CATHER, WILLA, AND EDITH LEWIS | A small archive of letters, photographs, and other items relating to Cather and Lewis

CATHER, WILLA, AND EDITH LEWIS

A small archive of letters, photographs, and other items relating to Cather and Lewis.

The group comprises:

3 autograph letters, 1 typed letter (partial), and one postcard, written to Cather. 2 letters are from Anna Sadilek Pavelka of Bladen, Nebraska, who was the inspiration for Cather's novel My Antonia. 1934 and 1942, 4 pp. — A 3 pp. letter from Cather's father, Charles F. Cather, Red Cloud, Nebraska, 22 January 1919, with autograph envelope — The first page of a typed letter from Admiral Byrd and a postcard from "J. F." are also present.

A group of 36 picture postcards bought by Cather on her first trip to the Southwest in 1912 (described by Hermione Lee as "one of the most important journeys of her life"). On the card of the El Ortiz Hotel in Lamy, New Mexico, Cather has drawn an arrow to the roof and written "Court in here"; on the verso she has underlined printed text about the building's architecture. She has dated another card of Lamy "May 31, 1912" — Two prescriptions written by Dr. H. S. Patterson for Cather and filled at Bigelow's Pharmacy in Greenwich Village (one on Bigelow's letterhead), 1922, 1932.

A fine 4-page illustrated letter from Stephen Tennant to Lewis, Beirut, 18 May 1948 — passport page with photo and signature of Lewis — postcards written to Lewis — 2 stenographic notebooks with transcriptions of Tennant's poetry, possibly in Lewis's hand — 4 photographic portraits of Cather, one showing Cather having her portrait painted (condition varies).

Numerous carbon copies of papers and articles, tear-sheets, etc.  

PROVENANCE:

Willa Cather and Edith Lewis (given by Miss Lewis to) — Emmeline Ruddy — by descent to the present owner.