![Oklahoma
Baptist
University
ABU
December 3, 1981
Dr. James A Emanuel
201, Rue de Vaugirard, A7
75015 Paris
France
Dear Dr. Emanuel:
Several weeks ago, I received a letter requesting me to assist a group of scholars
at the University of North Carolina by writing one or more essays for a forth—
coming edition of The Dictionary of Literary Biography, a three volume work
focussing on Afro—American literary artists. I agreed to help if I could, and
was promptly assigned an essay of approximately four thousand words on your
life and literary work.
Now, obviously, I am not the person in the world most qualified to write a purely
biographical piece about James AO Emanuel. But my background in the study of
American poetry and my interest in the poetry and fiction of Black Americans
(especially the work of Langston Hughes and Richard Wright) does, I think, make
me a fairly suitable compiler and evaluator of the data of your poetic and
critical achievements. Since, however, the essay I shall write will be, so far
as I can determine, one of the more extensive biographical—critical overviews
of your work to date, I am quite concerned that it be accurate in its presenta—
tion and representative in its perceptions. To achieve that, I am anxious to
correspond with you about your work and some of your specific intentions for it.
With your permission, I would like to submit a series of inquiries which, if
you would be go kind as to respond to them, might help to fill in gaps in my
research. In general, I would be curious to know what forces shaped your poetic
work, what is your perception of your roles as scholar and poet (and whether
these have supported or handicapped each other), does the fairly recent publica—
tion of Black Man Abroad and A Chisel in the Dark suggest a major shift in your
activity from scholar—educator to poet (and, thus, more books to come), and does
your present stay in France reflect such a shift or more a desire to return to
the country where you were earlier a Fulbright fellow?
Professors Davis and Harris at North Carolina have requested a January 30
submission deadline for my essay, so it is possible that you may receive further
and more specific requests from me in a subsequent letter (which may arrive
before there is time for me to get a response to this letter). I hope that you
will understand that my intention is not to shift the burden of my essay to you
but to help assure the essay’s accuracy. I would deeply appreciate your help.
Respectfully yours,
[signature]
Douglas Watson
Department of English (405) 275-2850 Shawnee, 0K 74801](https://cuny.manifoldapp.org/system/resource/a/1/6/a1684aa7-b2b3-4874-94fd-e8bd3e8995e9/attachment/bc93bccd95f22cee055a29ff5b993fbc.jpg)
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James Emanuel Reading (centered) to Hunter College Students
![M Michel FABRE,
Esterel (Esc. 2), 49 r. de Chatenoay
92 ANTONY
BER 6839
Oct. 29, 1968,
Dear Professor Emanuel:
You may be surpriSed, upon receipt of the report of the recent meeting
of the AFEA ( Association Française d'Etudes Américaines) to discover that
you have been " appointed" as coordinator for the papers (to be presented at
our March Congress) which deal with the racial revolution in the U.S. Your
name was suggested by members who, know you and who said that no one was
better suited than you, by his experience and previous achievement, for
this responsibility. I wrote down your name, being the secretary, and did
not think about it until the forms were printed. Don't be angry with me, for
if this is a mistake, I must be judged responsible for it. If you do not
care about our Association, nor about the Congress, nor about being
coordinator, can you let me know? Maybe professor Wagner would replace you.
The reports have been sent to all members ( and Fullbright professors are
de jure members without fee), so you should get one soon. You will see
more precisely what all that is about. I am just writing now so that you are
not too surprised. Theodor Cross , whom I met some time ago, showed me
DARK SYMPHONY. I think both of you have done a very fine job. Writing a thesis
on Richard Wright and being quite interested in Afro-american literature,
although far less conversant with it than Jean Wagner, I would personally
like meeting you, one day , when you come to Paris. Maybe you and Theodor
could have a meal with us.
Very sincerely,
[signature]
Michel Fabre](https://cuny.manifoldapp.org/system/resource/d/e/c/deccd38b-474a-430c-a95f-ebe46ff58d3c/attachment/6a59060cf7312deb27e021c48d846330.jpg)
Letter from Michel Fabre
Letter to Julius E. Thompson, August 1991 (page 2 of 3)
![NATIONAL HUMANITIES CENTER
P. O. Box 12256
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NORTH CAROLINA 27709
January 4, 1982
Mr. James A. Emanuel
201, rue de Vaugirard, A7
75015 Paris, FRANCE
Dear Mr. Emanuel:
Thanks so much for your letter and for the poem
that you so generously dedicated to me. I must say
that I was very moved by its contents as well as your
expression of regard.
