O'KEEFEE/STIEGLITZ LETTERS to Henwar Stieglitz, Alfred 1933-1934 Box 2 Folder 6 Rodakiewicz Letter#1 03/03 186-190 Nov 12/33 Dear Henwar. By this time you are probably a well established Mexican!-- At any rate I hope your most recent experiment--- or should I say experience--- is turning out to decidedly worth while- so satisfactory. I feared you'd be too busy getting away + as I really didn't expect to see you in new York As it was the first weeks in town for me were very difficult so that any meeting then between us would have been an anti-climax after the perfection of the few hours when you were on The Hill.------ pg.2 I finally got The Place going full blast The Marin show is a very good affair. Visited by about 100 people a day--- many very good ones.---As for moneys.-- Well that's quite another story.-- Undoubtedly Marie has written you about her hour as it was It was very fine. She certainly looked fit.--- As for the young painter you may rest assured he'll be welcome as a letter has arrived for him care of me he is undoubtedly apt to appear at any moment-- I phone to Georgia every night at 8:30?ince about a week she is showing signs of beginning pg.3 to be real Georgia again.-- That's wonderful On the evening of the 14th I shall go to the Hill to spend the 15th with her. It's her birthday. She thinks I'm foolish + I don't mind for I'm going. We never celebrated each others birthdays on any holidays--but last year she came down to see me on her birthday--told me it was her birthday-- a few days later she became ill + has been ill since-- so I feel may be if I go up the turn will have been made I do want to see her. And the trip is a rest for me pg.4 I have been going it very hard + pretty much alone. Feel very fit. -- Haven't had a moment for photograghy since I'm back. The best of intentions lead nowhere not even to hell. -- I often think of you+your work-- your life---- I know all are right---I told Marie so.-- Brett arrived about 10 days ago + Mabel Lujan I hear is due in the near future. (??) Walker has returned from Santa Fe. And so it goes. There are rumors of Beck's being divorced, but I say; when I'm notified directly pg.5 I will know--- nothing else means anything to me. It's Mabel spreading the report-- And so it goes.-- The Place is very alive + very peaceful. All inner tension seems to have disappeared as has most gossip. To my delight Tension and gossip are usually bedfellows---- Thiss is primarily a message of most affectionate greetings Steiglitz Nov. 12, 1933 Nov. 12/33 Dear Henwar: By this time you are probably a well established Mexican! At any rate I hope your most recent experiment or should I say experience is turning out to be decidedly worth while - so satisfactory. I feared you'd be too busy getting away as I really didn't expect to see you in New York. As it was the first weeks in town for me were very difficult so that any meeting then between us would have been an anti-climax after the perfection of the few hours when you were on The Hill. 31 to be real Georgia again. That’s wonderful. On the evening of the 14th, I shall go to the Hill to spend the 15th with her. It’s her birthday. She thinks I’m foolish & I don’t mind for I’m going. We never “ celebrated” each other’s birthdays or any holidays - but last year she came down to see me on her birthday - told me it was her birthday - a few days later she became ill & has been ill since - so I feel may be if I go up the turn will have been made. I do want to see her. And the trip is a rest for me. 2 I finally got The Place going full blast. The main show is a very grand affair. Visited by about 100 people a day -- & many very good ones. -- As for moneys. -- Well that’s quite another story. Undoubtedly Marie has written you about her hour with me. It was very fine. She certainly looked fit. -- as for the young painter you may rest assured he’ll be welcome, as a letter has arrived for him care of me he is undoubtedly apt to appear at any moment -- I phone to Georgia every night at 8:30. -- Since about a week she is showing signs of beginning 4 I have been going it very hard & pretty much alone. Feel very fit. Haven't had a moment for photography since I'm back. The best of intentions lead nowhere not even to Hell [as?] I often think of you & your work - your life - I know all are all right - I told Marie so. - Brett arrived about 10 days ago & Mabel [?] I learn is due in the near future. Dr. Walker has returned from Santa Fe. And so it goes. There are rumors of Beck's being divorced, but I say: when I'm notified directly 5/ I will know- nothing else means anything to me. It's Mabel spreading the reports - And so it goes. The Place is very alive + very peaceful. All inner tension seems to have disappeared as has most gossip. To my delight tension + gossip are usually bedfellows - This is primarily a message of most affectionate greetings Stieglitz Letter #2 03/03 180- 185 MAY 10 34 The days + weeks----+ months chase by + I seem to get nothing done above all all correspondence seems to be sidetracked except letters to Georgia (Le gods)?? I don't know how many moons have passed by since I received your more than welcome letter. And ever since its receipt my hope was to get to dropping you at least a Hello. But as I believe I wrote you I am literally alone at The Place. I haven't missed a day (??) badly harrassed by missable pg. 2 heart + frequently excrutiating pains.