Dear Lucile:

That was almost like old times! Your letter made me happy after so long a silence.

About the missing letter or letters. Mrs. Martin Vogt, publicity director for the Neihardt project, says she wrote you twice about the Project (long before the Dinner) and that there was no reply. I assured her that there had to be a mistake somewhere. I wish you would write her and make her feel good. She is a nice person. The two letters must have been written to you while Bower was at Cornell.

Note the enclosed program for the Friends of the Library dinner last Saturday. See the marked passage. (The pedestal will be marble, Parker says).

Will send these separately.

The Laureate Tour is shaping up rapidly. You know it is sponsored by the Governor, the Centennial Commission, and the Historical Society.

I have not heard when the highway marker will be dedicated, but should know soon.

I am so eager to see the MS! I'll bet it will be good. I've been looking at your dissertation again (over in my collection reading room) and I'm impressed anew with the good writing in it.

Lucile, I do want stuff that belog belongs to the Collection here to be returned reasonably soon. I want to see things in shape for my going hence; and, altho' I am not sick I can feel that I'm leaning towards the Next Whatever It Is. There is no Neihardt: Man and Poet here. I have no copy myself. There must be a number of things that should gather together here. The letters we took from books can be copied for you by the Xer Xerox method, and I will refund the $20 you paid Mona.

I think and think of you there in the House of Happiness. I have such dear memories of the place and you three. The My thoughts include Jingle, of course! I wish you would hug the sweet little person for his Uncle John My doggies are so precious. No one could deserve the love they give me.

You will be happy over the way Parker is having my the Neihardt Memorial Collection established and protected. A lovely reading room. No books removed from the place. No admittance except by key obtained at the Reference Room office. Already many use the collection. It is catalogued in the general catalogue as well as in the special one just for the collection. New furniture will be placed in the reading room, and my bust will guard the entrance. Isn't this bully?!

With the old affection for you, Bower, and Stewart

-John Nei[hardt?]
AFTER 10 DAYS RETURN TO
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
COLUMBIA, MISSOURI 65202
219 A & S
[COL?]UMBIA, MO. MAY 3 [?]PM 1965

8¢ U.S. AIR MAIL

Dr. Lucile Aly 1138 22nd Ave., East Eugene, Oregon