November 7, 1934.

Mr. Thornton Wilder
c/o University of Chicago
Chicago, Ill.

Dear Mr. Wilder:

Thanks for your letter of November 5.

I am looking forward with great pleasure to
hearing you February 5 at Brooklyn. I realize that this a
long trip and I appreciate your making it.

I have definitely booked you with Dr. Shambaugh of Iowa City, but we have not decided on a definite date. I believe he will accept a Friday night. Could you go out there on some Friday in February or March? If you can do this and will submit one or two dates, I shall be in your everlasting debt.

I am glad you saw Hugh in Hollywood. I was
wondering if you two would meet there. I understand that he
is actually appearing in the movies. More power to him!

Cordially yours

November 8, 1934

My dear Mr. Wilder:

Mr. Ely of the Town Hall just telephoned asking if you could speak for them in the Spring. I tried to induce him to take February 4 or 7, but he wanted a later date which I told him was out of the question. He then suggested that possibly you would be coming East when your Winter quarter ends, and could speak for them at that time. Is this a possibility, and if so, what dates can you offer?

As Mr. Ely is anxious to know, I shall appreciate it if you will let me know right away.

Cordially yours

November 15, 1934.

Dear Mr. Wilder:

I am afraid that Miss Gertrude G. Broderick put one over on us. For months she has been corresponding with me endeavoring to get you at the University of Minnesota. I asked her $350 and then dropped to $300. As the University of Minnesota has twice as many students as the University of Iowa, I really see no reason why they should not pay as much to their speakers.

Enclosed you will find a letter from Dr. Benjamin F. Shambaugh. I do wish you could see your way clear to go out there for him on February 14. If you could do this, I will not book you with Dr. Ely at the Town Hall until next season.

As I feel I must give Dr. Shambaugh an answer at once, I shall appreciate it if you will wire me your decision.

With best wishes.

Cordially yours

PRESERVATION PHOTOCOPY: ORIGINAL MATERIAL RESTRICTED

June 10, 1935.

Mr. Thornton Wilder,
50 Deepwood Drive,
New Haven, Conn.

Dear Thornton :

I have an opportunity to book you at the
University of Utah next season and they are anxious to
have an answer at once, which is the reason for my writing
you today, as it may be you will not get in to see me until
the latter part of the week.

The thought has occurred to me that if you are
going to Hollywood at any time during the year we could work
in this date at the University of Utah very nicely, and
probably some others on the Pacific Coast.

As I feel I should get an answer off to these
people tomorrow, will you please wire me (collect) upon re-
ceipt of this letter; and also let me know just when you will
be in New York so that I may be sure to be here.

With kindest regards,

Sincerely yours,

P. S. - I will be out of town on Friday and Saturday of this week, but any other day to suit your convenience will be entirely satisfactory to me.

November 21, 1935.

Dear Thornton:

I like your enthusiasm for the U. S. A. The American people have their faults--many of them. But what nation hasn't? Even though, at the present time, we have an administration that is far from a Democratic one, yet I agree with you that the best place to live in the whole world is in the U. S. A.

I am indebted to you for having written Summit, New Jersey as you did.

Many thanks for enclosing the letter from Mrs. Keffer, of West Hartford. I am writing her today.

Enclosed you will find the schedule to date. We are working hard now to fill in the open dates and I believe that we shall be successful.

I am glad that you had such a good time abroad.

The committees are asking us for news about yourself for publication in their local newspapers. Can you accommodate them by sending me a short resume of your trip--say the equivalent of one-fourth of a newspaper column?

I do hope that your father's condition improves.

With kindest regards to you and your family,

Cordially yours,

P. S. - Which subject do you prefer discussing this season? As you will see by the enclosed list, New York, Brooklyn and Ogontz have selected your "Motion Pictures" lecture and, inasmuch as their announcements have already been printed, I am wondering if they would be agreeable to changing to another subject.

January 3, 1936.

Mr. Thornton Wilder
50 Deepwood Drive
New Haven, Conn.

Dear Thornton:

I am delighted to learn that you are willing to give the lecture on "Motion Pictures and Literature". Your decision helped us out of a bad pocket in Brooklyn where they were insistent upon this subject as they have heard you on the others listed in your circular.

We have not written any of the places that selected the "Motion Picture" lecture other than Decatur so no harm has been done.

By the way, the Brooklyn Institute called up yesterday and asked if we could supply them with a brief synopsis of the lecture, "Motion Pictures and Literature" as they are preparing an announcement for their bulletin. Can you accommodate them? I think their bulletin goes to press next week.

Best wishes for the New Year!

Cordially yours

LX:LR

January 20, 1936.