--- But The Place comes before all-- And Georgia is of The Place But so are you all I has been an extraordinary season. --- Hardly any money. But result spiritually mostly--- culminating night before Last when I addressed over one thousand workers at the New School of Social Research. Dewey, Mumford, I and a couple of others I unprepared. And yesterday I was at The City Hall. About 200 artists had marched down Broadway to the City Hall to see the pg. 3 Mayor-- demanding a Community Center for their work? or an open Forum, etc.,etc.---On the spur of the moment I permitted myself to be drawn into their midst. So in the open in front of City Hall-- a beautiful day?pring at its loveliest-- I addressed the crowd--+ finally addressed the President of the Board of Alderman-- all informally-- spontaneously like at The Place. Even the cops seemed gentler.- All was orderly + free as the pg. 4 new green on budding trees in City Hall Park my old stomping ground over 40 years ago.--- While down their the Place was closed.-- So you see the madness of it all. And yet its wonder.--And I don't forget to wonder about you and how you are faring. Whether you have gone back to Mexico. Or what--- Its a tough road wherever or whatever. But somehow or other I feel you must contact somewehre + find your natural outlet + place pg. 5 or is that a stupid illusion on my part. A senile idea. I don't believe so. Georgia came back from Bermuda looking fine-- brown as an Indian-- + stronger but still unable to paint on to stand New York She is on The Hill now. And Brett is there too for a few days on her way to Taos. Georgia, if she has no set back, should gain strength daily + begin to paint towards autumn But I count on writing. I do have to hope it as she'll regain most of her pg. 6 her strength No work from her without that-- Marin plods on. -- Dove's show is most interesting but is neglected-- Maybe 4-5 visitors per day. -- And so it goes. Let me have a word as to your whereabouts With Love ever your old Stieglitz May 10, 1934 Mar 10 34 The days + weeks -- + months chase by + I seem to get nothing done. Above all all correspondence seems to be sidetracked except letters to Georgia -- Ye gods. -- I don't know how many moons have passed by since I received your more than welcome letter And ever since its receipt my hope was to get to dropping you at least a Hello. But as I believe I wrote you I'm literally alone at The Place I haven't missed a day altho' badly harassed by miserable 3/ Mayor- demanding a Community Center for their work -- for an open forum, etc., etc. -- On the spur of the moment I permitted myself to be drawn into their midst. So in the open in front of City Hall -- a beautiful day -- spring at its loveliest -- I addressed the crowd --- + finally even addressed the President of the Board of Aldermen + all informally -- spontaneously like at The Place. Even the Cops seemed gentle. -- All was orderly and free as the 2/ health + frequently excrutiating pains. --But The Place comes before all. --And Georgia is of The Place. But so are you all. It has been an extraordinary season. --Hardly any money, but results -- spiritual mostly -- culminating night before last when I addressed over 1000 workers at the New School of Social Research. Dewey, Mumford, I + a couple of others. I unprepared. And yesterday I was at The City Hall. About 200 artists had marched down Broadway to the City Hall to see the 4/ new green on budding trees in City Hall Park my old stomping ground over 40 years ago. --- While down there the Place was closed. -- So you see the madness of it all. And yet it's wonder. -- And I don't forget to wonder about you + how you are faring. Whether you have gone back to Mexico. Or what -- It's a tough road wherever or whatever. But somehow or other I feel you must contact somewhere + find your natural outlet + place. 5/ Or is that a stupid illusion on my part. A senile idea. I don't believe so. Georgia came back from Bermuda looking fine -- brown as an Indian -- + stronger but still unable to paint or to stand New York. She is on The Hill now. And Brett is there too for a few days on her way to Taos. Georgia, if she has no set back, should gain strength daily + begin to paint towards Autumn -- But I count on nothing. I do have to hope it at she'll regain most of her 6 her strength. No work from her without that. Marie plods on. Dave’s show is most interesting but is neglected - may be 4-5 visitors per day. And as it goes. Let me have a word as to your whereabouts. With love ever your old Stieglietz Letter #3 3/3 174-179 Oct 12 / 34 Dear Henwar: Finally a healing spell-- I came down here a week ago. It seems an eternity. Everything seems to be moving at a greater and greater speed headed for even God doesn't know where. - The day before I left the Hill--or maybe two or three days before your grand letter came I had just written to Georgia asking did she ever hear. And I very rarely ask anything.