Michael Hodder and Q. David Bowers
May 11, 1961
My Dear Eric:
Your letter of May 3rd was mild compared to what I would have written had the situation been reversed. I shall get off dead center. One of the reasons, not an excuse, for delay is undoubtedly my relative non-interest in Connecticut coins. Years ago I gave my collection to my son Henry who has done quite a bit of work on them. I am getting together the letters you have written on the subject and asking him to take action. Should you wish to write him directly his name and address is:
R. Henry Norweb, Jr.
18930 South Woodland Road Cleveland, 22, Ohio
Another subject I would like to write you about is the Boyd Collection. When Fred Boyd died I wanted to make an offer to the estate for the whole collection. John Ford asked me not to as New Netherlands had done so much work they felt entitled to their cut. We came to an agreement that I would take all the Western Hemisphere pieces with the exception of the Hard Times tokens and the Lincoln items. A price by lot, New York, Rosas, Woods, etc. would be established with the exception of the Massachusetts silver of which I needed only a few pieces. Over a year ago I went to their office and selected the coins. Three weeks ago John Ford sent me a box of what he called "oddments" ranging from New York to Washington and priced individually. Sincerely yours,
Mrs. R. Henry Norweb
May 16, 1961
Dear Mrs. Norweb:
Your letter of May 11, 1961 with respect to the Boyd material is not a great surprise to me. I attempted to be a gentlemen with respect to the items I wanted to buy from the Boyd estate and I have not even been offered one coin. I had specific promises from John, too.
You might be interested to know that years ago I had the opportunity to buy the New England silver for $15,000 from the Clarke estate and out of respect for Fred Boyd I permitted him to have the first opportunity to buy it if he wished because I knew how disappointed he would be if he did not obtain it. He had been so nice to me I felt that as much as he wanted to buy that collection I should yield. Mrs. Boyd knows this. John Ford knows this. I only have promises from John. I have always been on a very friendly basis with Mrs. Boyd, yet, her attorney turned me down even on examining certain coins on which I wished to do research.
If you wish to, you may feel free to telephone me as there are many more things I would say to you, informally. Thank you for being so frank with me.
My best to you and yours.
Sincerely yours,
Eric P. Newman
November 21, 1961
My Dear Eric:
I am just back from New York having made the talk at the American Numismatic Society. For me it is always impossible to tell whether a talk goes well or not. I have never been one to be able to "feel" my audience. Somehow I get wrapped up in the thread of what I am saying and just go along. There is no text to send you as I speak largely from notes with only enough jotted down in case I pull a mental blank.
Mr. Milbank was pleased with the talk or at least so he said, because it deviated from the more technical lectures which have been given and dealt with a side of coinage not usually considered by the numismatist.
Again with many thanks for your letter and I do wish that I could have seen you.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. R. Henry Norweb
January 22, 1962
My Dear Eric:
Your letter of January 11th was sent on to me in New York where we have been for the last two weeks. When I have time I will get at the Virginia shilling which I hope means during the week. Incidentally how are the Connecticuts progressing?
May I congratulate you on your election to the Council of the American Numismatic Society. I am sure you will be a valuable addition.
Sincerely yours
Mrs. R. Henry Norweb
August 24, 1964
Dear Emery May:
To be fifty years an ANA member and a more vigorous collector than you were when you started is outstanding. Congratulations again and I'll be at your 75th if I can be wheeled there.
I appreciated so much the delightful hospitality of both of you at the club and the good fellowship which was generated that evening by the group. Your rejoinder to the remarks of the men was classic-full of your philosophy and enthusiasm. Thank you for including me in that stimulating group.
The key to our city is ready to be handed to you and Henry whenever you can come.
Don't worry about not answering all my queries promptly. I know I'll have your cooperation when I'm pressed for a publication.
Yours with mint lustre,
Eric P. Newman
January 13, 1966
Dear Eric:
You were greatly missed at last Saturday's meeting of the Council. Your letter and gift sparked a general discussion of the ways and means to expand the Society's activities. Because of my own interest and advocacy of this "new look" I feel it important for us to get together preferably before the next meeting in April. If there is any chance of New York being a common meeting ground, perhaps we can discuss this matter there. If not, we could at least review the whole situation some evening by long distance.
If anything is going to be done along the lines in which we are interested, I think it would have to be in the form of a crash program with you and I perhaps [Professor Theodore V] Buttrey generating most of the ideas. Let me hear from you in due course.
My wife joins in personal best wishes.
Yours sincerely,
Henry Norweb