Cassette Tape 15 -- Regular Letters to Carson McCullers

File — Box: 1, Folder: 15

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

These papers include Sullivan's school papers, research materials (mainly focusing on Carson McCullers and Lillian Smith) from graduate school through her later life, newspaper clippings of local and national events, copies of her dissertation, and a varied and voluminous correspondence.

Below are two lists of selected correspondents; one alphabetically by signature and the other by last name, if known:

Selected Correspondents of Margaret S. Sullivan, alphabetically by the name they used in correspondence:

Alberta = Alberta Schwartz

Alice = Alice Clark

Alice = Alice Degilio

Alicia = Alicia Jurado

Alva = Alva Current-Garcia

Ann = Ann and Howard (last name not known)

Arlin = Arlin Turner

Arthur = Arthur Rosenthal

Barbara = Barbara Freeman

Barbara = Barbara and Bob Kernelk

Barbara = Barbara Maris

Barbara = Frank and Barbara Star

Beau = Beau Brian

Belle (or Aunt Belle) = Mrs. Clarence Bailey

Bev = Beveridge Webster

Bill = William Erwin

Carlton = Carlton Johnson

Caroline = Caroline Cable

Casey = unidentified

Cesi = Cecilia Cook

Chuck = Charles Padora

Clint = Clinton J. Atkinson

Clarence (or Uncle Speedy) = Clarence Bailey

Constance = Constance Johnson

Cora = Cora Howell, later Mrs. J. J. Sullivan

Dawn = Dawn Langley Simmons, a.k.a. Pepita

Dean = Dean Barton

Dee = Dee Rainey

Diane = Tim and Diane Aureden

Dick = Richard and Lilo Larner

Dolores = Mrs. Rick Eckberg

Don = Don Dixon

Donald = Donald Diamon

Donna = Donna and B. T. (Bennie) Abbott

Doris = Doris Bullock

Dot = Dorothy Lewis Griffith

Edwin = Edwin Peacock

Elizabeth = Elizabeth Barton

Emily (Miss Emily) = Mrs. Colin Davies

Emily (Miss Emily) = Emily Massee, later Mrs. James F. Brown

Emily = Emily Woodruff

Estelle (Miss Estelle) = Mrs. W. E. H. Searcy, III

Esther = Esther Smith

Fred = Frederick Marshall Karsten

Gene = Gene Current-Garcia

Genie = Genie Rose

George = George P. Brockway

Gin = Virginia Tucker, later Mrs. Thomas Melgaard

Helen = Helen Anne Caine, later Mrs. Benjamin Ira Franklin

Helen = Helen Harvey

Humphrey = unidentified

Isabelle = Jim and Isabelle Portner

Jay and Zee = Jay and Zee Claiborne

Jim = Jim and Isabelle Portner

John = unidentified

Judy = Judy Brown

Judy = Judy Frazer and later Mrs. Bernice (Bernie) Brouillette

Judy = Judy Ludwig

Judy = Mrs. Fred Stoll (of NYC in 1976)

Karen = Karen Tucker Melgaard, later Mrs. Russell Ward Miller

Lee = Nathalie Lee Goldstein

Lil = Lillian Smith

Liz = Elizabeth Barton

Liza = Liza Molodovsky

Locke = Locke Bullock

Louise = unidentified

Margaret = Margaret Smith, a.k.a. Rita (the sister of Carson McCullers)

Maris = Maris Urbans

Mark = Mark Orton, later married to Doris Cunningham

Mary = Mary Ames

Mary = Mary Dawson

Mary = Mary Louise Lasher

Mary = Mary Elizabeth Mercer, MD

Mary = Mary Tucker

Mary Ann = Mary Ann and Henry (last name not known)

Mary Ann = Mary Ann Taylor

Mary Ellen = Mary Ellen Templeton

Mitsy = Edna H. Campbell, later Mrs. Imre Kovacs

Monica = Monica Fleishman

Muriel = Muriel McClanahan

Myrtis = Mrs. H. Maxwell Morrison, Jr.

Nancy = Nancy Bunge

Nancy = Nancy Bush

Nelson = Nelson Shipp

Noel = Noel Dorman

Noel = Noel Mawer

Norman = Norman Rothschild

Odessa = Odessa Elliott

Olga = Olga Perlgueig, a.k.a. Olga Merx

Pastora = unidentified

Pat = Mrs. Harold Davis

Pat = Pat Stutts

Pat = Patricia Sullivan, later Mrs. Frank H. Conner, Jr.