-- So you answered for yourself Yes your letter is grand. I read it aloud to various sympathetic ears. And it refreshed them There are so many very tired people about--- Should I say tired souls? Well it's great the pg. 2 experiences you are getting----- And the way you feel about life and living-- Georgia wired yesterday she is on her way East-- per auto-- she and Spud Johnson So you see she seemed to be getting somewhat better. She is bound for Lake George. How long she'll be there I don't know-- I'll go up and see her. Much is active here-- The book finally found a publisher with a vengeance. You may have heard from Strand -- it's a great story. -- A miracle has happened no wirepulling-- no politics-- no game of friendship-- The Book is to appear as a Xmas Greeting on Thanksgiving Day sent out by pg. 3 the Literary Guild + Doubleday + (Doran) --- 40,000 copies are about to be printed --- two weeks ago it looked as if the Book were shelved for a while-- Two of its editions-- Mumford + Rosenfeld thinking it not worthy of the subjects Translated into new English that meant their respective essas in their own eyes were delinquent!-- It's a curious world--+ I don't know are the dice loaded or not. Either way it really makes no difference.-- As for the Place here I am alone trying to see my way clear what to do.-- We usually start with Marin. --- pg. 4 I haven't seem him or heard from him. -- Is he ready. If not when? And Georgia? - of course she has no Show of new things as she has only started painting again which in itself is a miracle too To me -- As for myself-- I found 20 or 22 old (50 years) negatives in the attic and printed them with new work-- It will be some show.-- they + the Book--- So in spite of the Silence here + I literally alone-- the potential is terrific.-- all I hope for is to remain on my feet.-- There is some circus ahead-- pg 5 I wish I could see that Mexican Movie. I wonder will it ever come this way.--- As for the Indian one I hope that too will somehow materialize more in your spirit than in the box- office spirit.--- One marches on. There is no choice--- if one hasn't the gift to "make" money one just can't do it I certainly haven't. --- The pressure becomes greater + greater but somehow as I said one marches on + without bands playing.--- --- I hope you got the Marin Letters I sent a copy to you immediately. Pg 6 It's from The Hill---Georgia + me You have earned it.-- I know you'll enjoy it.-- My love Your old Stieglitz Oct. 12, 1934 [*Ans Alvarado Oct 26/34*] Oct 12/34. Dear Henwar: Finally a breathing spell - I came down here a week ago. It seems an eternity. Everything seems to be moving at greater & greater speed headed for even God doesn’t know where. The day before I left the hill - or may be two or three days before - your grand letter came. I had just written to Georgia asking did she even hear. And I very rarely ask anything. So you answered for yourself. Yes your letter is grand. I read it aloud to various sympathesic ears. And it refreshed them. There are so many very tired people about - should I say tired souls? Well it is great the ex - 4/ I haven't seen him or heard from him. Is he ready. If not when? And Georgia? - Of course she has no show of new things as she has only started painting again which in itself is a miracle too. To me- - as for myself- I found 20 or 22 old (50 years) negatives in the attic + printed them. So in time I'll show them with new work. It will be some show. They + the Book - so in spite of the Silence here & I literally alone - the potential is terrific. - All I hope for is to remain on my feet. There is some circus ahead.- 2/ periences you are getting - and the way you feel about life & living - - Georgia wired yesterday she is on her way East- per auto- she & Spud Johnson So you see she seems to be getting somewhat better. She is bound for Lake George. How long she'll be there I don't know - I'll go up & see her. - Much is astir here - The Book finally found a publisher with a vengeance. You may have heard from Strand- It is a great story. - A miracle has happened. No wire pulling- no politics - no game of friendship - The Book is to appear as a Xmas Greeting on Thanksgiving Day sent out by 1 I wish I could see that Mexican movie. I wonder will it ever come this way. -- As for the Indian one I hope that it will somehow materialize more in your spirit than in the box-office spirit. -- One marches on. There is no choice. -- If one hasn't the gift to "make" money, one just can't do it. I certainly haven’t The pressure becomes greater & greater but somehow as I said one marches on & without bands playing. -- I hope you got the Marin letters. I sent a copy to you immediately. 3 The Literary Guild & Doubleday & Doran -- 40000 copies are about to be printed. -- Two weeks ago it looked as if the book were shelved for while. -- Two of its Editors - Mumford & Rosenfeld thinking it not worthy of the subject. Translated into new English that meant their reflective essays in their own eyes were delinquent! -- It's a curious world -- & I don't know are the dice loaded or not. Either way it really makes no difference. - As for the Place here I am alone trying to see my way clear what to do. -- We usually start with Marin. - It's from The Hill-- Georgia + me You have earned it. -- I know you'll enjoy it. -- My love -- Your old Stieglitz Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.