From Nancy C. Russell to Cole
Gilcrease Museum
6816 Odin Street, Hollywood, California, May 2, 1926. DR. P. G. Cole, A Schrader’s Son, Inc., 470 Vanderbilt Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. Dear Dr. Cole: I scribbled you a line in answer to your letter of April 16th- the day we were leaving for the northern part of the State. We are back home again and Mr. Furman brought me a check, sayng XX you had sent him a check in payment for “where Track Spell Meat” and the “Horse Wranggler[sic]”, for which we thank you. It seems funny to have an agent with you, because you are a Montanian. Charlie is writing the description of your painting, which I will send on to you as soon as he has finished it. He will also write you an illustrated letter and I will try my best to have the envelope stamped at the Post Office and inclose[sic] it in a pl in one, as you suggested. I am not sure I can do this, because the postmen do not know me, but I shall try. You are going to get a sheep picture some time this Fall. And I really believe you’ve bluffed Charlie into it, but he wants to please you and help make your collection of Western stuff as historic as possible. We did not decide on the size of the canvas when you were here. If you will figure on the space to be used, [next] 2 I will get the canvas according to that space, and then, as I under- stand, Charlie is to use his own judgment as to the composition. As to the decoration for a room for your Western collection I believe Charlie would have a lot of fun doing it for you. He has put in place one for Mr. Doheny here in Los Angeles, that has de- lighted the old gentleman. He, like you, know the real intimate stuff of the West, and appreciates the accurate detail that Charlie puts in. When you are ready and your architect has your room planned, give me your dimensions and Charlie will submit ides for you ap- pproval. If they do not come up to your expectations, there will be no permanent work done on them and there will be no harm done and no expense to you. The one thing would be, necessary time for Charlie to do the work. He is not rapid, as you know. Mr. Furman, as you know, is no longer connected with the Biltmore Salon. But he is shipping to you the “Scalp-Dancer” that you saw there, when you were here. And he tells me that you want the ash-tray they spoke off.[sic] I am writing the Roman Bronze Works in Brooklyn to finish and deliver to you a copy of “To Noses That Read A Smell That Spells Man.” that is the one they said you wanted. I believe Mr. Furman gave you the address of his print rooms here in Hollywood, from which he will operate, for the present, and suggested that he would try to dispose of some of the pictures that you wish to weed out of your gallery. I happen to be in the Biltmore and heard a man there inquiring for a Moran. I have an idea if you sent your biggest and best Moran to them with the price that you want for it, that possibly they could place it at once. I can’t say positively about this, you understand, [handwritten] but two agents would get quicker results [maby] than one [next] 3 I want to tell you about a little model Charlie is just finishing, and I believe it will appeal to you and your wife. It represents an Indian sitting on a ledge of rock, with a tiny fire just below him, or the sticks to show there was a fire. He’s sitting, very much relaxed, leaning on a lance, a big owl is just lighting on his left shoulder and giving him a message. The piece is called “Secrets of the Night”. You know the Blackfeet Indians believe there was a time when they talked to animals nd[sic] birds and they believe an old is a ghost bird, because he can see at night. If this sounds interesting to you, when I send in the plaster cast to the bronze foundry I will have them make an extra copy . The “Scalp Dancer” is $150. “To Noses That Read” is the same price. It may be two or three weeks before you get the latter. We will be at this address until the middle of June and will then go back to Montana. Charlie joins in kindest regards to you both, And you will be having a hand-written letter from him very soon. Sincerely,
[Transcribed by Melynda Seaton, 2011-12-01]
Scope and Content Notes
From Nancy C. Russell, May 2, 1926, two pages, received payments for "Where Tracks Spell Meat", and "Horse Wrangler", Charles M. Russell will do sheep picture and send illustrated letter and envelope, "Scalp Dancer" is being shipped, "To Noses that Read a Smell that Spells Man" is to be delivered to Cole. Description of a new bronze--an Indian sitting on a rock ledge, tiny fire below him, relaxed and leaning on a lance, owl is lighting on his shoulder and giving him a message, entitled "Secrets of the Night".
