Typed letter from Nancy C. Russell to Mr. John B. Ritch dated 20 May 1931; tells Ritch how she cannot believe that he has no voice in choosing the statue after everything he has did to make this honor possible and informs him that she will find out the legal part to this issue.

Pasadena, California. May 20, 1931. Mr. John B. Ritch, L e w i s t o w n, Montana. Dear Mr. Ritch: Your letter of May 11th, was very encouraging. I am certainly glad you are going to look into matters and I am looking forward to having a letter with all the detail of what really happened. To me, it was a per- fect shame that you, the man who had the dream of this honor being paid Charlie, and through whose general- ship the bill was passed, should have no voice in the choosing of the statue that should fill that niche. I know nothing about the legal part of it but I am going to find out. Many of Charlie’s friends are with me in the decision that we will not rest until we know that things are to be reconsidered. As Charlie would say, “We will hope a ‘hoss’ called Health will carry you to the rescue” because I am sure every one instrumental in the work that has so far been done, will have the proper re- gard for your opinion and, being one of Charlie’s old- est friends, and the one who should be considered as the father of the action, your wishes will carry a great weight. I understand John Lewis did not want the model that was chosen and I am sure you join him in that feeling. We know Charlie deserves something better. I can’t under- stand when two men as near Charlie as you two were and who were not in favor of the selection, how it was put over and apparently settled. I have said this so many times that people are tired of hearing it I think, but here it goes again: I don’t care who makes the model so long as it is a fine artistic likeness. I believe that in the hearts of Charlie’s true friends they feel the same way. The trouble was there were not enough models of ideas submitted from which to choose and it was not known well enough among sculptors. Few artists read the papers and if the call that was sent out was published only in the Montana papers, how in the world Mr. John B. Ritch -2- were sculptors to know anything about it? There is no use rambling on but I am waiting impatiently to hear from you. I do hope you are feeling fit. Kindest regards to you and yours. Sincerely, P.S. I heard from a friend in Great Falls that the Governor had told Mrs. Lincoln to proceed with her model. N.C.R.

[Transcribed by Lauren B. Gerfen, 2012-12-04]