2

1379 E. Wash. Blvd.,
Los Angeles, Calif.

March 25, 1939

Mr. Horace R. Cayton
820 21st Avenue
Seattle, Washington

Dear Mr. Cayton:

Your letter to Langston Hughes has just been forwarded to him here. He has asked me to explain that since the subject matter of your manuscript is not known to him, it is difficult to suggest any specific publisher. However, he suggests that the Writers Digest lists all of the publishers and the types of material they favor. By submitting your manuscript to one of these and not-ing their reactions, you will get about as good results as by any other method. If your book is concerning Negroes, Mr. Hughes suggests that Carter G. Woodson, who publishes books about the Negro, might be interested. His address is 1538 9th Street N.W. Washington, D.C..

Mr. Hughes sends best regards to you and Mrs. Cayton and to your grandchild. He remembers with pleasure his last visit with you and adds that he had the good fortune of seeing both of your children in Chicago several months ago. He is happy to hear that you are enjoying good health and wishes you much success with your book.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD COMMUNITY CENTER

5120 South Parkway
CHICAGO

January 10, 1942

Office of the
DIRECTOR

My dear Langston:

I am writing to confirm the arrangements for your lecture here at the Center on Sunday, February 15. The Good Shepherd Community Center has agreed to pay you the sum of fifty dollars ($50.00) for this lecture. This is for this single performance and the Center will have no further claim on your services for the above sum.

Of course, we are hoping that you will produce your play here following the lecture but this agreement does not include this which will be a voluntary service on your part. We are, however, going to use any profits from the lecture for the purpose of financing your play.

We have been planning to have an exhibit of Gordon Rogers Parks photographs in connection with your lecture. His name and picture would appear on our programs (as would your own) and his pictures would be hung in the dining room where tea would be served and where your table of books would be on display. Do you have any objections to this arrangement? If so please let me know by return mail so that we can make any re-arrangements you would like to suggest.

Mr. Langston Hughes and I would also like to invite you to be our guest at the Center during your stay in Chicago.

Mr. Langston Hughes
634 St. Nicholas Avenue
New York, New York

5120 South Parkway
CHICAGO

Office of the
DIRECTOR

January 16, 1942

Dear Lang:

Things are coming along nicely
and we have gotten a great deal of advance
publicity.

I will arrange to have a press
conference for you when you come to the
city.

Please let me know when you ex-
pect to arrive and how and I may be able
to think up some publicity angle.

As ever

HRC:kw

Program

Prelude .................................... Miss Vivian Carter

Audience .................................... America

Invocation .................................... Rev. L. A. McGee

Musical Selection ............................ Miss Vivian Carter

Introductory Remarks ...................... Mr. Charles Graves, Jr.

Musical Selection ............................ Mrs. Jennye Turner

Introduction of Speaker .................... Mr. Horace Cayton
Director of Good Shepard Community Center, Chicago, Ill.

Address .................................... Mr. Langston Hughes

Musical Selection ............................ Miss Ruth Roberts

Presentation of Prizes from Quiz Contest ...... Miss M. L. Dyson

Closing Remarks ............................ Mrs. Nona Mae Glenn
Organizer of the Alaine Locke Literary Guild

Benediction .................................... Rev. D. G. Lewis

5120 South Parkway

CHICAGO

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

ARMY AND NAVY

BUY
DEFENSE SAVINGS
FOR DEFENSE
POSTAGE & CHARGES
BONDS AND STAMP

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

INDUSTRY AGRICULTURE

Mr. Langston Hughes
634 St. Nicholas Street
New York, New York

Yaddo,
Saratoga Springs, N. Y.,
October 24, 1942.

Mr. Horace Cayton,
5120 South Parkway,
Chicago, Illinois.

Dear Horace,

I'd be delighted to give a program again at the Center. Maybe
make it at "popular prices" this time? My subject this season
is, POETRY, NEGROES, AND WAR, and I have lots of new poems along
that line. Stowe College in St. Louis is November 18th with two
other engagements out that way pending, so we would be safe in
setting a Chicago date or two any time from the 25th on through
the first week in December. And I will do Detroit and Cleveland
on my way back East, planning to get back to New York about the
15th of December.

I would love to work on ST. LOUIS WOMAN for you, but with the uncertainties of the draft, I do not think it would be wise for me to start so heavy a production, as I think it would take at least 6 months to get it ready. Probably for your first play this year, you ought to choose something with a smaller cast, unless you have a lot of fellows out there in 4-F. But we can talk it over when I come out.

