JEAN STARR UNTERMEYER - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 09/21/1946 - HFSID 273203

JEAN STARR UNTERMEYER. TLS: "Jean Starr Untermeyer", 1p, 7¼x10½. MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, N.H., 1946 September 21. To Vernon Boyce Hampton, Staten Island, N.Y. In full: "Thank you for sending me your verses on Markham and Hoover. I share in your admiration of the grand old man of poetry, and have several memories and one fine, generous letter from him that I cherish. The carreer (sic) of Mr. Hoover has won less interest from me, although I am sure that he too has made his high-minded contribution to the world. But, such is my predilection, that politicians interest me less than poets. Sincerely yours". Markham was probably (CHARLES) EDWIN MARKHAM (1852-1940), who is best known for his 1899 poem, "The Man With the Hoe". Hoover is former 31st President HERBERT HOOVER. Hoover, who had served just one term in office, retired from the public eye until the end of WWII, when he headed fact-finding missions to war-torn Europe and began coordinating the relief efforts to European countries affected by the war. JEAN STARR UNTERMEYER (1886-1970) was married to poet LOUIS UNTERMEYER from 1907 until their divorce in 1925; the couple later remarried, but divorced again in 1951. It was Louis who encouraged his wife to publish her poetry, and her first volume of poems, Growing Pains, was published in 1918. Her other works include Dreams Out of Darkness (1921) and Steep Ascent (1927). Untermeyer also wrote book reviews for "The Saturday Review" and "The New York Times" as well as other publications, and she translated a number of works, including The Death of Virgil (1945). Beginning in the 1930s, Untermeyer taught at writers' conferences, and she was also a popular lecturer. Untermeyer published her autobiography, Private Collections, in 1965. Lightly creased with folds, not at signature. Slightly shaded and soiled at upper margin. Fine condition.