This volume collects not only Dr. Howard’s letters, but also responses to his letters (and letters to his son, Robert E. Howard) from some of the major players in fantasy fiction at the time: August Derleth, C. L. Moore, Farnsworth Wright, Otis Adelbert Kline, and E. Hoffmann Price. It includes a lengthy Postscript section containing letters from E. Hoffmann Price discussing his acquisition of “The Trunk,” Robert E. Howard’s biography, his travels in Texas, and more. Also includes documents from the Kline Agency, Dr. Howard’s will, and other letters pertaining to the history of Howard publishing. Fully indexed.

Contents

• ix • Introduction: Grief Indescribable • essay by Rusty Burke
• xviii • Otis Adelbert Kline and Robert E. Howard • essay by David Anthony Kraft
• 3 • Announcement, Cross Plains Review • (1921) • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard [as by Doctor Howard]
• 3 •  Letter to Dr. I. M. Howard, December 26, 1925 • essay by H. N. Stokes
• 4 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, January 20, 1926 • essay by Farnsworth Wright
• 5 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, March 16, 1926 • essay by Farnsworth Wright
• 6 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, December 9, 1926 • essay by Hester Howard
• 7 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, January 4, 1927 • essay by Hester Howard
• 8 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, September 30, 1931 • essay by Farnsworth Wright
• 9 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, December 28, 1931 • (1984) • essay by Farnsworth Wright
• 10 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, March 10, 1932 • (2006) • essay by Farnsworth Wright
• 11 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, May 27, 1932 • essay by Farnsworth Wright
• 12 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, June 31, 1932 • (2000) • essay by Farnsworth Wright
• 13 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, October 4, 1932 • essay by Farnsworth Wright
• 14 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, January 19, 1933 • essay by Farnsworth Wright
• 15 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, March 7, 1933 • essay by Farnsworth Wright
• 16 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, March 13, 1933 • essay by August Derleth [as by AWD]
• 18 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, May 11, 1933 • essay by Otis Adelbert Kline
• 19 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, June 16, 1933 • essay by Otis Adelbert Kline [as by Kline]
• 20 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, February 21, 1934 • essay by Otis Adelbert Kline [as by Kline]
• 21 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, April 30, 1934 • essay by Otis Adelbert Kline [as by Kline]
• 23 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, January 28, 1935 • essay by Otis Adelbert Kline
• 24 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, January 29, 1935 • (2010) • essay by C. L. Moore [as by Catherine Moore (pseudonym)]
• 28 • Burkett News, Coleman Democrat-Voice, April 25, 1935 • essay by Mrs. T. A. Burns
• 30 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, June 8, 1935 • essay by August Derleth [as by August]
• 31 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, October 8, 1935 • essay by Otis Adelbert Kline
• 33 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, January 11, 1936 • essay by Otto Binder [as by Otto O. Binder]
• 34 •  Letter to Otis A. Kline, January 17, 1936 • essay by Otto Binder [as by Otto O. Binder]
• 34 •  Letter to Otis A. Kline, May 11, 1936 • essay by Otto Binder [as by Otto O. Binder]
• 35 •  Letter to Otis A. Kline, May 14, 1936 • essay by Otto Binder [as by Otto O. Binder]
• 37 •  Letter to Robert E. Howard, June 5, 1936 • essay by Otto Binder
• 38 • Robt. Howard, Cross Plains, Tries Suicide, Brownwood Bulletin • (1936) • essay by uncredited
• 39 • Fiction Writer of Cross Plains Dies as Suicide Victim, Brownwood Bulletin • (1936) • essay by uncredited
• 40 • Tragedy Shocks City Thursday, Cross Plains Review • (1936) • essay by uncredited
• 42 • Mother, Son to Be Buried, Abilene Morning Reporter-News • (1936) • essay by uncredited
• 43 • Howard Funeral Is Held Sunday/Burial Made in Greenleaf, Brownwood Bulletin • (1936) • essay by uncredited
• 44 • Double Funeral for Mother and Son Held from Baptist Tabernacle Sunday Morning, Cross Plains Review • (1936) • essay by uncredited
• 46 • Funeral Notice / Mrs. I. M. Howard / Robert E. Howard • essay by uncredited
• 49 • Card of Thanks, Cross Plains Review • (1936) • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 50 • Dr. I. M. Howard Asks Friends for Copies of Last Week Paper, Cross Plains Review • (1936) • essay by uncredited
• 51 •  Letter to Frank Torbett, June 22, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 52 •  Letter to Dr. I. M. Howard, June 25, 1936 • essay by C. L. Moore [as by Catherine Moore (pseudonym)]
• 53 •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, June 25, 1936 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price
• 58 • Howard Payne College Receives R. E. Howard Library • (1936) • essay by uncredited
• 58 •  Letter to E. Hoffmann Price, June 27, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 61 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, June 27, 1936 • essay by Otto Binder
• 62 • Library of Late R. E. Howard Given to Howard Payne • (1936) • essay by uncredited
• 63 •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, June 29, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 67 •  Letter to Thurston Turbett, July 2, 1936 • essay by Farnsworth Wright
• 68 •  Letter to Carl Jacobi, July 2, 1936 • essay by Otis Adelbert Kline
• 70 • Robert Howard Wrote Poem Before Suicide • (1936) • essay by uncredited
• 71 •  Letter to Dr. I. M. Howard, July 5, 1936 • essay by R. H. Barlow [as by Robert H. Barlow] [Read more here]
• 73 •  Letter to Dr. I. M. Howard, early July 1936 • essay by Farnsworth Wright
• 74 • Robert E. Howard As a Boy • (1936) • essay by Mrs. T. A. Burns
