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December 9th, 1932.

O'T:M

Dear Mrs. Netcher,     

I know you will be very interested to hear that Mr. Robert Harshe, Director of the Chicago Art Institute, and his assistant, Mr. Daniel Rich, paid a visit to our galleries yesterday, and in the course of the conversation about the pictures we are loaning for the great exhibition opening in Chicago next June, I spoke to Mr. Harshe about the great idea you have for the Memorial to Mr. Netcher's memory in the Art Institute, and both Mr. Harshe and Mr. Rich were enthusiastic about it. They considered it particularly fitting in Mr. Netcher's case because of the great interest he had always shown in the field of drawings and prints.

I showed them the drawing you selected in Paris as the first choice for this Memorial, and they were both quite pleased with it but asked me if it could possibly be arranged that they could have the little water color by Berthe MORISOT that you selected last Spring, and which is indeed one of the most representative works by this great woman artist, as you yourself decided.

Of course, I was quite astonished by this selection, as I had been informed that the Museum had already refused this work, and when I mentioned this to Mr. Harshe, he was indignant as he said it would certainly have come to his attention or to the attention of Mr. Rich if this work had ever been referred to the Museum, and they had never refused it but would at all times have been happy and enthusiastic to have added such a representative work to their collections. So you see I don't see how this all came about, and I think you should make an inquiry to the source of the information, of the person who told you that the Museum had refused this fine work of art.

Please let me know your wishes about this matter at your earliest convenience, as Mr. Harshe seemed quite enthusiastic to have your great idea in operation without further delay.
 
I trust it has not been ill health that has prevented you from answering my previous letters, and that we will have the pleasure of hearing from you very soon indeed.

With best wishes,

Please believe me to be

Yours very sincerely,

(James St.L. O'Toole)

Mrs. Charles Netcher,
Drake Hotel, Chicago, Illinois.