Please let me know what date you choose soon as you can, in case
others come up, so that I can fit them in.

Give my very best regards to your mother, and also to Irma when
you write. I follow you through the COURIER every week. Provo-
cative material. Lately I've had two offers to do a column, too.
Waiting to see which pays the best! The next issue of COMMON
GROUND has an article of mine on WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE SOUTH? And
I'm slated to do another for the JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL PHYSICS
so you see I am getting to be an intellectual. Maybe I will even
be a doctor (Dr.) in due time if somebody gives me an honorary
degree!

Mix me a tall one, please, because I'll be there shortly.

P.S. Dick was re-classified into 3-A. But I have nary dependent!

Idea: See if you can get Lonnie Johnson to sing the Handy and
my GO AND GET THE ENEMY BLUES on my rpggnam; and some more formal
tenor or baritone---Wm. Franklin or John Green to do FREEDOM ROAD,
thus tying up poetry, song, and the war effort in one fell swoop!

24

Parkway Community House

5120 South Parkway
Chicago

Horace R. Cayton, Director

*

Rev. Theodore K. Vogler
President

Mr. A. D. Washington
Vice President

Rev. Niel E. Hansen
Secretary

Mr. Arlan W. Converse
Treasurer

*

Sydney P. Brown
Horace R. Cayton
Joel I. Connolly
Arlan W. Converse
Earl B. Dickerson
Mrs. Matthew P. Gaffney
William W. Hadnott
Niel E. Hansen
Sidney A. Jones
Samuel C. Kincheloe
Mrs. Emile Levy
Julian Lewis
Carl S. Lloyd
Mrs. Charles S. McCoy
Mrs. Leonard M. Reiser
Austin H. Scott
Bernard Sheil
Mrs. Lillian Summers
William S. Townsend
Theodore K. Vogler
Andrew D. Washington
Mrs. George R. Wilson

May 15, 1943

Dear Mr. Hughes:

This is not an ordinary appeal for funds.

We Americans in Chicago and throughout the nation are facing a situation in which race relations are becoming more strained than they have been since the Reconstruction Period. In Chicago thousands of Negroes are being brought in by industry to work in defense plants. Their labor will help win the war but their presence in an already overcrowded black ghetto further intensifies the problems of this tension area.

To meet this need there are a woefully inadequate number of social institutions. A tremendous load is thus placed upon the existing agencies by this relocation of people and by the many strains and stresses brought about by the war. This problem must be met, however, as the eyes of the world are focused on the treatment which American Negroes are receiving. Chicago must never again experience the conflicts and misunderstandings between Negroes and whites which followed the last war.

PARKWAY COMMUNITY HOUSE is making a desperate attempt to meet some of these community needs. The House, however, has found it difficult to adequately assist mothers working in war industries and to maintain an after school child protection program for the older age groups. We will need your financial assistance to even maintain the present scale of our work, to say nothing of inaugurating a much needed expansion.

By contributing to PARKWAY COMMUNITY HOUSE we feel that not only will this enable us to continue the program which we have embarked upon of child care and protection and providing cultural and recreational opportunities for all persons in the community but, more important, will insure the continued existence of a "common ground" where a common understanding can be maintained and an interpretation of the points of view, tensions and anxieties of each group can be articulated.

We are enclosing a return envelope in which we hope you will send your contribution. It will bear interest in contributing, in a small way, to the solution of America's greatest internal problem.

FORMERLY GOOD SHEPHERD COMMUNITY CENTER

Parkway Community House

5120 South Parkway
Chicago

<table><tr><td>BUY WAR SAVINGS</td></tr><tr><td>BONDS AND STAMPS</td></tr></table>

Mr. Langston Hughes
Yaddo
Saratoga Springs
New York

634 St. Nicholas Avenae,
New York, 30, New York,
January 25, 1944.

Dear Horace,

Man, I got that 8:35 plane that day after all, beat the
Braniff to Oklahoma City---and when it came in Dr. Adams
wasn't on it---so I reckon he must have gotten taken off
account priorities somewhere. I was lucky, after all.
On way back, priorities delayed me twice---Chicago and
Buffalo, so I reached New York six hours later than I had
planned. Missed the ESQUIRE concert on that account.