• 76 •  Letter to W. J. Proctor, July 11, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 78 •  Letter to Mongomery Wards, July 13, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 79 • For Sale: Second Hand Chevrolet and Trailer • (1936) • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 79 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, July 27, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 81 •  Letter to the I. R. S., July 29, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 82 •  Letter to Rev. B. G. Richburg, July 29, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 83 •  Letter to Clark Ashton Smith, July 30, 1936 • essay by Farnsworth Wright
• 85 •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, August 14, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 86 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, August 29, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 88 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, August 31, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 92 • Contract to Otis Adelbert Kline, August 31, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 95 • In Memorium: Robert Ervin Howard • (1936) • essay by Jack Byrne and Otis Adelbert Kline and H. P. Lovecraft and E. Hoffmann Price
• 101 •  Letter to Farnsworth Wright, September 4, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 103 •  Letter to Dr. I. M. Howard, September 6, 1936 • essay by Farnsworth Wright
• 105 •  Letter to Farnsworth Wright, September 7, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 107 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, September 12, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 110 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, September 17, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 113 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, September 18, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 114 •  Letter to Mrs. W. P. Searcy, September 19, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 115 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, September 19, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 118 •  Letter to “Weird Tales”, October 7, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 119 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, October 7, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 120 •  Letter to Mrs. W. P. Searcy, October 7, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 122 •  Letter to “Weird Tales”, October 28, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 123 •  Letter to Judge W. R. Ely, October 30, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 124 •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, October 30, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 125 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, October 30, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 126 •  Letter to Medcalf & Thomas, November 3, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 127 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, November 3, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 128 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, November 7, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 130 •  Letter to Farnsworth Wright, November 7, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 131 •  Letter to Mrs. W. P. Searcy, November 7, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 133 •  Letter to Farnsworth Wright, November 10, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 135 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, November 10, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 136 •  Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, November 21, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 137 • “A Gent from Bear Creek” Contract, November 23, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 142 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, December 19, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 143 •  Letter to Farnsworth Wright, December 19, 1936 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 147 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, February 3, 1937 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 148 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, February 15, 1937 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 150 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, February 19, 1937 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 153 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, March 8, 1937 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 155 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, March 26, 1937 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 156 •  Letter to Dr. I. M. Howard, April 13, 1937 • essay by Otis Adelbert Kline
• 157 •  Letter to Dr. I. M. Howard, April 21, 1937 • essay by August Derleth
• 158 •  Letter to Augus Derleth, April 27, 1937 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 159 •  Letter to Mrs. W. P. Searcy, May 1, 1937 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 163 •  Letter to August Derleth, May 14, 1937 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 164 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, May 15, 1937 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 165 •  Letter to August Derleth, May 22, 1937 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 166 •  Letter to Robert H. Barlow, June 12, 1937 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 169 •  Letter to Groo Beck, November 1, 1939 • essay by Otis Adelbert Kline
• 170 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, January 16, 1940 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 170 •  Letter to Dr. I. M. Howard, January 17, 1940 • essay by Otis Adelbert Kline
• 172 •  Letter to Otis Adelbert Kline, February 15, 1940 • essay by The Druid Press
• 173 •  Letter to Herbert Jenkins, March 30, 1940 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 174 •  Letter to Dr. I. M. Howard, April 1, 1941 • essay by Otis Adelbert Kline
• 186 •  Letter to Dr. I. M. Howard, May 17, 1943 • essay by Otis Adelbert Kline
• 186 •  Letter to E. Hoffmann Price, November 10, 1943 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 187 •  Letter to Dr. I. M. Howard, October 15, 1943 • essay by Otis Adelbert Kline
• 188 •  Letter to Dr. I. M. Howard, circa October/November 1943 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price
