{"value"=>"<p>Petry documented her years in New York City in several hundred letters to her mother, father, and sister. Herein are the day-to-day experiences that led her to write <span class=\"title\">The Street</span>, whose composition, publication, and reception she commented on directly. Having left Connecticut for New York, she wrote of her early work as a journalist and political activist, and tracked her progress on <span class=\"title\">The Street</span>. She wrote about her classes at Columbia University with Mabel Louise Robinson. She wrote about writing <span class=\"title\">The Street</span>, editing galleys, and doing promotional interviews. She described her work at <span class=\"title\">The People's Voice</span>, the African-American newspaper founded by Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., as well as in the ad department of <span class=\"title\">Vogue</span>. She wrote of her political activities as the executive secretary of the leftist organization Negro Women Incorporated (some of the letters are composed on the verso of their letterhead). She described her day-to-day life, reactions to current events such as the Harlem riots of 1943, and cultural opinions on books, plays, and films. The letters also document her husband George Petry's experience in the Army during World War II, including his appearance in a film about black soldiers.</p> <p>Ann Petry wrote to her daughter, Elisabeth (Liz), nearly every day for over two decades, 1970s - 1990s. She wrote to her daughter about her daily life activities, especially her reading – which is broad and deep; her hobbies of gardening and cooking; politics; journalism; racism. She wrote of friends and family, and members of her community, of health concerns, hers and theirs. Liz's less voluminous side of the correspondence is also present. Condolences and additional correspondence to George and Liz, after the death of Ann Petry in 1997 are also included. The Family Correspondence sub-series is arranged chronologically by correspondent.</p>"}