The Associated Negro Press Inc.

National News Service

3423 INDIANA AVENUE
CHICAGO

COPY

Dec. 6, 1931

EXECUTIVE STAFF

CLAUDE A. BARNETT
DIRECTOR

C. H. STEWART
NEWS EDITOR

PERCIVAL L. PRATTIS
FEATURE EDITOR

WILLIAM PICKENS
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
ALGERNON B. JACKSON, M. D.
HEALTH EDITOR

J. A. JACKSON
WASHINGTON, D. C.

A. E. WHITE
NEW YORK

R. C. FISHER
ST. LOUIS, MO.

J. W. LEIGH
NEW ORLEANS, LA.

HARRY LEAVETTE
LOS ANGELES, CAL.

JESSE O. THOMAS
ATLANTA
ATLANTA, GA.

A. HENEGAN
KANSAS CITY, MO.

ROBERT C. CRUMP
DETROIT, MICH.

CARL DITON
PHILADELPHIA
MUSIC

JOHN W. YOUNGBLOOD
BOSTON

J. D. MCGHEE
COLUMBIA, S. C.

H. M. MUDGALL
FOREIGN EDITOR

MRS. MARGARET ROSS
MARTIN

LATIN-AMERICA
TREZZVANT W. ANDERSON
WASHINGTON, D. C.
FEROL VINCENT-SMOOT

NEW YORK
U. J. ANDREWS
DENVER, COLO.

C. E. CHAPMAN
MUSKOGEE, OKLA.
WILSON JEFFERSON

PHILADELPHIA
THELMA L. RICHARDSON
CINCINNATI

EDWIN J. TURNER
GEORGIA

Phone Douglas 0009

Mr. Langston Hughes,
181 W. 135th St.,
New York, N. Y.

Dear Mr. Hughes:

We have been happy all year over the verse which
you sent us for our New Year's cards last year. I
wonder if you would care to greet 1932 in the same
way? If so will you not send us a verse using the en-
closed air mail, stamped envelope?

We have been puzzled for the past week or two to
learn how to reach you. We have had a steady stream
of stories regarding your lectures in various places,
which we have been pleased to use. The editors of
Contempo and your own tour manager gave us good ser-
vice.

It may be that you are too busy to grant this
request but if so please let us know by return mail
since the time is short for going to press.

Trusting that you have enjoyed your tour of the
South, although it would appear that you have traveled
at a rapid gait, I remain

CAB*IR
ENCL:

Hollow Hills Farm,
Monterey, California,
December 30, 1940.

Dear Claude Barnett,

Since, no doubt, with malice aforethough---and as a result of
Aimee's doings in Pasadena---THE SATURDAY EVENING POST in their
issue of December 21st published, without my permission and in
violation of copyright, my poem GOODBYE, CHRIST, that had long
been withdrawn from circulation, I have issued the enclosed
statement to the press. It might help to clarify the discussion
which the poem has engendered.

I was very happy indeed to have yours and Etta's Christmas card.
And I hope you have entirely recovered from the flu with which
I left you in Chicago. Everybody out this way seems to have it
now, and almost the entire staff here at the farm are down.

Did the Legislature ever vote the Exposition its deficit appro-
priation? Me, I'm still broke as usual. I've recently been
working on another show, however, a revue in Los Angeles which
aims to reverse all the old ideas concerning theatrical Negroes.
In this case the Negro will chase the ghost---instead of the
usual other way around. Out of it so far (although it hasn't
gone on yet) has come one good song which it seems colored people
will like judging from the reception which it received at the
big NAACP meeting in Los Angeles. It's called AMERICA'S YOUNG
BLACK JOE with music by Elliott Carpenter.

Kindly give my very best regards to Miss Moten, and a Happy New
Year to you both,

National News Service
3507 SOUTH PARKWAY
CHICAGO

EXECUTIVE STAFF

CLAUDE A. BARNETT
DIRECTOR

FRANK M. DAVIS
FEATURE EDITOR

ALBERT G. BARNETT
NEWS EDITOR

A. E. WHITE
WASHINGTON, D. C.

JESSE O. THOMAS
ATLANTA, GA.

JOSE H. SHERWOOD
ST. PAUL, MINN.

MARY J. WASHINGTON
ATLANTIC CITY, N. J.

E. W. CLARK
BOSTON, MASS

FRITZ CANSLER
DALLAS, TEXAS

O. B. TAYLOR
KNOXVILLE, TENN.

R. C. FISHER
ST. LOUIS, MO.

FRANK CANTY
ATLANTIC CITY, N. J.

ALVIN MOSES
SPORTS, NEW YORK CITY

G. JAMES FLEMING
PHILADELPHIA, PENN.

HARRY LEVETTE
LOS ANGELES, CALIF.

REGINALD PIERREPOINTE
WEST INDIES

IRVINE I. TURNER
NEWARK, N. J.

EFFIE M. GOODE
MOBILE, ALA.

