FILM DOCUMENTS INC.

208 East 72nd Street—New York 21, N. Y.

GRAND CENTRAL
STAR 3 CENTS 3

Mr. Langston Hughes
The University of Chicago
Chicago 37, Ill.

FILM DOCUMENTS INC.

208 East 72nd Street—New York 21, N. Y.—RHinelander 4-7570

May 4th, 1949

Langston Hughes
University of Chicago
Chicago 37, Ill.

Dear Mr. Hughes:

Our secretary got sick, and I just now realize that she
never sent off my letter to you. Please forgive my delay.

Many thanks for the copy of your article in which you
discuss "The Quiet One". We were all delighted by it.
It came at a very good time for our morale, because we
have recently been getting a lot of criticism to the effect
that the picture fails because it "evades the race issue".
We are fully aware that there are many weaknesses in the
picture on other grounds, where we didn't realize our
intentions. However the business of "race issue" or rather
the lack of it in the picture was deliberate and for the
most part has been understood.

We are also especially grateful to you because, having
no clipping service, we might easily have missed your
article - which, as you know, meant a great deal to us.

June 12, 1963

Dear Mr. Schmidt:

I am happy to grant you and/or
FILMEAST the right to use my poem,
DREAM KEEPER, in your proposed non-
commercial film in part or in whole
and as a title for the film. If com-
mercial use of the poem is planned,
then negotiations should be conducted
with my agents:

Harold Ober Associates,
40 East 49th Street,
New York 17, New York.

Langston Hughes

FILMEAST Suite 1901 - 515 Madison Avenue - New York 22 - MU 8-0155

June 10, 1963

Mr. Langston Hughes
c/o Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
501 Madison Avenue
New York, New York

Dear Mr. Hughes,

Tom Cohen and I are independent motion picture producers
currently involved in several documentary and theatrical
films. For many years we have been concerned with the
problem of the Negro in America --- not just the external
and widely publicized manifestations of race hatred, but
the attitude of whites in all parts of the country to-
ward the Negro.

Recent events in the South have made it clear to us that
we, personally, can no longer avoid taking an active part
in the struggle for equal rights and the elimination of
racial prejudice. We hope to contribute to the civil
rights movement by using the experience, skills and con-
tacts we have gained in our work.

In the near future we are planning to produce the film
described in the enclosed presentation. We, and the civil
rights groups with whom we have discussed this project,
believe that in content, production techniques and method
of distribution, we have developed a unique and effective
approach which will fill a pressing need in the overall
movement.

One of your poems, "Dreamkeeper," inspired the project,
provided us with the picture title, and will, we hope,
be used to intorudce the film. We would be very grateful
if you would grant us permission to us all or part of
the poem in the film. If it is used, you will receive
appropriate screen credit. As you can see from the en-
closed material, this is not a commercial venture.

Thank you in advance for your interest and help.

2363 Siver Ridge Ave.

L.A. Feb. 8th

Dear Langston,

How grand that you are back.
Will you forgive me if I tell you that I was
really worried about you? And yet how I do
envy your experiences. I've just read your
story in the Nation. How wonderful! It should
be reprinted in more popular and less liberal
publications. Surely if more people could
get your picture of Madrid and the Spaniards,
they would understand the situation more
clearly. Yes, I'd like to set fire to the
adolescent world and make them see a little
reality. But why am I annoying you with all
this? I am certainly glad that you were able
to have been there as you are so very able to
let others share your experiences.

What are you doing now? Are there
any chances of your coming here soon? I know
that you must be very busy, but it would
be grand to hear from you.

Langston, I want to ask a favor of you
if it is at all possible. I met some very
charming Mexicans last summer, who are
working in theatre in Mexico City. They
are very anxious to get a copy of your
"Mulatto". I have tried to get one in
several of our book shops, but they say
that it was never published. Is that so?
Can you get a copy for them? I would most
certainly appreciate it.

I am hoping that you are busy on a
play on Spain. There is a great need for it.
I do hope you're not to busy to write ever
so occasionally.

Rose sends a very warm hello. And
may I return your - SALUD!

Bess

February 21, 1957

TO MR. FINEMAN:

The workman*has completed his
plastering and all at 20 East 127th
Street, and it is now much better. So
I think we could consider his job com-
pleted.

