NEHRING BROTHERS
INCORPORATED
REAL ESTATE & INSURANCE

ST. NICHOLAS AVE., COR. 182ND ST.
NEW YORK 33, N. Y.

<table><tr><td>NEW YORK, N.Y.</td></tr><tr><td>OCT 3</td></tr><tr><td>7 AM</td></tr><tr><td>1943</td></tr></table>

Mr. Langston Hughes
634 St. Nicholas Ave.
New York, N. Y.

FREDERICK NEHRING, PRESIDENT

PAUL NEHRING, VICE PRESIDENT

CHARLES NEHRING, SECY & TREAS.

NEHRING BUILDING

TELEPHONE
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS 7-4110

ST. NICHOLAS AVE. COR. 182ND ST.

NEW YORK

October 2, 1943

EXECUTIVES
AARON E. ALDRIDGE
META F. ARNDT
EDWARD J. BERTRAND
ELIAS C. EGAN
OTTO H. HESSE
JOHN H. KING
HENRY E. SIEKER

MEMBER
REAL ESTATE BOARD OF NEW YORK
REAL ESTATE BOARD OF BRONX

Dear Mr. Hughes,

I have been appointed by Former Governor Alfred E. Smith and Mr. Robert K. Christenberry, the heads of the New York City Home Front Mobilization of the National War Fund, to serve under them as Chairman of the Washington Heights District. Naturally, I was glad to accept their appointment, and I am happy to have been called upon to do my share in this tremendously important war work for the benefit of our fighting men and women everywhere, of the fighting and civilian populations of all our Allies in the war against the Axis, and of our people on the Home Front.

It is the purpose of the "Home Front Mobilization" to make sure that no one fails to make his or her contribution to the $17,000,000. fund being raised in New York City as part of the $125,000,000. that are being raised in the nation for the U.S.O., United Seamen's Service, the fifteen Relief Funds of our Allies, including China, Russia, Britain, the French, Greece and all the others. It is a fine thing that all of these twenty-six funds have been combined into one fund, instead of having twenty-six separate campaigns.

It gives me pleasure to invite you to serve with me as a member of the Washington Heights District Committee. I shall appreciate it if you will send me your acceptance during the next day or two, as I am planning to call the first meeting of our Committee early in October, probably on October 13th, and I will want to send you an invitation to attend.

FN:m
Enc.

Mr. Langston Hughes,
634 St. Nicholas Ave.,
New York, N. Y.

NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER

THIRTY MAPLE AVENUE
MONTCLAIR, N. J.

Montclair 2-4228

April 29, 1946

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

My dear Mr. Hughes:-

The Neighborhood Council, an interracial citizens group serving the Southwest corner of Montclair, is having its annual meeting on May 9th. The theme is "Building Toward the Future" with presentation of annual reports from the various chairmen and activities which have used the building during the past year.

The Annual Meeting Committee want very much to secure a copy of the poem on democracy which you read at the dinner at Unity Church on April 7th. Dr. Norman Fletcher would read the poem. This is the unpublished poem from your opera which you indicated would be performed in the fall.

I know this is asking a good deal. (But we never know, if we don't ask.) We would be glad to pay a fee for the privilege of securing a copy of the poem, if that is indicated.

Thank you very much for any consideration you may be able to give us.

NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER

NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER

June 4, 1946

My dear Mr. Hughes:-

This is a very belated actual thank-you for the use
of your poem "I Dream A World" in the annual meeting
of the Neighborhood Council, and for my speech for
the Missionary Union. But I think you realized through
the material which I sent to you, that we did appreciate
it very much. Needless to say, we would be delighted
to have you visit the Neighborhood Center when you wish.

NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER

NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER

Montclair 2-4228

July 18, 1946

My dear Mr. Hughes:-

The Clean Block Campaign Committee has instructed me to ask you whether by any chance you could come to Montclair on Saturday morning, July 27th, at 10:30 to present prizes to the children who will be high point contestants in the previous week.

The Clean Block Campaign is being conducted by the Neighborhood Council in the area served by the Neighborhood Council from July 8th to August 3rd, and is modeled considerably after the similar campaign annually conducted by the Afro-American Newspapers.

I realize that it is a long chance that you could come. But since you had expressed interest in sometime visiting the Neighborhood Center, I thought it might be worth a try....

