Department of Special Collections and University Archives
McFarlin Library. University of Tulsa.  2933 E. 6th St.  Tulsa, OK.  74104-3123 (OKT - OkTU)

Alice B. Toklas correspondence

Collection 1977-001

Dates:  1933-1961.

Extent:  (1 box).

Level of Description:   Item level.

Name of creator(s):  Alice B. Toklas.

Date of creation:  Undetermined.

Scope and Content:   Consists of 89 handwritten letters and postcards and a telegram to recipients John E. Dobbin, Brion Gysin, and Sir Francis and Frederica Rose; and a typed letter to John Hinsdale Thompson (in her capacity as Gertrude Stein's secretary).

Administrative/Biographical History: 

Access and Copyright:

Language and Scripts:  English.

Finding aid/Inventory:  Finding aid is available online.

Provenance/Source of Acquisition:   The Toklas correspondence to Sir Francis Rose was purchase from Bertram Rota, date unknown.  The letter to J. H. Thompson was purchased from J. Howard Woolmer, 1977.

Date(s) of description:   Milissa Burkart, May 1993.

Access Points:

Subject Headings 

 
Personal names 

Corporate names

Places
 

24 Aug 1946.  ""Dear Mr. Dobbin - Thank you for remembering me and writing to me.  Gertrude was repeatedly asking me why doesn't Jack Dobbin write...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

31 Dec 1946.  "My "Dear Mr. Dobbin - What a wholly delightful Christmas card.  The Infant Jesus and the black sheep...."   Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

21 Dec 1947.  "Dear Mr. Dobbin - How kind you are to say you think of me and to remember me with such a charming gift...."   Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

[c1947]  Envelope only.

27 Jan 1949.  "Dear Mr. Dobbin - Many many thanks for your remembrance of me - the charming card and the exquisite handkerchief...."    Handwritten, signed postcard with envelope.

7 Jan 1950.  "Dear Mr. Dobbin - Pray pardon my far too long delay in thanking warmly for your charm...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

15 Jul 1950.  "Dear Mr. Dobbin - Of course I will be delighted to see your friends and to have news of you - but you can't half fancy how much more pleasure it would be for me if you were accompanying them...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

5 Aug 1950.  "Dear Mr. Dobbin - Basket and I quite exhausted by Paris are having an agreeable [---] vacation...."    Handwritten, signed postcard with envelope.

22 Dec 1950.  "My "Dear Mr. Dobbin - You are kind to remember me as you do so faithfully...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

4 Jun 1951.  "Our letters crossed...."    Handwritten, signed postcard.

29 Jul 1951.  "Dear Mr. Dobbin - It was good of you to write me about the show in Baltimore...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

7 Oct 1951.  "Dear Mr. Dobbin - Prayers are said and are being said...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

2 Dec 1951.  "My "Dear Mr. Dobbin - It certainly is natural for me to turn to you in sympathy...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

23 Feb 1952.  "My dear Dobbin - Your second letter made me more [---] then I have been all these many weeks...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

16 Dec 1952.  "My dear Dobbin - How can you be so good to me. You must know that the gift of a charming dainty handkerchief isn't necessary for me to remember you...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

16 Dec 1953.  "Dear Mr. Dobbin - What good news you have and I rejoice with you in your "Dear Mr. Chips recovery...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

29 Jan 1955.  "Dear Dobbin - Things, people, and events come quicker than my resilience can keep up with so that it is only now that you are being thanked for your letter...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

9 Jan 1956.  "Dear Mr. Dobbin - Once more and again (do you remember Fitzgerald's [---] Zelda) I have to thank you for  your good wishes and for an exquisite little handkerchief...."   Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

12 Mar 1957.  "My dear Dobbin - In spite of very mild weather since the end of January I've been under the weather...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

31 Dec 1957.  "My dear Dobbin - The handkerchief's lovelier than ever and your wishes kinder and warmer than ever...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

6 Oct 1958.  "My "Dear Mr. Dobbin - It was a great disappointment not to be able to see your friend Mr. Elliott Hess but he got to Paris just as I was leaving...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

6 Jan 1960.  "My dear faithful friends.  You are too kind to me.  The handkerchief is so attractive that I am using it as a kerchief...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

5 Jan 1961.  "My dear Dobbin - Tomorrow is Twelfth Night and I haven't yet thanked you for your gay card...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

24 Dec 1961.  "Dear Dobbin:  However can I thank you for remembering me as you do every Christmas...."    Handwritten, signed postcard with envelope.

1 Mar 1963.  "My very dear too too kind John Dobbins...."    Handwritten, signed postcard.

8 Mar 1965.  "Dear good Dobbin, It was a great pleasure to hear from you again.  Whether it was yours or my fault makes no difference...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

16 May 1965.  "Dear Dobbin, I haven't gotten to the hospital yet, either for cataracts or the hip...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

2 Jan 1966.  "My dear Dobbin, I still think of you coming into the sitting room in Paris to tell Gertrude Stein what you shouldn't have told her...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

8 Jan 1966.  "How sweet of you to send me again this year a charming handkerchief!...."    Handwritten, signed postcard with envelope.

