O'KEEFE/STIEGLITZ LETTERS O'Keefe, Georgia 1937, May - Dec. [*May 1937*] Sunday I went out to Cleveland to serve on a jury at The Museum - When I came home this morning - 8 A.M. Your letter was with some others - yours on the top - quite touched my heart to the edge of a tear - It makes me very happy that you have Peggie and the children and that you feel about them as you do - It is all something that I like to know exists in the world - makes me feel better about things like a blue spot of sky - I like to know the blue is always there somewhere - I feel that way about you. Saw Pauls movie - doesn't move very smoothly does it - Many very good [chills?] in it too - I always want to talk with you about such things - Maybe I'll go out to California next summer for a few days if you and Peggie don't get to New Mexico - I am feeling very good now days - quite alright again. Have made no plans for the summer - and I have to arrange Alfred a little better this year than last - He is very well but he isn't quite as tough as he was - needs a little more care. It's a lovely windy warm spring morning here - And Im so fond of you G. July 18, 1937 GHOST RANCH ABIQUIU, NEW MEXICO Telegraph: Espanola, N. M. I am here since July 18 – Stieglitz forwarded your letter ~ I just now read it and hasten to write you a line as the mail is just going – Are you coming this far? or where are you going in the Navajo Country? I would love to see you ~ but said to myself yesterday that I’ll not be going to California [even?] for that ~ it’s too far ~ I would go part way into the Navajo Country if you tell me when and where ~ probably ~ Will write again later – fondly G. July 1937 I have found the most beautiful dead cedar you ever saw for you to photograph if you come back – I’ve been to see it twice ~ The horses seem to use it to scratch their sides and necks ~ have worn it so very smooth in those places – It is too far away and so difficult to get to for me to do much with it ~ up the stream bed past the swimming pool there way off in the [end?] of a hidden meadow encircled by the tall cliffs – It is delicate and flat and unbelievable - two branched but feels like a cross ~ and with [all?] that has delicate little impossible twists ~ foolish twists to a couple of its smaller branches – It is a place I am sure hardly any one ever goes - - and they probably wouldn’t see this tree if they did Sept. 1937 GHOST RANCH ABIQUIU, NEW MEXICO Telegraph: Espanola, N. M. After you left till a few nights ago it was always dark and cloudy at night up on the roof – but tonight the whole cliff is white and full of color in the moonlight. I went up the ladder alone with my coat on - ~ pretty chilly and cheerless up there on the roof but the whole cliff is white And it seems some thing to tell you. Thank you for the whispering skulls - ~ and the other one. I particularly like the whispering one. Ive been working quite steadily ~ and not particularly well ~. Haven’t a GHOST RANCH ABIQUIU NEW MEXICO Telegraph: Espanola, N. M. single thing that is really right for myself I don’t know why I am that way. And I like my days too ~ Mostly I have these alone ~ I think so often of all of you So fondly Georgia. Dec. 1937 Nice to see your hand writing ~ and I see also that you have moved into the new house – I came to town on the 18th of November – came on the train ~it is certainly much easier - For a time I ran in circles about the town to settle myself - That doesn’t make sense but it is that way ~ For about two weeks I’ve been quieter and at work - ~ Pulling together the reality that is left after a period of working rather steadily from the object as I did all summer. It is curious that what is left for me as reality should seem to the world fantastic by the time I get it down – Well ~ maybe I like putting down what I remember because it seems more alive than what is usually around - Maybe any thing. How are you? All of you. And how does it feel in the new house? And do you work at any thing you like? Stieglitz is having a mixed exhibition of some of his Modern French things shown at 291 ~ and some of the first American paintings he showed there ~ It is simple in a way but beautiful ~ It was so good seeing you about for the two weeks at the Ranch The most wonderful time I ever had with so many people at once – It was very hard to see you all drive away My love to you all ~ but to you especially -G. Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.