Correspondence with Zohmah, 1955

Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. 1955. Jean Charlot Collection, Correspondence, "Jean Charlot to Zohmah Day Charlot". Box 2, folder 2.

Highlights:

June 14, 1955:

Arrives at Notre Dame for Fresco Class in Action, and Fine Arts.

December 10, 1955:

Arrives at The Good Shepherd Parish for Psalm of the Good Shepherd.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: June 14, 1955.

  Text begins:

  [letterhead]
  Palmer House
  Chicago

  Tuesday ca midnight Chicago time, or 6.P.M Hawaii time

  Dear Z.
  Well arrived as per telegram. I opened the Preis girl lei on the plane and it was delightful = horses and boats and houses and landscapes in a very elaborate color.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  [leftside]
  South Bend. It is a 35 minute flight, so must be farther than was said.

  [rightside]
  forgotten the look. I had ham and eggs at the cafeteria as they had told me: no meals.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: June 15, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Wednesday (night)

  Dear Z: Well arrived. This morning walked from Palmer House to Art Institute. Saw the collections.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: June 16, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Thursday
  Dear Z.
  This morning, Sessler came for me at 8.30 (3.30 AM Honolulu time) for breakfast.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  Then the vice-president in charge of Academic activitites. Very imposing priest.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: June 17, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Thursday evening.
  There was a mix-up in room = assigned to two people. So moved to other meanwhile.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  coming, so hope it is on its way.

  Friday morning.
  Queued patiently for breakfast at dining hall, with hundreds of nuns, monks, and brothers. Had a hotcake.

• #

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: June 18, 1955. Two sheets.

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  Sheet 1 of 2. Text begins:

  Friday P.M. [1 in a circle]

  Received your first letter. I think Ann is right to try and get her Summer credits.

  #

  

  Sheet 2 of 2. Text begins:

  [top right corner: 2 in a circle]

  10 dollar room at the Inn, and she said something would be arranged when you came.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  [top right corner: 3 in a circle]

  There is something in the air (tree pollen) I think that does make me act allergic, like Peter!

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: June 19, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Saturday PM
  This morning a few sisters that will be in my courses spoke w. me.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  Had dinner at the cafeteria = not too good. Then a walk along the lake that is part of the campus.

• #

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: June 20, 1955. Two sheets.

  #

  

  Sheet 1 of 2. Text begins:

  Monday noon [1 in a circle]

  Yesterday returning from Chicago I met Beckman (who replaces Sessler for Summer) in a cafeteria where he ate with his wife and son.

  #

  

  Verso. Text:

  Had a phone call from a lady, friend of Fr Reinhold that he will be at N.Dame tomorrow. It seems he has been very sick.

  #

  

  Sheet 2 of 2. Text begins:

  [top right corner: 2 in a circle]

  will and did their best to keep themselves busy. Most attempt religious painting and it is interesting to be able to teach in relation to religious subject matter.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  Got another letter from you this afternoon. You sure gave some aloha to de Gogorzas.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: June 21, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Tuesday
  Yesterday had dinner in town. Class today. As yet we have no sand, no pigment and no scaffold but should have all of it tomorrow.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  She has an idea Joan and Ann would come to see us only at Christmas.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: June 22, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Wednesday
  Yesterday evening, I was invited (not to dinner) by Mrs Gurian. She is the wido of a famous professor who edited the "Political Review".

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  scaffolds. Also a brother helped and two laymen.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Postcard. Postmarked: Notre Dame, IN, June 24, 1955, 11:00AM.

  Text:

  [address]
  Mrs J. Charlot
  1749 Correa
  Honolulu Hawaii

  [return address]
  Charlot. Art. Dept.
  U. of Notre Dame. Indiana

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  Dear Z: You should be on your way now, but this card may reach you, forwarded!

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: June 24, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Dear Z: I had my dates wrong when I sent the postcard, so here are my letters again.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  A sister came to see me who had taught John and Ann in Colorado.