You would realize how grateful I am for your sending the four poems (Freedom's Plow, Peace Conference in an American Town, The Negro Mother, and I Dream a World) if you could see how I show them off to friends and acquaintances.

NEIGHBORS FOR BROTHERHOOD
Improvement of Inter-group Relations
160-30 76th Avenue
Flushing 66, N.Y.

AX1-9/27

2/8/58

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

Dear Langston:

Our organization is concerned with the improvement of Inter-Group Relations through the exchange of cultural backgrounds.

Each month we have an outstanding person address our membership hoping that from these experiences mutual appreciation for the like-ness and differences of all groups. "We feel that it was the great diversity which made America a strong nation. "We believe that Brother-hood must be practiced everyday not just one day in the year.

On March 8th, we are planning a program on "The Negro in the Arts". Lofton Mitchell was kind enough to give me your address and felt that your speaking to our membership would be of great importance in presenting the problems of the Negro Writer and especially so since most of our members saw your recent play at our theatre party. Lofton was the speaker at our last meeting. The date could be changed to your convenience if it conflicts with previous engagements.

I would appreciate it very much if you would telephone me tomorrow (Sunday) to discuss details if you are able to accept our invitation.

Thank you for your kind cooperation.

P.S. I am presently reading your last book and enjoying it very much.

neighbors unlimited

p.o. box 223 malverne, new york

26th September 1961

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 127th. Street
New York City
New York.

Dear Mr. Hughes,

Our organisation which was formed some two years ago, is dedicated to the cause of integration and to the broader struggle of the Negro to secure equality of opportunities in every sphere of American life.

Our efforts in the field of residential de-segregation has attracted national and international attention, and CBS-TV has produced two half documentary shows on their 'Eye on New York' series.

In actual fact our work has only just begun. Basically our aim is the complete desegregation of all of Long Island; and in this regard our method of approach is twofold. To persuade whites to buy and rent homes in our own and other integrated areas, and also the Negro to do the same in the now all white neighborhoods.

In spite of the sceptic, the fatalist, the bigot and a host of other detractors we have met with success in both areas. We now plan to accelerate and broaden our approach. In order to give an object lesson in integrated living and involve people of other areas we have planned an OPEN COMMUNITY PARTY at the home of Mr. and Mrs C.E. Hawkins 612 Pinebrook Avenue, West Hempstead New York for Sunday October 22nd., commencing at 2 P.M.. We hope to have some two or three hundred people Negro and white, from the Greater Metropolitan area and from New Jersey, Connecticut and Upstate New York.

It is our desire to enlist the cooperation and request the help of Nationally known leaders like yourself in an effort to attract the widest possible audience. We have invited Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt to address the gathering and hope she will accede to our request. Your help would be of inestimable value to us and we trust you will be able to attend and read to some of the poetry which has made your name a household word in literary and Civil Rights circles.

Should you so desire you may contact me at OR 8 4455 or
MU 7 8900 ext 1177.

Please help us.

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 127th Street
New York City

KN

Kara Nelson
Personal Improvement and Charm Centre
14 West 45th Street
New York 19, N. Y.
Murray Hill 7-5337

January 31, 1949

Dear Langston,

I'm downtown now - in a new place which I
think you will like - an interracial, inter-
cultural Personal Improvement and Charm Centre.

We are sponsoring a series of Sunday Cultural Programs - from 6 to 8 p.m. - calling them Sunday Coffee Hours. At each, we present an outstanding artist and, of course, "you're on our little list!" We'd love to have you on the same program with Jake Lawrence (he attended our first Coffee Hour last night) and wondered how April 3rd would be. Let me know.

I received all your nice cards when you
were on tour but I haven't set eyes on you in
an awfully long time. So, why don't you run in
here Sunday, between 6 and 8 p.m., for a cup of
coffee, piece of cake and a look-see at the place
AND a chat with me.

Congrats on your book and give me a ring.
When have you seen Ben and Jim?

April 28, 1953

MEMO

from Langston Hughes
to
Mervyn Nelson
after
Preview of THE YEAR ROUND:

Dear Mervyn: Just in case these notes and suggestions may be of some slight value to you, here they be. In the light of last night's show, it would seem to be wise maybe (open to argument, naturally) to consider some of these suggestions:

1. **MONKEY NUMBER:** Cut about half of the crowd's dialogues outside of cage. Seemed a bit long to me. Otherwise very good.

