The Letters of C. Vann Woodward - Hardcover

Woodward, C. Vann

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0300185340 ISBN 13: 9780300185348

Publisher: Yale University Press, 2013

Synopsis

C. Vann Woodward was one of the most prominent and respected American historians of the twentieth century. He was also a very gifted and frequent writer of letters, from his earliest days as a young student in Arkansas and Georgia to his later days at Yale when he became one of the arbiters of American intellectual culture. For the first time, his sprightly, wry, sympathetic, and often funny letters are published, including those he wrote to figures as diverse as John Kennedy, David Riesman, Richard Hofstadter, and Robert Penn Warren. The letters shed new light not only on Woodward himself, but on what it meant to be an American radical and public intellectual, as well as on the complex politics and discourse of the historical profession and the anxious modulations of Southern culture.

About this title

About the Author

Michael O’Brien is professor of American intellectual history at the University of Cambridge.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

THE LETTERS OF C. Vann Woodward

By Michael O'Brien

Yale UNIVERSITY PRESS

Copyright © 2013 Michael O'Brien
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-300-18534-8

Contents

Introduction...............................................................
ix
Editorial Note.............................................................
xlv
1. Early Years, 1926–45....................................................
1
2. Johns Hopkins, 1946–62..................................................
114
3. Yale, 1962–77...........................................................
233
4. Last Years, 1977–99.....................................................
340
Acknowledgments............................................................
409
Index......................................................................
411

CHAPTER 1

Early Years, 1926–45

1. To Claude Outlaw

Morrilton, AR
February 20, 1926

In those days old chap we were just a pair of dreamers—or that is wewere in that very sentimental age of adolescence which we are now butbarely passed—nevertheless I spent then the most happy, beautiful andcomplete days I ever hope to spend—we did not consider the realities forwe new (sic) nothing much of them. We had I believe the true spirit ofadventure. You know we got more genuine enjoyment out of a stroll inthe moonlight, or the speculation upon a new character in town, than wecan now out of dozens of dances, etc. We were both dreamers by natureand found in each other a rare similarity of mind, which we enjoyed fora time, then our interests grew apart and so did we. We began to learn ofthe world and our natures hardened into the cast that surrounded us—Oh,I don't know, that is just my little diagnosis of the case.

CVWP, 39/473: TLS

2. To Hugh Allison Woodward

Atlanta, GA
Sunday evening [Spring 1930]

I thought it would probably be very gratifying to you to learn that yourson would not be in any immediate danger of swelling the ranks of theBowery bread-lines next year as a climax of his very liberal education,and also to the Mater in that she may now feel perfectly free to purloinyour patch pants and donate them to Uncle Billy's progeny; for you seethe fact is it looks as though I will not have to call upon you or the SalvationArmy either for my support.

I have just finished typing an ingratiating letter to Professor Perry ofthe Tech English Department, accepting a position as an instructor ofEnglish at The Georgia School of Technology (best known, possibly, formy famous sketch of its geneology appearing in the Atlanta Journal).I'll confess that it was a considerable surprise when I received a notelast night, announcing that one of the professors that had been withthem for three years has suddenly decided to leave for Harvard to completehis graduate work, leaving a position vacant. Perry said it wasopen to me if I were still available. So, since I was simply overburdenedwith availability, I pondered over his offer for a matter of probably twoseconds and finally came to the decision that I would accept. Apparentlyhe does not intend to fill Rainey's place, so I shall be the only manadded.

You really are not in a position to realize how extraordinary his offeringme the position really is. I believe I have told you about some of the men withwhom I was competing for the place. All of them with either more experience,or more preparation in English than I have had. If he really did knowhow little I had actually studied in the English department here at Emory,I am afraid all would not be so well. It's a stroke of my purest luck.

I have busied myself during the last week with an effort at landinga position as an instructor of English in Germany, as I mentioned whenI saw you last. I would have been perfectly content with that, or that isthe prospect of it. It would have given me my year abroad, exempt fromexpense, with a pretty intimate opportunity for close insight into Germanlife. I still intend to make the European venture; probably in some otherway. That way would have left me penniless and necessitated anotheryear's teaching in America before I could continue my study. I hope tosave a good deal out of the rather generous salary paid at Tech.

Please start making plans now for getting the Mater off to Atlanta forevery one of the Grand Opera performances. We can't afford to let hermiss a one. Aunt Mayme is expecting to entertain her. Tell me at oncewhether or not to make the reservations.

CVWP, 60/732: TLS

3. To Glenn W. Rainey

Oxford, GA
[circa. June 1930]

A rather stupefying convalescence from the slight illness I was botheredwith in Atlanta combined with a slight dose of ennui, whichI feared even more, has kept me from writing you sooner. I have aboutrecovered from both now, thanks to the constant application of electricfans and a copy of Tristram Shandy, which, by the way, I simply insist onyour reading immediately. As long as my appetite and capacity for bookscontinues at its present rate I shall be able to weather the dullest season.Reading is good for that if for nothing else, in case you are called on todefend a ravenous appetite, as I frequently am.

