Cassette Tape 16 Side B -- Letters and Telegrams to and from Carson McCullers
Date
1945-1954
Language
English
Original Format
cassette tape
Duration
00:30:45
Transcription
Margaret Sullivan reading McCullers letters:
April 14, 1946 letter from Sandy Campbell saying he had read The Member of the Wedding and asked for her to autograph his copy of the book
July 31, 1945 letter from Major Pope saying that when he and a friend had spoken to Kay Boyle during a visit to his command "last winter" she had mentioned "that you [McCullers] had more than ordinary misgivings about what sort of reactions your books and stories had produced". He read the Heart is a Lonely Hunter and found it intolerable that the human heart must be either lonely or a hunter, saying that the heart must be more flower-like than that and grows to a satisfaction deeper than the mind's discouragements, and that the end of the Ballad might hint at that conclusion
April 5, 1946 letter from Constance Coyle [?] of Houghton Mifflin about McCullers' dissatisfaction with her publishers' ad campaign for The Member of the Wedding and adding that her displeasure causes them very real chagrin. She enclosed reviews (including one from Newton Arvin) and copies of advertisements; included in the batch of materials are reviews for all McCullers' books, as well as reviews of Oliver Evans' book on McCullers, The Ballad of Carson McCullers, which Sullivan reads at great length
a series of telegrams congratulating her for success of The Member of the Wedding on Broadway and some of her responses
in addition to the telegrams of congratulations there is a telegram dated November 27, 19?? [Sullivan says that the year is smudged and unreadable] from Reeves McCullers to Mrs. Lamar Smith saying that Carson is much better but must see no one but Bebe, Rita, William and himself for some time. Will arrive LaGuardia on Air France on Sunday morning and will cable approximate time of arrival
September 4, 1951 telegram from Carson to Lt. Reeves McCullers asking to have bank airmail a notarized copy of her bank balance to London to enable her to sponsor Angelina for a visitor's visa
February 25, 1954 telegram to Mama from Charleston with get-well wishes from Edwin and John and closing "I embrace you, your own sister"
July 31, 1953 telegram from Floria Lasky to Princess Ceatani in Paris saying "Wires received. Due to situation, Reeves, Carson's affairs and confusion, she intends honor her obligations sending 300 dollars now for Augenblick. Have him send full details unpaid items. Also confirm to him Carson's previous advice not to accept any further items. Carson unwell. Send communications to me. Expect to resolve matter completely within week."
October 18, 1953 telegram to Lt. Madam Carson McCullers, "Sending one big trunk, personal belongings, silver angel, air mailed letter follows, Reeves Brown (Sullivan says, "This is also item 270")
Cassette Tape 14 Side B -- Letters to Carson McCullers
Date
1950-1966
Language
English
Original Format
cassette tape
Duration
00:30:43
Transcription
Margaret Sullivan reading:
November 7, 1961 letter from Frances and Albert Hackett about Carson's illness and hand issues. Describes a wildfire in their area of Los Angeles and their evacuation plans, they are coming to New York soon to see plays and to see her
July 7, 1961 letter from Elizabeth Schmack [?] describing a drought in Switzerland and her hopes to move soon to Zurich in autumn, will keep the chalet. Sorry to hear that Carson had lost the picture of Annemarie and the poem
note dated around Christmas and New Year's from Mary Tucker thanking McCullers for a poinsettia and talking of various parties, an article about Edward Albee's work, refers to McCullers' pneumonia
August 14, 1963 letter from Grace S. McCallister thanking McCullers for a party on August 2
July 20, [1962?] letter from Jo [Joanne Gomme?] thanking her for a gift of a silver tray that McCullers sent her as a wedding present
January 19, 1965 letter from Alex apologizing for not writing and saying was a wonderful experience it was to serve as her nurse and to thank Dr. Mercer for her hospitality
21 April, 1966 letter from George Freedley regarding the "Ballad of Carson McCullers" and his meeting of her at Cherry Grove with Jane and Paul Bowles
May 11, 1966 McCullers reply asking for his review of "The Ballad of Carson McCullers"
November 15 letter from Jim Spicer about meeting her "that rainy afternoon" and asking to meet her again. He remarks on reading Clock Without Hands and her collected works and how much he admires them
undated note from Joe "to remind you of me who drove you and Max from Peggy's" and hopes to visit her soon
undated letter from Howard Moody who will see her when next at Glen Paterson's
March 25 from Josephine Mullins who says "I hesitate in writing to you but I remember you and your mother. . . from when you lived next door to us on Stark Avenue, I also remember you as a musician"
undated letter from Melven J. Lasky [Floria Lasky's brother] thanking her for flowers McCullers sent, hopes to see her soon
march 21, 1950 postcard from the Bahamas thanking Carson for her cable signed C.L.R
March 21, 1950 letter rom Viola W. Bernard thanking McCullers for her invitation to a fundraiser, and replying to McCullers request for a recommendation about a doctor in Nyack saying she doesn't know anyone to recommend, and also mentions elephants at the Clarkstown Country Club
undated letter from Dr. Sigbert Hershfield in Rome to Carson and Reeves thanking her for her gift of a book and her invitation to Paris, discusses his father's illness, and declines their invitation, glad to hear that the country life "agrees with you both and you are in a better state, especially with Reeve's gastric ulcers"
January 14, 1953 partial letter from Ira Morris to Reeves and Carson from Morocco detailing the on-going riots and unrest, and their pleasant time spent in Marrakesh and are waiting for their visas before going on to West Africa for two weeks
March 2, 1953 letter from Dr. Hugh Gainsbourgh in London saying that it was good to hear from Carson, discussing Reeve's illness and a recommended low-fat diet and recommending another doctor for a second opinion and hopes to see them in Paris sometime
March 13, 1950 letter from Fran Sullivan about The Member of the Wedding opening on Broadway, and hopes she will go on writing for the theater and the Empire Theater where it was performed.