CHATWOOD HALL
MOSCOW, RUSSIA

IVA GEREAU
VIRGIN ISLANDS

ERNEST JAMIESON
CHRISTOBAL, CANAL ZONE

RUDOLPH DUNBAR
LONDON, ENGLAND

JAMESON G. COKA
JOHANNESBURG, S. AFRICA

LEON LEWIS
NEW ORLEANS

NANCY CUNARD
PARIS, FRANCE

A. L. HOLSEY
BUSINESS

CHARLES E. LOEB
CLEVELAND, OHIO

HAZEL L. GRIGGS
FASHIONS

CARL DITON
MUSIC

ARDEN H. DUANE
HOME ARTS

HAROLD JOVIEN,
RADIO

PHONE OAKLAND 6400

January 3, 1941

Mr. Langston Hughes
Hollow Hills Farm
Monterey, California

Dear Langston:

It was good to hear from you and I hope all goes well. We will send you some clippings from the "Sister Aimee" incident if, indeed, Miss Roland has not already sent them.

We are using the statement which you send and would also use this "America's Young Black Joe", if you grant permission. It occurred to us that you might not have sent it for publication since you did not say so.

Etta is fine. The legislature has not met. Have you a definite bill for services in the hands of Secretary-Treasurer Williams? If not, I would get one to him immediately if I were you, because all outstanding bills have been turned in--the hope being that we will get a deficiency appropriation.

CAB:jhr

WASHINGTON BUREAU
2000 11TH STREET, N. W.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
MICHIGAN 6400

National News Service

3507 SOUTH PARKWAY
CHICAGO

May 21, 1941

EXECUTIVE STAFF

CLAude A. BArnett
dIRECTOR
FRANK M. dAVIS
FEATURE EDITOR
ALBERT G. BArnETT
NEWS EDITOR
WILLIAM PICKENS
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
A. E. WHITE
WASHINGTON, D. C.
JESSE O. THOMAS
ATLANTA, GA.
ROBERT C. CRUMP
DETROIT, MICH.
JOSE H. SHERWOOD
ST. PAUL, MINN.
E. W. CLARK
BOSTON, MASS
FRITZ CANSLER
DALLAS, TEXAS
O. B. TAYLOR
KNOXVILLE, TENN.
R. C. FISHER
ST. LOUIS, MO.
FRANK CANTY
ATLANTIC CITY, N. J.
ALVIN MOSES
SPORTS, NEW YORK CITY
G. JAMES FLEMING
PHILADELPHIA, PENN.
HARRY LEVETTE
LOS ANGELES, CALIF.
REGINALD PIERREPOINTE
WEST INDIES
IRVINE I. TURNER
NEWARK, N. J.
EFFIE M. GOODE
MOBILE, ALA.
CHATWOOD HALL
MOSCOW, RUSSIA
IVA GEREAU
VIRGIN ISLANDS
C. G. WHITTINGHAM
CHRISTOBAL, CANAL ZONE
RUDOLPH dUNBAR
LONDON, ENGLAND
JAMESON G. COKA
JOHANNESBURG, S. AFRICA
NANCY CUNARD
PARIS, FRANCE
A. L. HOLSEY
BUSINESS
CHARLES E. LOEB
CLEVELAND, OHIO
HAZEL L. GRIGGS
FASHIONS
CARL dITON
MUSIC
ARDEN H. DUANE
HOME ARTS
HAROLD JOVIEN,
RADIO

PHONE OAKLAND 6400

Dear Langston:

First, let me compliment you on your radio appearance last
Saturday with Frederick and Dillon. You were very good and
I feel certain your reading got across. We carried an
advance release announcing the program.

Secondly, thank you for the copy of "The Negro Speaks of
Rivers" which was a fine thing to send to friends and
well wishers, and for the edition of the Carmel paper. I
deeply appreciate being remembered.

The idea of a poem weekly or whenever the mood strikes on
current news topics to be released by ANP pleases me.
Those which you have sent will be used with the exception
of the one on the jim crow air squadron. The ANP is back
of this squadron solidly, despite the fact of it being
jim crow. But on practically anything elsex you will have
virtually a free hand.

By the way, congratulations on another Rosenwald fellowship.
That goes, even though I know you don't need the extra
cash -- mere pocket change!

A somewhat somewhat mutual friend has been in California the past few weeks. I refer to Marie Joe Browne of Boston and Richmond. Have you seen her? Although we've never met, we've corresponded for almost four years.

Sorry about the publishing delay. However, by your book of poetry coming out in August it should be on hand to catch the early fall buying acceleration. Incidentally, the type has been set on my own although page proofs have not as yet reached me.

Meanwhile, best of luck. And be wary of the product of
the California grape!

