Olga Rudge letters to Linda Melton concerning Ezra Pound, 1921-1972

Letters from Olga Rudge to Linda Melton, accompanied by a small group of papers relating to Ezra Pound. The letters date from between 1947 and 1960 and are almost entirely concerned with Rudge's efforts to win Pound's freedom from American custody in St. Elizabeth's Hospital. Rudge describes her own projects, including the publication of "if this be treason......" and her collection of affadavits in support of Pound's return to Italy; complains of lack of cooperation from Pound's friends, including Eliot; and outlines her own hopes to visit Pound. Other subjects include her daughter and grandchildren; her work for the Accademia Musicale Chigiana; and her plans to rent her house at 252 Dorsoduro in Venice to tourists. There is also one letter and a Christmas card to Melton from Pound's mother, Isabel Weston Pound

The collection also contains several items relating to Ezra Pound, including a TL from Pound to T. S. Eliot, 1936 Jun 16, accompanied by a TL from Pound to "Dear whale" which contains a poem by Pound ("Possum is DEAD!/ 'Well ! Carry on! the walrus said...."). There are also several photographs of Pound from the 1930s; a copy of the funeral program for Pound; and three printed items (cataloged separately): a copy of the 1933 pamphlet "The Cantos of Ezra Pound: Some Testimonies;" a copy of "if this be treason......;" and "Ezra Pound at Seventy."