Paula = Paula Snelling

Pepita = Dawn Langley Simons

Rinky = Mrs. Charles J. Caine

Rita = Margarita Smith (the sister of Carson McCullers)

Roberta = Mrs. J. E. Bush

Ruth = Mrs. William H. Barns

Ruth = Ruth and Richard Howell

Ruth = Ruth Lehmann

Sally = Sally Fitzgerald

Sally = Sally and Bill Thomas

Sam = Sam and Cheryl Dimon

Sissie = Bill and Sissie Morris

Speedy (Uncle Speedy) = Clarence Bailey

Susan = Mrs. Tom Rogan

Susan = Susan Sigmon

Susanne = Susanne Schaup

Tom = Tom Wrergbricke

Virginia = Virginia Spencer Carr

Virginia = Virginia Tucker, later Mrs. Thomas Melgaard

Walter = Walter Sturdivant

Selected Correspondents of Margaret S. Sullivan by last name (if known):

Abbott, Mrs. B. T (Bennie); known as Donna

Aureden, Tim and Diane

Ames, Mary

Ann and Howard (not otherwise identified)

Atkinson, Clinton J. (1928-2002); actor and director, working mostly in New York, and friend of Margaret S. Sullivan

Bailey, Belle and Clarence (Aunt Bell and Uncle Speedy); relatives on Cora Howell Sullivan's side of the family

Barns, Mrs. William H., known as Ruth

Barton, Dean; 5th grade teacher of Carson McCullers

Barton, Elizabeth; sister of Dean Barton, 5th grade teacher of Carson McCullers

Brian, Beau

Brockway, George P.; editor of Lillian Smith

Brouillette, Judy Frazer; life-long friend of Margaret S. Sullivan, married to Bernard (Bernie) Brouillette in 1967

Brown, Emily Massee (Miss Emily); married to James F. Brown and sister of Jordan Massee, a cousin of Carson McCullers

Brown, Judy

Bullock, Locke and Doris

Bunge, Nancy; teaching colleague and friend of Margaret S. Sullivan

Bush, Catherine; niece of Dr. Margaret Sue Sullivan and daughter of John and Nancy Sullivan Bush

Bush, Jeff; nephew of Dr. Margaret Sue Sullivan and son of John and Nancy Sullivan Bush

Bush, Nancy Sullivan (1935-1999); sister of Dr. Margaret Sue Sullivan, married to John Karl Bush

Bush, Roberta; the mother-in-law of Nancy Sullivan Bush

Bush, Steve; nephew of Dr. Margaret Sue Sullivan and son of John and Nancy Sullivan Bush

Cable, Caroline

Cain, Helen see: Mrs. Benjamin Ira Franklin

Caine, Mrs. Charles J., known as Rinky

Campbell, Edna H see: Kovacs, Mitsy

Carr, Virginia Spencer; biographer of Carson McCullers and research rival of Margaret Sullivan

Claiborne, Jay and Zee

Clark, Alice

Conner, Patricia Sullivan (1936-2003), known as Pat or Patsy; sister of Dr. Margaret Sue Sullivan, married to Frank H. Conner, Jr.

Conner, Frank H., III; nephew of Dr. Margaret Sue Sullivan, son of Frank H., Jr. and Patricia Sullivan Conner, married to Susan

Conner, William Jordan "Will"; nephew of Dr. Margaret Sue Sullivan and son of Frank H. Conner, Jr. and Patricia Sullivan Conner, married to Natalie

Conner, Ann (d. 1999); niece of Dr. Margaret Sue Sullivan daughter of Frank H. Conner, Jr. and Patricia Sullivan Conner, married to John Kraynik

Cook, Cathy and Bruce; parents of Cecilia (Cesi), Bob and Katy Cook

Cook, Cecilia, known as Cesi; daughter of Cathy and Bruce Cook

Current-Garcia, Alva and Gene

Davies, Mrs. Colin, known as Miss Emily; daughter of a Methodist preacher who lived in Columbus while Carson McCullers lived there. Was very useful to Sullivan in her McCullers research

Davis, Pat; married to Harold Davis

Dawson, Mary; friend of Margaret S. Sullivan

Degilio, Alice

Diamond, Donald (1915-2005); musician and teacher at Julliard, and a friend of Carson McCullers and her family. Very useful to Sullivan in her McCullers research.