3507 SOUTH PARKWAY
CHICAGO

June 19, 1941

EXECUTIVE STAFF

CLAUDE A. BARNETT
DIRECTOR

FRANK M. DAVIS
FEATURE EDITOR

ALBERT G. BARNETT
NEWS EDITOR

O. B. TAYLOR
KNOXVILLE, TENN.

R. C. FISHER
ST. LOUIS, MO.

EFFIE M. GOODE
MOBILE, ALA.

CHATWOOD HALL
MOSCOW, RUSSIA

IVA GEREAU
VIRGIN ISLANDS

NANCY CUNARD
PARIS, FRANCE

A. L. HOLSEY
BUSINESS

HAZEL L. GRIGGS
FASHIONS

CARL DITON
MUSIC

ARDEN H. DUANE
HOME ARTS

HAROLD JOVIEN,
RADIO

PHONE OAKLAND 6400

Dear Langston:

I assure you that my negligence in answering your communications
is not due to any lack of interest. Instead, I've been feeling
like a particularly vile across-the-tracks section of hell. One
doctor told me it was me tonsils and put me on sulfanilimide
-- or however the damned stuff is spelled -- although I didn't
feel a thing wrong with my throat. After a while I went to
another medico who said my tonsils were all right but my
blood pressure was ten points above normal. So he put me on
a nine to 10 hour sleeping period nightly and took me off gin
and whiskey but did allow me to have beer and rum -- for which
Allah be praised. Whereupon my tonsils did decide to become
infected -- so back I went to sulfa. I think I've had more
of that in me during the past week than the drugstore down
stairs keeps on its shelf regularly -- and still they bethzex
bother me. I see nothing to do now but hire a good cheap
lawyer.

The enclosures are more clippings of the fine series of poems
ANP is fortunate in being permitted to release. As for Carl
Murphy, he's nuts. Ever so often he writes in to ask us about
the facts on something he saw in another paper which was sent
to his publication in toto three or four weeks previously.

One thing I must call attention to with great envy is your
tremendous industry. I'd kill myself trying to turn out half
as much in a month as you do in a week. And don't tell me
the California climate is responsible.

Thanks for that copy of Marie Joe Browne's program you recently
sent. I understand she's going to be there in the West just
about all summer. By the way, an unbound copy of Handy's
autobiography came in a couple of days ago, edited by
Bontemps, publication date July 1. Haven't had a chance to
read it yet.

I of course think your idea of writing about outstanding Negroes
excellent. And as I have said before, I can use just about
anything you care to send.

Meanwhile, very best personal wishes.

3507 SOUTH PARKWAY
CHICAGO

EXECUTIVE STAFF

CLAUDE A. BARNETT
DIRECTOR

FRANK M. DAVIS
FEATURE EDITOR

ALBERT G. BARNETT
NEWS EDITOR

A. E. WHITE
WASHINGTON, D. C.

ERNEST JOHNSON
NEW YORK CITY

JIM HEWLETT
BOSTON, MASS.

FRITZ CANSLER
DALLAS, TEXAS

O. B. TAYLOR
KNOXVILLE, TENN.

J. W. PATE
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.

G. JAMES FLEMING
PHILADELPHIA, PENNA.

EFFIE M. GOODE
MOBILE, ALA.

CHATWOOD HALL
MOSCOW, RUSSIA

IVA GEREAU
VIRGIN ISLANDS

NANCY CUNARD
PARIS, FRANCE

A. L. HOLSEY
BUSINESS

HAZEL L. GRIGGS
FASHIONS

CARL DITON
MUSIC

ARDEN H. DUANE
HOME ARTS

HAROLD JOVIEN,
RADIO

GEORGE F. MCCRAY
LABOR

PATSY GRAVES
WOMENS' FEATURES

PHONE OAKLAND 6400

November 5, 1941

Dear Langston:

By all means, send the article on Fort Ord. Will use it
in any way you see fit.

Thus far I haven't seen a copy of "Golden Slippers" although I did get a fleeting glance at a few of the proof pages. I'm glad to know, however, that you liked my stuff. As for your own, I know that I shall enjoy readint it. Thus far I have not seen THE DEMOCRATIC SPIRIT.

I suppose you'll be staying in California all winter -- and I can't say I blame you. I'd like to be out there to use my camera.

Suppose you heard about the death of Chu Berry, great tenor sax star with Cab Calloway. Most unfortunate.

Very best personal wishes. And thanks for letting us
release all those splendid poems of yours.

National News Service

3507 SOUTH PARKWAY

CHICAGO

EXECUTIVE STAFF

CLAUDE A. BARNETT
DIRECTOR

FRANK M. DAVIS
FEATURE EDITOR

ALBERT G. BARNETT
NEWS EDITOR

A. E. WHITE
WASHINGTON, D. C.

ERNEST JOHNSON
NEW YORK CITY

JIM HEWLETT
BOSTON, MASS.

FRITZ CANSLER
DALLAS, TEXAS

O. B. TAYLOR
KNOXVILLE, TENN.

J. W. PATE
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.

EFFIE M. GOODE
MOBILE, ALA.

