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The American Folk & Lore Society.

W.W. NEWELL, SECRETARY.

CAMBRIDGE, MASS., 28 January 1907.

My dear Miss Fletcher;-

You have no doubt heard of the very sudden death on Monday last of Mr Newell. He was at the Museum on Saturday and apparently as well as ever. His figure was so familiar around Cambridge and especially in the stacks of the Library where he was to be found early and late pouhing [[r typed over h to spell pouring]] over a volume on old Irish, Folk-Lore on some Areek [[G typed over A to spell Greek]] subject. His culture was so broad and his attainments so varied that he would often surprise one with his knowlidge of subjectr [[s over r to spell subjects]] so wadely [[I over a to spell widely]] diverse. The cause of American Folk-Lore has suffered, I fear, an irreparable loss in his death. The Folk-Lore was his from the very first and it has been owing to his enthusiasm and energy that it has been kept alive as you well know.

Mr Dixon has done me the honor to appoint me Acting Secretary. I do not feel that I can in any adequate wam [[y over m to spell way]] fill the  vacancy made by Mr Newell's death but all I can hope i[[handwritten s to spell is]] that one[[handwritten ,]] coming in from the outside with little knowledge of the traditions of the Journal and the affairs of the Society[[ handwritten ,]] can perhaps brin[[handwritten g to spell bring]] in new life and some new ideas as to the conduct of the Society. With the very greatest respect to the memory of Mr Newell, it seems to me as if the affairs of the Society and more especially those of the Journal, were getting very much into a rut. The Society has among its members about all the Anthropologists of the country so that growth in that direction seems impossible. It is on the literary side of Folk-Lore, it seems to me, that we can best hope for expansion, and endeavor to interest men like Professor Kittredge who was a founder of the Society but has long ceased to have any hand in the government or the policy of the association.

Do not think, Miss Fletcher, that it would be well to have at least one article in each number on a general phase of Folk-Lore or some more distinct contribution to Folk-Lore  in its relation to the literatures of the world. American Indians and their myths do not interest students of English literature. Cay[[n over y to spell can]] we not employ the Journal as one of the means of breaking down the prejudices surrounding the whole subject of the study of "Indians"?

I should like very much to hear your suggestion on this question and I hope that you will agree with me that something might be done to better the Journal. I am sure that we can count upon your continued cooperation and interest in the Society.
With the best wishes for a speedy return of your strength, I am 
Most sincerely yours,
[[handwritten]] Alfred [[?]]
[[?]] Secretary [[/handwritten]]

[[handwritten]][[top left corner Feb. 4- [[/handwritten]]