A great deal indeed has happened since 1947. Ob-
viosly you have had an exciting and rewarding career.
I have had one exciting experience after another; life
has certainly not been dull. I am now on leave from
the University of Chicago where I have served, since
1969, as the John Matthews Manly Distinguished Service
Professor of History. Meanwhile, I am a Senior Fellow
here at the National Humanities Center completing my
book on George Washington Williams.
When you return to the States next year I hope
I will have the opportunity to see you again. Since
you have some connection with the J. Hubbell Center at
Duke, perhaps you will even be coming down at some
time. In any event I wish for you a very good New
Year and continued success in your work. Again, thanks
and best wishes.
Sincerely yours,
[signature]
John Hope Franklin
JHF:mf
Telephone 919-549-0661](https://cuny.manifoldapp.org/system/resource/6/b/4/6b446dfa-0c72-4fe6-b337-333e9f18b2a6/attachment/01249fd732166ec75f9967c768f8719b.jpg)
Letter to James Emanuel from John Hope Franklin
James Emanuel's colleagues at Univ. of Toulouse Photo
![405 Nuber Avenue
Mount Vernon, New York 10553
February 17, 1971
Mrs. Gwendolyn Brooks Blakely
7428 South Evans Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60619
Dear Gwendolyn:
Since my author's copies of PANTHER MAN arrived yesterday
afternoon while I was at CCNY, I've spent much of this day--a
day off for me--sending copies to people who have been expect—
ine them. Along with the one that I'm sending to you comes
this wish that your various projects are moving along smoothly.
The current number of BLACK WORLD mentions your JUMP BAD, a
title that reminds me of my eighteen months in a CCC camp in
Kansas, a f e w years ago, when I was first thrown among large
numbers of strangers who would "jump bad" for the slightest
of reasons. I look forward, too, to seeing your A BROADSIDE
TREASURY. Just the other day I suggested to Therman B. O'Daniel
that he edit a "treasury" gleaned from Black critics' essays
on Black writers as found in his journal over the years.
I thought of your remarks last July when Ted Gross men—
tioned recently the possibility of getting you to take on sev—
eral students a couple of days a week in our creative writing
program developing at CCNY. In fact, mentioned your probable
reluctance to him. But there are good aspects, especially for
a writer of your eminence. Probably if you could make it clear that
your main concern was saving time for working on projects of
importance to you and to Black readers (which is my own case),
you could hold your on—campus duties to a few hours per week.
Your presence there, even for so short a time, would give a
large boost to the thrust of our Open Admissions program, which
may affect similar movements throughout America. And, should
you risk coming to marvelous New York City weekly, my wife and
I would be glad to provide you [*free, of course*]
with a hide—away room" in our
house whenever you need it, where you could work without being
disturbed by any living creature. Since Jimmy is away at Brown
University, it is very quiet around here (for his first—semester
grades be received A in history, B in French, "satisfactory"
[vs. "no credit" possibility] in anthropology, and "incomplete"--
which he disputes--in Black literature, a class in which he says
the teacher failed gave incompletes to [*left as it was*]
almost a third of the class).
Must write Don soon; It m sure he's hard at work on DYNAMITE
voices, book two. I might do some prose for his press.
Cordially ,
Encl: PM
[signature - Jim Emanuel]](https://cuny.manifoldapp.org/system/resource/4/4/0/440e9e2e-7398-42ca-b4cd-987e36118f10/attachment/989f657fd3dc2c850a5eab5ec259f5e0.jpg)
Letter to Mrs. Gwendolyn Brooks
![February 22, 1971
Dear Jim,
I appreciated so much your taking the time to write me
about this new job (which I have accepted.) Your letter
illuminated a good deal (Open Admissions, etc. )
Now I shall be able to get acquainted with you.
I thought I was truly through with teaching. But now I
look forward with some pleasure and curiosity to September.
Thank you for extending what I consider kindly assistance.
Sincerely ,
[signature - Gwen]
Although I also appreciate your mention of an accommodation
in your home, I certainly have to reject that. I'll manage!
I was glad to have a second copy (!) of the vigorous
PANTHER MAN (delectable title), and I am sending to
you a copy of my own just—out "Family Pictures."
______Yes! The anthologies are developing. JUMP BAD
may be out within a month.](https://cuny.manifoldapp.org/system/resource/f/5/7/f57e9baf-48b8-4ded-b790-a1be46240989/attachment/c5ea3e2467b1e09ba42c25b977f16594.jpg)
Letter to Jim from Gwendolyn Brooks
Letter from Julius E. Thompson July 1991
Marie-France in Poland Photo