CHATWOOD HALL
MOSCOW, RUSSIA

IVA GEREAU
VIRGIN ISLANDS

NANCY CUNARD
PARIS, FRANCE

A. L. HOLSEY
BUSINESS

HAZEL L. GRIGGS
FASHIONS

CARL DITON
MUSIC

ARDEN H. DUANE
HOME ARTS

HAROLD JOVIEN, RADIO

GEORGE F. MCCRAY
LABOR

PATSY GRAVES
WOMENS' FEATURES

PHONE OAKLAND 6400

August 11, 1942

Dear Langston:

I had wondered where you could be currently reached so that I could mail you the enclosures of some weeks ago. And thanks tremendously for the Roland mayes poem.

I'm naturally wishing you every success with your popular songs. I heard the recent march of Time broadcast on which you and your song were featured. I'd have given it some advance publicity had I known of it before then. As it was, I just picked it up accidentally.

It's a pleasure to know you're enjoying the summer. You and Yaddo. Any relation to Yazoo? Anyway, I'd like to be there and take a few pictures since the place sounds interesting photographically. And by the way, young man, don't you ever take up photography. I spend so damned much time with it that I seldom do much writing. The thing has me and I can't turn it loose.

Haven't heard Bea Booze's Bee Bee Blues but it should be good since I have great respect for her as a blues singer. Review records are so unreliable now excepting only those from Victor. Decca is lagging far behind and Columbia just isn't sending out any gratis discs. Incidentally, after letting several good ones get away, I've decided to start collecting blues about the war. There's been some interesting stuff released on race lists.

By the way, how are you and uncle Sam's army? Shall I expect to hear before long that you are in camp?

Best wishes. And I hope that next time you're in town you'll find time to hear a few platters with me over a bottle.

September 11, 1943

EXECUTIVE STAFF

CLAUDE A. BARNETT
DIRECTOR

FRANK M. DAVIS
EXECUTIVE EDITOR

ALBERT G. BARNETT
NEWS EDITOR

GORDON B. HANCOCK
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

ERNEST JOHNSON
NEW YORK CITY

JIM HEWLETT
BOSTON, MASS.

O. B. TAYLOR
KNOXVILLE, TENN.

J. W. PATE
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.

JAMES PURDY
MEMPHIS, TENN.

CHATWOOD HALL
MOSCOW, RUSSIA

IVA GEREAU
VIRGIN ISLANDS

NANCY CUNARD
PARIS, FRANCE

A. L. HOLSEY
BUSINESS
ALVIN MOSES
SPORTS, NEW YORK CITY

HAZEL L. GRIGGS
FASHIONS

CARL DITON
MUSIC

ARDEN H. DUANE
HOME ARTS

HAROLD JOVIEN,

GEORGE F. MCCRAY
RADIO

PATSY GRAVES
LABOR
WOMENS' FEATURES

PHONE OAKLAND 6400

A. E. WHITE, CHIEF.
WASHINGTON BUREAU
2000 11TH STREET, N. W.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
MICHIGAN 6400

Dear Lang:

The enclosures are things I've been saving for some time
but have been too negligent or lazy to send on.

Thanks for the continued sending of poetry to us. I
deeply appreciate the opportunity to release some of
the new creations of yours.

Here in Chicago a group of us are trying to get together
something of a forum, open to the public for a small
fee, in which several Negro and white poets will read
their own work and members of the audience will be
invited to read anything original they have written.
We think it might click. I'll let you know the date
later so that if you're around here at the time you
might like to be in on it.

Incidentally, can you give me the names and addresses
of a few reputable literary agents in New York? I have
some friends who think they have something in the way
of novels. I'll appreciate what you can do along this
line.

I'll be looking forward to seeing you sometime this
fall. Until then, best personal wishes.

PAN AMERICAN WORLD AIRWAYS SYSTEM
Latin American Division
P. O. Box 3311
Miami 31, Florida

A I R M A I L

February 7, 1946 WOrg

C O P Y

Dear Mr. Barnett:

Thank you for your letter regarding the policy of this
organization toward Negro travelers. We are very happy to
report that Pan American World Airways bears no dis-
crimination as to the color, race or creed of its passengers.

Juan T. Trippe, President of Pan American World Airways,
had the foresight to establish this policy when the Airline
was formed seventeen years ago, and it has been strictly
adhered to all through our development - from a 270-mile
route in 1927 to the globe-girdling line that it is today.

This policy of complete non-discrimination is also ob-
served in our employment of personnel. Because we serve
almost all countries of the world, and employ native staffs
at each of our foreign bases, there are on our rolls em-
ployees representing all races.

Several hundred colored men and women are employed by
this organization in the Miami area alone, and there is
absolutely no discrimination shown them by the Company. They
enjoy the same rights, privileges and benefits that are given
all other employees.

Your query is sincerely appreciated, and we are very
pleased to have had this opportunity to state our views on
this question.

