Langston Hughes Note
Postcard of Grinnell College (Gates Tower) sent by Langston Hughes

Scope and Content Note:
In the spring of 1944, writer, poet, novelist and playwright Langston Hughes came to speak at Grinnell College’s Herrick Chapel. On April 30, 1944 Hughes spoke to the college community stating that the purpose of his poetry “is to stress the economic plight of the Negro race.” While at Grinnell, Hughes sent a postcard dated May 1, 1944 to Mrs. Ina Steele at Texas College in Tyler, Texas.

Additional material:
Scarlet and Black articles from April 21, 28 and May 5, 1944

Provenance:
Purchase. Brandon Zicha, Class of 2003, saw the postcard on a website and let the Acquisitions Department know about its existence. Library added the postcard to our manuscript collection.

Suggested citation: Langston Hughes postcard, Grinnell College Libraries, Department of Special Collections, Grinnell, Iowa. Ms.01.93.

Processed by Zac Monahan, September 2004