Letter from Kate Daniels to Louise Kertesz

A two page, original, typewritten letter, dated January 16th, 1984. The letter is from Kate Daniels to Louise Kertesz. The letter begins by saying that it has been a while since Kate had received Louise’s letter, which she sent on July 20th which indicated that Louise would be willing to correspond with Daniels about the biography of Rukeyser that she is working on, Daniels apologizes for the long delay in responding. Daniels briefly updates Louise, saying that the biography, tentatively titled Muriel Rukeyser: A Life of Poetry, will be published by Random House Inc. Bill Rukeyser, Muriel’s only heir, is cooperating with Daniels fully in the making of the biography, and Daniels will be going to California on March 9th to meet with him and tio go through the Rukeyser materials in the Berg Collection, which Daniels remarks must have been totally uncataloged when Louise worked with them, and Daniels thinks about what a hard time Louise must have had. Daniels will begin working with the Library of Congress Collection in the next few weeks. Daniels has contacted numerous colleagues and friends of Muriel’s, all of whom have consented to speak with Daniels and share manuscripts. Daniel has noticed that in The Poetic Vision of Muriel Rukeyser, Louise had spoken to and corresponded with Muriel several times. Daniels asks if Louise would share the information about the correspondences with her,and for Louis to write to her about her relationship with Muriel. Daniels wonders what Rukeyser was like to work with, and any impressions Louise had of her, professionally and personally. Daniels considers Louise’s input to be enormously impersonating as Louise was the first, and so far only critic and writer to complete, a full length study of Rukeyser, Daniels asks if Louise would be willing to share some letters with her, and to share any materials that Louise might have. Daniel is willing to pay any fees that Louise may incur by doing this. such as the fees for xeroxing and postage. If Louise would be more comfortable speaking with her on the telephone, Daniels would be willing to do that. Daniels asks if Louis could respond to her more quickly than the time that Daniles took in responding to Louise’s July letter. Daniels apologizes for the long delay in responding, and says that it has not been due to the lack of interest, but only the desire to tell Louise more specifically about the outlines of the book that she is writing. Daniels also says that Louise may be interested to know that Poetry East, the literary magazine that Daniels edits and publishes at the University of Virginia, will be publishing a special issue on Muriel Rukeyser and her poetry in the Spring of 1985. Miriam Riek, a long time friend who had gathered a number of essays after Muriel’s death but never published them, will be guest editing it. Daniels ends the letter by saying that if Louise is interested in contributing something, or if she knows of someone who might be, Daniels hopes that Louise tells them about the issue of the literary magazine. The adaddres to Daniels is at the English Department for the University of Virginia. Daniels says that she hopes to hear from Louise soon,and she hopes the best for Louise for the New Year. Near where Daniels mentions that she got Random House Inc. to publish her book, someone, possibly Louise, has underlined that section and written on the letter, “Did she?” in all capital letters.