16 Feb 1966.  "Dear John Dobbin, How wonderful to hear from you!  You did so much for Gertrude and she was very careful not to make any of what you told her known...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

5 Aug 1950.  "Basket and I are happily vacationing among house and garden...."    Handwritten, signed postcard.

1 Jan 1951.  "Dear Brion - Weeks and weeks ago I was going to write - and told you that your [winter --] was being taken to you by friends of Natalie Barney...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

3 Aug 1951.  "Dear Brion - Often I talk of you and think of you always but haven't told you so...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

7 Oct 1951.  "Dear Brion - First there was your nice [---] half long letter and there was a half one and then just two days ago Max unexpectedly returned with all kinds of news of you...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with picture post card from Madrid and envelope.

26 Feb 1952.  "Dear Brion - No I have not disappeared off the face of the earth...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

12 May 1952.  "So pleased to be about to see you again and soon...."    Handwritten, signed postcard.

23 Apr 1953.  "Dear Brion - [mostly illegible due to the blurring of the ink].  Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

10 Oct 1953.  "Dear Brion - Your charming letters [---] more [- --] this dull corner after a long silence but the quiet days of a months vacation here and the long tedious months in Paris are responsible...."    Handwritten, signed letter,  2 sheets with envelope.

10 Feb 1954.  "Dear Brion - There have been so many reasons why [---] these long months I wanted to write to you but when yesterday I had a few lines from Freddie (officially Paul) there was nothing but put everything aside and tell you I think of you always...."    Handwritten, signed letter,  3 sheets with envelope.

24 Feb 1954.  "Dear Brion - Thanks for your letter though I can't say I care for its news.  It is so beastly to be harried - especially when one is young...."   Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

10 Oct 1955.  "Dear Brion - For some time I have wanted news of you but now I am anxious...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

15 Jan 1955.  "Dear Brion - The happy relief your letter brought should have been thanked for long ago but a series of minor annoyances interfered...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

2 Oct 1956.  "Dear Brion - Though your new address doesn't give one too much confidence it was an enormous relief to hear from you...."    Handwritten, signed letter,  2 sheets with envelope.

2 Mar 1957.  "Dear Brion - Carl writes me that you are still in N. York - but where?...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope;  Handwritten manuscript list of names and addresses, 2 sheets.

31 Mar 1957.  "Dear Brion - The invitation to your show and its catalogue - what happy inspiration the titles are [-] has come in time for me to be with you in spirit...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

9 Apr 1957.  "Dear Brion - I am impatiently waiting now for a little word from you to hear that the exhibition - that is your pictures are a huge success...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

30 Apr 1957.  "Dear Brion - It was sweet of you to send me the clipping-copy the [two] others all excellent - and to write me enough to know your pictures were a success...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

11 Jun 1957.  "Dear Brion - Life has been unbearably complicated and more than usually exhausting...."    Handwritten, signed letter,  2s with envelope.

27 Aug 1957.  "Brion dear - For once a month there has been neither time nor energy for anything not even to [---] any anxiety for you...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

14 Aug 1958.  "Brion dear - [---] two miserable months have passed since I heard from you.  Arthritis and an infected foot upon which the doctor doesn't permit me to stand.  Max has disappeared...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

21 Aug 1958.  "Dear Brion - My days seem to be as disturbed as the weather...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

24 Feb 1959.  "My "Dear Brion - All morning Monday and Tuesday was spent attempting to get you in telephone [---]...."  .  Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

15 Apr 1959.  "Dear Brion - Pierre B--- informing.  You came and left and I didn't see you.  [Mons.] Maurice Grosser has just telephoned me that you are going to Tanger...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

[15] Oct 1959.  "Brion dear - Joe Barry told me he had seen you and that he had telephoned you several times [ineffectually]...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

23 Oct 1960.  "Dear Brion - It was a surprise and a pleasure to receive your letter so full of hope.  I had [---] that yours will all materialise...."    Handwritten, signed letter,  2s with envelope.

15 Aug 1961.  "Dear Brion - How sad to have missed you in Paris and in Rome, where I spent the winter, came back to Paris, tripped and to avoid hitting head broke my knee cap...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

29 Jan 1963.  "Dear Bryen [sic] - It was a pleasure to have your letter after your London visit though it had not ended successfully - but by now you are surely happily at work again...."    Handwritten, signed letter,  2s with envelope.

