Zora Neale Hurston and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Includes letters between Hurston and Rawlings and letters regarding Hurston from the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and the Edith Pope Papers.  All items are in the Rawlings Papers, unless noted otherwise.

  1. Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan.
    Letter to Edith Pope's, Patrie
    1942 July 7 [St Augustine]
     Had a visit yesterday, by invitation, from ZNH. Praises Zora and describes her ideas about race relations. Says she should accept Zora as a "human being and a friend," but she is a coward. Afraid she will hurt Norton's business.
    Edith Pope Papers
    Printed in Selected Letters as addressed to" Norman Berg's pointer, Patrie," #105, p. 222-224.
  2. Pope, Edith T.
    ALS to MKR.
    [1942 July 20. Kessler Field, MS.]
    "It is really sad that the one winter Zorah [sic] Neal[sic] Hurston is in St. Augustine I am not. I've   wanted to meet that woman for years on end, and have even hunted for her name in the Washington phone book with the intention of going to see her. I do think she is remarkable, an impression confirmed by your letter. Gee, I wish I thought I'd get home while she is there."
    Edith Pope Papers
  3. Hurston, Zora Neale
    4. ALS to MKR 
    1943 May 16, Daytona Beach, FL. 3 1/2p.
    Praise of Cross Creek and character sketch of Negro picker. She has a new boat; wishes they could explore Indian River and St. Johns together.
     
  4. Hurston, Zora Neale
    5. TLS to MKR
    1943 Aug 21, Daytona Beach, FL. 1p.
    Sympathy on household problems.
     
  5. Baskin, Norton
    ALS to MKR. APO New York. 4p.
    1943 Sept. 19th
    Offer from Zora Neale Hurston.
    May accession
  6. Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan.
    Letter to NB.
    1943 August 23. [Crescent Beach]  7 p
    Cites a letter from ZNH  (Aug 21.) which has inspired her into throwing herself into the "fight for an honest chance for the Negro." Also refers to an earlier letter from ZNH. [May 16?] Says when she finishes her book, she shall take the trip with Zora, even if costs her the lawsuit and him, his business. Baskin, Norton
  7. Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan
    TLS to Edith [Pope]
    1943 Oct. 19. [Cross Creek?]
    "Did I write you that Zora Neale Hurston wrote me of her distress and disgust at Idella's leaving, and knowing that I was trying to get to work on a book, offered--though she is working on a book of her own--to come and take over until I finished my book? It is one of the biggest things I have ever known a human being to do. It made me ready to go-all for the Negro race."
    Edith Pope Papers
  8. Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan.
    Letter to NB
    1943 December 22 [Cross Creek]
    9. Describes surprise visit,which she had been "dreading," during which Hurston stayed overnight at her house. Describes dream about racial confrontation.
     
  9. Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan.
    Letter to NB.
    1943 December 22 [Cross Creek]
    10. Says Zora Hurston left this morning about 11.
     
  10. Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan.
    TLS to NB
    1943 December 29 [Cross Creek]
    11. Has received Zelma's brief from Phil May. It shows that her fears about hosting Zora were justified and could be used against her.
     
  11. Perkins, Maxwell Evarts
    12. TLS to MKR
    1947 Apr 16, NYC. 2p.
    Robert Camp's illustrations; dialect; Zora Hurston.
     
  12. Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan
    13. TLS to Maxwell E. Perkins
    1947 Apr 30, Hawthorne, FL. 1 1/4p.
    Zora Neale Hurston.
     
  13. Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan
    14. ANS to to Philip May
    1948 March 4 received
    Attached to a copy of a letter saying ZNH is "due in sometimes over the weekend," and then quoting  comments about shooting Zelma Cason from her last letter. Passed on to Rawlings by Dorothy Parker, mother of Zora's agent, Jean.
    Cason v. Baskin (Phil May Papers) Box 1.
     
  14. Pope, Edith
    15. ALS to MKR
    1948 Nov 2, St. Aug., FL. 6p.
    Zora Neale Hurston's writing.
     
  15. Hurston, Zora Neale
    16. ALS to MKR
    1948 Dec 22, NYC. 1p.
    Analysis of poor-white dialogue. (Note on Christmas Card)
     
  16.  Hurston, Zora Neale
    17. TLS to MKR
    NY? 1p.
    Comment on writing of Seraph on the Suwanee.
     
  17.  Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan
    18. TLS to Fania M. and Carl Van Vechten
    1949 Jan 17, St. Augustine, FL. 1p.
    Zora Neale Hurston.
     
  18. Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan
    19. TLS to Carl Van Vechten
    1949 Feb. 10, St. Augustine, FL.
    Charlie Scribner's report that Zora "had been in trouble on a 'mild sex charge' . . .  is idiotic. Sex is never mild."
  19. TLS to Zora Neale Hurston
    20. 1952 Jan 6, Hawthorne, FL. 2p.
    No new book yet; stop by if coming North.