Zora Neale Hurston graduated from Barnard College in 1928, its sole African American student. She lengthened her stay in New York to complete a graduate degree in Anthropology at Columbia University. There, she studied under Franz Boas, the legendary pioneer of modern anthropology, as well as Ruth Benedict, an Associate Professor in Anthropology, addressed below. Discouraged by her inability to establish a “Negro Studies” program within the Anthropology department, Hurston left Columbia. Hurston had difficulty finding friends to subsidize her research; she relied on small grants as well as patrons who often sought to direct her work. Below, Hurston describes plans to apply for a Guggenheim. In her application, she listed Benedict as a reference—however, Benedict would write that Hurston lacked the discipline necessary for fieldwork, and that a private donor would be a more appropriate fit for Hurston’s work. Three years later, Hurston successfully applied for Guggenheim funding for fieldwork in Jamaica and Haiti.
43 West 66th Street
New York City
April 17, 1932
Dear Dr. Benedict,
Recently I have met Mr. Workus [sic], this ex-marine who was the “king” of La Gonave, one of the Haitian Islands, and he has some motion-picture films of dances and two conjure ceremonies that I know you want to see. He is also most eager to talk to you before his return. He wants to do more of that kind of thing and needs directions as he has no formal preparation for the work. But he is an excellent photographer and an intelligent man. We talked about the Bahamas and Hayti and found that we had traces of the same thing and decided that we should do a comparative work on the West Indies and the U.S. on conjure. I wonder if the Dept. or any private individual could be induced to put up a little money for me to go to the Bahamas for a few months. Remember I scarcely scratched the surface there. I could do it very cheaply as living conditions there are easy if one goes native as I certainly would do. $500 or less would be enough for transportation and six months work.
Please let me know what you think about it and also when you can see Mr. Workus. My phone is temporarily disconnected. I can receive calls but can make none, hence the letter.
Most eagerly and faithfully,
Zora
I am applying for a Guggenheim. If I can get it, I shall do my “foreign” work in the West Indies, Bahamas, St. Martinique & perhaps a month or two of Hayti.
From Zora Neale Hurston: A Life in Letters. Edited by Carla Kaplan, Ph.D. New York: Random House, 2007.