THE ASSOCIATED NEGRO PRESS
Claude A. Barnett, Director
3507 South Parkway
Chicago 15, Illinois

March 4, 1946

Dear Claude:

I have just returned to New York from a cross-country lecture tour entirely by air, which took me from Seattle to Mississippi. I find your letter of February 12 awaiting me.

So far as I know, I have never given an interview to Mr. John Gavin Nolan. Perhaps he heard me say in a lecture somewhere that I have heard that Latin-Americans of color arriving in our country by air at Miami airport have, from that point on, been segregated according to Dixie jim-crow laws and customs, especially in regard to hotel and railroad accommodations in the Southern part of our country. I have on occasions used this in public talks as an example of the deleterious effects of our anti-Negro prejudices upon international goodwill - since such a jim-crow welcome is a very bad one for visitors from the Americas to the south of us. I have never mentioned any airline by name, and my comments were in reference to travellers coming into this country NOT on "travellers by air bound for South America."

I would appreciate it very much if you could send me a copy of Mr. Nolan's statement of my alleged remarks.

By the way, I found on my recently completed cross-country tour that evidences of Dixie prejudice at airports has increased in the South. In previous seasons I have not seen any jim-crow signs in airport waiting rooms, but during Negro History Week, I notice they have a tiny colored waiting room at the Birmingham airport, and at Nashville, they have a single bench marked "colored". I paid no attention to either one and no one said anything to me.

With all good wishes to Etta, I am

22

THE
ASSOCIATED NEGRO PRESS

3507 SOUTH PARKWAY
CHICAGO 15. ILL.

Mr. Langston Hughes,
Atlanta University,
Atlanta, Ga.

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

C O P Y

C O P Y

February 17, 1948

Mr. Simeon B. Osby, Editor
The Capitol City News
117 N. 8th Street,
Springfield, Illinois.

Dear Mr. Osby:

I am happy to write a letter of endorsement of Langston Hughes. I have known Mr. Hughes for 20 years. He is one of the finest examples of leadership for young people whom I know. His folk poetry, his prose, his down to earth discussions of problems of the day have stimulated the thinking of young people of all races all over the country.

From time to time there have been attacks made upon Mr. Hughes. I have seen the scurrilous charges made by the so-called Dies Committee. From our viewpoint that committee stands throughly discredited. It has smeared people whom I know to be upright, patriotic Americans and for that reason though I know nothing of Langston Hughes' political affiliations, I would never discredit him on the testimony of the Committee on Un-Americanism.

I believe that people of Springfield would enjoy Langston Hughes and hope he has an opportunity to appear before them.

Claude A. Barnett.

National News Service

3507 SOUTH PARKWAY
CHICAGO
(15)

## EXECUTIVE STAFF

**CLAUDE A. BARNETT**
DIRECTOR

**FRANK MARSHALL DAVIS**
EXECUTIVE EDITOR

**LUTHER A. TOWNSLEY**
NEWS EDITOR

**WILLIAM PICKENS**
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

**GORDON B. HANCOCK**
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

**ALVIN MOSES**
SPORTS

**DAN BURLEY**

**CARL DUNBAR LAWRENCE**
NEW YORK CITY

**G. JAMES FLEMING**

**MARTHA S. WRIGHT**

**HAROLD MILLER**
PHILADELPHIA, PENNA

**ROBERT C. CRUMP**
DETROIT, MICH.

**JOHN H. MCCRAY**
COLUMBIA, S.C.

**R. C. FISHER**
ST. LOUIS, MO.

**LUCILE BLUFORD**
KANSAS CITY, MO.

**WILLIAM FOWLKES**
ATLANTA, GA.

**O. B. TAYLOR**
KNOXVILLE, TENN.

**HAZEL L. GRIGGS**

**A. L. HOLSEY**
FASHIONS

**F. T. LANE**
BUSINESS
FEATURES

**CARL DITON**
MUSIC

**HAROLD JOVIEN**
RADIO

**HARRY LEVETTE**
LOS. ANGELES, CALIF.

**WILLIAM BARBEE DURHAM**
COLUMBUS, O.

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CAMBRIDGE, MASS

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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.

**CHATWOOD HALL**
MOSCOW, U.S.S.R.

**REGINALD PIERREPOINTE**
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**WASHINGTON BUREAU**

1915 14TH STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
MICHIGAN 6400

May 30, 1947

Dear Lang:

Yes, I agree that it is inexcusable to wait so long before answering your note of March 15. But I think you can understand how terrific the pressure is with Claude being in Africa and my having to do a lot of what would ordinarily be his work plus my own, my chores at the Chicago Star and with the other organizations that have claims on my time.

You probably have the enclosure but you will probably not object to another copy. I have your new book, for which I am deeply grateful, and have just gotten around to sending out a review.

