Sterling Cook Collection 1975-1979.

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Sterling Cook Collection 1975-1979.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/54002471

The Cook Collection consists of correspondence sent by Francois Mignon to Sterling Cook from 1957 through 1979. Correspondence from the period between 1970 (when Melrose was sold by the Henry Family) and 1977 does not exist. According to a statement by Cook included in the collection, the two men did not correspond to any significant level during this period. The bulk of the letters consist of Mignon's discussion of topics that him and Cook had a mutal interest in. These topics included local news on the plantation and artistic endeavors Mignon was involved in. In particular, Mignon often spoke of the development of rural folk artist Clementine Hunter. Hunter, who first came to Melrose Plantation as a cook, had first been encouraged by Mignon to develop her talents. The letters from Mignon to Cook offer a rare insight into Mignon's feelings toward Hunter, Melrose Plantation and the surrounding area.

1 record box (.25 linear ft.)

Northwestern State University of Louisiana, Watson Library

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 7674471

Northwestern State University of Louisiana, Watson Library

Related Entities

There are 3 Entities related to this resource.

Mignon, Francois, 1899-1980.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6bg2mm1 (person)

Hunter, Clementine

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6gj0fhs (person)

Artist. From the description of Reminiscences of Clementine Hunter : oral history, 1979. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 122597977 African American folk artist; Natichitoches, La.; b. 1885; d. 1988. From the description of Documentary on Clementine Hunter, 1985. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 779476826 From the description of Video on Clementine Hunter, 1985 [videorecording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 83475525 ...

Cook, Sterling D. Jr, 2002.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6806hn9 (person)

Sterling Cook was fascinated with Melrose Plantation and the Cane River area from the time it was first mentioned to him. While attending school in Denton, Texas between 1937 and 1940, he was made aware of the area by two of his art teachers. He first visited Melrose Plantation in 1940, with a cousin from Bossier Parish. In 1957, Cook wrote Francois Mignon asking permission to visit him at Melrose. It was during this time that the two first met. They remained friends and corresponde...