<table>
  <tr>
    <td>SUPPORT GOODWILL</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>HELP THE HANDICAPED</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>TO HELP THEMSELVES</td>
  </tr>
</table>

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

P.O. Box 20127
New York 13

202-775-5555

New York 30, New York

February 3, 1959

Dear Sam:

No, I don't think Arna is an authority on West Indian and African writing. But he is booked for one of the AMSAC panels, as I'm sure you know, competing with mine on the same afternoon. But I've got my speech already written OUT. (Dr. Hughes, Litt. D., since this is an academic affair). Hope to see you there.

Have you received IK ZAG HOE ZWART IK WAS (I DID NOT KNOW HOW BALCK I AM) which contains a poem called BLACK ALL DAY, too, and in which you are represented? From Paul Breman and Rosey Pool. Also from Rosey Pool, BLACK AND UNKNOW BARDS, A Collection of Negro Poetry, from London, in which you are, too. Digised as Paul Vesey.

I'm taking off for Negro History Week---
Cleveland, Chicago, and Tuskegee.

Did I tell you I saw Ina and Youra down in
Delaware? Looked fine!

Take care of yourself, and poetry. Also
look after scholarship.

Best ever,

American Society of African Culture

15 EAST 40TH STREET, NEW YORK 16, N.Y. • OREGON 9-9255

HORACE MANN BOND
President

MERCER COOK
Chairman of Executive Council

JOHN A. DAVIS
Executive Director

WILLIAM T. FONTAINE
Secretary

JAMES W. IVY
Treasurer

JAMES T. HARRIS, JR.
Assistant Executive Director

February 24, 1959

Cable Address:
CORACIWA, NEW YORK

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

Dear Mr. Hughes:

The Second Annual Conference of the American Society of African Culture will be held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City on June 26, 27, 28 and 29, 1959.

The program will include on June 27 a panel on the subject of the cultural situation of the African writer. In view of your outstanding work as translator and anthologist in this area, and your own experience as a creative artist, we would be happy to have your participation.

We are asking all panelists to deliver their papers to our office by May 15 in order that they may be reproduced and sent to all members of the Society. Your presentation at the panel should be a short 10 to 15 minute verbal explanation of your paper, after which there will be a discussion from the floor. The panel will occupy a two hour period, with yourself and two or three other speakers (possibly Leopold Senghor and Miriam Koshland if in the country) contributing.

You mentioned your recent work in assembling short story manuscripts from Africa. I think a discussion of tendencies in this work would fit in fine, reflecting as it probably does, the influence of the changing African cultural situation. If you have something else you'd prefer to discuss, please let us know.

We would appreciate a reply indicating whether we might look forward to your attendance. We shall be happy to hear from you at your earliest convenience.

SWA:cc

SPONSORED BY THE COUNCIL ON RACE AND CASTE IN WORLD AFFAIRS

February 26, 1959

Mr. Samuel W. Allen
American Society of African Culture
15 East 40 Street
New York 16, New York

Dear Sam,

Thank you very much for thinking of me as a participant in the second annual conference of the American Society of African Culture to be held in New York at the end of June. I regret very much that I cannot accept your kind invitation since I am hoping to go to the coast in the spring and settle down there for an intensive period of writing. However, I wish you well with the conference and I am sure that it will be exciting and a most worthwhile endeavor.

With cordial regards.

May 2, 1960

Dear Sam!

Hey, man, how many names have
you got????? In looking through my files
for poetry for NEW NEGRO POETS and remem-
bering an interesting manuscript from one
James B. Smith (which I sent back to Germany
but which was returned to me marked ADDRESS
UNKNOWN) in 1952, the writer turned out to
be one Paul Vesey with variants of some of
the same poems in ELFENBEIN ZAHNE!!!! So I
have two versions of Samuel Allen to choose
from. (The more the better!).....You missed
a FINE cocktail party for THE NEGRO WRITER
AND HIS ROOTS. All the writers in town were
there, and lots more folks, too....Drop by
when you come to town......Cordial regards,

Sincerely,

SCHOOL OF LAW

TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

3201 WHEELER AVENUE
HOUSTON 4, TEXAS

25

JIVERSARY