THE PEOPLE'S FORUM

OF MONTREAL

Mr. Langston Hughes,
c/o Harper,
Apartment 1-D,
634 St. Nicholas Ave.,
New York City.

Dear Mr. Hughes,

Apparently I made some mistake in regard to the Montreal dates, when writing to you last summer, and was greatly relieved to get your answer to my telegram stating that the 13th and 14th would be all right. I also note that you are planning to come on Saturday; this would suit us admirably, especially if you can come by the train leaving New York on Friday evening and arriving Bonaventure Station (Montreal) at 7.50 a.m. Saturday morning. I have, since receiving your letter, been in touch with our largest English-language newspaper, the Star, and arranged for an interview, which could be included in their issue of that day, and which comes out about eleven o'clock on Saturday morning. Would you, therefore, be kind enough to let me know whether you can come by the train mentioned, so that I may be on hand when you arrive, and introduce you to the reporter, if he is there?

In accordance with your request, arrangements have been made for you to be the guest of the Forum President (Mr. Ross Macdonald) and Mrs. Macdonald. It is a long time since they asked to have this honour and I can assure you they will make you comfortable and happy. They have asked me to extend this invitation and to excuse them from writing to you directly. I shall be on hand to take you up to the Macdonald home, which is at 456 Argyle Ave., Westmount.

From the folder enclosed you will note that we showed the title as "A Poets Campaign Against Racial Prejudice and Intolerance". The folder was printed before I received your letter suggesting a definite subject, so I went to the Ford Hall programme (Copies of which I always receive) for your subject, thinking that you would be able to repeat something of what you had to say on that occasion. Since receiving your letter, however, we have changed the subject to "A Poet Looks at His World". I have advised the M.W.C. of your subject on Monday afternoon.

William Fraser.

1610 SHERBROOKE STREET WEST,
MONTREAL, CANADA FEBY. 4, 1938.

THE PEOPLE'S FORUM

OF MONTREAL

Mr.Lamgston Hughes,
c/o Harper,
Apartment 1-D,
634 St.Nicholas Street,
New York City.

Dear Mr. Hughes,

I am sorry not to have written to you earlier to express our appreciation of your very moving performance at the Forum on Sunday evening last. It is very rarely that one has the opportunity of listening to anything so unusual and so chastening, and you do not have to be told of the effect on the audience, for you saw that for yourself. I sincerely trust that Montreal may have the privilege of hearing you again; certainly if the Forum continues to function we shall want you to come again.

I hope you reached home without inconvenience and that you are none the worse for having come so far to enrich us.

WF.

1610 Sherbrooke Street West,
Montreal, P.Q., Feby.18, 1938.

THE PEOPLE'S FORUM

OF MONTREAL

1610 SHERBROOKE STREET WEST,
MONTREAL, P.Q., APRIL 21, 1942.

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

Dear Mr. Hughes,

I do not know that you will remember me, although I retain a very warm appreciation of the work you did for us some years ago, as well as happy memories of you personally. I hope you think of Montreal as kindly as we do of you.

I do not know whether or not you would be interested in a return visit since, in these restless days, no one seems to be doing what they had been doing a few years ago. Anyway, if you are in a position to take the trip and would like to, I am sure we should be very highly honoured if it could be arranged. We could, I have no doubt, come to some arrangement as regards your expenses and fee; moreover, the MacDonalds with whom you stayed during your former visit have been asking me ever since what the chances are of their having the pleasure of entertaining again so delightful a guest.

Perhaps you will be so kind as to drop me a note advising whether it will be possible, and what your fee would be in addition to your travelling expenses.

Kindest regards and best wishes,

WILLIAM FRASER/F.

THE PEOPLE'S FORUM

OF MONTREAL

1610 SHERBROOKE STREET WEST,
MONTREAL, P.Q., MAY 28, 1943.

Mr. Langston Hughes,
c/o The Writers' War Board,
122 East 42nd Street,
New York City.

Dear Mr. Hughes,

About a year ago I wrote you
in the care of your publisher and, not having heard
from you in answer, concluded that you were either
abroad or my letter had miscarried. However, I
note your name as being on the Advisory Council of
the Writer's War Board, which inspires the hope that
I may be more successful in reaching you than I was
a year ago.

How would you like to come to
Montreal again? The financial inducement is
certainly not very interesting but perhaps you might
like to come to us. In addition to the Forum
which would pay you Seventy-Five Dollars, there is
the Women's Art Society which would pay you One
Hundred Dollars. I do not know whether this would
be of interest to you or not, but in any case we would
be delighted to have your acceptance of this
invitation. These engagements would be for
a Monday and Tuesday (Evening and afternoon) and the
date can be arranged later, should it happen that you
can make the grade. For the Forum we would, of
course, want you to deal with some of the more urgent
aspects of your own people's problems, and for the
W.A.S., I think, a recital of your poetry would better
fit the bill. Your former host and hostess
are already looking forward to having you as their guest.
I hope you can accept, should it happen that you can
come.

Best of luck,

WILLIAM FRASER/F

Yaddo,
Saratoga Springs,
New York,
July 29, 1943.

Mr. William Fraser,
1610 Sherbrooke Street West,
Montreal, P. Q.,

Dear Mr. Fraser,

Please forgive me for being so long in answering your letter of the spring. Your letter of many months ago came just as I was taking my physical for the army which put me in l-A. That being the case, I could not make any plans for the winter. Then came the President's order deferring men over 38, so I was saved by one day! (The draft board had my card all made out to mail.)

Indeed I would be happy to come to Montreal again. I remember my last visit, and my kind hosts, with a great deal of pleasure. The two programs and the fees you mention are agreeable. For the coming season, the only dates that are now taken are October 27 and November 24 at Columbia University, and outside of New York, November 22, January 27, and June 4th. It is likely that I may go to the Coast in February, but that is not settled yet.

Are you familiar with Saratoga Springs? Yaddo here is an endowed creative colony-- writers, artists, composers-- a beautiful seven hundred acre estate just outside the town, quiet and very pleasant for work. Agnes Smedley back from China is here, Carson McCullers, and several other interesting writers.

With my very best regards to you, I remain,

Sincerely yours,

Langston Hughes