Part of a collection of letters from John Steinbeck to Alicia Patterson Guggenheim, written from New York and during his travels in Ireland, England and Israel in 1965-1966. Alicia had died in 1963, and Steinbeck wrote the letters in this series as a weekly column for Newsday. She was the editor and publisher of Newsday from 1940 until her death in 1963, and Steinbeck addressed his letters "not ... to someone who is dead, but rather to a living mind and a huge curiosity" (see MA 2519.39). Letters in the collection have been cataloged individually; see collection-level record for more information.
Typed on Newsday letterhead stationery.
Thanking him for the charming way he outlined his refusal to write a weekly column for Newsday. Remarking on Steinbeck's intention to travel to Ireland that winter, and suggesting that "either when you are on your travels or when at home, and you want to get off your mind some of the things that should go into the hearts of your fellow-countreymen, in such a mood write a piece for Newsday, as shor or as long as you like, and on any subject that occurs to you." Promising to syndicate anything that Steinbeck sends, noting that the paper now has the ability to give Steinbeck's copy the "circulation it deserves," as opposed to during Alicia's time at the paper. Further noting that whenever Steinbeck was ttravelling and able to write a piece for the paper, "of course you will be travelling on Newsday business."