• #

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: June 25, 1955. Two sheets.

  #

  

  Sheet 1 of 2. Text begins:

  Saturday, June 25
  There are no classes on Friday or Saturday in Summer, so I had two days to work on the cartoon. I enclose a sketch of the left half, the only one done up to now.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  we like each other, that some murals could come out of it.

  #

  

  Sheet 2 of 2. Text begins:

  [cartoon for Fresco Class in Action]

  #

  

  Verso. Text:

  The cartoon on the wall as far as it goes. The students are working groups around a fresco in course of Flight into Egypt.

  On the right side there will be scaffolds and painters on them.

• #

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: June 26, 1955. Two sheets.

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  Sheet 1 of 2. Text begins:

  Sunday 26.
  Yesterday walked around the lake. It is a pretty walk.

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  Verso. Text begins:

  [top right corner: 2 in a circle]

  available. I spoke of the Bishop Bank and how, by getting there at the blueprint beginnings, we had made a good job of fusing painting and architecture.

  #

  

  Sheet 2 of 2. Text begins:

  [top right corner: 3 in a circle]

  visited a little cottage where the girls 'play house'. It is a dormitory for a few: a japanese and a negro girl received us.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  P.S = I asked you a nr. of things. One was my security nr. They need it to pay me. Please send it. [drawing: red heart]

• #

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: June 28, 1955. Two sheets.

  #

  

  Sheet 1 of 2. Text begins:

  28 Tuesday morning
  Dearest Z:
  Yesterday the sand arrived for the fresco class so they could mix their mortar and started on their easel frescoes.

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  Verso. Text begins:

  [top right corner: 3 in a semi-circle]

  Now that I have been there, I see why they think they could house us.

  #

  

  Sheet 2 of 2. Text begins:

  [top right corner: 2 in a circle]

  material, cedar wood, etc... but all left bare without paint or plaster.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: June 28, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Tuesday evening
  Had a rather heavy day of work. Made some studies from life for nuns for the mural.

  #

  

  Verso. Text:

  Nothing new turned up!

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: June 30, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Morning Thursday 30

  You must be quite close to going now! Yesterday went on with the cartoon. I have a group of sisters in white habit manipulating the white lime putty that is coming fine.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  decorator way, w. a corner of old New Orleans painted on two walls, w cast iron furniture and a piece of a N. Orleans style grill set up.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: June 30, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Thursday
  There is a July 4 vacation so the classes would resume only Tuesday. One of the boys had invited me to his home in Chicago, but it is safer for the work and quieter for myself to stay here.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  but it came out all right. Many come now to see the work and nuns like it because it is mostly made up of nuns!

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot.

  Text begins:

  Friday July 1
  Zohmah dearest:
  Worked on the cartoon, relatively quietly as there were no classes.

  #

  

  Inside. Text begins:

  her architect and other plans. She seemed to like what we were doing.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  I mail this July 2. It is the last you could receive in Hawaii.

• #

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Five sheets.

  #

  

  Sheet 1 of 5. Text begins:

  [top right corner: 1 in a circle]

  Saturday evening
  July 2
  Dearest, I will write a few days and send the bunch to Prudence's.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  [top right corner: 2 in a circle]

  They arranged them in order in the student lounge and enjoyed seeing my way of painting with oil.

  #

  

  Sheet 2 of 5. Text begins:

  [top right corner: 3 in a circle]

  Sunday July 3

  To Mass at 7h. There are so many priests here that masses are never slow, and no preaches.

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  Verso. Text begins:

  [top right corner: 4 in a circle]

  about his new church and how he wants me to pass by and advise on decoration.

  #

  

  Sheet 3 of 5. Text begins:

  [top right corner: 5 in a circle]

  nearly half gone and I had not even begun!

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  Verso. Text begins:

  [top right corner: 6 in a circle]

  the woody look. There were two priests at dinner.

