Overview of the Collection
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Repository Name:
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University of Oregon Libraries
Special Collections & University Archives
1299 University of Oregon Eugene, OR 97403-1299 URL: http://libweb.uoregon.edu/speccoll/index.html
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Collection Number:
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Coll. 020
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Creator:
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Cantwell, Robert, 1908-
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Title:
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Robert Cantwell Papers
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Dates:
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1926-1978 (inclusive)
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Quantity:
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62.25 linear feet 130 containers
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Languages:
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Collection materials are in English.
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Summary:
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Writer Robert Cantwell was born January 31, 1908 in Little Falls (now Vader), Washington and died December 8, 1978 in New York, New York. Cantwell was a novelist, biographer, and essayist; as a journalist he worked on the editorial staffs of Time, Fortune, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated. The collection consists of correspondence, diaries, literary manuscripts, photographs, audiotapes, and maps, which reflect his life and career.
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Biographical Note
Robert Emmett Cantwell, novelist, biographer, essayist, and editor, was born January 31, 1908 in Little Falls, (now Vader) Washington, and died December 8, 1978, in New York, NY; son of Charles James (an engineer) and Nina Adelia (Hanson) Cantwell; married Mary Elizabeth Chambers (a teacher), February 2, 1931; children: Jean McNiece (Mrs. George Stolz, Jr.), Betsy Ann (Mrs. Walter Pusey III), Mary Elizabeth Emmett (Mrs. Lars-Erik Nelson).
After attending the University of Washington (1924-1925), he spent the next four years working at Harbor Plywood Co., (1925-1929) Hoquiam, Washington as a veneer clipper man. In 1929, after selling a short story to The American Caravan, he moved to New York where he began work on his first novel, Laugh and Lie Down (1931). After finishing the novel, Cantwell continued his freelance writing and published articles in The New Republic and The Nation, among others. During the period between 1930 and 1935 he wrote a second proletarian novel, The Land of Plenty (1934) and began work on a biography of Boston merchant E.A. Filene in collaboration with Lincoln Steffens, which was never completed.
In the next ten years, Cantwell worked on the editorial staffs of Time (1935-1936) and Fortune (1937), then became associate editor of Time (1938-1945). During the 1930’s he came to know a number of literary personalities that included John Dos Passos, James T. Farrell, Ernest Hemingway, Edmund Wilson, Malcolm Cowley, and Whittaker Chambers (who Cantwell eventually helped get a job at Time). During Cantwell’s employment at Time, he also became well acquainted with Henry Luce. Cantwell spent the next three years researching and writing the biography, Nathaniel Hawthorne: The American Years (1948). From 1949 to 1954 he worked as the literary editor of Newsweek and
then took up freelancing again until 1956 when he began an association with Sports Illustrated that lasted the rest of his life. He worked on scores of articles, three of which became books: Alexander Wilson: Naturalist and Pioneer (1961), The Real McCoy (1971), and The Hidden Northwest (1972). Subjects of his articles include chess, ornithology, sports in the movies and literary figures in sports.
Content Description
The Robert Cantwell Papers contain eleven series, which include general correspondence, diaries and notebooks, monographs, articles and subject files, financial matter, oversize, sheet music, miscellaneous, photographs, audiotapes, maps and forty-nine books. The General Correspondence Series is arranged chronologically from 1926 to 1978. The major correspondents are listed in a Selected Name Index at the end of the inventory. They include Ernest Hemingway, James T. Ferrell, John Dos Passos, Van Wyck Brooks, Whittaker Chambers, Erskine Caldwell, Malcolm Cowley, Henry Luce, Clare Luce Booth, Marianne Moore, T.S. Matthews, James Jones, Edmund Wilson, and other literary figures. A large portion of the correspondence, however, is of a family nature. Eight boxes of correspondence and diaries have been sealed until after the death of Mrs. Eva Stoltz Cantwell.
The Diaries and Notebooks Series contain Cantwell’s holograph (sometimes difficult to read) notes and diary entries. The entries are of a personal nature as well as work and research on various manuscripts.
