ALS from Janis Joplin signed “J,” six pages, 6 x 8, September 17 [1965]. Content-rich handwritten letter to her boyfriend, Peter de Blanc, covering several topics, such as requesting more on his medical condition, describing her teachers, reuniting with an old friend, explaining her choice of a Beatles-themed illustration for art class, and approving his decision to ask her father for her hand in marriage. In part: “I was really glad to hear something about your condition, even if it was only a hypothesis…So…they need little pieces of the spleen, liver & marrow…they won't have to operate, will they?…
"I'm really gassed — I like every one of my teachers…My sociology teacher is named Drenan…He's very ugly, but sounds like a pretty good teacher in a hungover fashion…And my English teacher is the type…that I have always secretly adored. She's about 55, tall w/ gray hair in a bun & very old-fashioned. Not out of touch w/ the times, mind you, but…constantly asks questions, smilingly…& sprinkles her lectures with quotations from authors…My history teacher…I picked him because I liked him. He's…tall, young, suspenderwearing, kind of gawky, sloppily dressed…And my French teacher is a beautiful young woman w/ a very quiet voice & a pleasant manner. She has very long curly hair all piles loosely up on top of her head & a lovely smile…
“One girl that I spoke w/ today at lunch is an old friend who used to be married to Bob Clark. Yes, he was married. But it just didn't make it — only a few months. But Frances is very nice, probably the closest Beaumont [TX, where her school is located] has to a sophisticated independent type. Y'know, very theatery & intelligent. She's all right…
“In Art, we've been assigned three illustrations to do…I'm going to do a thing for HELP!, the Beatle movie. I'm turning into a Big Beat enthusiast. Turning? Well, I already was. And I think the helter-skelter atmosphere ought to be a good thing to do…I think it was lovely of you to write & ask my father for me [for her hand in marriage]. Wow, you're so sweet.” In fine condition.
Before her rise as the lead of Big Brother & the Holding Company in the summer of 1966, Janis Joplin had taken a break from her life in San Francisco, leaving behind a lover in the process: Peter De Blanc. De Blanc supported Joplin's decision to sober up by moving to her hometown of Port Arthur, Texas, where the latter attended Lamar University. Their plan to marry was broken off when she learned that De Blanc was expecting a child with another woman. Joplin returned to San Francisco in June 1966 and joined Big Brother & the Holding Company to launch her legendary career.
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