CARL VAN VECHTEN

IOI CENTRAL PARK WEST
NEW YORK CITY

TELEPHONE: ENDICOTT 2-8748

Dear Langston, What letters you write! Maybe I do too. Sometimes I wonder if OUR letters wont be the pride of the Collection... I havent got around to sending yours to me yet, but will this winter! My remarks on the riot were based on the sworn statements of certain harlemites that they had been organized for weeks (everybody had his orders). Yours are based on the belief that it was a casual turnout. I have an idea that both of these theories were true. A FEW had planned something, probably, and the mob trailed after. You are right that Harlem is much more indignant (and much more aware of) these riots than downtown and I dont know any one more indignant than Pearl Showers and Mildred Thornton. So it isn't all Sugar Hill indignation. Roi Ottley came to be photographed Saturday and definitely we are getting the manuscript. When he saw your new beautiful boxes, he almost swooned and exclaimed, "The Schomburg Collection doesn't keep things like this." Of course, nobody else does and even Yale wouldnt, if I didn't do it myself. The material turned into this Collection is in a condition thanks to my energy and foresight which not many other Collections can boast. It is hard work and endless, but I think it is worth it. I have a DEFINITE FEELING that in LESS than five years Yale will have a chair of Negro life and culture and whoever sits in that chair will have the best source material in the country to guide him... Anyway Ottley promises all letters, manuscripts, what not, in the future... Of course I have the IWO Educational Alliance edition of The Sun Do Move, but I had noted something on the other mss. about waiting for the "final draft" and got confused. I'll have a box made for TSDM soon. Florence B Price of Chicago sends me her Symphony in C Minor (manuscript of the full score)... This is Harold's work.

ALL RIGHT: Edward IV is Edward James

Edward VI is Edward Nelson Barclift who dances in TiTa (I've already explained TiTa to you, so don't ask about that.)

The address you send for Theodore Ward is indeed not the one we gave Yale, so I will try this with pleasure. Jackie Mabley, while good, is not important enough to sing YOUR songs, but I'll be glad to get Shapiro's mss if you can get it for me, and I hope the Duke sets the others. I expect to be deluged with manuscripts and letters when you return. The boxes will still be here, as certain things have to be signed. Besides, I have to catalogue the contents of these boxes before they go and am up to my ears in other matters for the moment. TOM says they are investing in 500 Lillian Smith pamphlets to give to Junior Hostesses at the Canteen. I didn't see Duke Ellington in the Post but have sent for this. I note you have ordered a copy of the New World for the Collection and I have sent for the Musical Courier. Even if you don't reply to other letters, answer MINE. Our correspondence will be historical. Tell Mrs McCullers that "God Cant Be Found in New York" would make an excellent title. Bricktop had a birthday last Saturday. Was she up your way?

Dorothy P is moving again. So is Dr Sidney. Have you read a book called Race, but Ruth Benedict? When are you coming back?

fondly,

August 16, 1943