*Mr. Simpson

Mr. & Mrs. B. Fineman
120 Haven Avenue
New York 35, New York

GRAND CENTRAL
STATION

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 127th Street
New York 35, New York

January 18, 1963

Dear Mr. Fines,

I am delighted with the copy of THIN LINE which you gave me (so kindly inscribed) and particularly happy to find some poems therein by a Gypsy—including the one on James Weldon Johnson, a copy of which I have just sent Mrs. Johnson. I am going to do a children's book on Gypsies, and hope I can include something of A. S. Kenyon. If you have her address, I would be grateful to you if you will send it to me.

THIN LINE is a most attractive looking publication and contains some very good poems. Thanks again!

And cordial regards to you,

403 Franklin Boulevard
New Brunswick, New Jersey

April 26, 1961

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 127 Street
New York 35, New York

Dear Mr. Hughes:

A few weeks ago, when you and the Westminister Choir
appeared in New Brunswick under sponsorship of the Urban League,
you were kind enough to give your address to my wife and tell her
you would be interested in seeing the music I have written to two
of your poems.

Enclosed is the setting to your poem, "Minstrel
Man." I have also set the poem "I Have Known Rivers" to music, but
believe it will necessitate changes in the text which I would much
rather discuss with you.

The enclosed setting has also been given to Leeds
Music Corporation, on 48th Street in New York City, for their
consideration. Should you desire any information about this,
please contact Mr. Leonard Altman at Leeds, Circle 5-1100. Of
course, I gave the music to Mr. Altman with the understanding that
he would only look it over; certainly nothing will be done about
it without your full participation.

I hope you will find the music to your liking, and
would welcome any advice or suggestions you may care to offer.

pf

May 2, 1961

Mr. V. Martin Fink
403 Franklin Boulevard
New Brunswick, New Jersey

Dear Mr. Fink:

Thank you very much indeed for so kindly
sending me your setting of my poems,
"Minstrel Man", which I have enjoyed hear-
ing played by my uncle who used to be with
Fletcher Henderson's band. I am interested
that you have set "I Have Known Rivers"
also.

As you will note from the enclosed list,
there are already two published versions of
this song. However, it does no harm to
have another one. Your songs may be per-
formed without permission on my part or
otherwise, but in case of publication there
should be the customary S.P.A. contracts
and clearance of copyrighting by the
publisher in relation to the poems.

With cordial regards and all good wishes
to you,

LH:
bh:

April 3. 1962

Dear Mr. Hughes:

Enclosed find a four-part choral arrangement of your poem, "Minstrel Man". You will remember that last year I sent you a copy of the same song in a vocal arrangement. After showing it to publishers, I was advised to set this to a choral background. Enclosed you will find the result of this effort.

I have sent copies to Leeds Music Publishers, and to the Jewish Music Aliance, (Maurice Rauch) for their consideration.

I hope you enjoy this arrangement and would certainly welcome any performance this piece might obtain.

Thanking you for your time,

April 4, 1962

Dear Mr. Fink:

Thank you for posting me a copy of your
choral arrangement of my poem, MINSTREL
MAN. I look forward to hearing it.

This seems to be my theatre season, my
gospel song-play, BLACK NATIVITY is
scheduled for the Festival of Two Worlds
at Spoleto, Italy, in June, SHAKESPEARE
IN HARLEM is being revived at the Musical
Arts Theatre Club, 729 East 6th Street,
on April 12th, and the Theatre Guild
swears to bring TAMBOURINES TO GLORY to
Broadway this fall. If you haven't seen
SHAKESPEARE IN HARLEM, I think you will
enjoy seeing it--it is a montage of my
poems as added for the stage by Robert Glenn
and was a critical success two seasons ago.

All good wishes to you.

11 Maple St.
Brooklyn, (25), N.Y.

October 10, 1955

Dear Langston Hughes:

Since I have always known you to be one of the big writers in American literature, you can imagine my delight at receiving your gift of your latest book, together with the far too complimentary inscription. I don't know whether by my writings on jazz you mean the book I wrote some years ago, or the article in the September Masses and Mainstream. I am far from an "authority" on jazz. I wrote the book because, loving the music, and incensed at some of the explanations and interpretations of it, I felt that at least some counter-ideas had to be thrown into the hopper. Similarly I wrote the above-mentioned article because I felt that a highly-praised recent book on jazz left too many important things unsaid. The real book on jazz has yet to be written, and I suppose it will come at about the time the real history of American music, and the real history of the American people, get to be written. I also feel the time is soon, and your works are contributing to that happy event.

Thank you again for your thoughtfulness and kind words. Please excuse the bad typing, as my handwriting is worse. If there is anything I can do for you, I hope you will call on me.