I'll be seeing you on the 20th---speaking at Carey's church.
Will be in Chicago until March 8th, so if you know anybody
wants me to speak, let me know. Fee, small non-public groups,
$25.00. Public groups, $35-$50. ($50.00 preferable.) I've
reserved a room at the Grand near enough to come in and dine
with you once in awhile!

In March am booked on to Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas, so will
run out to the coast for a month. If you write Irma, tell her
I'd be glad to stop off at Huachuca and give a program for the
WAACS free, or USO, last week in March.

Off to Montreal this week-end for two dates there---Montreal
Forum and Women's Club.

See next week's DEFENDER. Got you in my column re our drive
to airport! (A friend in need is a friend indeed.)

Sincerely,

3 lecture cards sent.

31

Parkway Community House

5120 South Parkway
Chicago 15

Horace R. Cayton, Director

Rev. Niel E. Hansen
Secretary

Sydney P. Brown
Horace R. Cayton
Joel I. Connolly
Arlan W. Converse
Earl B. Dickerson
Mrs. Matthew P. Gaffney
Williard W. Hadnott
Niel E. Hansen
Sidney A. Jones
Samuel C. Kincheloe
Louise Lamphear
Mrs. Emile Levy
Julian Lewis
Carl S. Lloyd
Mrs. Leonard M. Rieser
Austin H. Scott
Bernard Shell
Sara Southall
Williard S. Townsend
Theodore K. Vogler
Andrew D. Washington
Mrs. George R. Wilson

February 2, 1944

Dear Langston:

I have been trying to line up some speaking dates for you. Please let me know the exact date on which you will come to Chicago and how long you intend to stay.

Mrs. Stella Councilbaum of the Round Table of Christians and Jews wants to use you at a meeting at the end of February or the first week in March. She said that she would pay whatever honorarium you ask (I suggest $50). Why don't you get in touch with her directly? Her address is 203 North Wabash Avenue. I also had occasion to talk to Rabbi Weinstein this morning and he inquired about when you would be here. I would suggest that you write him also. His address is 920 East 50th Street.

I will look forward to your coming and although you will have to stay at the Grand, I suggest that you have all your meals with me.

HRC:mc

On Tour
February 5th, 1945

Mr. Horace Kayton
Parkway Community House
5120 South Parkway
Chicago 15, Illinois

Dear Horace:

I am scheduled here right through Friday afternoon and so I am afraid I will get back into Chicago too late to see you. At any rate do not count on me for dinner but if I have a chance between trains I will give you a ring.

I certainly enjoyed seeing you, and I want to thank you again for your kind hospitality.

My first day here in Milwaukee has been a very pleasant one, and it looks as though the remainder of the week will be most interesting. I am stopping at the Schroeder Hotel, which is certainly most comfortable. The only trouble is that I have to get up about 6:30 every morning in order to make these early highschool assemblies, some of which are five or six miles from the center of town. I certainly do not feel very poetic at that hour of the morning, but you will see to what dire lengths I am going in order to save the race.

Sincerely,

LH/vh

63

Parkway Community House

Mr. Langston Hughes
634 St. Nicholas Avenue
New York 30, New York

Parkway Community House

5120 South Parkway
Chicago 15
ATLANTIC 1020

April 2, 1946

Mr. Langston Hughes
634 St. Nicholas Avenue
Apartment 1-D
New York, New York

Dear Lang:

I am making application for admission to Yaddo, which is a literary colony endowed to support writers working on specific projects. I want to attend during the month of August. I'm interested in working on a book entitled *The Folklore of Race Relations*, two or three chapters of which I hope to finish during the month. In addition, I want to do a series of articles for *The New Republic* on the general topic of recent trends in Negro literature.

I've been requested by the Committee on Admissions to give the names and addresses of sponsors who will make detailed and informative statements about me and my particular writing program. To be helpful these letters will have to be sent immediately. I would like to ask you to do me the favor of writing to Mrs. Elizabeth Ames, Executive Director, Yaddo, Saratoga Springs, New York, and giving her a frank appraisal of the worthwhileness of this project and any evaluation you may care to make of me and my work.

