PLEASE HANDLE THIS MATERIAL CAREFULLY

1. Keep papers in present order.

2. Arrange papers neatly before returning them to the desk.

3. Do not remove pages for photocopies or any other purpose without consulting with the Library Specialist at the desk.

February 15, 1932.

Mr. J. Rosamond Johnson
154 West 131 Street
New York, New York

Dear Rosamond:

I have written you a couple of letters and haven't received an answer. I hope that the reason why you haven't answered is that you have been too busy making money.

In my last letter to you, I wrote about the broadcasting every Sunday night of the Friday choir. I hope you have been listening in. Their programs are excellent and beautifully executed. This afternoon they are broadcasting on a world hook-up. On next Sunday, February 21st, they are using two of your arrangements of spirituals on their program. I am sending you a copy of the program. If you have been listening in, I am sure you noted the fine work being done by Mr. Matthews. It seems that his voice has developed into a much finer instrument than it was when we heard him at Town Hall. His singing seems to be well nigh perfect.

I hope that you are quite well and that things are going well with you. Grace and I are in good health and the best of spirits and we both send our love to you and to Nora and to Mildred.

JWJ:HB

April 30, 1937

Mr. J. Rosamond Johnson
154 West 131st Street
New York City

My dear Rosamond:

I don't know just where this letter will catch you. I understood from Mildred in a letter a few weeks ago that you were soon expected home so I am taking a chance that it will catch you in New York. I am sending you enclosed a copy of the letter which I have just written to Ed Marks. I think you can understand from my reply what the contents of his letter were.

In a word, the Viking Press has turned over to Marks the chief business of attending to transcription rights of numbers from the books of Spirituals. That is not a bad move since the Viking is not a member of the ASCAP and Marks is. So it stands to reason that Marks can do a better job. So far so good. But Marks wrote to me about the terms of our contract with the Viking saying that under them you and I would receive fifty per cent of the proceeds and the Viking fifty per cent. So Marks comes up with the idea that we can get together and re-adjust the terms so that the Viking will receive one third, Marks one third and you and I one third. You can see from that letter that I remind Marks that you and I are not one person but two persons and that the division as it now stands seems to be the natural and fair one. There are now four persons or parties concerned, which would roughly mean twenty-five per cent to each one. I feel sure you will agree with me on this point.

How are you? I have thought about you a great many times and wondered why I hadn't heard from you. I have been very ill again. Confined to my bed and to the house for more than three weeks. I am only just now recovering and getting back to my old self. I hope that everything is going well. With warm regards in which Grace joins me, I am

Yours brother,

JNJ:ew

May 18, 1937

Mr. J. Rosamond Johnson
154 West 151st Street
New York City

Dear Rosamond,

First of all I am glad to know that you are back in the country. I
hope you had a worth while stay in England. I shall be glad to talk
with you about it when I come North.

Your book "Rolling Along in Song", came yesterday. Many thanks for it.
I had already seen copies in the various book stores here. The book
strikes me as a fine job. I especially like your introduction. I
haven't yet been able to hear any of the arrangements played over. You
missed one good shot and that was as to the authorship of "Listen to the
Mocking Bird". The real composer of "Listen to the Mocking Bird" was
a Negro named Richard Milburn. The title page of the song as originally
published byinner and Shuster under copy-right of 1955 reads: 'Senti-
mental Ethiopian Ballad, Listen to the Mocking Bird. Melody by
Richard Milburn, written and arranged by Alice Hawthorne.' "Alice
Hawthorne" was a pseudonym used byinner. When the song was published
a year later the title page read; 'Written and arranged by Alice
Hawthorne.' Richard Milburn's name never appeared on the title page
after the first edition. You will find these facts on page 112 in
"Black Manhattan". Be sure to send a copy of your book to Gene Buck.
It would also be very nice to inscribe a copy for Carl Van Vechten.

I judge you found a letter from me waiting for you when you got back.
In it I had the copy of the reply that I sent to Ed Marks. He wrote
me showing how much to our advantage it would be to divide the proceeds
from any performance rights on the Spirituals as follows: 66 2/3 %
to the agents, Viking and Marks; and 33 1/3 % to the two authors, you
and myself. You can see what I said to him about it.

Grace and I, Grace in particular, are doing all we can to get a scholar-
ship for Mildred. Of course in these matters one can never be sure
until it comes through but we have hopes that it will. I hope you
are in the best of health and I hope that your book is going to have
a real sale and make some money. In about three weeks time, I shall
be on my way back to New York and of course will see you. With best
regards to you, Nora, and Mildred,

Your brother

JWJ:ew

May 29, 1937

Dear Rosamond,

I noticed in your letter of May nineteenth that you thought
the Marks' proposal was a good proposition. Of course
if we have to do it in order to get a little more money
we simply have to do it, but I think it's a pretty
slick piece of business. Actually if the Viking Press
can't do anything about getting the songs transcribed
they ought to turn the most of the commission over to
Marks for doing the job; because Viking undertook to
do it for us at $500 per cent out and I do not see
why we have to pay Marks to do what the Viking cannot do.
When I get to New York we can talk the matter over.

I saw the review in the New York Times. Kennedy of
course has his little biases because he himself has
written two books on Negro Music. I guess you remember
his MELLOWS and another book.

When I get to New York I'll see Alfred Moe and see what
can be done about a scholarship. We are still doing all
we can in Mildred's case and I hope something is going
to come out of it, but these scholarships take a lot of
time as well as constant driving.

I am glad you are well and I hope something good will
turn up in a week or two. With best regards to you and
the family, I am

Your brother,

JWJ:ew

February 8, 1938

Mr. Rosamond Johnson
154 West 131st Street
New York City

My dear Rosamond,

How are things going? Drop me a line as soon as you can
find a moment to do so, and let me know.

Before I left New York Handy asked me if I would write the
foreword for your big composition that he is bringing out.
I told him I would be glad to do it but I thought it would
be better to have some other outstanding name attached to
it. If I did it it would look like one brother boosting
the other. I received a letter from Handy this morning
saying that Sigmund Spaeth had agreed to do the foreword.
I think that is fine.

I am sending you some correspondence from Mrs. Alice Ware.
She is the wife of the former President of Atlanta Univer-
sity. It will explain itself. I told her that you might
join the committee; that I felt that I could not, because
I am not in New York and I can't tell what the committee
might do or might want to do.

I hope that you are well and that the play is getting off
to a good start. Grace joins me in love to you.

Your brother,

JWJ:ew