Letter from Edward S. Curtis to Harriet Leitch, December 26, 1948

• Main Author: Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1948
• Subjects: Curtis; Edward S.; 1868-1952; Photographers > United States > Correspondence; Indians of North America; Indian; Pacific; Point Barrow
• Online Access: http://cdm16118.contentdm.oclc.org/u?/p16118coll16,24

Letter from Edward Curtis to Harriet Leitch in which he responds to her inquiry as to whether he would consider writing an autobiography. Curtis notes that his health and finances prohibit him from undertaking such a project and describes how publishers have told him there is now little interest in books focusing on Native Americans. He writes that he has already given a publisher a book written by him on the topic of the Pacific shores with a large chapter focusing on the history of sea otter hunting and trade. Curtis states that he spent many months on the work but his publishers say there is not enough interest to produce it. Curtis suggests Leitch looks at his two previous books. "Indian Days of the Long Ago" and "The Land of the Head Hunters," if she is able to find them at the library. Master image scanned on Epson 10000 XL flatbed at 600 pixels per inch, 24 bit color, saved as TIFF file. Photoshop used to convert master image to JPEG format. Master image file size: 477,387,420 bytes [5 files]. [December 26, 1948, Page 1] (Dec. 26, 1948) Dear Miss Leitch, This is the day after xmas; I will now try to devote the greater part of my time to getting the needed material ready for you. I received your letter of the 20 on the closing day of the mad xmas rush. Your suggestion that I write the story of my life is interesting but the reason why I should not consider attempting such an ambitious undertaking are many. Among the foremost, why nots I am not in a physical or financial condition to attempt so large an undertaking. It would take a year or more to do the job and require a super typest [sic] while doing it. The expense of the typest [sic] is quite beyond my means. Even if this could be managed; I question being able to secure a publisher. Publishers tell me that there is but a limited market for books dealing with Indian subjects. For some months a publishers agent has had a full length script, dealing with the North [December 26, 1948, Page 2] Pacific shores from Mexico to Point Barrow, extending west ...