2. **AFRICAN QUEEN:** Maybe could be cut a bit, too. But main problem from where I sat on side was visual—in that Queen and Englishman were hidden most of time from view by others in front of them. For instance bit putting on stockings couldn't be seen at all unless or when characters in front happened to move. Very good sketch, but seemed visually cluttered.

3. **TV pantomine.** Wonderful! But could cut most of what happened before the TV started talking. Once it gets started, rolls along most amusingly.

4. **HARLEM HAS FORSAKEN THE BLUES:** Maybe fewer people in number. Same as AFRICAN QUEEN, it seemed very cluttered, crowded, and visually confusing. Otherwise swell!

5. **JUST KEEPING YOU JERALOUS:** Such a good number that I'd like to see more of it. Maybe after Royce's exit, a reverse in which MAN calls up a pretty girl and starts keeping Royce jealous.

6. **SONG GIRL MEAN (who sings "Little Black Boy") DID IN BLACK EVENING GOWN:** Number does not need all the other folks lying around the stage. Could be done alone in one just as well. Never knew why others were there.

7. **MY DAUGHTER'S COMING OUT:** Liked enormously, except for end. Don't think DAUGHTER should exit. Needs a stronger curtain. If something could be devised to show at curtain MOTHER'S pride in DAUGHTER—and DAUGHTER'S final blooming out as result of MAMA'S always standing behind her—might add a Miss value that would be appealing. Don't know. Also think this number might be a stronger first act finale than AFRICAN QUEEN—especially for Harlem audience appeal.

8. **NUMBER'S SONG:** Great! Suggestion to help publicity—if feasible, change the number in the song every night. (Like Bojangles old gag). Might help to draw folks who play numbers (and ought to see shows, too) and would give publicity man a gimmick to play up: "New Number Every Night!"

There are many things in the show I liked enormously—the CALYPSO number, the little boy, (although swinging doors aren't needed in Lena Horne song—was just as good in rehearsals when folks were just passersby on street), the FOUR DIMENSIONS skit which is hilarious, etc. So above notes are in no sense major criticisms. Only offered as coming from one not as close to the show as you, so might see things a guy who's been working with it so long don't. Anyhow, it's a FINE show. Good luck from here on in.

Langston Hughes

UNITED STATES POSTAGE 5¢

MAGNA CARTA 1215

ALBERT J. NESBITT

HOLMESBURG • PHILADELPHIA 36

April 21, 1959

Mr. Langston Hughes
c/o Alfred Knopf
501 Madison Ave.,
New York, N.Y.

Dear Mr. Hughes:

Our good friend, the Honorable Fredric R. Mann, City Representative and commerce Secretary of Philadelphia, is to be honored at a distinguished community gathering on Thursday evening, May 21, at the Drake Hotel in Philadelphia.

The unique tribute-in the form of a Dinner Concert to be attended by Mayor Richardson Dilworth and other Pennsylvania leaders-will cite Mr. Mann for his notable contributions in bringing the best of music to within the reach of large numbers of people, and for his unusual efforts in advancing the cause of brotherhood, especially in our city.

This important event is being arranged under the auspices of "Singing City",
a society of chairs acclaimed for their musical excellence, made up of a
broad cross-section of Americans of all races, creeds and national origins.

I feel honored and proud to be serving as General Chairman of this significant
event. Our good friends, John B. Kelly and Judge Louis E. Levinthal, have
agreed to serve as Vice Chairmen of the Dinner Committee, and other outstanding
leaders of our community have responded enthusiastically to plans for the
"Singing City"-Fredric R. Mann celebration.

Will you grace our program by consenting to be a member of our "Honorary
Tribute Committee"? Your name, and your participation will help give the
May 21st event the distinguished context which it deserves.

Please return the enclosed card, indicating that we may use your name and
that, hopefully, you will mark the date on your calendar and be sure to
attend. I look forward to your early response.

P.S. here will be no solicitation of funds connected with this event.

April 24, 1959

Dear Mr. Nesbitt,

I shall be very happy to add my name to
your "Honorary Tribute Committee" for the Dinner-
Concert honoring Honorable Fredric R. Mann on
Thursday evening, May 21st.

It sounds as if it is going to be a
fine affair, but I shall not be able to be present
since I shall be speaking in Bermuda on that very
day.

With all best wishes,

Mr Albert A. Nesbitt
Holmesburg
Philadelphia 36, Pa.