October 1, 1954

Mrs. Adelaide Casey-Hayford
2 Charlotte Street
Sierra Leone, West Africa

Dear Mrs. Casey-Hayford:

It was certainly kind of you to respond so generously to my letter, and I have been most delighted to receive three letters from you, as well as the list of writers which you sent me, and your own stories, one of your daughter's, and her poems. I am indeed grateful to you. And, certainly, it is very nice to renew after so many years our acquaintance by mail.

I gather that you have never seen a copy of my Anthology, THE POETRY OF THE NEGRO, because it does contain two poems by your daughter: NATIVITY - THE SERVING GIRL and THE SOULS OF BLACK AND WHITE, used by permission of the Atlantic Monthly, since a letter to your daughter requesting permission to use these poems must have been misaddressed and was returned to the publisher during the year 1948. I am asking the publishers now to send you a copy of THE POETRY OF THE NEGRO, and you will see what a beautiful closing for the volume your daughter's poems are.

The response from Africa to my appeal for short stories has been most generous, more than fifty manuscripts having arrived, and I am waiting to read them through all at once. When this is done, I will be writing you again concerning the ones that you have sent me.

About your Memoirs - which I am delighted to hear have been appearing as a serial. I would of course be happy to see them, and if you do not have an American publisher, I will show them to my publisher.

I have written today to the persons whose names you have sent me, and I will be pleased to receive any creative fiction in short story form which they might have.

I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your own interest in my project and I send you all my good wishes.

Sincerely yours,

October 12, 1954

Mrs. Adelaide Casely-Hayford
2 Charlotte Street
Sierra Leone, West Africa

Dear Mrs. Casely-Hayford:

This will acknowledge receipt of your manuscript with
its suggested title:

AN AFRICAN OCTOGENARIAN REMINISCES

It has come during Mr. Hughes' absence from New York
but it will be brought to his attention upon his re-
turn a few weeks hence. I know he will be pleased to
see it and you can rest assured he will give it his
most careful attention and then write you later con-
cerning it.

Since I know he would want me to pass along his kind
regards, I hope you will accept them indirectly through
me, as well as his best wishes for your continued good
health and success.

HHS/s

February 6, 1956

My dear Mrs. Casely-Mayford:

Langston Hughes has gone to California for a few weeks but he asked me to tell you that he is indeed sorry to report that the manuscript of your autobiography has not been accepted by any of the publishers whom he approached. As Mr. Hughes' secretary I had the privilege of reading it and thought it most interesting and have great admiration for you and for the work of your very talented daughter.

The Anthology of African Short Stories which Mr. Hughes has edited is still under consideration at a publishers but he has not as yet been definitely informed of its acceptance. He is however, expecting a favorable response on it in due time.

With all my good wishes for your continued good health, I remain,

Respectfully yours,

Adele Glasgow
Secretary to Langston Hughes

February 6, 1956

My dear Mrs. Casely-Hayford:

I hope this letter finds you in the best of health. I regret very much having to report that the manuscript of your autobiography will have to be returned to you as I have been unable to place it with any of the publishers here in New York. I have sent it to several and they all feel that it is not suitable for their purposes. This, I sincerely regret. I, myself, found it most interesting.

If I am successful in having the African Anthology published, you most certainly will be represented. As soon as I get the final word, I shall let you know. Also, I shall post your manuscript to you by boat mail.

With warmest personal regards and best wishes to you, I remain,

May 27, 1958

Mrs. Adelaide Caseley-Hayford
Two Charlotte Street
Sierra Leone

My dear Mrs. Caseley-Hayford;

It has been a long time since I wrote you last and so very much has happened, including the birth of a new nation in Africa. You must be very proud indeed of your son's participation in the Ghana government and I send you my congratulations.

I am so sorry I was unable to get any portion of your most interesting autobiography published in this country although it was shown to a number of publishers and magazine editors. Although many felt there was definite charm and interest in your story, it was not felt, unfortunately, that it was entirely saleable to an American reading public. I assure you that this kind of pronouncement has nothing to do with merit in our highly commercial world. Only a few years ago, my first "Simple" book was rejected by a half-dozen publishers before it found acceptance so publishers are not necessarily correct even in their estimate of what the public will like.

The Anthology of African Writers which I have been compiling now for almost four years is still in a tentative phase. The publishers who are interested now want it to be enlarged to include all sorts of writing so I am trying to get a few very good topical essays on conditions in various countries of Africa today. And so it goes but I am confident that the Anthology will materialize and be a valuable contribution to African writing.

I send you all my very best wishes and hope that this will find you in good health and with the same wonderful spirit which seems to emanate always from your letters.

P.S. By registered mail (boat) your manuscript is being returned to you. Thanks so much for letting me see it. "AN AFRICAN OCTOGENARIAN REMINISCES: The Life and Times of Adelaide Casely-Hayford" by Adelaide Casely-Hayford.