Indecidentally, I learn that I may expect publication of my own in either late October or September. And I rather imagine that if the Thomas-Rankin committee has not called me before then, I can expect speedy action if ever they get wind of something it will contain. I'm happy to learn that your poetry class found me reasonably palatable.

Still hoping that on one of your trips here, you'll find time to come out and hear some of my records. My wife, who extends her sincerest regards, would love to have you since she also collects. Together we have a pretty fair library of hot jazz and blues.

Best wishes, Lang. See you soon, I hope. Oh yes, I've been able to mention in my record column your numbers from "Street Scene" which is, I hope, bringing you in cash.

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WESTERN
UNION

JOSEPH L. EGAN
PRESIDENT

1207

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Send the following telegram, subject to the terms on back hereof, which are hereby agreed to
(PLEASE PRINT NAME AND ADDRESS)

July 26, 1948

To Mr. Frank Marshall Davis

Care of or Apt. No. Associated Negro Press,

Street and No. 3507 South Parkway,

Place Chicago 15, Illinois

YOUR BOOK ARRIVED ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND LOOKS
LIKE A WONDERFUL COLLECTION. BUT A RUSH CALL
FROM NBC TO HELP SALVAGE NEGRO MUSICAL SHOW,
FORMERLY MINSTRELS, HAS PREVENTED MY WRITING
A REVIEW OF IT. HOWEVER WILL SEND IT TO YOU SOON.

LANGSTON
Dangston Hughes, Apt 1-D, 634 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York 30, N.Y.

WA 6-6909

Sender's name and address
(For reference only)

Sender's telephone
number

PLEASE NOTE NEW ADDRESS:

20 East 127th Street,
New York 35, New York,
August 9, 1948.

MR. Frank Marshall Davis,
Associated Negro Press,
3507 South Parkway,
Chicago, Illinois.

Dear Frank,

I am so sorry to be so long in sending you the review of
**47th Street**---which as you see I liked very much! (It's faults are
the same as mine at times---just wanting to make damn sure---for the
sake of the social message---that folks understand what is being said.)

The reason the review is so slow coming to you is the reason
I made a rule long ago to stop reviewing books. They always seem to
arrive just when I am rushing to make a dead-line with some book or
other of my own! In thiscase it was THE POETRY OF THE NEGRO due in at
Doubleday's this past week---with millions of little details---bio-
graphies, permissions sources, addresses, etc. to take care of at the
last moment. Besides that for the past month I've had the NBC radio
musical, SWING TIME AT THE SAVOY, on my hands (Wednesdays at 8PM New
York Daylight time) trying to do a script that will please both the
NAACP and Lucky Millinder, not to speak of NBC. You wouldn't think
a half hour script of nothing but "pure entertainment" to introduce
songs and band numbers could take half of each day and most of each
night to write each and every day---but it does! Anyhow, in the midst
of it all I read 47th Street with excitement and pleasure. You
are one poet who has "grown", and each of your books seem to me a step
forward in poetic effectiveness.

I am sending one copy of thereview to the Decker Press also.
And the book to you to be autographed for me, if you will be so kind,
so that I might add it to my collection of autographed books.

You may, of course, change the head on the review to suit
newspaper purposes, if you like, or to make clearer that it is a review
of *47th Street*.

This looks like another busy fall for me---with another
musical show to do, it appears now---and probably another anthology
to co-edit. If I would just make some $ out of anyone of these
things, I would RETIRE and REST. But:

Money and Art

Are far apart!

Sincerely,

Langston Hughes

December 23, 1949

Mr. Claude A. Barnett
The Associated Negro Press, Inc.
3507 South Parkway
Chicago 15, Illinois

Dear Claude:

Your letter of December 5th has just reached me, since I no
longer live at the address to which it was sent. That apartment
is now occupied by a teacher at Bordentown, and evidently the
letter remained in her mailbox, the past three weeks until she
came home for her Christmas vacation.

Certainly had I gotten it in time I would have sent to you a
poem for your New Year's cards, but I am sure it is too late now.
If you will let me know well ahead next year, I can promise you
something.

I was so sorry to hear about Etta's accident and I hope that she
is quite all right now.

My very best wishes to you both for a happy holiday.

LH/nvw

- 2 - BOMBSHELL OPERA TO EXPLODE IN WASHINGTON

this;" Mr. Hughes stated, "I would add the word, *understanding*."

"Through my poetry, plays, and stories," Langston Hughes continued, "I have for many years now been trying to bring to all Americans a better understanding of the bitter barriers Negro Americans face. In the production of my new opera, with a score by Jan Meyerowitz, I am delighted to have the aid of such a distinguished artist as Lawrence Tibbett of the Metropolitan, and the beautiful and talented singing actress, Muriel Rahn."

The opening of *The Barrier* in Washington will give Langston Hughes, so he explained, a chance to revisit one of his "home towns". He lived in the Capitol for a number of years, working as assistant to/Dr. Carter G. Woodson at the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. His grand-uncle, John M. Langston, was a Congressman from Virginia and later Dean of the Howard Law School. The Langston family is well-known in the Capitol.

