59 E. 54 - N. Y.

Dec. 26-44

Charles Nagel Jr.
City Art Museum of St. Louis
Forest Park in
St. Louis, Mo.

Dear Mr. Nagel:

This morning I received your letter of Dec. 21st
and I must say that it amazes me.

It is not my intention to criticize your museum
in any way. I know very little about it. I have not
seen it. I know that you have no painting of mine.
I do not even wish to criticize you for that. However
--- to me it indicates a lack of interest ---
and you must believe me when I say to you that I don't
even mind that.

I do not in any way think of myself as neglected
in this world.

If I sent paintings out for exhibitions whenever
I am asked I see no point in sending anything but my
best ---

There would be many paintings traveling -----
it is a risk that I do not choose to take and I prefer
to keep my best things here. I have had more than my
share of showing paintings with my own exhibition here
in N. Y. every year for the past twenty years.

I do not like large group shows as we have them here in New York -

I doubt yours being any better. I believe in these days that those large group shows give very little spiritual sustenance --- They give none to me and as a spectator I am probably as interested as the average.

I do not say these things to be unpleasant to you. I am sure that for me --- as a painter --- they are much more unpleasant facts to have to face than they can possibly be for you.

I am sorry that you had a difficult time with Mr. Stieglitz. I think there is nothing I can do about that.

His kind of interest in my working has made working easier than it could possibly have been otherwise. His interest in the Artist has done much for all Artists.

I can not go into this any further.

I can only ask you to accept my feeling of good will and my course as I choose to take it.

Yours very truly-

Georgia O'Keeffe

CITY ART MUSEUM OF ST. LOUIS

Forest Park 5

President: DANIEL K. CATLIN • Vice-President: THOMAS C. HENNINGS • Director: PERRY T. RATHBONE • Secretary: JAMES B. MUSICK

Acting Director: CHARLES NAGEL, JR.

January 4, 1945.

Miss Georgia O'Keefe
59 East 54th Street
New York City, N. Y.

Dear Miss O'Keefe:

May I first say how much I appreciate your answering what must have seemed to you as you say an amazing letter. To understand it you would have to know more about a museum such as ours and its problems, and just how to interest you in them in the face of what you write me about your dislike of group shows, I am not sure.

During my seven years connection with our museum I have never imagined for a moment that it was the most distinguished or important museum in the country, but I have felt, and I believe legitimately, that in its set-up and in its operation it represents the best example of a really and truly democratic museum that I know in that it receives its support from every one in the city, it's doings are entirely open and above board and a matter of public knowledgs, but its affairs are handled by a small and extremely hard working group of citizens to whom the responsibility for the operating of the museum has been entrusted by law. In other words I believe that the set-up is ideal for our museum's being really a people's museum, and I believe that that is something in which in the last analysis every artist has a stake.

Possibly one is a little over jealous of the democratic way of life these days. Possibly I am over zealous in my feeling that an Art Museum has to justify its existence more than usual in time of war. I know of course that it is not only necessary but desirable to have one great city such as New York the artistic capital of the country. But it does create a condition that tends to limit a wide art appreciation to the few who can afford to go to the metropolis and who are already interested in matters of art. Our annual group shows we know are not perfect, but they are an honest, and a reasonably effective means of giving people here an idea year after year of what the different trends in art may be, and does give the Director of the museum, who is not endowed with autocratic powers of selection for purchase, a chance to bring to the attention of the Board for their approval, a number of canvasses of real distinction from which to make annual purchases.