Dear Thornton:

I am glad indeed to send two tickets for your Town Hall lecture on February 3rd to Mrs. Horace Martin, 39 East 79th Street, New York City. These will be mailed to her today.

I have added to your schedule a lecture at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles for March 5th. I shall give you full particulars as soon as the contract is returned.

Today I have wired Denver for a final decision regarding the dates they have been negotiating for; namely March 9th and 10th.

I am glad that the movie lecture went over so well at Choate. It is a subject that has a popular appeal. I am planning to hear this lecture on the 4th at Brooklyn.

Cordially

LK:LR

January 27, 1936.

Dear Mr. Wilder:

Since writing you, we have added two new dates to
your itinerary--one at Nashville, Tennessee for February 7th
with the Centennial Club, and the other at Pasadena, California
for the evening of March 6th. I am sure these dates, in less
frigid zones, will appeal to you.

In order to keep the record straight I am enclosing a
revised schedule.

Cordially,

P. S. - Our correspondent at Decatur, Georgia writes: "We are
getting well started on the advertising for the Thornton Wilder
lecture and are looking forward to it with great interest. I
think that perhaps Mr. Wilder would like to know that the
film of "Midsummer Night's Dream" will be shown in Atlanta on
the three days preceding his lecture and most of our students
will just have seen it."

February 17, 1936.

Mr. Thornton Wilder,
c/o Alpha Delta Phi,
136 West 44th Street,
New York, N. Y.

Dear Mr. Wilder:

I tried to reach you on the telephone today but was
unsuccessful.

I am notifying the Aurora correspondent that you will
accept the dinner invitation.

Unfortunately, there is no later train that you can
take from Ithaca to Aurora. I thought that perhaps you might
be able to make bus connections between these points, but upon
inquiry I find that this is not possible. The distance, according
to our Railroad Guide, is approximately 26 miles. It may be that
you have some friends in Ithaca who would motor you to Aurora.
However, if you decide not to arrive by train will you kindly
notify Miss Chase, as she has planned to have someone meet you
at the Aurora station.

Professor Hurley, of Greensboro, sent us a very good
report of your lecture there. I quote the following from his
letter, just received:

I AM ENCLOSING CHECK TO COVER FEE FOR MR. WILDER'S
LECTURE HERE. MAY I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY OF
SAYING THAT FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE LECTURE
COMMITTEE MR. WILDER'S LECTURE WAS AN UNQUALIFIED
SUCCESS. DESPITE THE VERY BAD WEATHER, WE HAD A
GOOD CROWD OUT TO HEAR HIM, AND I KNOW THAT THOSE
WHO CAME FELT WELL REPAID. CERTAINLY THEY HEARD
A LECTURE OF DECIDED SUBSTANCE DELIVERED IN A
MOST DELIGHTFUL MANNER.

Have you definitely decided to arrive in Jenkintown on the
7:06 p.m. train tomorrow? Our correspondent there wishes to have
someone meet you at the station.

February 21, 1936.

Dear Mr. Wilder:

I am enclosing a revised train schedule covering your Pacific Coast trip, routing you via the Santa Fe Lines from Los Angeles to Tulsa, in accordance with your request. However, as all train schedules are subject to change after the first of the month, it will be necessary for you to verify these time tables from point to point.

We have not yet heard from our Los Angeles and Pasadena correspondents regarding the hour they have announced.

In Salt Lake City, your lecture will be held in the Kingsbury Hall, March 2nd. I quote the following from a letter received from Mr. Adamson, the chairman:

> "You, of course, will inform Mr. Wilder that he is not to accept any social engagements here without our approval. We are sure that a number of literary societies will wish to impose upon him while he is here and we wish them to funnel through the cash register."

We have written Mr. Adamson that he may rest assured you will not accept any social engagements without his approval.

In case we do not see you before you leave New York, may we extend our very best wishes for a most enjoyable trip.

February 24, 1936.

Mr. Thornton Wilder,
c/o Alpha Delta Phi Club,
136 West 44th Street,
New York, N. Y.

Dear Mr. Wilder:

I tried to reach you by telephone today to let you know that the chairman at Mount Vernon, Professor Clyde Tull, has made arrangements for your stopping at the Grill the evening of February 26th, instead of going to a hotel in Cedar Rapids. Will you therefore please be governed accordingly?

Mr. Adamson, of Salt Lake City, has notified us that Dr. Sherman Brown Neff, Head of the Department of English at the University of Utah, is to act as your host while you are in Salt Lake City. Dr. Neff will meet you at the train, March 1st.

Will you be so kind as to telephone us upon receipt of this letter so that we shall know you have received the above information, as well as the revised train schedule?

February 26, 1936.

Mr. Thornton Wilder,
Hotel Fontenelle,
Omahe, Nebraska.

