Letter, John Hassett to Miss Marian Anderson, December 31, 1957
Item
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Title
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Letter, John Hassett to Miss Marian Anderson, December 31, 1957
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Description
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Little is known about John Hassett, the person. The letter was written on proprietor’s stationery for a South Norwalk, Connecticut retail shop specializing in religious goods, greeting cards, novelties, and gift wrapping (HASSETT’S Religious Goods1962).
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The letterhead does not disclose any personal information—no home address, his age, education, desires or goals. Perhaps Hassett owned the retail store at 53 Washington Street, or he could have been the son or brother of the proprietor. Whether using business stationery was a deliberate choice or simply a matter of convenience remains uncertain. In the letter, Hassett expressed deep Christian faith, admiration for Anderson’s artistry and dignity, and appreciation for her reflections on human interdependence, as seen on a television program. His heartfelt writing reveals an expressive personality and a strong belief in the moral and spiritual value of art.
Born in Philadelphia, Miss Anderson's (1897 - 1993) life and legacy is well documented in books, online and in physical institutions. In 2024, a Philadelphia orchestra hall was recently rededicated to her contralto voice (Wikipedia contributors 2025). The Marian Anderson Historical Residence Museum in Philadelphia is an epicenter for the life and legacy of Marian Anderson (National Marian Anderson Museum, n.d.). Married July 17,1943, she and her husband Orpheus Fisher bought acres of property in Connecticut and called it Mariana Farm, a synthesis of her first name and that of her stepson's middle name. She lived there until 1992, a year before her death on April 8, 1993.
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Miss Anderson
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Rights
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Copyright restrictions may exist. For most library holdings, the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania do not hold copyright. It is the responsibility of the requester to seek permission from the holder of the copyright to reproduce material from the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts.
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Date
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December 31, 1957
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Format
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Text
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Language
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eng
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Spatial Coverage
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South Norwalk, Conn.
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Contributor
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University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
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Extent
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2 pages
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Identifier
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Ms. Coll. 200 Box 126
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Subject
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Anderson, Marian, 1897-1993
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Contralto
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Commercial correspondence
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Letter writing
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Fan mail
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transcription
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[PAGE 1]
RELIGIOUS GOODS GREETING CARDS
HASSETT’S
NOVELTIES GIFT WRAPPING
53 Washington Street -:- South Norwalk, Conn.
Telephone Temple 8-2801
December 31, 1957
Miss Marian Anderson
Balls Pond
Danbury, Conn.
Dear Miss Anderson:-
It’s impossible for me to get any work done this morning until I send you a deeply felt “Thank you” for the heart-warming experience I had last night of sharing your great artistry, your wonderful voice, and above all your supremely human dignity in the living room of my home via the “See It Now” program. Ed Marrow and Fred Friendly have done much to make TV worth-while by means of this program. They have never done anything which can match last night’s achievement.
To me the high-spot of the program was the dialogue with the Burmese lady in the Buddhist Temple when she questions you on your use of the word “One” or “We” in speaking of yourself. Your exposition of your philosophy of the inter-dependence of all of us upon each other under God was a memorable bit of great thought. It’s an imposition to ask you to repeat it but, believe me if you could possibly do so in your own hand-writing you can be sure it would become one of my most prized possessions, Miss Anderson.
God must do His level best to create us perfect and
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[PAGE 2]
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RELIGIOUS GOODS GREETING CARDS
HASSETT’S
NOVELTIES GIFT WRAPPING
53 Washington Street -:- South Norwalk, Conn.
Telephone Temple 8-2801 -2-
then we in our stupid little ways do our best to kill this perfection which must be most disconcerting to Him. But then He must look down upon the Marian Anderson in the world and must decide that they make His job worth-while and so He keeps on trying.
Again many thanks and may God keep you with us for many years to come.
Sincerely
John Hassett
