Maria Chabot to Irene Zelinski, 1962 November through 1969 January

File — binder: 24

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N. Stewart; stewardship of the Los Luceros hacienda, deeded to her by museum founder Mary Cabot Wheelwright; and an unpublished book on her time as a companion of Georgia O'Keeffe at Ghost Ranch and the renovation of O'Keeffe's home in Abiquiu, New Mexico.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: 1962 November through 1969 January

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

Thirty letters, one get-well card and two notes on stock prices from Maria Chabot to Irene Zelinski, Nov. 1, 1962 – Jan. 29, 1969, are contained in this box as well as two letters from Mary Cabot Wheelwright to Irene Zelinski, Dec. 19, [1955] and Jan. 10, [1957]. Five letters, Nov. 1, 1962 – Nov. 8, 1962, written in Santa Fe concern Chabot's financial problems due to the failure of the corporation, Western Instrument Laboratories, and her inability to sell the Galeria, 551 Canyon Rd., left to her by Dorothy Stewart. The letters of Nov. 1 and 2 are noted as "Not sent." The letter of Nov. 8 describes voting in Alcalde, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. Five letters, Nov. 9, 1962 – Nov. 17, 1962, give detailed accounts of the demise of the corporation and the sale of 551 Canyon Rd. to the Santa Fe Opera, which was made possible by a contribution from Georgeanna Wight. Seven letters, Nov. 19, 1962 – Dec. 13, 1962, written in Albuquerque tell of difficulties with her aging mother, gynecological problems, selling Chabot family heirlooms, and plans for a visit to San Francisco to see Zelinski. Five letters, Jan. 15, 1963 – April 13, 1963, written from Albuquerque give Zelinski advice on a proposed trip to Greece, gifts exchanged, financial information and planning for possibly living together again, and a return to Boulder to visit the Gallets. One letter, Feb. 15, 1964, concerns financial matters, a visit by Christiane Gallet to Albuquerque, and an expected visit by Georgeanna Wight to visit Chabot; one get-well card posted Sept. 8, 1964; one letter from the Hotel Ritz, Mexico City acknowledging cancellation of reservations for Chabot and Zelinski. Six letters, Feb. 16, 1965 – July 17, 1965 written from Albuquerque. The letters of Feb. 16 and 24 concern finances primarily, and Chabot's wish to no longer be Zelinski's adviser. The letter of June 14, 1965 mentions sketches by Marin, which are in the Maria Chabot Archives – Works of Art section. The letter of July 17, 1965 talks of her house on Veranda Road, events in lives of the Gallet family, observations on Zelinski's improved mental health, and the destruction of letters from Dorothy Stewart, "500 lbs." of manuscripts by Chabot's mentor Ella Butler, and letters from Zelinski written after 1957. This letter also reflects on how Zelinski leaving her at Los Luceros in 1955 affected her life. It is followed by two notes without date on stock prices. There is one letter, Jan. 29, 1969, written from Oaxaca, Mexico, describing her travel to the Mayan ruins in the Yucatan with Paul and Gail Schmidt of Albuquerque.