The Monographs Series covers Cantwell’s fiction and nonfiction efforts. The manuscripts to his books Laugh and Lie Down, Alexander Wilson: Naturalist and Pioneer and The Hidden Northwest are included. Also among the monographs are unfinished works such as the biography of E.A. Filene that was a collaboration with Lincoln Steffens in 1934; the autobiography of James B. McNamara, a convicted labor dynamiter; Small Boston, a projected novel from the early 1970’s; and a project dealing with the FBI, privacy and Cantwell’s involvement with politics and Whittaker Chambers. Also in the collection is a series of articles, correspondence and research called Four Novelists, which was to include Cantwell’s work on William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway, James T. Ferrell and Erskine Caldwell. Included in this section is a manuscript page of William Faulkner’s Light in August.
The Articles and Subject Files Series has been so named because Cantwell often wrote more than one article on a subject, or the working title was not the same as the published title. In these cases the material is filed under the subject; otherwise the title of the article is used. Types of material that can be found in this series are manuscripts, tearsheets, notes, correspondence, and printed research material. The majority covers Cantwell’s work at Sports Illustrated where he was senior editor. There are also sections on his Time magazine work, manuscripts, and tear sheets of his book reviews for Newsweek, reviewing such authors as Richard Aldington, Whittaker Chambers, and J.D. Salinger; tear sheets of his freelance work for New Republic, The Freeman and other periodicals; and various introductions to others works. The series is arranged alphabetically and includes such topics as ornithology, the environment, chess and other sports.
The Financial Matter Series covers Cantwell’s royalty statements, accounting of income, book contracts and expense accounts, including correspondence relating to New York State Department of Taxation from 1943 to 1965.
The Oversize Series contains Subseries A: Illustrations; Subseries B: Sheet Music; Subseries C: Maps; Subseries D: Plate Making Negatives; and Subseries E: Photographs.
The Sheet Music Series contains a collection of over 100 pieces of piano sheet music. Most of the sheet music is from the 1920’s, 1930’s and 1940’s, with a few pieces from the late 1800’s. One holograph piece is signed by Betsy Cantwell.
The Miscellaneous Series contains Subseries A: Miscellaneous; Subseries B: Tearsheets; Subseries C: Periodicals; Subseries D: Articles & Mss. Fragments; Subseries E: Newspaper Clippings; Subseries F: Biographical Information; and Subseries G: Research & Draft-Proust & The Movies & Sports. In Subseries G, a holograph note was found with a large group of file folders identifying the contents as such.
The Photographs Series constitutes photographs either of a personal nature or have some connection with an article. There are Subseries A: Photographs, Subseries B: Negatives; Subseries C: Microfilm; and Subseries D: Slides. Photographs are stored separately under call number PH138.
The Audiotapes Series contains one audiotape about Patterson’s llamas.
The Maps Series contains maps of Cantwell’s research on various articles and manuscripts.
The books included with the collection are ones that Cantwell wrote or edited as well as those he contributed to or collected. Included in the collection are books by James T. Farrell, William and John Faulkner, Erskine Caldwell, and Ernest Hemingway. Many books are signed or inscribed.
Arrangement
Collection is organized into the following series: Series I. General Correspondence; Series II. Diaries and Notebooks; Series III. Monographs; Series IV. Articles and Subject Files; Series V. Financial Matter; Series VI. Oversize; Series VII. Sheet Music; Series VIII. Miscellaneous; Series IX. Photographs; Series X. Audiotapes; Series XI. Maps.
Administrative Information
Separated Materials Photographs in this collection stored separately under call number PH138.
Acquisition Information The collection was a gift of Robert Cantwell in 1965.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access Collection is open to the public.
Collection must be used in Special Collections & University Archives Reading Room.
Restrictions on Use Property rights reside with Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries.
Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the
Manuscripts Librarian in Special Collections & University Archives. The
reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Robert Cantwell Papers, Coll. 020, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon.
Subjects
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online
catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or
places should search the catalog using these headings.
