Timeline of Letters

The School Years: 1888-1896
The McClure Years: 1906-1912
Finding Herself as a Writer: 1912-1916
A Change of Publishers and One of Ours: 1919-1922
Years of Mastery: 1923-1927
A Troubled Time: 1932-1936

Letter to Louise Pound

Cather is 19, in love, and confused by her emotions.

Read more 1892The School Years:
1888-1896

Letter to Sarah Orne Jewett

She is frustrated and pouring out her feelings to a writer who understands.

Read more 1908The McClure Years:
1906-1912

Letter to Elizabeth Shepley Sergeant

Sharing what frightens and inspires her.

Letter to Anne Adams Fields

At ease with her own writing style.

Read more 1912Finding Herself as a Writer:
1912-1916

Letter to Dorothy Canfield Fisher

Desperately trying to get through to her friend.

Read more 1921A Change of Publishers and One of Ours:
1919-1922

Letter to Dorothy Canfield Fisher

Explaining her war novel to someone who understands.

Letter to President Masaryk of Czechoslovak Republic

She writes of "Antonia" and the children, the Midwest and her dislike of biographies.

Read more 1925Years of Mastery:
1923-1927

Letter to F. Scott Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald is young and inexperienced; Cather is offering advice and discusses his use of a character from "A Lost Lady".

Letter to Irene Miner Wiesz

She writes about her books making money and The Professor buying her a mink coat.

Letter to Annie Pavelka

Annie Pavelka was her inspiration for "My Antonia". She writes to her about sending the additional $10 to cover the entire cost of the electric washing machine.

Read more 1936A Troubled Time:
1932-1936

Letter to Edith Lewis

The only letter found from Willa Cather to Edith Lewis from the Shattuck Inn.