Emily Hale to Margaret and Willard Thorp
[…]
My mind and spirit of course returned here in a very different condition than before the Red Letter Day of November 17th. I have heard from Mr Dix – both personally and professionally – with a statement signed by both of us as a temporary manifesto, so to speak – or whatever it could be called – of the terms of the gift as it stands to-day. I have written to Tom, of course, so his reply will be the next chapter in this biography which as yet has no author, except ourselves! I enjoyed every minute of my visit – except that dreadful movie! – for when faced with the significance so professionally from the point of the literary world, as you all naturally gave me to understand – I had to recognize that there is an undercurrent of exciting challenge – which I hope and pray quite literally – I may meet wisely. IHale, Emilyrelationship with TSE;w9EH reflects on;g2 find the pain of returning to the past is softened a little by remembering the story has to become a part of the life stream of events – magnified by millions of others by the mysteriously [illegible] gift of a Personality – as each generation produces in so infinite a variety; the fact that innocently and unpredictably I am involved so closely with this Personality is part of the wonder which I never can get accustomed to.
IfThorp, Margaret (née Farrand);c5 this last paragraph or two makes any sense, you can go on to the less public side of my visit with you [illegible] I regard you Margaret with special amazement for your abilities to be cook, housekeeper, hostess and highly successful recognized writer – all at once.
You can hardly realize what a treat it is for me to be in the middle or edge of such being, as perhaps has almost become a commonplace to you. With thanks for all your consideration and understanding – asThorp, Willard;d2 IDix, William Shepherd;a4 told you Willard I cannot now conceive of this gift being processed without your assistance, and Mr Dix.
I am lovingly and gratefully
1.WilliamDix, William Shepherd Shepherd Dix (1910–78): Librarian, Princeton University, 1953–75. Having gained first degrees (BA and MA) at the University of Virginia, he earned a doctorate in American literature at the University of Chicago. After working first as a teacher and English instructor, he became Associate Professor of English and Librarian of Rice Institute, Houston, Texas (now Rice University), 1947–53. Resolutely opposed to censorship and intellectual constraint, he served as chair of the Intellectual Freedom Committee of the American Library Association (ALA), 1951–3; chair of the International Relations Committee, 1955–60; and President of the ALA, 1969–70. In addition, he was Executive Secretary, 1957–9, and President, 1962–3, of the Association of Research Libraries. Recognised as one of the topmost figures in librarianship, he was honoured by the American Library Association with the Dewey Medal, 1969, and the Lippincott Award, 1971.
16.MargaretThorp, Margaret (née Farrand) Farrand (1891–1970), author and journalist – see Margaret Thorp in Biographical Register.
1.Margaret Thorp, née Farrand (1891–1970), contemporary and close friend of EH; noted author and biographer. WillardThorp, Willard Thorp (1899–1990) was a Professor of English at Princeton University. See Biographical Register. See further Lyndall Gordon, Hyacinth Girl, 126–8, 158–9.