Dimon, Sam and Cheryl

Dixon, Don

Dorman, Noel

Eckberg, Jason, son of Dolores Eckberg

Eckberg, Mrs. Rick (Dolores), mother of Jason

Elliott, Odessa

Erwin, William (Bill)

Fitzgerald, Sally (1917-2000); friend and biographer of Flannery O'Connor, as well as the editor of her letters and short stories. Also friend of Margaret S. Sullivan.

Fleishman, Monica

Franklin, Mrs. Benjamin Ira, born Helen Cain

Frazer, Judy, see; Brouillette, Judy Frazer

Freeman, Barbara

Goldstein, Nathalie Lee; McCullers scholar and friend of Margaret S. Sullivan

Griffith, Dorothy Lewis (b. 1932); pianist and friend of McCullers' piano teacher, Mary Tucker. She became a long-time friend and correspondent of Margaret S. Sullivan

Harvey, Helen; neighbor and friend of Carson McCullers in Columbus

Henry, Mary Ann

Howell, Ruth and Richard

Humphrey (unidentified)

Johnson, Constance and Carleton

Jurado, Alicia

Karsten, Frederick Marshall "Frank"

Kernelk, Barbara and Bob

Kovacs, Edna H Campbell, known as Mitsy; life-long friend of Margaret Sullivan

Larner, Richard "Dick" and Lilo

Lasher, Mary Louise

Lehmann, Ruth

Louise (unidentified)

Ludwig, Judy

Maris, Barbara (in Baltimore in 1975)

Mawer, Noel

McClanahan, Muriel

Melgaard, Karen Tucker; daughter of Mrs. Thomas Melgaard. She married Russell Ward Miller in 1971.

Melgaard, Mrs. Thomas; daughter of Mary Tucker, known as Virginia or Gin

Mercer, Dr. Mary Elizabeth (1911-2013); the doctor, friend and heir of Carson McCullers, and very useful to Margaret S. Sullivan in her McCullers research

Merx, Olga = Olga Perlgueig

Molodovsky, Liza

Morris, Mrs. William "Sissie"

Morrison, Jr., Mrs. H. Maxwell "Myrtis"

Orton, Mark (married Doris Cunningham in 1968

Padorn, Charles "Chuck"

Pastora (otherwise unidentified)

Peacock, Edwin

Perlgueig, Olga = Olga Merx

Porter, Katherine Ann; novelist and contemporary of Carson McCullers

Portner, Jim and Isabell; neighbors and friends of Margaret S. Sullivan in Fairfax, Virginia

Rainey, Dee

Regan, Susan; married to Tom Regan

Rosa, Genie

Rosenthal, Arthur; a close friend of Margaret Sullivan when she lived in New York in the 1960s

Rothschild, Norman (1908-1998) was a Columbus, Georgia artist and co-owner of the David Rothschild Company. He was a friend of Carson McCullers and became acquainted with Margaret Sue Sullivan as a result of her McCullers research during the 1960s. They formed a friendship that lasted as long as he lived.

Schaup, Susanne; Austrian-born friend of Margaret S. Sullivan and perhaps one of her students

Schwartz, Alberta

Searcy III, Mrs. W. E. H "Miss Estelle"

Shipp, Nelson

Sigmon, Susan; perhaps a student of Margaret Sue Sullivan

Simmons, Dawn Langley, known as Pepita; friend of Carson McCullers in her New York days.

Smith, Ester; sister of Lillian Smith

Smith, Lillian "Lil", author and friend of both Carson McCullers and Margaret Sue Sullivan

Smith, Margareta "Rita"; sister of Carson McCullers

Snelling, Paula; partner of Lillian Smith

Star, Frank and Barbara

Stoll, Judy; Mrs. Fred Stoll; friends of Margaret S. Sullivan who lived in New York in the 1970s

Sturdivant, Walter; writer and friend of Margaret S. Sullivan

Stutts, Pat

Sullivan, Cora Howell (1907-1988); mother of Margaret S. Sullivan

Sullivan, Elizabeth T. "Beth"; daughter of James H. & Bunny Sullivan

Sullivan, James Howell (1931-2008); brother of Dr. Margaret Sue Sullivan, married to Margaret Thomas Sullivan "Bunny"

