Alright folks, gather 'round! Herman Tyler Munster here, from Bando Larry Liquidations. Usually, I'm the guy built like a... well, like me... hauling out mountains of stuff. Two cans at a time over the shoulder, hand 'em to Bailey, repeat. Sometimes I worry about putting a boot through the floorboards, you know? But sometimes, in those cleanouts, Bando Larry finds treasures that even a big fella like me knows need careful hands. This lot? This is one of those times. Found right here in Columbus, Ohio, from the estate of a real brainy fella, Professor George R. Havens from Ohio State University. He was a big deal scholar, especially with that French writer, Voltaire.
This isn't just random paper, folks. This is history! Check out what we carefully pulled out:
- That Old Medal (1907): Shiny thing, feels important. Not for fighting, though. It's from the Jamestown Exposition way back in 1907, and some fancy Directors' meeting in Norfolk, Virginia. Pretty neat piece of the past.
- Peace Letters! (1932): Now this is serious stuff. Letters from the National Council for Prevention of War, signed by the head honcho himself, Frederick J. Libby! Talking about trying to stop wars during the tough times of the Great Depression. Comes with the original envelope, postmarked 1932, and Mrs. Havens's address card for their place on Glen Echo Circle right here in Columbus. Makes you think, you know?
- Fancy Lipstick Mail (1932): Ooh la la! A fancy letter talking about Lesquendieu lipstick from Paris! It's for the Tussy brand. Looks real stylish, like something you'd see on a stage... which I appreciate! AND it even has the original card to get a FREE lipstick downtown at the old Morehouse-Martens department store! Dated June 1932. How about that? (Card looks unused, maybe Mrs. Havens didn't need it!).
- Church Clipping: An old piece of The Columbus Citizen newspaper showing a Christmas scene at Indianola Methodist Church near campus. Mentions the pastor, Dr. Robert L. Tucker. Gives you that old-time Columbus feeling.
- Little Photos (1920s-40s?): A couple of snapshots here. A nice fella – could be the Professor himself? – with a little girl. One photo says maybe "Bobbie & Lou", the other maybe "Joyce". Cute as a kitten, these little pictures. Makes you wonder about their story.
- WOW - Professor Mail! (1974): Okay, even I know this is special. Letters between Prof. Havens and another big brain, Professor John N. Pappas from New York. Pappas found secret unpublished letters from Voltaire and other big names in France! And Professor Havens wrote notes right on the envelope, like decoding a secret level in a game! Talking about research, books... real heavy-duty scholar stuff! Amazing find.
- OSU Agenda (1978): Official OSU paper about the Ambassador from Romania visiting. It's after Prof. Havens passed, but lists folks from his department. Shows the world he lived in.
- The Professor & His Wife! And look at this – a little red holder, kinda like a tiny wallet. Opened it up, and there they are! Two little photos that look just like Professor Havens and Mrs. Havens from when they were younger (maybe 1920s or 30s?). Puts a face to the name, you know? Real personal.
So there you have it. A whole box of stories. From fancy French lipstick ads and peace letters to incredible scholarly discoveries about Voltaire, plus personal photos and local Columbus history. This stuff deserves a spotlight, not the back of a truck.
Bando Larry Liquidations dug it out, now it's your chance to give it a new stage. Put in your bids! It's quite the production!
National Council for Prevention of War (NCPW) & Frederick J. Libby (1932):
- A typed letter (April 1, 1932) is from the NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR PREVENTION OF WAR, Washington D.C.
- It is signed by the organization's founder and leader, Frederick J. Libby (Executive Secretary).
- References the historical context of the Great Depression: "At a time like this, when the worldwide depression proves even to the blindest that world cooperation and world stability have become necessities..."
- Mentions the Council's focus on disarmament: "our campaign for limitation and reduction of Armaments."
- Accompanied by the original envelope postmarked APR 1 1932 and an address card for Mrs. George Havens, 415 Glen Echo Circle, Columbus, Ohio.
Lesquendieu / Tussy Cosmetics & Morehouse-Martens (1932):
- A 2-page promotional letter and matching redemption card relate to Lesquendieu (Parisian cosmetic house) and its Tussy Lipstick brand.
- The letter mentions the lipstick containers are made of "gay galalithe containers" (Galalith is an early plastic, helping confirm a 1930s date).
- The redemption card offers a free lipstick at The Morehouse-Martens Company, Columbus, Ohio (a prominent historic Columbus department store).
- The card precisely dates the promotion: "during week of June 13th, 1932".
Scholarly Correspondence & Notes - Prof. John N. Pappas (Fordham) & Prof. George R. Havens (OSU) (1974):
- An envelope (postmarked Bronx, NY, SEP 10 1974) from Pappas to Havens contains Havens's handwritten notes linking contents ("Valentine Cards / letters") to scholarly editions of Voltaire's correspondence, citing editors R.A. Leigh and Theodore Besterman: "See Leigh XVIII," "No 2143, H. 28-29", "(Correspondance de mr Besterman?)".
- A typed invitation letter (dated Sep 20, 1974) from Pappas invites Havens (via personal handwritten note) to a dinner at Columbia University honoring Professor Otis Fellows and celebrating his Festschrift (book of essays): Essays on Diderot and the Enlightenment in Honor of Otis Fellows. The presentation was by Professor James L. Clifford (Columbia). Pappas's note: "Dear George, Realizing you can't attend, but I thought you might be interested in knowing about the dinner. Sincerely, John"
- A 2-page handwritten letter from Pappas to Havens (dated Sep 9, 1974) details:
- Research grants received from "the Amer. Philos. Soc." (American Philosophical Society) and "Fordham's Research Council".
- Pappas's Summer 1974 research discoveries at the French Archives Nationales: "29 unpublished d'Alembert letters, but also six Voltaire 'inédits' (in spite of Theo Besterman's monumental work!), one Diderot and one Rousseau..." ('inédits' = unpublished works).
- Plans to publish findings in an article for Roland Desné in the journal Dix-Huitième Siècle and prepare an edition of d'Alembert letters promised to the late "Marta Agoler (?)".
- Discussion of articles by Robert Shackleton (on Alexander Pope) and Professor Niklaus (likely Robert Niklaus).
- Pappas's plans to attend the ASECS (American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies) regional meeting at Ohio State in early November [1974] and give a talk on Diderot's Le Neveu de Rameau, mentioning plans to visit Havens and see OSU colleague John Rule (likely Prof. John C. Rule).
OSU Visit Agenda (Nov 21, 1978):
- Official agenda for the visit of Romanian Ambassador Niculae Ionescu to Ohio State University (post-Havens's death).
- Lists participating OSU figures including Dean Diether H. Haenicke, Dr. Leon I. Twarog (Slavic), and faculty from Havens's Dept. (Romance Languages): Rodica C. Botoman, Donald R. Larson, Charles G. Williams.