Thanksgiving Day, undated.  "Dear Brion - Delighted to welcome your show if you suppose anything I may say will.  There's a 50-50 chance that the pictures may have a roaring success...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

Undated.  "Dear Bryen [sic] - I hope this is alright.  If the end is abrupt there were already 98 words...."    Handwritten signed note, 1 sheet with a handwritten manuscript blurb about Brion Gysin at top:  "When Brion Gysin showed me his pictures a few years ago it was all the pleasure for which I had been hoping...."  "

13 Aug 1946.  ""Francis dear and dear Frederica - Your letter and wire and letting me hear your voice on the telephone touched me very deeply...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

21 Aug 1946.  "Dear Francis - I have been terribly upset about the bank dishonoring the checks Gertrude made out to you...."   Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

22 Aug 1946.  "Francis Rose.  Telegram in French.

10 Sept 1946.  "Dear Francis - One hasty word to catch you before you leave.  Allan Stein who has quite a few of your pictures (including the magnificent [Tate] still life) wants to send one of his early ones and a small one of those you have painted this summer to his mother...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

10 Oct 1946.  "Dear Francis and Frederica - Thank you so many many times for the lovely drawings.  All the lovely B--- souvenirs except perhaps the beautiful tree...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

21 Oct 1946.  "My dear-dear Francis.  Your shadowy Pine Tree and the First R--- both came this morning...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

4 Nov 1946.  "Dear Francis - Thank you for your sweet letter - you are quite right about what really counts and everything you say helps me...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

5 Nov 1946.  "Dear Francis - Bob Sweet has just written me that you have asked him to have your pictures sent from California to New York...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

15 Nov 1946.  "Dear Francis - I am so very moved by the thought of the Homage to Gertrude - after the series of your pictures of this summer I expect nothing but great work from you...."   Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

27 Nov 1946.  "Francis dear - You really spoil us with the lovely drawings...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

14 Dec 1946.  "Dear Francis - Not a word from Monsieur Jaspar (that was the name wasn't it?)...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

17 Dec 1946.  "Dear Francis -  Our letters must have crossed. I have just heard that the family is not going to appeal the case...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

2 Jan 1947.  "Dear Francis - A very-very happy New Year to you both and many more of them...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

18 Jan 1947.  "Francis dear - What has become of you - where were and are you - and why didn't I hear from you...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

23 Jan 1947.  "Francis dear - Thank you so awfully for the drawing.  You spoil me...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

29 Jan 1947.  "Dear Francis - Yes our letters crossed - the one I wrote was in answer to you letter with the Cornwall drawing...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

8 Feb 1947.  "Francis dear - I have seen Fisher twice - they are off to morrow on a [tour--] and only pass thought Paris on their return to London...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

13 Mar 1947.  "Dearest Francis - Your drawings for the tomb came two days ago.  It is perfectly realised - so noble and everlasting...."  .  Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

18 Mar 1947.  "Francis dear - This morning I sent you the marble cutter's scale drawing of (in centimeters) naturally...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

28 Mar 1947.  "Dearest Francis - It is a great relief to me to know that your are satisfied with the marble cutter's specifications...."   Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

4 Apr 1947.  "Dear Francis - The drawings have just come and I am trying to get the marble cutter but every one is off north now (and quite rightly) and won't come back again until Wednesday...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

1 May 1947.  "Dearest Francis - At last I have time to write you all there is to say but first of all to tell you very deeply I regret the unnecessary anxiety I caused you...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

4 May 1947.  "Dearest Francis - I was going to write to you - when I wrote the other day I completely forgot to write to you about Kathleen R--- - her mere presence was a confirmation of her gift...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

9 May 1947.  "Dearest Francis - It was a pleasant meeting with Mr. Tom Cochran yesterday.  He admires Frederica and you enormously...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

29 Jul 1947.  "Dearest Francis - The intense heat - 105˚in the shade yesterday has completely knocked me out.  The doctor says its nothing but heat and fatigue...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

4 Oct 1947.  "Dear Francis - Your letter came yesterday.  I so wanted your address to be able to write to you apropos of the homage...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

20 Oct 1947.   "Dear Francis - The whole miserable affair of the Met. and Gertrude's portrait has kept me so fussed and busy that I've had to put off writing to you until now...."   Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

30 Oct 1947.  "Dear Francis - The new photograph of the Homage has come - the drawing is finer than ever...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

18 Nov 1947.  "Dearest Francis - There has been so much to do - that after all these days it is only now that I've time to write you a few lines.  Allan Stein has been behaving annoyingly...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

Incomplete date, 1947.  "Just to tell you that Joel Fisher was here today on his way to Germany...."    Handwritten, signed postcards.

20 Jan 1948.  "Dearest Francis - So many thanks for the photographs.  I am glad to have them not only for myself but to show to people - Joe Barry was naturally deeply interested and there will be others...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet.

Wednesday Evening.  Undated.  "My dears - Have you had a good trip.  I do hope so.  Only a few hours I'll be seeing you...."    Handwritten, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope.

25 Sept 1933.  "Dear Sir, Miss Gertrude Stein desires me to say that for the present she does not contemplate readings from her work for records...."    Typed, signed letter, 1 sheet with envelope and publisher's announcement and order form for Matisse, Picasso and Gertrude Stein with Two Shorter Stories enclosed.