Archive of 17 letters by Eleanor Roosevelt as first lady, with twelve signed "Eleanor Roosevelt," and five signed "E. R.," all one page, ranging in size from 6 x 9 to 8.5 x 11, dated from 1936 to 1944, all to her literary agent George Bye or his wife. Roosevelt comments on publications, her schedule, contracts, and some family matters. Additionally includes a large quantity of correspondence from Bye's files, including letters signed Gene Tunney, Hall Roosevelt, Anna Roosevelt Boettiger, Edith Benham Helm (Mrs. Roosevelt's secretary), Esther Lape, William D. Hassett, White House Press Secretary Stephen Early, John W. Snyder, Missy LeHand, and Grace Tully, plus carbon copies of Bye's letters to FDR, and a telegram sent to Bye by FDR. In overall very good to fine condition.
Highlights from Eleanor Roosevelt's letters:
February 20, 1936: "I would consider any radio contract that was perfectly all right and brought in sufficient return to make it worthwhile…I would be glad to make any revisions you want in the illiteracy article."
February 26. 1938: "I love the poem! I envy your being able to spend your time in the country and wish that I were going to be at Hyde Park rather than going off on a month's trip." The trip was a lecture tour to promote her new book, This Troubled World, which she wrote in anger over her husband's foreign policy. She called for collective security and a World Court, and called for unity in the fight against fascism.
May 16, 1938: "I haven't much confidence in Crosby Gaige's judgment so I would like to see the prospectus of the Youthbuilders and know a little more about it before I give any opinion on the subject…I will remember your suggestion about booksellers and will try to do it tactfully an amusingly. I will not have any copies for the Publishers Weekly as I never write out my speeches." She adds a handwritten postscript: "I am speaking in my column about 'Youthbuilders' because their prospectus has come & sounds good!"
June 10, 1938: "There were four contracts. I have kept one and am returning the other three…I am sorry about Mr. Bigelow. He always seemed to be a rather crotchety old gentleman, but on the whole I liked him."
August 24, 1939: "Your French is marvelous—almost as good as the P.O.! It was grand having a glimpse of you the other night."
January 18, 1940: "I would be interested in doing comments but no 75,000 word book now. I wish you had been with us on Monday. Get Mr. Markel to ask you to the Times lunch if he invites the young people!"
September 18, 1941: "I can't imagine a Christmas message being flippant, and Mrs. Oursler didn't specify anything like that. Hall is about the same; this condition may last for weeks."
March 15, 1941: "I think it is grand that Liberty is pleased with the article."
June 7, 1941: "My plans keep changing, but I think now I can have Hall's birthday party on July 14th. Do you think it would be more fun to have this a luncheon picnic or a supper picnic? It makes no difference to me."
October 6, 1941: "I am so grateful to you for your kindness in coming down to attend the services for Hall, and for the beautiful flowers you and Arlene sent. They helped more than I can say." Hall Roosevelt was Eleanor's youngest brother who passed away at age 50 on September 25, 1941; his funeral was held in the White House.
March 2, 1942: "I will try to do the book soon, if my children will stop having operations!"
October 9, 1942: "I am sending you this correspondence from Mr. Raymond B. Eldred on the subject of the Reader's Digest story. Of course, I have no objection to anything Pegler writes. You may have thought it wiser to give permission, but Pegler never writes in the spirit of good clean fun." Includes two letters sent to Roosevelt from citizens expressing outrage at Westbrook Pegler's mocking column published in Reader's Digest.
November 28, 1944: "Thank you for sending me Leonard Lyons' article about your 'business department' It is a cute story and I am glad to have seen it."
Undated: "There is a possibility that Earl Miller, whom you have met, and who is a Lieutenant in the Navy Reserves, may have a chance to go to Pensacola, Fla., as Gene Tunney's aide. Either Earl or I will send you the material about his qualifications, and I am wondering if you would be willing to speak to Gene Tunney about him? I shall be most grateful if you can do this."
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