MS01.01.01 - Box 01 - Folder 08 - General Correspondence, 1974

7 - 15 - 74

Dear Professor Driskell

This little overdue note is just to say I trust you and family are well and enjoying your summer vacation I wish to thank you for the print sent by your sister, and have intended to reimburse (?) long befor now, but just have not done it - being in the regular rat race. Be assured that it will not take (?) Eid (?) Headen this long to reimburse you for the painting you are doing for my fifth wedding Anniv. He's ready whenever you're ready, and I do trust it

2 will he soon. I trust you have in mind what scene from one of the gardens you have engaged most. Please know that I will enjoy any garden scene you may paint. May I thank you again for the print and I trust we will hear from you again very Soon. Eid (?) Hender sends regards to you and family. Yours truly, Berline (?) B Hender

July 18, 1974 Hi, Sorry your mail is a day late, but I was home yesterday with a migraine headache. Did you know the man (Raymond Clay) who was killed in the gym? Would you believe that I am so morbid that I called Security and asked them to let me see the scene of the crime. It was really terrible. I have never before seen so much blood. Mr. Hooks brought me some collards from your garden. Gosh! I must have cooked them five hours and they were as tough as before they were cooked. I told him that he must have picked the oldest ones there for me. Did you write the letter to Dr. Lawson for the straight line? He has been in and out of the city (more often out) since you left. He told me that he wasn't going to put the air-conditioner in the back at all since we are going to move, then he says that he doesn't know when. He said you were going to have such a great title that you really wouldn't care if you moved or not. Please make him move us. J.B. is down in Ballentine (?) Hall now; she said she was coming up here in a few minutes. Imagine her cavarting around when the baby is barely a week old. Did you hear what she named her? E. (?) Thompson Cleckley Band (?). Everyone says the baby is beautiful. With a name like E. (?), she needs to be.

J.B. just made it up here, and I was telling her, in the presence of Mr. Hooks, about those greens being so tough. J.B. wanted to know how I had prepared them, and I told her I washed them until the water was clear and boiled them with ham. They both laughed and told me that I was to have chopped the greens up. I cooked the stems and didn't even cut them, in which case, I owe you and your collards an apology. By the way, some of your mail went to your home address, therefore, I didn't see the need to open it. Okay. I suppose I had better take this mail on over to the post office before noon. I have gotten three shades blacker by going to the post office. Half the time I can't open the mailbox and Mr. Hooks has to go over there and unstick it. Until next time - take care. Loresline (?) We are back in the city now!!!! Remember.

RECEIVED SEP 19 Dept. of Art Fisk University

Fine Art Department Ahmadu Bello Univ., Zaria - Nigeria 7th Sept. 1974

Dear Mr. Driskell, I write with the hope that [crossed out: you are are back back your holidays] you are back to the Univeristy from your leave. We returned home on the 28th of August. As you will remember - I made a request for a 'Teaching Assistant' at U.T. Knoxville. I have been wondering if I should write the Chairman, Dr. Blakemore, or I should wait on the hope that you [crossed out: wrote] contact [crossed out: ed] the right person. My scholarship to the U.S. in January is still being processed. These scholarships provide for basic expenses, thus, leaving the student financially uncomfortable. The T.A. will not only supplement my grant but will also keep me in touch with my profession - teaching. I would like to read from you [crossed out: whether I w] with the information on whether I should wait on your efforts to negotiate the Assistantship for me or I should do it directly. I am sure that [crossed out: you have] I will have a better chance if it is through you. Please extend my greetings to your family. Bye for now. Yrs. Sincerely - Abbas Ahuwan.