  #

  

  Sheet 4 of 5. Text begins:

  [top right corner: 7 in a circle]

  Then I remembered that my hall closes at midnight and I had to make the deadline, so the Hasleys took me back.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  [top right corner: 9 in a circle]

  Wednesday evening July 6.
  Today the mason put up the cement frame to the fresco proper.

  #

  

  Sheet 5 of 5. Text begins:

  [top right corner: 8 in a circle]

  full of dark woodwork. A sea of nuns, some from St Mary's and others my students and friends come from N.Dame to hear me.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  [top right corner: 10 in a circle]

  5.P.M. Thursday
  Will mail this bunch to Prudence's with hope you will be there when it comes!

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: July 8, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Friday evening
  Dearest: I mailed you a long letter added to for four days until it was time that it could reach you at Prudence.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  Johnny wrote me to let me know that perhaps he could go to an English school.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Postcard. Postmarked: Notre Dame, IN, July 8, 1955, 11:00AM.

  Text:

  [address]
  Miss Ann Charlot c/o Mr Owen Plowe
  414 40th St.
  San Pedro Cal.

  [return address]
  Charlot. Art Dept. U. of N.Dame. Indiana

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  Dear Ann: Thanks for your nice letter.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Postcard. Postmarked: Notre Dame, IN, July 9, 1955, 11:00AM.

  Text:

  [address]
  Master John Charlot c/o Mr Owen Plowe
  414 40th St.
  San Pedro Cal.

  [return address]
  Charlot. Art Dept. N.Dame U. Indiana

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  Dear Johnny: Thanks for your card.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: July 10, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Sunday.
  Dearest: Thinking of you and your arrival in L.A.

  Yesterday, there was no fresco work, but tracing for Monday, though the nuns continued on their easel frescoes, some mighty pretty.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  have me confused with another Charlot of which I have not heard!

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: July 11, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Monday
  Dear Z:
  Enclosed the note from Ann Reinicke about Portsmouth and Johnny. I suppose they did also send you direct a note, though perhaps it may not yet have reached you.

• #

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: July 13, 1955. Annotated by Zohmah: "1955". Three sheets.

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  Sheet 1 of 3. Annotated by Zohmah: "1955". Text begins:

  Wednesday morning
  Nothing from you yet. Yesterday the fresco proceeded. Visitors all the time.

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  Verso. Text begins:

  impressive. He has a stained glass [...] in St Louis and has been doing huge works,

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  Sheet 2 of 3. Text begins:

  Wednesday evening
  Had a phone call from Ann Reinicke about Portsmouth.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  Sr Madaleva came and we worked further on subject matter.

  #

  

  Sheet 3 of 3. Text begins:

  4'
  [drawing]
  Theresa and Tambourine

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: July 15, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Friday
  Dearest,
  Yesterday we painted the last piece on the fresco proper.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  Fr Sheedy is very impressed with the result and speed of the fresco.

• #

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: July 17, 1955. Two sheets.

  #

  

  Sheet 1 of 2. Text begins:

  Chicage - Sunday morning
  Dear Z: Friday we took the electric train from South Bend, w. Naoin and Glass, two of my few boy students.

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  Verso. Text begins:

  nymphs and tritons in the middle of the fountain.

  #

  

  Sheet 2 of 2. Text begins:

  for the show. The gallery is now open to the public.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: July 18, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Monday evening.
  Had your letter N^o 2 from L.A. Glad that Johnny is in Portsmouth.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  Classes resumed today. At 10.A.M. we ran for both classes a tape recording of what I had said to a class on Christian Art.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: July 19, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Tuesday evening
  I started today cartoons for Sr Madaleva. They are panels 4x4', 16 of them.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  Gurian came as I had invited them to dinner.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: July 21, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Thursday
  It was mighty nice to hear your voice on the phone yesterday, and the children...

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  my lecture in the gallery, and tea for all the nuns.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: July 23, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Saturday
  Dearest:
  Enclosed things, including some Portsmouth material. I am writing the headmaster from here too, to comply with the July 25 deadline in case the card I send you (I could not fill in the data!) was late.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  In the morning, I reviewed the work done, for the students.

