Maria Chabot to Irene Zelinski, 1961 November through 1962 October

File — binder: 23

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N. Stewart; stewardship of the Los Luceros hacienda, deeded to her by museum founder Mary Cabot Wheelwright; and an unpublished book on her time as a companion of Georgia O'Keeffe at Ghost Ranch and the renovation of O'Keeffe's home in Abiquiu, New Mexico.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: 1961 November through 1962 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

Forty-eight letters from Letters from Maria Chabot to Irene Zelinski, Nov. 14, [1961] – Oct. 29, 1962, are contained in this box. Five letters, Nov. 14, [1961] – Nov. 28, 1961, are written by Chabot from Boulder, Colorado to Zelinski in San Francisco, CA. These letters tell of Chabot's life in Boulder. In the second letter, Nov. 16, she tells Zelinski she intends to divorce Dana Bailey. Four letters, Dec. 11, 1961- Dec. 18, 1961, are from Boulder and describe her marital problems and life in Boulder. The first tells of a trip back to New Mexico, a visit with O'Keeffe and the building of O'Keeffe's bomb shelter at Abiquiu. Four letters, Dec. 19, 1961 – Dec. 29, 1961, are written from Boulder. The first letter describes Christmas in Boulder and mentions Roger and Christiane Gallet. For information on the Gallets consult the Maria Chabot Archives, Confidential Correspondence, Christiane Gallet. The third letter, Dec. 29, 1961 has the beginning of the fourth letter, Jan. 3, 1962, on its verso, and that letter continues for two more pages. Four letters, Jan. 20, 1962 – Feb. 19, 1962, are written from Albuquerque. The letter of Feb. 19 discusses Caroline Bieber, Emily Edward, and Georgia O'Keeffe. Four letters, April 1, 1962 – April 27, [1962], are written from Albuquerque. The second and third letters, April 15 and April 23, mention Chabot's interest in forming a corporation for tax purposes. The letter of April 15 also tells of a visit from Christiane Gallet. The letter of April 27 is dated "1961", but this is an error as it discusses the divorce which did not proceed until 1962, and there was no discussion of a corporation in 1961. Five letters, May 5, 1962 – May 25, 1962, are written from Albuquerque. The letter of May 5 tells of a visit to O'Keeffe at Abiquiu. The letter of May 16 tells of the receipt of Chabot's divorce decree and describes the people and work involved in the corporation, Western Instrument Laboratories. The bottom of the sheet for the letter of May 25 is torn off, but the letter seems complete. Five letters, June 1, 1962 – July 1, 1962, are written from Albuquerque. The letters of June 12 and June 20 [of which there is also a carbon copy] are noted as "Not sent." Eight letters, Aug. 10, 1962 – Sept. 15, 1962, are written from Albuquerque. The letters of Aug. 10 and Sept. 2 describe her trip with Christiane Gallet and O'Keeffe to various places in the Southwest. The Sept. 2 letter also tells of problems with Chabot's corporation, the Western Instrument Laboratories, and the letter of Sept. 10 thanks Zelinski for a gift of $10,000, which she has sent to ease Chabot's financial problems. Five letters, Sept. 19, 1962 – Oct. 17, 1962, are written from Albuquerque. The letter of Sept.19 tells of a planned painting trip with O'Keeffe and O'Keeffe's relationship with her sister Claudia. The letter of Oct. 4 analyses O'Keeffe's relationship with art versus her relationship with people. The letter of Oct. 9 has its conclusion, page 3, typed over the upper portion of its page two. A transcription of the over-typed pages follows the letter. Four letters, Oct. 23, 1962 – Oct. 29, 1962, are written from Albuquerque to San Francisco. The first letter is written during the Cuban missile crisis and comments on Chabot's and O'Keeffe's reactions. These letters all comment on life in Albuquerque and problems with her mother.