HRC:mc

43

Parkway Community House

March 21, 1947

Mr. Langston Hughes
English Department
Atlanta University
Atlanta, Georgia

Dear Lang:

Dave Wallerstein, who is a trustee of Francis Parker School, called me today to inquire about the possibility of your speaking to one of their parent groups any time in the first two weeks of May. They would of course pay all your expenses. They do not have much money for this as they do not have a budget for speakers but Mr. Wallerstein stated that if you did not want to break a precedent they could scare up a modest honorarium. It's very seldom, Lang, that I would ever try to pressure anyone into speaking and certainly, knowing that you earn your living that way, do not like to ask you to make concessions as to fees. But I would like you to take these facts into consideration. First, Dave Wallerstein has been very friendly toward the House and it was his technician and part of the equipment borrowed from Balaban and Katz that allowed us to put on the play, *The Sun Do Move*.

Second, Francis Parker School has been one, if not the first, of the private schools in this area to completely break down racial barriers. I was on a committee that met with their principal and later with the faculty and they not only went about integrating Negroes, but did it in a very smart fashion. The first year they had a Negro girl as a cadet teacher and later introduced Negro students throughout all the classes. This, interestingly enough, was not done as a result of pressure from the outside but social consciousness from the inside. As you know, I'm not the greatest enthusiast about some of the race relations efforts, but for Francis Parker I go overboard.

You have met the Wallersteins and Mrs. Wallerstein, incidentally, is one of your most ardent admirers in this area. Mr. Wallerstein will phone you sometime in the near future and this letter is just to sort of soften you up a bit.

Your new book, *Fields of Wonder*, arrived and I am just getting into it. Thanks loads. It was thoughtful of you to send it. Incidentally, it's a beautiful job of bookmaking.

Miss Crawford tells me you are coming up in April so plan to have dinner with me and spend an evening going over the recent gossip.

HRC:mc

April 29, 1947

Mr. Horace Cayton
Parkway Community House
5120 South Parkway
Chicago, Illinois

Dear Horace:

I have just written the enclosed note to Mrs. Spaulding.

Griffith David, a very excellent photographer here who does all of the photographic publicity for the affiliated Atlanta University colleges, and who has sold work to EBONY and other publications is interested in possibly doing a picture story of your Community House which I have been telling him about as being the largest Negro one in the world and one of the most interesting. He has just returned from Palmer Memorial Institute where he did a picture story for EBONY about that unique institution. I have been trying to persuade him to come to Chicago during the week that I shall be there, and I have told him that he might also get a splendid series of pictures of the various Negro writers and artists who live in Chicago such as Gwendolyn Brooks, Motley, yourself, Drake, and others.

Would you be agreeable to this idea in case he wishes to do so? You may ask Ben Burns about the quality of his work if you like. His photographs of myself have recently appeared in the New York Post and the Saturday Review of Literature, and I believe he is one of the up and coming young photographers of America.

I am off for New York and Washington tomorrow to speak at Howard but will be back Sunday.

I send all good wishes to you.

LH:wmb

Enclosure

5120 S. Parkway
Chicago, Ill.

O5

Mr. Langston Hughes
634 St. Nicholas Ave.
New York, New York

c/s Harper

39

After 5 days, return to
The Director of Admissions,
NORTHFIELD SCHOOL FOR GIRLS,
EAST NORTHFIELD, MASS.

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 127th Street
New York City

NORTHFIELD SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
EAST NORTHFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS

March 5, 1949

Mr. Langston Hughes

Dear Sir:

Miss Rita D. Wright

daughter (or ward of) Mrs. Horace Cayton

has made application for admission to the Northfield School for Girls and has referred to you as able to give information concerning the financial standing of the family.

We call your attention to the statement on the following page in-
dicating the purpose of the school and the requirements for admission.

The charge for board and tuition is $750 for the school year. This
is much less than the per capita cost which is $1050. Therefore, we feel
that in general we ought not to admit those who can afford to attend a
more expensive school. Under these circumstances, does this candidate
qualify for a place in this school? Whatever you write will be con-
sidered confidential.

Please use the attached sheet for reply.

Yours sincerely,

MIRA B. WILSON,

Principal

PURPOSE OF THE NORTHFIELD SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

The purpose of the Northfield School for Girls is to put within
the financial reach of young women of limited means the advan-
tages of a sound secondary education. It aims to provide the envi-
ronment of a good home and a campus life developed as a project
in Christian Education.

In addition to the usual academic work, each student shares in
the housekeeping of the dormitories. This helps to make possible
the low tuition charges and gives the students valuable training.

