When we last left our story...

... first Assistant Secretary E.K. Burlew had invited Ansel Adams to the Department of the Interior, to discuss the creation of "photographic murals" for within Interior.  That was June 18, 1941.

On August 10, Adams replied, apparently favorably.  We lack that letter at this time.  Burlew responded on the 15th, suggesting a meeting on either the 26th or 27th.

This letter shows a high level of courtesy for Adams.  Burlew makes a point that Adams need not make an appointment, merely phoning "upon ... arrival or ... drop[ping] in at [his] convenience."

It seems a shame that Burlew never saw the murals mounted in the Interior Building.

When we last left our story...

Genesis of Adams' Mural Project

At long last, I've properly scanned that loaner-collection of Adams documents and it is a glorious read. I'll be a bit sad to let the stack go, tomorrow, but the scans will suffice.

First up, we have correspondence from June, 1941, from First Assistant Secretary E.K. Burlew to Ansel Adams.  It's the oldest document in our new digital collection.
Burlew's letter is an invitation, on behalf of Interior Secretary Ickes, to ask Adams to visit Interior's Washington, DC, offices and discuss the possibility of creating murals for the interior of Interior (sorry, I couldn't resist).

Burlew was apparently an interesting character in the story of Interior.  You'll find the name with various titles in references from the 1930's and 1940's, including on the NPS.gov and in The Blue Ridge Parkway, by Harley E. Jolley, which I found on Books.Google.com.

Genesis of Adams' Mural Project