Bragdon Annotated Correspondence, 1925

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1.   January 1, 1925

Paul L. Stewart to Claude Bragdon
Addressed from:  3456 West 135th Street, Cleveland, Ohio

Stewart writes to tell Bragdon of the patterns he has found in tracing magic squares and suggests a book on the subject by W.S. Andrews.  Stewart offers his knowledge and drawings should Bragdon decide to write again on the subject of magic squares.

2.   February 5, 1925

Blanche Matthews to Claude Bragdon
Addressed from:  The Biltmore, New York

A good friend of Matthews' is staying at Bragdon's hotel and would like to get to know him.  She is an artist by the name of Georgia O'Keefe and Matthews requests that Bragdon arrange to meet her.

3.   March 5, 1925

Sherril V. Schell to Claude Bragdon
Addressed from:  31 Middagh Street, Brooklyn, NY

Schell met Bragdon at Miss Earle's and requests that Bragdon take some time to meet Senor Don Jose Juan Tablada, a Mexican poet who has read Bragdon's books and written about him in various publications in Mexico City and Havana.  He would like to interview Bragdon for El Universal, the leading paper in Mexico City.

4.   March 21, 1925

James Stephens to Claude Bragdon
Addressed from:  Cincinnati, Ohio

Stephens wishes to meet Bragdon, but is unsure of when he will be back in New York.  He asks Bragdon to call the Lee Keedick Lecture Bureau to set up a meeting.  Stephens is interested in Uspenskii's work and occult literature.

5.   March 22, 1925

Claude Bragdon to Kathleen Cunningham

Bragdon will be in Rochester on April 24 to speak to the Engineering Society.  His heel was injured and is not getting well very fast, which prevents him from venturing often or far from home.  This has been good for keeping him focused on writing his book, which is more "pertinent to present day problems, social and personal, than anything I have ever done."  Bragdon met Tablada and granted him an interview.

CAN'T READ THESE NAMES!!

6.   May 15, 1925

[Walton R.S.] to Claude Bragdon
Addressed from:  Harvard University, Division of Music

Walton writes to inform Bragdon that he has been able to meet his son and congratulates him on having "such a fine boy."  Walton hopes to have some influence over him and to become good friends.

7.   August 27, 1925

Lewis Mumford to Claude Bragdon

Mumford has written an article on form in American civilization for a new German magazine on the arts called Die Form.  The article mentions Bragdon's four-dimensional decorations and Dr. Behrendt, the editor, has asked for a photograph of Bragdon's designs.

8.   September 10, 1925

Peter Uspenskii to Claude Bragdon
Addressed from:  55a Gwendwr Road, W. 14, London

Uspenskii encloses a copy of a letter received from America and a copy of his reply.

WHAT TO DO WITH ATTACHED LETTERS?

9.   September 14, 1925

Claude Bragdon to Kathleen Cunningham
Addressed from: Claude Bragdon, The Shelton, Lexington at 49th Street, New York City

Bragdon suggests that Cunningham exhibit at the Grand Central Terminal Galleries.  Perrine has transferred his work there and has had great success.  Bragdon is excited at the latest news that "Ethel the Fair, Ethel the Wonderful, Ethel the Barrymore" has agreed to play the leading lady.  Bragdon is working toward a "momentous opening." He is enjoying the company of his boys at Kirk's farm and is amazed by their accomplishments.

10. October 16, 1925

Llewelyn Powys to Claude Bragdon

11. October 17, 1925

Beatrix Reynolds to Claude Bragdon
Addressed from: 288 Graham Avenue, apt. 59, Paterson, New Jersey

Reynolds received Bragdon's letter but has not yet received the book he sent.

12. November 23, 1925

Peter Uspenskii to Claude Bragdon
Addressed from: 55 a Gwendwr Road, London

Uspenskii received Bragdon's letters with the enclosed drafts and writes to inquire about Gurdjieff.  Uspenskii is concerned with Knopf's advertising his connection with Gurdjieff, which he believes is too complicated to be included on the book cover of T.O.  Uspenskii requests that Bragdon suggest to Knopf that the book cover should be altered and to avoid associating him with Gurdjieff in the future.

13. December 11, 1925

Claude Bragdon to Fritz Trautman
Addressed from: The Shelton, Lexington at 49th Street, NYC

 

  • Bragdon awoke with the idea that Trautman was in need of money and is enclosing a check as a gift.

 

 


FOOTNOTES—1925:

People:

 

  • W.S. Andrews—published book in 1917 by The Open Court Publishing Co. (1)
  • Blanche Matthews (2)
  • Georgia O'Keefe (2)
  • Sherril V. Schell (3)
  • Miss Earle's (3)
  • James Stephens—Lee Keedick Lecture Bureau (4)
  • Walton R.S. (6)
  • Lewis Mumford (7)
  • Ethel Barrymore—leading lady—which play?  (Hamlet?) (9)
  • Gurdjieff (12)


 

 


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