Letters from Maria Chabot to Lease Plimpton, 1992-1994

File — binder: 31

Identifier: 1.9

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N. Stewart; stewardship of the Los Luceros hacienda, deeded to her by museum founder Mary Cabot Wheelwright; and an unpublished book on her time as a companion of Georgia O'Keeffe at Ghost Ranch and the renovation of O'Keeffe's home in Abiquiu, New Mexico.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: 1992-1994

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

Forty-two letters and notes from Maria Chabot to Lease Plimpton with a blank postcard and blank note card with illustrations of Paul Klee artwork, and a torn edge of an envelope with the address of Karen D. Shaw. MC numbered these letters #1 - #36. These numbers are found in the upper left corner of the first page or at the end of the letter. She did not number unsent letters or letters and notes considered "business" letters. Lease Plimpton is also addressed as "Morgan" and "Dickie". Letters #1 - #4, July 15-29, 1992. There are also two unsent drafts of letter #3. Letters #5 - #10, Aug. 2-24, 1992. There is an un-numbered note, Aug. 8, 1992, and an unsent, un-numbered letter, Aug. 18, 1992. Letters #11 - #16, Sept. [4?]–27, 1992. There is an unsent, un-numbered letter, Sept. 14, 1992 and an un-numbered "business" letter, Sept. 27, 1992. Letters #17 - #24, Oct. 1-26, 1992. The letter, Oct. 1, 1992, is an un-numbered "business" letter. The last letter in this group began Oct. 25, 1992 and is #22. It continues on Oct. 26th on p.2. The end of p.4 is noted #24. There is no notation of "#23". Letters #25 - #27, Nov. 2-27, 1992. The letter, Nov. 9, 1992 is unsent and un-numbered. There is also a photocopy of an article by Thomas Merton, "Discovering the Silence", which was found with this group of letters. Letters #28 - #33, Dec. 1, 1992 – Jan. 15, 1993. Letters [#34] - #36, Jan. 16 – Feb. 1, 1993. The letter of Jan. 16, 1993 is noted as unsent and is un-numbered, but no letter #34 is recorded. The next letter, Jan 18, 1993 is #35. Three letters and one note follow the numbered letters: Sept. 18, 1993; Dec. 31, 1993; April 6, [no year]. There is also a note on a phone call, dated May 3, 1994. This correspondence is followed by blank cards and a torn envelope edge with Karen Shaw's address.