Sullivan, James H. Sullivan, Jr. "Jay"; son of James H. and Bunny Sullivan, married to Elizabeth G. Sullivan

Sullivan, Margaret "Meg"; daughter of J. H. and Bunny Sullivan, married to James L. Clark

Sullivan, Margaret Thomas (1933-2009) "Bunny", married to James "Jimmy" Howell Sullivan

Sullivan, Nancy; daughter of James H. and Bunny Sullivan, married to Robert F. Burgin

Taylor, Mary Ann; friend of Margaret S. Sullivan

Templeton, Mary Ellen; friend of Margaret S. Sullivan

Thomas, Sally and Bill

Tucker, Mary (d. 1982); Carson McCullers' piano teacher in high school who became a friend of Margaret S. Sullivan during her research on McCullers

Turner, Arlin; Margaret S. Sullivan's dissertation advisor and friend

Urbans, Maris.

Webster, Beveridge; pianist and colleague of Dorothy Lewis Griffin, known as Bev

Woodruff, Emily

Wrergbricke, Tom

1897-2011 13 boxes (13 c.f.)

Dates

Creation: Majority of material found within 1897 - 2011

Extent

From the Collection: 13.0 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Materials Specific Details

Tape 15 - Side A - Letters to Carson McCullers Regular -- 31 minutes and 23 seconds Sullivan's Label: Side 1 - 15a - Carson Reg. Letters 2 Margaret Sullivan reading the following: December 26, 1953 letter from Howard Mandel wishing Carson a Merry New Year, hears of her wanderings from Frank, seeing Doris Lees' series of imaginary portraits of women writers including Gertrude Stein, the Bronte sisters, Emily Dickinson, Edith Sitwell, George Sands, Sappho and Carson McCullers "the painting of you is really superb", we must arrange a meeting with her, many parties but now I must settle down to business 10 December, 1953 letter from Tanya Tolstoy saying she got Carson's letter from Paris, doesn't intend to leave Switzerland until the end of the month and hopes Carson and dear Bebe are well March 23, 1950 letter from Dr. Alfred Wolkenberg, "seller of fine antique reproductions", saying he is glad that Carson is getting better, he has the flu and has got to read some books he had neglected including one from 1947 and sends a book to her. The letter is signed Frank 17 July 1953 letter from Dennis, saying "I'm afraid that your copy of Bottegha Obscure has gotten dog-eared and he is enclosing a new copy of it. He had read [a draft of] Clock twice and says it is an encouraging start to her novel which he urges her finish, and he enclosed a review from the New York Times, enjoyed lunch together, Dennis August 8, 1953 letter from Gene Reynolds saying Louise Lalu picked up a copy of one of your books and said "it would be funny as I got around to reading one of Carson's books in Italian", liked the Ballad of the Sad Café, discusses other books and authors, including one by Annemarie [Schwarzenbach] October 23, 1953 letter from William Mayer, MD, saying he couldn't see her a couple of days ago, hopes she is better March 7 [no year] letter from Mrs. Jacob Anthony Begner, inviting Carson to a party on April 6, wanting to see her, signed Edith October 19, 1958 letter from Hilda Bruch, MD saying she thought that Carson would want to see how she had condensed the first draft adding that without her help she could never have done it, also enclosing an article about Gertrude W. Borge, who gave much aid and comfort to refugees in America, including Dr. Bruch when she arrived in 1934 February 17, 1959 letter from Harold Vinal, saying he will edit the Autumn issue of Voices and asking her to contribute some poems two back pages of letter from Jessie McFail Kimbro from Columbus, Georgia saying "Carson you have really gotten to the top of the ladder" and talks about Carson's nanny [another missing page] and talks about Carson's aunt and her grandmother, Mrs. Waters, also talks about changes to the neighborhood of her grandmother's house October 21 1953 postcard from Ruth, saying "I know you lived here too. I like everything fine except I'm lonely. Home November 14 October 18, 1953 or 1963 post card to Rita Smith saying having a good vacation, love Minnie July 21, 1963 postcard saying Mission accomplished. Went 6 dollars over budget but I think you'll be pleased, Love, Jack postcard from Assisi to Carson and Dr. Mercer saying that the whole region is overwhelming, Much love, Cornelia June 22, 1967 postcard mailed from Cape Hatteras saying "This is the farthest south I've been. Want to go to Georgia. Beginning of July Street Car Named Desire in Nyack. Want to be there. Peter O'Brian October 12, 1963 letter from Frank saying "Best wishes for a successful opening and a long run" August 3, 1967 letter from Frank saying he was