Dear Mr. Wilder:

I am very sorry that our letters missed you in New York. I now hasten to forward them to you en route.

I am also enclosing a copy of a communication received this morning from the Pasadena chairman.

Do you plan to arrive in Fort Worth a day ahead of your engagement on March 18th? The chairman is anxious to know the hour of your arrival and as there are several open days between your Tulsa and Fort Worth lectures I am not certain what your wishes are in this matter.

P. S. - While in California, may I warn you to be guarded in your remarks to a representative named Miss Gause, who seems to take delight in "pumping" speakers, as it were.

March 9, 1937.

Mr. Thornton Wilder
c/o Hotel Franciscan
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Dear Thornton:

Please note that we have booked you to address
the Contemporary Club of Indianapolis, Indiana, March 29th, terms
$300. They have selected, "Some Thoughts on Reading". I tried
my best to get them to take March 15th or 16th as you were re-
turning east even offering to reduce the fee, but the 29th of
March was the earliest possible date they could accept.

I haven't bothered you with letters on the
trip, but I want you to know how happy I am over the enthusi-
tic reports from all chairmen where you have lectured. All who
have heard you in the past agree that you are even a greater
lecturer now.

I do hope that you have enjoyed the trip.

With kindest regards, as always,

Sincerely,

LK:LR

March 17, 1937.

Dear Mr. Wilder:

I tried to reach you at the Alpha Delta Phi Club but
found that you had just checked out.

Did you receive my letter of March 8th, regarding your
lecture tomorrow evening? Reverend Racioppi wrote that he now plans
to have you speak at the residence of

JUDGE and MRS. BRADFORD BOARDMAN
BRONSON ROAD
GREENFIELD HILL
FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT.

Reverend Racioppi said that he would be glad to have
someone escort you to the Judge's home if you would kindly let him
know when you plan to arrive in Fairfield.

Enclosed you will find the details for your Indianapolis
engagement on March 29th. We advised you about this booking at Albu-
querque and trust that you received our letter.

Mr. Keedick joins me in sending kindest regards to you.

P. S. - We are under the impression that you have heard direct from
the chairman at Brunswick, Maine regarding the train connections, but
if this is not so we are enclosing a time table showing the schedule.

June 2, 1937.

Dear Thornton:

Upon my return to the office I find your good letter of
May 11th and the statement of your expense account.

We have made up a statement and sent it, together with a
covering check, to your lawyer, in accordance with your previous in-
structions.

I know that a leave of absence from lecturing is most welcome
to you; but it leaves me with a lonesome feeling, for it will not seem
like running a lecture bureau with your name missing from the list.
However, it makes me happy to know that as soon as you have completed
your plays you will return again to the family lecture circle; and it
also helps to know that you will not forsake us in the interval and will
call at the office from time to time.

I join with your host of admirers in eagerly awaiting,
seeing and reading your new plays.

Considered from every angle, our association in the lecture
field has been one of the most pleasant of my long years in this business.
You are a friend whom I greatly admire.

Devotedly yours,

HENRY STODDARD
FREDERICK H. WIGGIN
J. DWIGHT DANA
FRANK E. CALLAHAN
ARNON D. THOMAS
HUNTINGTON T. DAY
HARRISON F. TURNBULL
STEWART O. H. JONES
PAUL MACDONALD
GRANT N. NICKERSON
JOHN Q. TILSON, JR.

WIGGIN & DANA

COUNSELLORS AT LAW
205 CHURCH STREET
NEW HAVEN, CONN.

JOHN K. BEACH
COUNSEL
---
TELEPHONE 7-4261

June 4, 1937

Mr. Lee Keedick
475 Fifth Avenue
New York City

Dear Sir: In re: Thornton N. Wilder

In looking through the statements
which you have rendered Mr. Wilder from
time to time, I notice that in the statement
of May 1930, there were outstanding accounts
with respect to the Pasadena and Long Beach
lectures. I assume that you were never able
to collect these accounts but I shall appre-
ciate it if you will advise me with reference
thereto.

JDD:MW

May 24, 1989

Mr. Thornton Wildor
50 Deepwood Drive
New Haven, Conn.

Dear Thornton:

I thought you might be interested in seeing the enclosed copy of the program of "Our Town," as presented in the Kansas City Resident Theatre.

I attended one performance, and I am happy to tell you that their presentation compared very favorably with the one in New York which I had seen some months before. This play makes a deeper impression upon an audience than any play that I have seen in years and years, if ever.

When I heard that stock companies were presenting it, I was fearful of the results, but if they all do as good a job as the one in Kansas City, then the play is in safe hands.

I am looking forward, with the greatest pleasure, to arranging another tour for you in 1940-41.

I hope that all goes well with you.

As ever

Cordially

LK:EP
Enc.