Letters from Frances Yost to Maria Chabot, 1969-1978

File — binder: 29

Identifier: 1.8

Scope and Contents Note

From the Collection:

The Maria Chabot Papers contains materials collected by Maria Chabot. Included are personal records; diaries and travel diaries; extensive correspondence dating from 1933 to 2001 with colleagues, family, and friends; interviews with Chabot; photographs, slides, and negatives; notebooks, research notes, writings, brochures, photocopies, and other miscellaneous papers; as well as a small number of materials related to Chabot family history including family albums, histories, photographs and records. The bulk of the materials relate to Maria Chabot's research, writing, and literary work. There are more than 60 drafts or completed short stories, novels, and non-fiction materials that Chabot generated over the years, along with rejection letters she received from publishers; copies of the published articles on Indian arts and crafts that she wrote in the 1930s; and documents, notes, photographs, records and reports she generated when attending conferences, taking courses, and working on various projects. Chabot undertook significant projects in the 1930s and 1940s, including a photographic survey of Southwestern native and traditional arts and crafts with artist Dorothy N. Stewart; stewardship of the Los Luceros hacienda, deeded to her by museum founder Mary Cabot Wheelwright; and an unpublished book on her time as a companion of Georgia O'Keeffe at Ghost Ranch and the renovation of O'Keeffe's home in Abiquiu, New Mexico. The collection also contains books, newspaper and magazine clippings, art work, photographs, ephemera, and audiovisual materials of interest to Maria Chabot, which she collected over her lifetime.

Dates

Creation: 1969-1978

Creator

From the Collection: Chabot, Maria, 1913-2001 (Person)

Language of Materials

From the Collection:

Materials predominantly in English.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public for research purposes. Select materials in this collection may be restricted for reasons of cultural sensitivity or for privacy. Materials related to the Christiane Gallet biography are restricted. Some materials in this collection were labeled "confidential" by Maria Chabot during the course of her lifetime; they do not necessarily have present-day restrictions on access. See the Archivist for more information. Some materials are fragile and may require handling by the Archivist.

Extent

From the Collection: 74.4 Linear Feet (62 Full Hollinger boxes (15.25" x 5" x 10.25"): 25.85 Linear feet. 71 Half Hollinger boxes (15.25" x 2.5" x 10.25"): 14.84 Linear feet. 8 11x14 boxes: 9.36 Linear feet. 8 9x12 boxes: 9 Linear feet. 6 16x20 boxes: 10.02 Linear feet. 1 20x24 boxes: 2 Linear feet. 8 5x12 boxes: 3.33 Linear feet. 164 total boxes.)

Additional Description

Overview

Twenty letters, one telegram and one birthday card written by Frances Yost to Maria Chabot. The first two letters are undated but were written by Yost before the death of Chabot's mother, Olive, in March 1975. The undated letter, "Sunday," concerns the visit of Chabot's half brother to see Olive, which occurred in November 1969. Three letters and a telegram written in January 1977 from Yost to Chabot. The first letter is written by Yost in Mexico City to Chabot in Puerto Escondido. Yost has just left Puerto Escondido and is attending to financial affairs for Chabot in Mexico City. The telegram and second letter are from Yost in Albuquerque to Chabot in Puerto Escondido and tell of various spiritual and alternative healing methods Yost uses to try to cure her cancer. Three letters, Feb. 2, 1977 – Feb. 25, 1977, from Yost in Albuquerque to Chabot in Puerto Escondido. Six letters, March 5, 1977 – April 9, 1977, from Yost in Albuquerque to Chabot in Puerto Escondido and Oaxaca. These letters continue to relate Yost's attempts at spiritual healing. The letter of April 9, 1977 relates to the last two items in this box: two letters between Frances Yost and Ann Shearer, April 8 and April 12, [1977]. Six letters, June 4, 1978 – July 13, 1978, and one birthday card, Sept. 18, 1978 from Yost, who now styles herself "Barbara Palmer", to Chabot. Yost/Palmer is in Albuquerque and Chabot is in Oaxaca.