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THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
LAWRENCE, KANSAS

DEPARTMENT OF THE HISTORY OF ART
MUSEUM OF ART

December 20, 1956

Dear Mr. Seligman, 

You probably think I dropped right off the face of the earth on November 24th! Well, I almost did! I haven't actually been only a lady of leisure though. We had quite a hard and hectic drive out as a matter of fact with not the worst weather in the world but also not the best. We arrive about 4:00 am on the Wednesday following the wedding after driving almost 22 hours that day. We also looked about like the grapes of wrath with the car full to the top windows in the back, things on the roof and also in the front seat. Don says the only reason we didn't get wrecked was because there was a gladstone bag on the front street between us - keeping us apart, that is! Actually, we weren't that badly behaved! Then we got here and had to move in gradually and do a little painting and redecorating, and here it is Christmas before it even seems possible. I really can't believe it. 

You and the gallery have NOT been unthought of during the past four weeks though, believe me. I must say that I miss New York and Lawrence hardly has anything as fabulous as the galerie Seligmann to offer, but it is a nice little town and we are enjoying our stay here. We have been feted, wined and dined by many people and met many, including Chancellor Murphy and his wife several times. They are really charming people, unusual, really - Kansas is very lucky to have them - and they have been especially nice to us of course, because of you and my working for you too. EVERYBODY read about us in the New York Times, apparently! 

We have been in twice with Don't students to see the Chrysler exhibition which is at the Nelson Gallery now, and since I knew you didn't have a catalogue when I left, we got you one and have sent it off - a little token of our esteem. In case you do have it and don't want another I know Betty would like it. It is an excellent catalogue but it also seems too bad they printed the reproductions on such bad paper. Also Don and I felt a little disappointed in some of the pictures. We wonder what you think. Of course some of them are excellent. My taste has become more esoteric and I'm sure much better since being with the gallery. For instance the Fantin portrait seemed very fine to me. The two Gericault are certainly odd. We noted that Mr. Eitner and not Mr. Berger recognized them. There was an excellent Van Dyck sketch - large one of St. Sebastien - very good - very interesting Honthorst - also Georges de la Tour. I know some of the French 17th & 18th century ones will be of interest. You probably know all about the collection already and don't really need a catalogue! And if Mr. Chrysler had the finest taste there would be alot of items from JS&Co.,Inc., I'm sure!

The Chrysler show will be in Detroit when the College Art Association meets, and Don and I are going, as he is giving a paper - "The Maguey Paper Plan of Mexico City". It should be alot of fun, as I didn't really go to the last one in New York and consequently there are many colleagues who will be muchly interested in our marriage. 

[[right margin]] Martha Robertson [[/right margin]]