Howard Odum is here visiting his brother for a while. I walked overthe other day and had a good talk with him. He really does wean thealarming number of prize calves he claims to. I was expected to standabout admiringly while he went through the process. I am afraid I didit none too gracefully. He appeared very much interested in my plansand talked a good while about them. In spite of our unanimous opinionof his address the other night, I still can not help being impressed bythe largeness of the man at closer quarters. Whatever the quality of hiswork may be, the man is possessed of a remarkable energy and genuinedisinterestedness. He told me of the books he is working on. The BlackUlysses story it seems, is to be a trilogy, the last book of which is to comeout soon. It sounds even more promising than the first, about which I amstill unqualifiedly enthusiastic. It will be called "Feather in the Wind." Itis to treat of the present day Negro in contrast to his Grandfather, and isto be told in ghost stories. The trilogy is to be bound in one volume.

He is now at work on another trilogy on the South, the first volumeof which is completed. Walter Lippmann liked it very much he said.Mencken wanted a couple of articles from it, but he is hesitating becausehe has treated the South a bit harshly and is apprehensive about introducingthe trilogy via the Mercury. It seems that he and H. L. are quitechummy, and see each other pretty often. He believes that H. L. is stillour greatest critic, and has done more for the South than any other of theliterati. He is rather enthusiastic and a bit surprised over the "Treatise onthe Gods," said it was his crucial test and that he was satisfied with it. Isuggest that you get it before emulating the adolescent Shelley.

I shall be in Atlanta about next Thursday and will call you up as soonas I arrive. I shall expect you, and I hope Ernest too to return with me fora visit. Please put your affairs in order. You really must not disappointme. I am going to leave for New Orleans about the middle of July so thiswill be the best, and possibly the only time.

A letter from Pete recently. He is rabidly engrossed in searching outthe Dark Lady in the Chivers saga. He seems to have made himself quitean indispensable part of the expedition of pedants from Duke University.

GWR: TLS

4. To Glenn W. Rainey

New Orleans, LA
22 July [1930]

A disappointment was in store for me here, in the last place I shouldexpect any degree of disappointment. It seems that the whole colonyin the Vieux Carre, who made up all my acquaintances and friends,have bodily migrated to cooler or more lucrative climates. A letter fromPrice was awaiting me, saying that he was 65 miles from the railroad inthe Painted Desert and expected to be there indefinitely. There is onechap left here, a Mexican artist, but alas, he is prosaically married to awoman who will not let him drink—My old haunts, the Quarters BookShop has been taken over by a crew of homosexuals and rabid intellectualswho disgust me.

This by no means ends the list of my disappointments. For instance,some damnable fiend, imbued with civic pride has replaced those pricelessold gas street lamps which simply made the quarters by night withglaring, unwinking electric globes. I walked the streets the first day I washere hunting the fiend with a knife. Then too, they have painted those oldpillars which supported the French market orange and Green!! Sapristi!!

I believe now that I shall return tomorrow or the next day—providedI do not ship out on a coastwise boat, a thing I am a little tempted to do.I observe discretely that I am becoming less the incurable romantic I wasonce upon a time.

[deletion]

Saw a notice of the trial of the 6 assassins in the paper here. Keepup with it, and tell me about it when I return.

GWR: ALS

5. To Glenn W. Rainey

Atlanta, GA
October 1, 1930

[deletion]

An incident occurred yesterday which you only have an ear for. Anaccident two blocks from here happened, in which a Negro was seriouslyhurt. A large crowd gathered about the man. An ambulance arrived,a way was cleared for the stretcher bearers who no sooner foundthat the man was black than they folded up the stretcher, got back into themachine and drove off. The Negro lay there until a colored ambulancearrived. The whole meaning of the incident, however, was more in thefaces of the crowd. Their reaction stirred me considerably. I simply hadto tell someone about it.

[deletion]

GWR: TLS

6. To Glenn W. Rainey

Atlanta, GA
January 24 [1931]

[deletion]

A letter from Rick today assures me that the trouble of the world andme is due purely and simply to Romanticism and Rousseau. Hepromises to pray over my condition with his own saint, Irving Babbitt,who, he adds, is the greatest American, and will be remembered alongwith Aristotle. The dear fellow has gone stark Humanist—raving, andprobably dangerous. He is leaving the field of Fine Arts (what a loss) andis devoting his hours to meditations on the inner check, looking under hisbed every night for the shades of Rousseau. Furthermore he is taken toreading papers on Browning to Ladies Sewing Circles—he even encloseda clipping from the paper to prove it. May God help him! Better had hetaken the cloth!

I have about decided that I shall accept the Tech place if it is offeredto me for the next year, tentatively, in my own mind at least. I don't knowwhat to think of myself for not stepping out next year upon some determinedcourse of study or activity. But so it is. I am no less provoked withmyself than you are about me. Maybe I shall see the light before it is toolate. I am going to go somewhere for study this summer. Probably NewYork or abroad. But now that I am planning to be here next year, youmust redouble your determination to come to Tech. Write Perry as soonas you can. It is possible that there will be another vacancy besides Jack's,but there are several applicants already. I hope we can make it together.

