Letter by Nancy C. Russell to Mr. J. E. Lewis; asks Lewis to please try to delay the commission's decision on the Charles M. Russell statue, states that she is willing to help any artist that is capable of making a better model. Typed.

Pasadena, California. April 24, 1931. Mr. J. E. Lewis, 230 Second Avenue, Kalispell, Montana. Dear Uncle John: I am enclosing an editorial from the “Times” which will interest you and the Lady Lewis. I received, through the mail, a clipping from a Helena paper of April 12th, in which it says you were the one member of the Commission who objected to the model chosen to represent Charlie. Since that time there have been clippings saying the selection was unani- mous. Do you know whether the contract has been signed? If not, isn’t it possible for you and the Governor to hold it up until the Commission can think clearly on the matter? The Lion model was not really good enough to fill that niche but at least it had some resemblance of the Charlie Russell we want to remember. You know my only desire was and is to help somebody get some sort of a likeness of him and any artist who wanted or wants material which I have is welcome to it and I would help any one as much as I did Mr. Lion. It seems to me there is bound to be a good likeness, a fine piece of art, that will come out of this mix-up, so that the West will be embodied in a model of Char- lie which will make us all proud. I had so hoped, when I wired the Governor, that Mont- ana would quietly reconsider and this mix-up would not become a national issue. From the number of protests I have received it must be the Governor is receiving the same. Surely there is a way to stop the work on that chosen statue. My fondest love to you both. Sincerely, Encl.

[Transcribed by Lauren B. Gerfen, 2012-11-14]