• 191 •  Letter to Dr. I. M. Howard, November 26, 1943 • essay by Otis Adelbert Kline
• 192 •  Letter to E. Hoffmann Price, circa December 1943 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 193 •  Letter to August Derleth, January 25, 1944 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 194 •  Letter to Dr. I. M. Howard, February 1, 1944 • essay by August Derleth
• 195 •  Letter to August Derleth, February 15, 1944 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 196 •  Letter to E. Hoffmann Price, February 27, 1944 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 199 •  Letter to August Derleth, April 10, 1944 • essay by Otis Adelbert Kline [as by Kline]
• 200 • Robert Ervin Howard • (1944) • essay by E. Hoffmann Price
• 204 •  Letter to E. Hoffmann Price, June 21, 1944 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard [as by Dr. Howard]
• 210 •  Letter to August Derleth, July 6, 1944 • essay by Otis Adelbert Kline
• 211 •  Letter to Francis T. Laney, July 22, 1944 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price
• 214 •  Letter to August Derleth, August 9, 1944 • essay by Otis Adelbert Kline [as by Kline]
• 215 •  Letter to Dr. I. M. Howard, August 15, 1944 • essay by Otis Adelbert Kline
• 216 •  Letter to E. Hoffmann Price, August 18, 1944 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard
• 217 •  Letter to Mrs. Bryant and Tom (Bryant), September 25, 1944 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard [as by Dr. Howard]
• 219 •  Letter to Mrs. Bryant and Tom (Bryant), September 26, 1944 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard [as by Dr. Howard]
• 221 •  Letter to Tom (Bryant), September 26, 1944 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard [as by Dr. Howard]
• 223 •  Letter to Mr. and Mrs. Tom Bryant, October 7, 1944 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard [as by Dr. Howard]
• 226 •  Letter to August Derleth, October 17, 1944 • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard [as by I. M. Howard]
• 227 •  Letter to August Derleth, October 17, 1944 [2] • essay by Dr. I. M. Howard [as by I. M. Howard]
• 228 • Services for Dr. Howard Held Tuesday • (1944) • essay by uncredited
• 229 • Former Physician Dies at Ranger on Nov. 12 • (1944) • essay by uncredited
• 230 •  Letter to Thula & Tom (Bryant), November 18, 1944 • essay by Alla Kuykendall [as by Alla]
• 237 •  Letter to Francis T. Laney, circa December 1944 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price
• 238 •  Letter to August Derleth, circa December 1944 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price
• 241 •  Letter to August Derleth, March 11, 1945 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price
• 247 •  Letter to August Derleth, March 17, 1945 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price
• 251 •  Letter to “The Acolyte”, circa Fall 1945 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price (variant of Letter (The Acolyte #14) 1946)
• 254 • The Ghost • [The Book of the Dead • 2] • (1945) • essay by E. Hoffmann Price (variant of Robert Ervin Howard)
• 292 •  Letter to L. Sprague de Camp, January 15, 1977 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price
• 295 •  Letter to L. Sprague de Camp, January 22, 1977 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price [as by EHP]
• 297 •  Letter to L. Sprague de Camp, February 11, 1977 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price [as by EHP]
• 300 •  Letter to (L. )Sprague (de Camp), April 27, 1977 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price (variant of Letter to L. Sprague de Camp, April 27, 1977) [as by EHP]
• 303 •  Letter to L. Sprague de Camp, circa early summer 1977 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price [as by EHP]
• 305 •  Letter to (L. )Sprague (de Camp), August 18, 1977 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price [as by EHP]
• 307 •  Letter to (L. )Sprague (de Camp), August 21, 1977 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price [as by EHP]
• 308 •  Letter to (L. )Sprague (de Camp), April 7,1978 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price [as by EHP]
• 309 •  Letter to (L. )Sprague (de Camp), July 27, 1978 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price [as by EHP]
• 314 •  Letter to (L. )Sprague (de Camp), September 10, 1978 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price [as by EHP]
• 317 •  Letter to (L. )Sprague (de Camp), September 22, 1978 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price [as by EHP]
• 319 •  Letter to L. Sprague de Camp, December 9, 1978 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price [as by EHP]
• 322 •  Letter to L. Sprague de Camp, February 10, 1979 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price [as by EHP]
• 326 •  Letter to L. Sprague de Camp, May 13, 1979 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price
• 329 •  Letter to Jane W. Griffin, September 2, 1979 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price [as by E. Hoffman Price]
• 334 •  Letter to L. Sprague de Camp, November 20, 1979 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price [as by EHP]337 •  Letter to L. Sprague de Camp, December 2, 1979 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price [as by EHP]
• 341 •  Letter to L. Sprague de Camp, January 9, 1980 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price [as by EHP]
• 347 •  Letter to L. Sprague de Camp, January 19, 1980 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price [as by EHP]
• 352 •  Letter to L. Sprague de Camp, May 14, 1980 • essay by E. Hoffmann Price [as by EHP]
• 357 • The Will • essay by Isaac M. Howard
• 358 • Robert E. Howard MSS • essay by uncredited
• 374 • Robert E. Howard’s Poems • essay by uncredited
• 381 • Robert E. Howard’s Stories • essay by uncredited
• 385 •  Letter to Oscar J. Friend, March 8, 1954 • essay by P. M. Kuykendall
• 386 •  Letter to P. M. Kuykendall, March 14, 1954 • essay by Oscar J. Friend
• 390 •  Letter to Oscar J. Friend, March 23, 1954 • essay by P. M. Kuykendall
• 391 • Subject Index (The Collected Letters of Doctor Isaac M. Howard) • essay by uncredited
• 400 • Title Index (The Collected Letters of Doctor Isaac M. Howard) • essay by uncredited
• 407 •  Doctor Isaac Mordecai Howard / 1872—1944 • interior artwork by uncredited