February 28, 1951

Mrs. Claude Barnett
3543 Vernon Avenue
Chicago, Illinois

Dear Etta:

I am just back from my long Southern lecture tour that took me from Dillard in New Orleans all the way Northward to Morgan at Baltimore--covering a dozen campuses. While I was away my secretary and Miss Greene at the Afro-Arts carried on with the arrangements for our Book Party on March 11th. An invitation has already been mailed to you.

I am enclosing sample press copy for your OOK. If you do not wish your name in it you may, of course, delete it and Claude's office may rewrite the copy any way they choose. Would you kindly pass it on to A.N.P. for immediate release?

I do hope you can be present at the party. Margaret Bonds has promised to come. We have sent out five hundred invitations and expect to have a very interesting crowd.

My very best wishes to you and Claude as ever,

LH/nvw

March 28, 1953

Mr. Claude Barnett,
Associated Negro Press,
3507 South Parkway,
Chicago 15, Ill.

Dear Claude,

Just in case your reporter present at my appearance last Thursday before
the McCarthy Permanent Committee on Senate Investigations did not send you
any of the actual testimony verbatim, here is the entire latter portion of
the proceedings as taken from the radio transcription of the hearings.

Not given in this is when, in the earlier portion of my questioning, I was
asked about a chapter in my book, SIMPLE SPEAKS HIS MIND called "When A Man
Sees Red" as to when and why it was written. I replied that in my opinion
the chapter indicated clearly that Americans had freedom of press, speech, and
publication, and the right of which we are all proud to freely criticise any
branch of our government or any elected persons. And that this chapter was
written just after, and grew out of, an incident taht occured in the Un-
American Committee when a member of the Committee called a Negro witness a
name which I could not repeat on the air (the hearing being televised) but
which come under the heading of "playing the dozens" to Harlemites, namely
talking badly about someone's mother. This incident greatly shocked Negro
citizens and others of good will. And many translated it into terms of un-
fairness toward members of our race. So, in his imagined satire on the Un-
American Committee the fictional character, Simple, was simply voicing his
criticism which reflected a general community feeling. After this answer,
the McCarthy Committee did not pursue the subject further.

In general the entire hearing in relation to me mostly concerned my very early
poems of the Scottsboro and depression period when some of my work which never
appeared in any of my books, but did appear in magazines and pamphlets, used
leftish phraseology and in some cases reflected left ideas, particularly when
such ideas coincided with the Negro desire for freedom from segregation, lynch-
ing, poverty, and Jim Crowisms—which I frankly admitted and explained to
the Committee. I also stated clearly and unequivocally under oath in both the
closed and open televised hearing that I am not now and have never been a
member of the Communist Party, which I welcomed as an opportunity to get this
on record. The hearing ended, as you can see from the enclosed transcript,
with my being commended for my frankness and, although it was thought my early
works should not be in the State Department's overseas libraries, such works
might be replaced with my later and more recent works and books. In other words
I was exonerated of any Communist influences today.

Since some of my work has (to my pleasure and delight—and I hope to that of readers,
well) been syndicated through ANP, although this was never in any way brought up in
Washington, I wanted you to have this resume of the hearing. With all good wishes,

Sincerely,

PRESS

A.N.P.

October 24, 1956

Dear Gladys:

Literary item that might be of interest to
you:

Four of the colored authors of current
autobiographies will be honored at an
Autographing Party on Thursday evening,
November 8th, at the National Memorial
Bookstore on Seventh Avenue in Harlem.
They are Eartha Kitt, just before flying
to Africa with her book, "Thursday's Child,"
Pauli Murray who wrote "Proud Shoes," Henry
Armstrong, boxer-author of "Gloves, Glory
and God," and Langston Hughes whose travel-
story, "I Will As I wander" will be published
on that date. The authors will meet the
public and autograph books. The women of
the James Weldon Johnson Literary Guild,
whose president is Ellen Tarry, will act as
hostesses.

You, of course, are invited to this party.
I hope you can come.

I'll send you that WEST INDIES book myself
as soon as I get some copies.

Best wishes, as ever,

Sincerely,

TIMES SQUARE
STATION

TIMES SQUARE
STATION

3531 SOUTH PARKWAY
CHICAGO
(15)

December 23, 1957

Mr. Langston Hughes
"Simply Heavenly)
c/o Renata Theatre
New York, N.Y.

Dear Langston:

For the past two or three years, I have noticed our New Year's
cards return from the only address we have had on 120th Street.
That and one or two other things made me feel you somehow had
forgotten our existence, but we harbored only good will.

I had not known you were from Joplin, nor that one of your
forebears was in the John Brown raid. Richard Pliant wants
you to headline some feature at the Carver Memorial, a govern-
ment adventure there, near Joplin. I have suggested that he
use this Renata or the Sullivan St. Playhouse address.