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| Cantwell, Robert, 1908---Archives |
| Chambers, Whittaker |
| Dos Passos, John, 1896-1970 |
| Farrell, James T. (James Thomas), 1904-1979 |
| Hemingway, Ernest, 1899-1961 |
| Authors, American--20th century |
| Periodical editors--United States |
| Piano music--United States |
| Alexander Wilson |
| Hidden northwest |
| Laugh and lie down |
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in
the collection.
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Series I:
General Correspondence
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Container(s)
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Description
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Dates
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November 1926-November 1927
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November 1926-November 1927 |
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January 1928-July 1928
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January 1928-July 1928 |
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August 1928-September 1928
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August 1928-September 1928 |
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October 1928-November 1928
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October 1928-November 1928 |
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December 1928
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December 1928 |
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January 1929-April 1929
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January 1929-April 1929 |
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April 1929-September 1929
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April 1929-September 1929 |
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1930-1933
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1930-1933 |
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January 1934-February 1934
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January 1934-February 1934 |
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March 1934-August 1934
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March 1934-August 1934 |
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Includes undated letters of 1934
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September 19334-November 1934 |
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January 1935-July 1935
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January 1935-July 1935 |
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Augest 1935-December 1935
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Augest 1935-December 1935 |
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Undated letters
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1935 |
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January 1936-March 1936
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January 1936-March 1936 |
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April 1936-July 1936
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April 1936-July 1936 |
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August 1936-Decemer 1936
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August 1936-Decemer 1936 |
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Undated letters
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1936 |
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January 1937-March 1937
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January 1937-March 1937 |
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Includes undated letters of 1937
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April 1937-December 1937 |
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January 1938-September 1938
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January 1938-September 1938 |
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October 1938-December 1938
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October 1938-December 1938 |
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1939
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1939 |
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1940
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1940 |
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1941
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1941 |
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January 1942-June 1942
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January 1942-June 1942 |
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July 1942-Augst 1942
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July 1942-Augst 1942 |
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September 1942-December 1942
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September 1942-December 1942 |
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Undated letters
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1942 |
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Undated letters
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1942 |
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January 1943-June 1943
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January 1943-June 1943 |
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Includes undated letters
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July 1943-December 1943 |
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January 1944-May 1944
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January 1944-May 1944 |
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Includes undated letters
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June 1944-December 1944 |
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January 1945-April 1945
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January 1945-April 1945 |
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May 1945-September 1945
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May 1945-September 1945 |
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October 1945-December 1945
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October 1945-December 1945 |
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Undated letters
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1945 |
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January 1946-April 1946
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January 1946-April 1946 |
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May 1946-October 1946
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May 1946-October 1946 |
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Includes undated letters
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November 1946-December 1946 |
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January 1947-April 1947
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January 1947-April 1947 |
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May 1947-October 1947
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May 1947-October 1947 |
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Includes undated letters
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November 1947-December 1947 |
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January 1948-September 1948
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January 1948-September 1948 |
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October 1948-November 1948
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October 1948-November 1948 |
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Includes undated letters
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December 1948 |
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January 1949-March 1949
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January 1949-March 1949 |
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April 1949-September 1949
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April 1949-September 1949 |
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Includes undated letters
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October 1949-December 1949 |
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Janyary 1950-March 1950
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Janyary 1950-March 1950 |
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April 1950-June 1950
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April 1950-June 1950 |
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July 1950-September 1950
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July 1950-September 1950 |
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Includes undated letters
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October 1950-December 1950 |
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January 1951-April 1951
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January 1951-April 1951 |
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May 1951-July 1951
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May 1951-July 1951 |
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August 1951-October 1951
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August 1951-October 1951 |
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Includes undated letters
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November 1951-December 1951 |
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January 1952-May 1952
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January 1952-May 1952 |
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June 1952-September 1952
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June 1952-September 1952 |
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October 1952-November 1952
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October 1952-November 1952 |
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Includes undated letters
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December 1952 |
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January 1953-February 1953
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January 1953-February 1953 |
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March 1953-April 1953
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March 1953-April 1953 |
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May 1953
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May 1953 |
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June 1953-July 1953
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June 1953-July 1953 |
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August 1953-September 1953