sorry he missed Carson's phone call and saying that Jean is improving and can move the left side, adding "I have many letters of Annemarie's but they're in German, there may be some photos which I will try to find" June 24, 1958 note from Jane asking when they can have lunch undated letter from William Beyer of Arkansas about an article written about her in the Manchester Guardian Weekly and her work, especially Ballad, and enclosing a poem he wrote about loneliness and desire January 21, 1959 letter from Sandy Campbell of New York City recalling pleasant time that she spent in Nyack with Carson and the time that Carson and Reeves spent with her during the night of Summer and Smoke and asking her to sign some slips of paper to place in her copies of Carson's books 1966 nearly illegible letter from Davis F [?] Oxford asking for Carson's help in getting a visa to come visit her in America invitation to the wedding of Joanne Gomme [Carson's nurse during her trip to England for the Cheltenham Festival of Literature in 1962] to be held on August 10, 1963, with a note on the back saying in Carson's handwriting "Gift send 6/24/63" another wedding invitation from Mrs. Louise Rita Miller for the wedding of Patty Louise to Tommy Johnson Williams in September July 28 letter from Cookie Buckley saying that she loved being with Carson and Mary and described how hot who it was where she is and enjoyed Carson's hospitality and thanks to Ida, talks of her family and problems December 1, 1958 letter from Corning White saying that she had recently received two letters from Max Whetherly [?] with no return address, and saying that he and Mrs. White might be going to Europe in the summer and hope to lease their apartment to Max while they are gone. He asks Carson if she can give them his current address July 30 [no year] letter from Lila van Sayer saying that she would love to see Carson and how much she enjoyed Clock Without Arms [sic] undated letter from Ralph saying there has been a mix-up about where Max should have sent something, adding that she has found lots of McCullers fans at her college in Shreveport, Louisiana. Tape 15 - Side B - Letters to Carson -- 31 minutes and 22 seconds Sullivan's Label: [blank, but continues with Carson's regular letters from the other side] [MC 289-5-1-009b: Label] Margaret Sullivan reading the following August 13, 1963 note from Mrs. Barbara Blakemore thanking Carson for including her July 19, 1963 letter from Leonard Byrne saying that he is delighted to hear of a new book and the opening of Ballad 24 September 1957 letter from Ben asking her to call him November 7 card from Sherke [?] thanking Carson for her beautiful orchid January 5, 1954 card from Jane and Bob Stanton announcing the birth of Alexander Hardy and recalling a visit to Nyack and apologizing for being so long in thanking her for it December 29 Christmas card from Takako Shinano of Tokyo, Japan undated card from another Japanese correspondent Mrs. Mitahashi asking for some American stamps several Christmas cards of various dates get well cards of various dates Valentine cards various empty envelopes August 2, 1963 postcard from Oliver Evans saying "addendum to yesterday's letter" if there is any difference between your inside rooms and Capote's "Other Rooms" I fail to see it June 14, 1963 letter from Oliver Evans thanking her for her wire and saying that he intends to arrive in Nyack in a week or less February 26, 1963 letter from Oliver Evans saying that he is relieved she will cooperate with him in a biography of her March 1962 letter from Oliver Evans with a copy of an article of his from the MLA journal [Sullivan reads extensively from this essay] letter dated "Thursday" from Dr. Katherine Cohen [Carson's psychiatrist in London] describing her vacation scenery and routine, and her difficulties at entering Holland due to an expired passport October 2 and 3 letter from Dr. Katherine Cohen in Rotterdam, saying that she is sorry her first letter went astray February 10, 1954 letter from Mary Alberta Hinton to an unnamed person [perhaps Carson's mother, Margarite Smith?] saying that she is sorry about the misfortunes befalling her and how important it is to get back on her feet to help Carson and Rita a "long newsy letter" dated December 28, 1953 from Bessie Hicks of Columbus, Georgia to Mrs. Lamar Smith [Carson's mother] about the death of Mattie and her help with Herman's illness, about family and friends in Columbus, also mentions the shipment of "her mirror, such a lovely thing" [probably the pier mirror that she took to Nyack when she moved in with Carson]