We have carried a number of items on "Simply Heavenly" and,
in fact, whenever anything concerning you appears. Each time
recently when I have been in New York, I have been in a rush,
as I was two or three weeks ago, but next time, I'll look in
on the play.

P. S. Richard Pliant, Curator of the George Washington Carver Memorial in Missouri is desirous of contacting you. He asked me for your address a year ago and reports he has written but always gets the letter back. I suggest you drop him a line. His name and address:

Richard Pliant,
Granby,
Mo.

EXECUTIVE STAFF

CLAUDE A. BARNETT
I. ROLAND
ALBERT G. BARNETT
GORDON B. HANCOCK
ALICE DUNNIGAN
CARL DITON
ALVIN E. WHITE
GLADYS P. GRAHAM
SAMUEL P. PERRY JR.
ALBERT ANDERSON
REV. FRANK C. LOWRY
L. MASCO YOUNG
CHARLES J. LIVINGSTON
RICHARD A. JACKSON
MALCOLM POINDEXTER
G. JAMES FLEMING
O. C. W. TAYLOR
WM. A. BROWER
R. C. FISHER
O. B. TAYLOR
HARRY LEVETTE
BARBEE WILLIAM DURHAM
REV. HAMILTON T. BOSWELL
AMBROZINE E. VILLIERS
ELLIS E. PROSPER
ALTON ADAMS
RUDOLPH DUNBAR
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
WILBERT E. HEMMING
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
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CHICAGO PHONE
WASHINGTON BUREAU
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WASHINGTON, D.C.
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CABLE ADDRESS,
NEGROPRESS, CHICAGO

March 21, 1958

Dear Claude:

Please forgive me for not answering your very welcome letter sooner
but it arrived while I was in the hospital with the flue and when I
returned home almost every waking hour was taken up with work for
the London production of my show, "Simply Heavenly". The composer
finally got off to London last week with the material so at last I
have a breathing spell to spend on correspondence.

I am sorry to learn that your New Year's card was returned, possibly
because my address is not 120th Street but as on the letterhead,
127th Street. I think of you and Etta often and have been pleased
on occasion to read of you both in the newspapers.

I shall contact Richard Pliant regarding the Carver Memorial program
as you suggest. I suppose his letters did not reach me for the same
reason that yours were miss directed so I thank you for letting me know
about him.

Your New York representative, Gladys Graham, is always most kind about
sending me clippings from A & P, and she is very active in covering
almost everything that happens. I sometimes wonder how she gets
around so much as I see her everywhere I go and sometimes I am running
until my tongue is hanging out.

"Simply Heavenly" is being produced by Jack Hylton and Laurence Harvey
in England and has just gone into rehearsal there this week. It opens
in London on May 7th. I think it will do well in the provinces. I cannot go now
as I am committed for a number of jazz poetry programs on the Coast
and elsewhere until mid-July. Then, if it is still running, I will
fly over to see it.

With cordial regards to both you and Etta, I am

NATIONAL NEWS SERVICES - ALFRED DUCKETT, DIRECTOR

SHERATON-ATLANTIC HOTEL, SUITE 2273

34TH ST. & BROADWAY

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

LQ 3-7154

Phoned Al Duckett, February 4, 1965, that my column should NOT be used in any New York papers other than POST.

July 30, 1965

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 E. 127th Street
New York, New York

Dear Mr. Hughes,

Due to possible advance scheduling in making up our feature
releases or possible delays in mailing, we would like to have on
file two or three "emergency" columns of "The Langston Hughes
Column." These should be written so that they can be used at
any time. Please mark them "emergency" to distinguish them from
your regular weekly submission.

We would appreciate whatever you could do to send these to us
as soon as possible.

Donald Bratman, Copy Editor
Associated Negro Press International

DB:rk

December 1, 1965

Mr. Alfred A. Duckett
Associated Negro Press International
Sheraton-Atlantic Hotel
34th Street & Broadway
New York, N. Y. 10001

Dear Al:

I am sure it must seem almost as absurd to
you as it does to me that the Associated Negro Press
International has been allowed to continue to syndi-
cate my weekly column to numerous newspapers without
paying me one penny whatsoever for several months.
According to my records, the last payment you sent
me was in January, 1965. By now, I figure ANPI owes
me at least a thousand dollars. Therefore, I request
that after the end of this month, December, 1965 (the
end of the current year) you no longer submit my column
to any newspapers.

As of this month, I shall discontinue sending
you copy beyond the four articles needed to complete
1965 publication in compliance with this 30 day severance
notice. Therefore, I would very much appreciate your
informing the newspapers serviced by your syndicate
that after the end of December, they will no longer be
receiving my column, and that they should not, without
my personal permission in writing, reprint any of my
work as such further publication would render them
liable to infringement of copyright. I have alerted
my attorneys and literary agents to this effect as of
the above date.

I send you my most cordial personal regards,