Lot 414

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Description:

Harper Lee 2pp ALS Re: Potential Bequest to AL Museum & Honorary Doctorate

A 2pp autograph letter signed by Pulitzer Prize-winning "To Kill a Mockingbird" novelist Nelle Harper Lee (1926-2016), as "Nelle" at the bottom of the first page. March 1, 2004, n.p. but [Montgomery, Alabama.] Lee inscribed both sides of a leaf of cream notepaper with over 115 words in her hand, including an extensive postscript. With two contemporaneous cross-outs. A horizontal paper fold, else near fine. 5.625" x 7.75." Accompanied by the original transmittal envelope, also engrossed by Lee, bearing a canceled stamp and postmarked in Montgomery, Alabama on March 3, 2004. Gently opened verso, else near fine.

Nelle Harper Lee wrote this letter to her longtime friend Ralph Hammond (1916-2010). Lee and Hammond were Alabama natives who met at the University of Alabama in the late 1940s. Lee edited the student newspaper, the "Rammer Jammer," while Hammond, an ex-GI and a recently published memoirist, provided a weekly column. The pair continuously corresponded for over 60 years until Hammond's death in 2010.

Lee wrote in part, "Thanks ever so for keeping me up to date about ME! And You! Don't know what I'd do without my Alabama Archivist! (Have you thought of leaving things with the Dept. of Archives + Hist.? Ed Bridges is an absolute 1st-rater. Do you know him?)"

Lee was evidently floating the idea that Hammond consider donating some of his personal collection to the Alabama Department of Archives and History, a formidable history repository located in downtown Montgomery. "1st-rater" Edwin Bridges served as the Director of the Alabama Department of Archives and History for over 30 years, retiring only several years ago. A quick search of the Alabama Department of Archives and History website does not suggest that Hammond donated anything to the institution. Alabama state justice J. Gorman Houston, Jr. appears to have gifted his personal correspondence with Lee to the museum, but it is not clear whether Lee followed her own advice and donated anything personally.

In a previous letter exchanged between Hammond and Lee dated February 9, 2004 (not included in this lot), Hammond had brought up the subject of an honorary doctorate degree awarded to Lee on January 27, 2004, by Sewanee: The University of the South (Sewanee, Tennessee.) Lee had been one of three recipients of doctorates in Literature granted during the Opening Convocation for Easter Term, including "New York Times" journalist Raymond W. Apple, Jr. (1934-2006) and British biographer Mary Soames (1922-2014), the youngest daughter of Winston and Clementine Churchill. In the February 9, 2004 letter, Hammond had erroneously referred to Lee's co-award recipient Mary Soames as Sarah Churchill (1914-1982), Mary's long since dead older sister. Lee clears up the confusion by providing an amusing resume of "the wrong" Churchill's salient biographical details.

Lee wrote in part: "It wasn't Sarah (who's dead) but Mary Churchill - the youngest - who is Lady Soames + who was at Sewanee.

Sarah was married to Vic Oliver, then to Tony Beauchamp (nee Entwistle) then to Lord Somebody whom I forget - she died several years ago - She was vaguely an actress - ."

Sarah Churchill's third husband "Lord Somebody" was Thomas Touchet-Jesson, 23rd Baron Audley. Sarah was a film, television, and theatrical actress best known for her performance opposite Fred Astaire in 1951's "Royal Wedding."

Ralph Hammond served as press secretary and speech writer of Alabama Governor Jim Folsom, before serving as the Mayor of Arab, Alabama during the 1960s. The author of at least two non-fiction books and fifteen books of poetry, Hammond was nominated Alabama Poet Laureate from 1992 to 1995.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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