• #

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: July 24, 1955. Two sheets.

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  Sheet 1 of 2. Text begins:

  Sunday evening
  Saturday I drew two more panels for St Mary's. One was St Hilda of Whitsby and I wanted Sr Madavela to pose for it.

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  Verso. Text begins:

  Then went to relax at a concert.

  #

  

  Sheet 2 of 2. Text begins:

  [drawing: profile of a nun]
  (sketch Sister Madaleva)

• #

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: July 27, 1955. Three sheets.

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  Sheet 1 of 3. Text begins:

  Dearest= You must be out of San Pedro by now but I will write my daily round anyhow and send the bunch when I know where.

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  Sheet 2 of 3. Text begins:

  day, they will help Beckman to hang the student show.

  #

  

  Sheet 3 of 3. Text begins:

  even in answer to my 'apologies', so I think Bransby, whom I had recommended as substitute, is also out.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: July 27, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Wednesday evening
  Dearest:
  I sent one letter c/o Bransby. This one c/o Burgess.

• #

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: July 29, 1955. Two sheets.

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  Sheet 1 of 2. Text begins:

  Friday Evening
  Yesterday, I left at 9.30 for Chicago, arriving at noon. Fr Walsh and Fr Douaire met me

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  Sheet 2 of 2. Text begins:

  he was, and mentioned that perhaps some day "they" would ask me to do a fresco above ground level!

• #

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: July 31–August 3, 1955.

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  Sheet 1 of 2. Date from diary: July 31–August 1, 1955. Text begins:

  Sunday
  This morning 8h. mass and took Glass to breakfast. The steel frames for the job have arrived.

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  Sheet 2 of 2. Date from diary: August 3, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Wednesday morning
  August 3

  Received a card from Dorothy and one from Mrs. Bransby from Colo. Springs.

• #

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: August 5, 1955. Two sheets.

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  Sheet 1 of 2. Text begins:

  Thursday morning
  August 4

  Yesterday I tried twice to get you on the Rock Island phone but there was no answer.

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  Sheet 2 of 2. Text begins:

  drive out 200 miles to see a church in construction near Detroit (?) for which I would make some designs for him to execute.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: December 10, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Saturday.
  Well arrived but a long trip. One of the priest's room is mine, small but cozy.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: December 11, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Saturday evening

  Dearest =
  This morning Bill Glass arrived. He stays with a friend close by.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  so there should be no difficulties.

  Fr Torzewski wants to arrange a get-acquainted meeting for a week from this Sunday, and wanted the fresco film.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: December 12, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Monday
  Today worked all day (from 7.am) on first task, the big Christ head. It came out fine.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: December 13, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Dearest:
  Today is your birthday. Wish I was with you.

  Today was the second day od painting: the two hands of Christ, each filling a panel 4 by 4 feet.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: December 14 (?), 1955.

  Text begins:

  Wednesday

  Dearest:
  Naturally it made me unhappy not to have pleased you.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: December 15, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Saturday morning before work.

  Phoning yesterday was nice. Letters had such bad luck this trip.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  children. It was rather a gigantic affair, 800 of them.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: December 18, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Fr Neff airmailed the film yesterday.

  Sunday Evening
  Went to 8h30 Mass. First time I could see the painting with the congregation. Looked all right. With Glass went to Detroit Museum.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: December 20, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Tuesday
  Yesterday was the last day of fresco. Today and tomorrow will retouch with lime.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  painting will be, but not the light and the woodwork.

• #

  

  Correspondence with Zohmah. Jean Charlot. Date from diary: December 21, 1955.

  Text begins:

  Wednesday
  Just got your letter asking about Edna = Monday is fine, better than Christmas day.

  #

  

  Verso. Text begins:

  Phone alma that a Detroit Father = Maestrini? will phone her about a lecture in March.

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