Rochester New York
785 Seward Street
Mrs. Carl C. Chamberlain

[N.A.A.C.P.]

43

Mr. Langston Hughes:

Dear Mr. Hughes:

I have been asked to write to you to inquire about the poss-
ibility of our local branch of the N.A.A.C.P. sponsoring a
lecture, poetry readings, or discussion of your works at a benefit
performance. We would like to know the following:

1. Would you consider appearing here?

2. Would you please tell us the fee, and expenses etc.?

3. Could you, if interested appear in May or in the early fall of this year?

4. If your commitments are handled through an agent would you please advise us as to how and where we might contact him?

Although I have designated this as a benefit, please understand
that we do not expect any reduction of fee. We hope to do two
things -
one, raise enough money at one event to eliminate small fund
raising endeavors, and to bring to Rochester a truly cultural event
featuring A Negro who is NOT a singer - .

I am hoping to hear from you as soon as your busy schedule permits

June 25, 1963

Dear Bill:

It was good to see you in Washington and have you share with me the honor your (now our) alma mater conferred on me. The beautiful color pictures and slides you so generously sent me will help to fix the ocassion in my mind and also become a permanent record for posterity. Thanks, man, it was most kind of you.

I am at this moment trying to attend last minute things before my departure for Europe where I will spend the summer-- Southern France and Italy. Since I am travelling this time as James L. Hughes, I hope I will get some rest for this has been a long hard year of work, work work. However, there are a few things that I hope to write other there. I won't be returning until after Labor Day, so maybe I will find time to write a bit as I hope to do. I suppose it's really difficult for one to completely free himself from the work he likes.

With cordial regards, and wishing you a pleasant summer,

P.S. Thanks for the playbill, too, I'll add it to my Theatre Collection.