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August 1953-September 1953 |
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Includes undated letters
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October 1953-December 1953 |
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January 1954-April 1954
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January 1954-April 1954 |
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May 1954-September1954
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May 1954-September1954 |
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Includes undated letters
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October 1954-December 1954 |
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January 1955-April 1955
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January 1955-April 1955 |
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May 1955-June 1955
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May 1955-June 1955 |
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July 1955-August 1955
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July 1955-August 1955 |
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September 1955-November 1955
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September 1955-November 1955 |
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Includes undated letters
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December 1955 |
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January 1956-February 1956
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January 1956-February 1956 |
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March 1956-April 1956
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March 1956-April 1956 |
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May 1956-July 1956
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May 1956-July 1956 |
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August 1956-July 1956
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August 1956-July 1956 |
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October 1956-November 1956
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October 1956-November 1956 |
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Includes undated letters
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December 1956 |
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Includes undated letters
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January 1957-February 1957 |
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March 1957-April 1957
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March 1957-April 1957 |
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May 1957-June 1957
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May 1957-June 1957 |
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July 1957-October 1957
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July 1957-October 1957 |
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Includes undated letters of 1957
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November 1957-December 1957 |
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Includes undated letters of 1957
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January 1958-May 1958 |
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June 1958-October 1958
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June 1958-October 1958 |
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Includes undated letters
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November 1958-December 1958 |
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January 1959-April 1959
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January 1959-April 1959 |
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May 1959-June 1959
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May 1959-June 1959 |
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July 1959-September 1959
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July 1959-September 1959 |
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Includes undated letters
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October 1959-December 1959 |
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January 1960-March 1960
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January 1960-March 1960 |
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April 1960-August 1960
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April 1960-August 1960 |
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Includes undated letters
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September 1960-December 1960 |
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January 1961-February 1961
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January 1961-February 1961 |
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March 1961-April 1961
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March 1961-April 1961 |
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May 1961-July 1961
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May 1961-July 1961 |
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August 1961-September 1961
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August 1961-September 1961 |
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October 1961
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October 1961 |
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Includes undated letters
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November 1961-December 1961 |
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January 1962-March 1962
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January 1962-March 1962 |
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April 1962-September 1962
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April 1962-September 1962 |
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Includes undated letters
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October 1962-December 1962 |
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January 1963-April 1963
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January 1963-April 1963 |
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May 1963-July 1963
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May 1963-July 1963 |
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August 1963-September 1963
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August 1963-September 1963 |
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October 1963
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October 1963 |
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Includes undated letters
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November 1963-December 1963 |
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January 1964-February 1964
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January 1964-February 1964 |
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March 1964-April 1964
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March 1964-April 1964 |
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May 1964-June 1964
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May 1964-June 1964 |
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July 1964-September 1964
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July 1964-September 1964 |
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October 1964
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October 1964 |
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November 1964-December 1964
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November 1964-December 1964 |
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January 1965-March 1965
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January 1965-March 1965 |
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April 1965-July 1965
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April 1965-July 1965 |
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Includes undated letters
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August 1965-December 1965 |
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January 1966-March 1966
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January 1966-March 1966 |
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April 1966-July 1966
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April 1966-July 1966 |
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August 1966-October 1966
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August 1966-October 1966 |
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Includes undated letters
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November 1966-December 1966 |
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January 1967-March 1967
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January 1967-March 1967 |
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April 1967
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April 1967 |
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May 1967-June 1967
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May 1967-June 1967 |
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July 1967
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July 1967 |
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August 1967-September 1967
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August 1967-September 1967 |
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Includes undated letters
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October 1967-December 1967 |
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January 1968-February 1968
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January 1968-February 1968 |
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March 1968-April 1968
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March 1968-April 1968 |
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May 1968-July 1968
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May 1968-July 1968 |
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August 1968-September 1968
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August 1968-September 1968 |
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October 1968-December 1968
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October 1968-December 1968 |
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January 1969-February 1969
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January 1969-February 1969 |
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March 1969
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