite a few things pub-
lished or in process (around 40 at last count), and a
substantial number of them are spiritual or folk hymn settings.

You need not return the enclosed sketch. A stamped envelope
is enclosed for your convenience. And I could not close with-
out telling you how much I've enjoyed your work.

5821 Osceola Rd.
Washington, D.C. 20016
Sept. 30, 1966

Dear Mr. Hughes:

Thank you for your gracious letter about
permission for the use of your lyric, FEET OF JESUS.
I have forwarded a copy to Lorenz Publishing Company,
and I assume they will either get in touch with you
directly or send me appropriate contract forms to
cover our arrangement.

And thanks, too, for the biographical informa-
tion. The list of your books included several that
I didn't know about, and I am looking forward to
getting them.

September 24, 1966

Dear Mr. Ferguson:

I am happy to grant my permission
for the use of my lyric, FEET OF JESUS
(or it might be called AT THE FEET OF JESUS)
in non-dialect form for performance and
publication with your musical setting, with
the customary 50-50 royalty arrangement be-
tween lyricist and composer. You might tell
the publisher I am a member both of AMSAC
and AGAC, as he might wish to use the
approved contract forms---in fact should
use them.....You may know that Carl Fischer
published a long time ago a Hall Johnson
setting of FEET OF JESUS, but many of my
peens have appeared in more than one set-
ting, so another is quite O. K., and I wish
yours many performances. My thanks, too,
for the kind words you say about my work.

5821 Osceola Rd.
Washington D.C. 20016

Oct. 21, 1966

Dear Mr. Hughes:

I appreciate your thoughtfulness in
sending me a copy of the Hall Johnson
setting of "At the feet of Jesus".

It must be very effective in performance -
and must have been especially so when
the singer was Marian Anderson. The
melody line moves much more slowly than
mine and undoubtedly contributes to
the mood and poignancy of the text.
You must have been very pleased with the
setting, and I hope you are half as well
pleased with mine when it comes off the
press.

February 6, 1957

Dear Helen:

I am sorry to have again missed your phone
call, and when I tried to phone you at the
number I had, it was no longer good. I got
your new address from Art D'Lugoff.

I sent you a copy of my new Calypso to your
old address. If you did not receive it let
me know and I will send you another. In any
case would you like to come up and hear it?
You can phone me any late afternoon and
then drop by an, if you are in the downtown
area, I am sure the composer, Dave Martin
would play it for you. His studio is at:

233 W. 48th Street
NYC (1 flight)

Thank you for sending me a card about your
appearances. I certainly shall catch you
at the Apollo next week. With all good
wishes to you, as ever

Miss Helen Ferguson
126 Riverside Drive
New York, N. Y.

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