Chipmunks and Children: The Photography and Life of Ruth Alexander Nichols

Document 1: 21 August 1917, Ruth Alexander to Herman Nichols   |    Document 2: 23 August 1918, Albert Britt to Ruth Alexander
Document 3: 1919 Thomas Clay O’Donnell to Ruth Alexander   |    Document 4: 23 May 1927 Jean M. Whitman to Ruth Nichols
Document 5: 20 June 1931- W. C. Vogt to Ruth Nichols   |    Document 6 & 7 Introduction
Document 6: 14 June 1950, W.H. Zippler to Ruth Nichols     |    Document 7: 20 June 1950, Ruth Nichols to W.H. Zippler
Document 8: 1953 – Better Homes and Gardens Transcript       |     Bibliography

Document 3: 1919 Thomas Clay O’Donnell to Ruth Alexander 

Author: Thomas Clay O’Donnell

Recipient: Ruth Alexander

Date: 3 February 1919

Location: Nichols Family Papers, Record Group 30/372, Series VI: Professional Correspondence of Ruth A. Nichols Nichols, Box 1. O.C.A.

Document Type: Typed Letter

Introduction:

Nancy in bath
This is a picture from one of Nichol’s children’s books, Nancy, published in 1933.
Source: Series XI. Writings, Subseries 3. Writings by and about Ruth A. Nichols, Box 3. Nichols Family Papers, RG 30/372. O.C.A.

        In 1919, Alexander moved from Kansas to New York City, where she began to work as a photographer and writer for a campaign and publicity firm.[1] During this time, she also continued to produce work for publication in various magazines. The following letter, from the Managing Editor of Cartoons magazine, T. C. O’Donnell, deals with one of these submissions.[2]  Though this is, in fact, a rejection letter, it is notable for the fact that it not only encourages Alexander to resubmit, but specifically details the kinds of articles they would like her to contribute. In a way, this is less of a rejection letter than it is a solicitation for Alexander’s further contributions. While not lavish, the praise and contents of this letter are a testament to Ruth’s considerable abilities, and underscore why she was able to become so successful.

Original                       Both                    Transcription

 

 

feb 1919 letter

Transcription:

H.H. WINDSOR[3]

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER                        

                                        CARTOONS MAGAZINE

                                        6 NORTH MICHIGAN AVENUE

                                        CHICAGO

                                                                        February 3, 1919.

Miss Ruth Alexander

386 Stuyvesant Ave.,

Brooklyn, N. Y.[4]

Dear Miss Alexander:

       

 

Nancy with trains
While the title character in Nancy was often shown engaging in stereotypically feminine activities, Nichols also depicted her playing with trains, and in a few other more masculinely coded pastimes.
Source: Series XI. Writings, Subseries 3. Writings by and about Ruth A. Nichols, Box 3. Nichols Family Papers, RG 30/372. O.C.A.

We want to thank you for the opportunity of reading the enclosed manuscripts. While they are not exactly suited to our needs, yet they are so well done as to lead us to hope that you will continue to submit your work to us.

        We are chiefly in need of:

        First: Short, humorous miscellany, either prose or verse, for our department entitled, “Here’s Another One.”

        Second: The whimsical sketch, with plenty of action and characterization, of from eight to twelve-hundred words in length.

                Very sincerely yours,

                        [signature of T.C. O’Donnell]

                        Managing Editor.

TCO-LJ

Enc.[5]

[Transcribed by Laura Feyer.]

[1] Student File, Ruth Alexander Nichols, Record Group 28/2, Box 57, O.C.A.

[2] Cartoons magazine was first published in 1912. In 1921, the name changed to Wayside Tales and Cartoons Magazine (“Cartoons Magazine.” Hathi Trust Digital Library. Accessed on 10 March 2016. Source).

     Thomas Clay O’Donnell (1881-1962) was born in Michigan, and attended a business college in London, England. Upon his return to the United States, he briefly worked as a professor, before switching careers to become an editor. He worked for various magazines, including Cartoons, Outing, The Writer’s Digest,  and as a member of the Freemasons, edited their magazine New York Masonic Outlook. He also wrote a number of books that dealt with local history and folklore, as well as various books for children. O’Donnell married Bertha May Smith in 1905 and with whom he had three children (“Biographical History.” Thomas C. O’Donnell Papers of the Syracuse University Libraries. Accessed 14 March 2016. Source).

[3] Henry Haven Windsor (1859-1924) was the publisher of Cartoons at this time. He was also the publisher and editor of the well known Popular Mechanics magazine, which he started in 1902 (“Henry Haven Windsor,” InOfficial Reference Book: Press Club of Chicago. (Chicago: Press Club of Chicago 1922), 211; “Cartoons Magazine.” Hathi Trust Digital Library. Accessed on 10 March 2016. Source).

[4]Though Ruth and Herman were not married until the following year, it appears she was using the address of his family home (where they later lived together) for her professional correspondence. It is unclear if this was because she was living with his family at the time, or because she was so often traveling for her job she did not have another permanent address she could reliably use. An Oberlin College alumni information sheet in her student file suggests it might have been the latter, since she lists her place of residence from 1919-1920 as “somewhere in New York City” (Student File, Ruth Alexander Nichols, Record Group 28/2, Box 57, O.C.A.).

[5]These are secretarial markings. TCO-LJ indicates that the letter was dictated by T.C. O’Donnell and typed by his secretary “LJ.” The “Enc.” stands for enclosure.