I went out to see the Hartsocks as soon as they returned from Florida.Mrs. Hartsock looks much improved, while Mr. Hartsock seems to bedoing some business. He told me that he could settle Ernest's bill withNeff right now if he wanted to. He does not seem to want to. If hedoes not adopt a different tone with Neff I am afraid he is going to havetrouble with him. The sale of the books seems to be keeping up strongly.I talked with them about disposing of the letters, MS., etc., and they saidthey were willing to keep it at Emory. I am going to take it out there nextweek. I attended a meeting of the Writer's Club recently, at which What'shis name, the Oglethorp man had considerable to say. I find it difficultto look on him with out a turn of the stomach. Otherwise I suppose heis quite reputable. The anthology of Ga. verse he has put out seems to[be] a creditable work. Whatever reasons he might have of his own, heis doing quite well by Ernest. He is having a bronze bust made of him, insteadof simply the mask. I am glad of that, and I know you are. Glenn, Ihave been thinking of attempting that biographical sketch of him. Whatyou think. Should I wait? And am I the one to do it. I know there areothers much better qualified to do it, among them being yourself. I wouldhate to make a mess of it. I shan't do that, either.

[deletion]

GWR: TLS

7. To Glenn W. Rainey

[Atlanta, GA]
February 19, 1931

The reading of your letter demonstrated to me that I am not yet incapableof feeling a sense of guilt at neglecting my correspondence. Itwas good of you to write me about my grandmother's death. You knewsomething of how I longed for her release from it all. When I got themessage, and indeed until I reached home, I was calmly contented thatit happened when it did, that is before the summer months, which wereworse on her. But as soon as I entered the house I felt strangely guilty formy attitude. Mamma's distress, while perfectly natural, came as a surpriseto me, and added another shade of guiltiness. My sympathy forher was frankly greater than my grief, which is more than I had anticipated.Then, since the barbaric custom of sitting up with the body hadto be conformed with, I insisted on doing it myself rather than havingsome outsider. I have never overcome an animal awe for the dead whichworked on me dreadfully that night. Another vestigial emotion in me ismy inability of associating, without considerable effort, the personalitythat I knew in life with the dead body. That had also been my experiencein Ernest's death. It is perhaps the thing that horrified me most about it.Your escape of the physical horror of the thing probably explains yourpersonal feeling about it. I am afraid that for me there will always be thepictures that I associate with the death.

I talked with Mrs. Hartsock yesterday. Musser was here last weekbut I failed to see him. Mrs. Hartsock said that he had completed a biographyof Ernest which he was planning to publish soon. She read themanuscript and seem to be satisfied with it, although there were somethings which she seemed to feel doubtful about. It is to be largely anappreciation and critical evaluation, with a minimum of biographicalmaterial. I wish, of course that I had been able to see the manuscript.Mrs. Hartsock says that he is to return during the latter part of March,and if the book is not published by that time I hope I will be permittedto read the manuscript. I suppose you would agree with me that Musseris as well qualified to do the work as anybody, that is in view of his poeticability and appreciation of Ernest's work. But I know that you will alsoshare my apprehensions in another direction. I read two letters of condolencewhich he wrote Mrs. Hartsock, and they seem to me to be on anormal and genuine tone. If the biography is of the same quality we havenothing to fear. (Parenthetically, I might add that he visited your friend,Mr. Jackson, while in the city.) He also told Mrs. Hartsock that he hopedto go through the unpublished manuscript sometime with a view of makingup a posthumous volume. I really hope he will attempt this, but I donot believe there will be nearly enough to make up a volume.

Your idea of my coming up there next year is certainly temptingenough. It would be great to be with you, and I rather believe I shouldlike the place. But, Glenn, I don't believe I shall make the step. I toldyou, I believe that I had applied for the Rosenwald scholarship which isheaded locally by Dr. Alexander. I talked to him pretty frankly about mylack of direction and my hesitency of obligating myself, too frankly I amafraid. They might give it to me however. He talked like he would. Eventhen I don't know whether I should accept it. As the Germans so picturesquelyput it, Ich habe kein Sitzfleisch. I have asked Dr. Perry to recommendme for reappointment for next year. Perhaps another year here wouldnot be bad for me. The work seems to take less and less time, which leavesme leisure for a rather prodigious amount of reading that I am doing. IfI do return, I shall probably spend the summer in New York or Germanystudying. That's rather vague, but it's the best I can do it present.

I believe you are doing exactly the right thing in remaining there foranother year. You guessed correctly last Christmas that I thought youwere making a mistake by coming back to Tech. Your largest opportunitylies there I am sure. I was more surprised that you had not joined theSocialist party before, than that you were thinking of it. Even as a purelypolitical move I do not think you are making a mistake, though there issome question about that. At least you will be able to say in the words ofWill Rogers, when he lost his famous campaign of '28, "as for me I hadrather be right."

GWR: TLS

(Continues...)

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Edition details

• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0300185340
• ISBN 13: 9780300185348
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 480
• Editor: O'Brien Michael