Search Results: Authors starting with V from Stuart Lutz Historic Documents, Inc.

JOHN VAN DRUTEN (1901-1957). Van Druten was an English-born playwright and thespian successful in both England and America. Archive. 4 letters. 1956. A series of letters written by John van Druten to an aspiring Ohio playwright named Jerry Weingart. Weingart first contacted van Druten through his agent Monica McCall, asking van Druten to read and critique Weingart’s play. After several more months of exchanging letters, van Druten commented on Weingart’s play in a handwritten letter dated September 16, 1956. Van Druten would die the following year, in December 1957, from heart problems. a) TLS. 2pgs. January 12, 1956. New York, NY. A typed letter signed “John van Druten”. On letterhead of the Hotel Dorset in New York City. Van Druten’s first letter to Weingart, attributing his failure to reply to a prior letter to the lack of a return address. “Dear Mr. Weingart, Monica McCall spoke to me of your letter to her, and I was very glad to hear of it. It gave me the chance I have been wanting… Read More

WILLIS VAN DEVANTER (1859-1941). Van Devanter was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court for over two decades. TLS. 1pg. December 20, 1910. Cheyenne, Wyoming. A typed letter signed “Willis Van Devanter”. Just having being appointed to the Supreme Court – he was confirmed by the Senate on December 15 – Van Devanter wrote to Supreme Court Clerk James H. McKenney, asking McKenney to order his new robes. “My dear Mr. McKenney: If it conveniently can be done, I will appreciate it if one of the gentlemen in your office will procure an appropriate gown for me. My height is 5 feet 9 ½ inches. My weight is 178 pounds, and I am otherwise of usual proportions. When I became Circuit Judge a seamstress in Washington, who had made gowns for some of the Justices and Circuit Judges, made one for me, but it is worn too much to permit of further use. I will be glad to have the new one made of good material, and am writing on the supposition that I must pay for my own gown, which will be done promptly… Read More

WILLIAM K. VANDERBILT (1849-1920). William K. was the second son of William H. Vanderbilt. He began his railroad career at nineteen in the office of his grandfather, the Commodore. He remained in the business for life. ADS. 1pg. 8 ½” x 3 ½”. May 1st, 1875. New York. An autograph document signed “W K Vanderbilt” and completely filled out by him. It was a receipt, acknowledging that he “Received from E. Kingman & Co Thirty-Seven 50/100 Dollars being amount of rent due for quarter ending August 1st 1875”. It is on his own “W.K. Vanderbilt Grand Central Depot” form. The document is in very fine condition overall.

JOSEPH BRADLEY VARNUM (1750/1751-1821). Varnum was a long-time Massachusetts politician affiliated with the Democratic-Republican Party. He served as a Congressman from 1895-1811, including as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1807 to 1811, and a Senator from 1811 to 1817, including as President Pro Tempore from 1813 to 1814. AL. 2 pg. 8” x 10”. January 22, 1803. An autographed letter, though unsigned, from Joseph Bradley Varnum to an unidentified individual. The document is in response to a letter previously written by the individual: “Pray Sir what is your precise meaning when you say, you ‘wish to have our own Countrymen put in office in preference to any other under heaven’ and in pursuing the Idea You say that you ‘presume we have Men of our own Country that are Qualified to fill any office, if not’ you say, ‘let us give up our Independence to foreigners.’” After summarizing why the receiver cannot mean actual foreign citizens, Varum writes: “There is but one… Read More

PAUL VERLAINE (1844-1896). Verlaine was a famous French poet best associated with the symbolist movement. ALS. 1pg. 1894. No place. An autograph letter signed “P. Verlaine” in French to Theo. The poet mentions that he received an envelope with manuscripts and has a lengthy postscript. The Verlaine letter is framed together with a cover of Oeuvres Poetiques by Verlaine with his portrait.

PAULE VEZELAY (1892-1984). Vezelay was a British-born abstract painter active in France. HOWARD RUSSELL BUTLER (1856-1934). Butler was an American artist who wrote Painter and Space, a book about artistically depicting solar eclipses. TLS. 2pgs. November 4, 1941. Bristol, England. A typed letter signed “Paule Vezelay”. During World War Two, Vezelay wrote to American painter Howard Russell Butler about his book, Painter and Space. Vezelay was clearly very interested in and knowledgeable about art theory, and she responded eagerly to Butler’s own theories as presented in his book. She also quoted modern artists Henri Matisse and Jean Arp. However, she seems not to have realized that Butler had died seven years before the date of her letter. “… How much I wish I might have the opportunity of meeting you, of exmplaining [sic] my own theory for the scientific composition of pictures and of asking you to help me with your collaboration should you be interested in my ideas. As this is impossible… Read More

(SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES). DS. 1pg. March 3, 1853. Washington D.C. A partially-printed document signed “Wm. Tho. Carroll” as Clerk of the United States Supreme Court. The document admits Henry K. Viele of Buffalo, New York as an attorney in the Supreme Court: “…Henry K. Viele, Esquire, of Buffalo, State of New York was, on motion first made to the Court in this behalf, by The Hon. F. G. Haven, duly admitted and qualified, as an Attorney and Counsellor of the Supreme Court of the United States…”. The document is in very good condition with some wrinkles and a loss to the upper-right corner. It depicts a version of the eagle symbol on the top and is stamped with the Supreme Court seal at lower left.

FRED VINSON (1890-1953). Vinson served as the 53rd United States Secretary of the Treasury between 1945-1946 and the 13th Chief Justice of the United States from 1946 until his death. To date, he is the last Chief Justice appointed by a Democratic president. TLS. 1 pg. 7” x 10”. April 11, 1945. The White House Washington. A typed letter signed “Fred” to “Snooks”: “Thank you for your very gracious congratulatory message of April 8th. It was kind of you to take the time to write and I trust that my administration of this responsible and difficult task will always merit your confidence”. This letter, from Fred Vinson to Andrew Winters of the West Virginia State Senate, is in reference to Vinson’s appointment as Director of War Mobilization and Reconversion on April 4th. Yet just one day after this letter was sent, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt passed away, and Harry Truman assumed the presidency. Truman’s ascent would lead to a meteoric rise for Vinson, as he would be Chief… Read More