312 East Sixth Street
New York 3, New York

April 25, 1958

Dear Mr. Hughes;

I hope this letter finds you returned from a successful trip to the Coast. Because I work on Sundays, I was unable to go and hear you at the Vanguard; however, I talked it up with my friends. Also, you book, The Langston Hughes Reader, is great! I had a copy of it in my hands just after it came out, and weeks before the impressive "ad" was put in the Times. Your readers will appreciate this.

As for the anthology in Holland, I have known the good news for some time, and am very pleased with the way they have accepted my poem. I sent several to Paul Breman who is my correspondent there, and he suggested that sometime in the future I send him a selection of my work and perhaps he will be able to incorporate it in a series of magazine articles he wants to do on some of the younger Negro poets in America. All this gives me quite a boost.

At present, and among other things, I am sending out applications to some of the schools in the South for a job teaching English. Everything else I have done to make a living seems to leave me less time than I seem to need in order to write.

"Poetry" London and New York finally published my poem. It is in Vol. number three, and still on some magazine stands.

If it is convenient, please let me know about the concert at the Community Church - that is, the date. I am free on Fridays and Saturdays, and on the second Sunday in every month. I hope I will be able to come.

Thank you very much for your letter and your interest.

March 20, 1960

Dear Mr. Patterson:

One of the university presses has asked me to assemble for its consideration for a possible ANTHOLOGY OF NEW NEGRO POETS a representative assortment of poems from which a final selection may be made. I should very much appreciate it if you would send me a dozen or so of your poems for consideration in this regard. If printed, the customary anthology fees will be paid for the use of your material; and you will, of course, be free to publish the poems elsewhere at any time, as you wish. I very much hope that I will have the pleasure of seeing some of your poetry soon.

With cordial regards and all good wishes to you,

12

112-40 205th Street
Hollis 23, New York

March 26, 1960

Phone: SP6-9025

Dear Mr. Hughes,

Adel Glasgow passed your letter along to me, and I was
much surprised at my good fortune, having only made her
acquaintance less than a month ago. Incidentally, I am
scheduled to give a poetry reading at her gallery on April
22nd.

Since I saw you at the Vanguard, I have been to South
Carolina, where I taught for a year at Benedict College, and
am now teaching in a public school in Queens. I feel as if
I have only succeed in getting out of the fire to find myself
hopping around in the frying pan.

I am trying to work on a book (fiction), and that keeps
me worried more than it keeps me occupied. I am about to
rearrange that situation.

I hope you can use some of the things I am sending.
Can we have a chat, at your convenience, one evening?

Thanks for everything.

The Market Place Gallery
2305 Seventh Avenue
New York 30, New York

June 2, 1960

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

Dear Mr. Hughes:

I am trying to locate a number of young
Negro poets living in the New York area who might
participate in a series of poetry readings this
summer. The encouragement such a project will
afford young Negro writers, I know you can readily
appreciate.

If you have the names and addresses of poets
who you think would be interested, I would be
grateful if you would forward them to me.

Thank you.

I have received the returned poems, your letter, and the notice about *Poem*. Thanks for a million for everything! I am trying to set up the above project at Adelphi University. Can you help me with poems, not too bad?

June 30, 1960

Dear George:

Thank you very much for sending the
list on to me, and give my sincere thanks
to Mr. Hughes. I have some writers and I
am sure this contact will give me enough
to round out the series.

158-29 76th Road, Apt. 10
Flushing, New York 11366

September 10, 1966

Dear Mr. Hughes:

Here is a manuscript I am planning to publish,
myself, in a small book with illustrations. I would
appreciate your looking at it and—if you care—giving
any suggestions.

Did Seghers LA POESIE NEGRO AMERICAN get published?
I received a check but haven't seen the book.

It is too bad about Melvin Tolson. I saw and heard
him at AMSAC this past winter and there was nothing
failing in his wit and spirit. Some publisher should
collect his work.

Thank you in advance for looking at the poems. All
my good wishes to you.

September 24, 1966

Dear Ray:

I'm just recently back from Africa where I travelled from Dakar to Dar reading poetry after the Festival in Senegal, which I thought great in many ways.

THE NEGRO HAS THE BOMB is about the handsomest looking manuscript I've laid eyes on lately, and some of the poems are explosively effective. One of my favorites is POPE PAUL XI. And I'm wonder if the two quatrains enclosed might be given titles, or used together under a combined title for my co-editor, Bontemps, to consider for the updated edition of our POETRY OF THE NEGRO? I particularly like these two. (Three).

Yes, the Seghers anthology is out, and they promised to send each poet one. I will write Paris about yours. It looks good and was on sale at Dakar.

The manuscript is being returned to you separately.

Best wishes ever,

RAYMOND PATTERSON
133-11 - 111th Avenue
South Ozone Park,
New York 11420.

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 127th Street
New York, N. Y. 10035

Dear Mr. Hughes:

I control the rights to IN TIME OF CRISIS

which I understand you wish to include in your ANTHOLOGIE DE LA POESIE AMERICAINE to be published by Editions Seghers, Paris. I hereby grant you permission to include this material to be translated into French, the credits to read as follows:

Raymond Patterson

and for which I will accept the fee you offer. This permission covers distribution in France and the French-speaking market throughout the world.