Experience has made it clear that the School is equipped to
accept only students who have good native ability, who are in
good health, who have developed such traits of character as re-
liability and co-operation, and who desire a well-rounded educa-
tion that they may learn to live creatively and with purpose.

METROPO

3 CENTS 3

HORACE R. CAYTON
1458 UNION STREET
BROOKLYN 13, NEW YORK

January 22, 1950

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

Dear Lang,

Why haven't you done a column on Lillian Smith's
Killers of the Dream. It's a great book. Besides we should
support it as Holding Carter is bringing out a vile one
taking the opposite point of view of Miss Smith and spending
tons of money to promote it. If you want a copy of the
Carter book so that you might make a contrast between the
two, I'll send you one.

I'm looking forward to seeing the play Thursday.

You certainly got rave reviews.

TO

WEST TWENTY THIRD STREET
AT SEVENTH AVENUE
NEW YORK 11, N. Y.

Horace R. Cayton
Rm. 315.

OLD CH
STAT.

Mr. Langston Hughes
% Harper
20 East 127th
New York, N.Y.

NOTICE

LETTERS MAILED IN HOTEL ENVELOPES

IF NOT DELIVERED WILL BE SENT TO THE DEAD LETTER OFFICE
UNLESS THE WRITER GIVES A RETURN ADDRESS.

IF NOT DELIVERED IN ____ DAYS RETURN TO

TELEPHONE CHELSEA 3-3700
CABLE ADDRESS • HOCHELSEA • NEW YORK

January 21, 1957.

Dear Lang:

One thing I am going to do is to come and see and hear you and Mahalia Jackson Feburary 9th. I'm not only going to do that but I am going to try and get a column out before the date to tell people why I am going.

Are you want to know why I am going? I think you are both great. I think the combination is terrific. The fact that it is for Negro History week clinches it. I have gone pretry far ; a little further than a respectable newspaper man should go: I have sent in for three, three thirty tickets-cash man. You know I am sent.

Here is what I want you to do. Get me a story to run before the concert. I thought of this-The Negro woman. What is your poem (forgive me) about life ain't been no golden stairs, etc. Are you going to read that? Then comment about Mahalia singing in Montgomery--the strong Negro woman stuff. You the Negro poet who skings her praise. Makes it look bad for the Negro man but" things are as they may be" as Knut Hamsens says.

To be specific get the publicity man to let me know a tie up. Then I'll write the story. Also see that I get good seats, my order is in. Finally I want to come backstage with my two friends and meet you both. Is this asking too much? You see Montgomery has stirred me up more than somewhat.

LARGE and SOUND-PROOF ROOMS

July 25, 1957

Dear Horace:

It certainly would be fine to spend an evening with
you again and I am going to take you up on that
steak as soon as SIMPLY HEAVENLY opens once more.
It might be hard to believe but it is still taking
up most of my time - selecting cast replacements;
auditions for understudies; cutting script for
possible recording of show album; conferences with
agents, producers, sponsors of a proposed London
production; and answering innumerable phone calls,
mostly from actors who want to be in the show
now that it is heading for Broadway. It opens
at the Playhouse on West 43rd Street on Tuesday,
August 20th. But in Broadway theatres the poor
playwright does not have the privilege of in-
viting guests as one does off-Broadway. In fact
he hardly gets a seat for himself. Opening night
press tickets are all handled by the press repre-
sentative, David Lipsky, 230 W. 41 Street,
CH 4 - 5135, so I suggest you contact him.
I have already given him a list of columnists
on the Negro press, so he should be familiar
with you. At any rate I hope to see you soon.

I send you all my good wishes.

November 3, 1961

Dear Horace:

I have asked Alfred A. Knopf to send you a copy of my new book of poems, *ASK YOUR MAMA: 12 Moods For Jazz*, since I thought it might be of especial interest to one working in your field. So far as I know, in *ASK YOUR MAMA* the Dozens are used for the first time in formal poetry, John Dollard wrote a much discussed article, as you may recall, back in 1939 on this peculiarly Negro game as a form of release involving racial tensions, and William Elton commented on it later in *American Speech*. Otherwise I know of little having been written about the Dozens. Perhaps it might interest you to comment upon the poetic use of the Dozens in my book, and to permit what you say to be quoted. In any case, I'd be delighted to receive any comments you might care to make on *ASK YOUR MAMA*.

With cordial regards,