Maria Chabot to Irene Zelinski, 1956 August through 1961 October

File — binder: 22

Identifier: 1.7.1

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N. Stewart; stewardship of the Los Luceros hacienda, deeded to her by museum founder Mary Cabot Wheelwright; and an unpublished book on her time as a companion of Georgia O'Keeffe at Ghost Ranch and the renovation of O'Keeffe's home in Abiquiu, New Mexico.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: 1956 August through 1961 October

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

Fifty-nine letters, one post card and a poem written by Maria Chabot to Irene Zelinski, Aug. 30, 1956 – Oct. 21, 1961, are contained in this box. Six letters, Aug. 30, 1956 – Oct. 13, 1956, the first two of which are written by Chabot from San Francisco to Zelinski who is at Los Luceros, concern Chabot caring for Georgeanna Wight and Zelinski caring for Los Luceros. The last four letters are written after the correspondents have returned to their usual homes, and tell of another visit to Los Luceros by Mary Wheelwright, Oct. 6, 1956 – Oct.13, 1956. The letter of Oct. 11 discusses Wheelwright’s will. The letter from Oct. 12 is noted as “Not sent.” Seven letters, Oct. 25, 1956 – Nov. 20, 1956, continue to describe Wheelwright’s visit and the arrival of Alice Marriot. The letter of Nov. 5 confesses to an indiscretion with Marriott and the psychiatrist’s reaction to this. The letters of Nov. 15 & 20, 1956 continue to reflect on these events. Seven letters, Nov. 25, 1956 – Dec. 10-11, 1956, are written from Los Luceros after Wheelwright has left. The letter of Nov. 27 in both a typescript and handwritten form asks Zelinski to make a visit to Los Luceros alone without Georgeana Wight. The letter of Dec. 1 is a response to a wire from Zelinski declining to do so, and an undated draft letter following further reflects on this. Two letters, Oct. 22, 1957 and Oct 27, 1957, discuss the proposed project on Pueblo linguistics and sexual symbols. (See also: Maria Chabot Archives: Native Americans, Southwest – Symbolism & Linguistics – Research Grant.) Two letters, April 24, 1957 and April 30, 1957, discuss the bequest of Dorothy Stewart’s Galeria to Chabot. The first letter also discusses Chabot’s short story, “The Curtain of Feeling,” and the second discusses Wheelwright deeding Los Luceros to Chabot. Two letters, Aug. 29, 1956 and Oct. 17, 1960, concern the sale of Los Luceros. The first letter contains an inventory of Zelinski’s possessions still at Los Luceros, and the second details the sale of the property to John Collier and describes the signing of the documents. Four letters and draft of a poem, Jan. 3, 1961 – April 20, 1961, concern Chabot’s courtship, marriage and divorce of Dana Bailey. The Jan. 3rd letter describes Bailey’s proposal to Chabot. The poem was written on Feb. 24, 1961, ten days after her wedding. The letter of April 20 describes her life in Boulder, Colorado as Bailey’s wife and death of her dog Stefka. Five letters, May 4, 1961 – May 29, 1961, written from Boulder describe plans for a “wedding” trip and the growing tensions in Chabot’s relationship with Zelinski. The May 28 letter gives an itinerary of the trip and the unusual traveling arrangements. Six letters, June 10, 1961 – Aug. 11, 1961, written from Boulder, described Chabot’s married life and her plans for the trip to Asia. The letters also reflect the breakdown in her relationship with Zelinski. Ten letters and one postcard, Sept.18, 1961 – Oct. 21, 1961, written from various Asian cities and telling of Chabot’s wedding trip, traveling in Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Cambodia.