4 January 1943 - 26 March 1945. This is all far back, when Dean was not the way he is today, when he was a young jailkid shrouded in mystery A collection of autograph and typescript letters from a teenage Neal Cassady, Beat icon, and the model for Dean Moriarty in On the Road. The letters were all written to Cassady's friend and mentor, Justin Brierly, a significant number while Cassady was serving a sentence at the Colorado State Reformatory. They are the earliest surviving Cassady letters known, five of which remain unpublished. The archive also likely constitutes the largest such collection in private hands. On the Road opens with the narrator's report of "Dean"'s legendary "jailkid" origins: "First reports of him came to me through Chad King, who'd shown me a few letters from him written in a New Mexico reform school. I was tremendously interested in the letters because they so naively and sweetly asked Chad to teach him all about Nietzsche and all the wonderful intellectual things that Chad knew. At one point Carlo and I talked about the letters and wondered if we would ever meet the strange Dean Moriarty. This is all far back, when Dean was not the way he is today, when he was a young jailkid shrouded in mystery" (Kerouac, p. 1). At turns poignant, vulnerable, defiant, beseeching, grateful, and funny, this exceptional archive of juvenile correspondence sheds light on a pivotal period in Cassady's youth, and Brierly's impact on it. Brierly was a prominent member of Denver society, noted both as a patron of the performing arts in Colorado and for his efforts to place promising young misfits in highly regarded universities. He first met Cassady in 1941, when the rebellious 15-year-old was living with Brierly's uncle. Impressed by his intelligence, Brierly took an active role in Cassady's life over the next few years, helping him get into high school, encouraging and supervising his reading, and finding employment for him. Cassady was introduced in 1946 to Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg by another Brierly protégé, Hal Chase ("Chad King" in On the Road), who Brierly had helped place at Columbia University. Kerouac in turn met Brierly in 1947 during a trip to see Cassady in Denver, and established a friendship with him. In 1950, Brierly wrote an article for the Denver Post about Kerouac's debut novel The Town and the City, and organized a book signing for him in Denver. Kerouac in turn immortalized Brierly as "Denver D. Doll" in On the Road, "Justin G. Mannerly" in Visions of Cody, and "Manley Mannerly" in Book of Dreams. The letters comprise: 1) Autograph letter. Los Angeles, CA. 4 January 1943. Two leaves, rectos and versos, on Gates Hotel letterhead; in pencil; taped together at top left. With typescript copy and clipped return address, in pencil, from mailing envelope. Cassady thanks Brierly for his recent financial assistance, recounting how he had lost the money he previously had: "I think the maid took it. Naturally I am hopping mad, as I don't have a cent, but I can get a train to Salt Lake and hitch hike from there...". 2) Autograph postcard. Los Angeles, CA. 29 May 1943. One leaf, recto and verso; printed postage on recto; in pencil; franked. In this brief note, which he states will be followed by a letter, Cassady tells Brierly that he "arrived here on Fri. afternoon (the 21st), was in jail Sun. afternoon (the 23rd), nice & fast huh?", and of the subsequent negotiations with his parole officer, Paul G. White. 3) Autograph letter. Los Angeles, CA. 3 June 1943. One leaf, recto and verso, on lined notepaper; in pencil; tape residue upper margin. Written from "L. A. County Jail, Tank 13 E2," Cassady's follow-up note to the previous postcard above does not go into greater detail of his arrest - "I have very little to say concerning my last mess up" - but he does add, "I have no excuse for going to jail & this time I shan't speak of my reformation, just watch subsequent events & judge for yourself". He states he has the money to return to Denver, notes several times at which he'll be free to call Brierly, then writes, "Justin, this going back & forth from Colo. to Calif. for the last two years & really accomplishing nothing is, although by my actions it doesn't appear to be, more depressing to me than anything in my life has been," and closes with, "I'll write again soon, & I'm really sorry I've disappointed you". 4) Autograph letter. Los Angeles, CA. 12 January 1944. One leaf, recto and verso, on plain tanned paper; in black ink. Cassady outlines his potential options in the wake of his parole violation and arrest in California, stating, "Well, you know my quandary - if I wasn't in a state of doubt about what to do I wouldn't write anyhow, so let's be for figuring this thing out". He then writes: "You see, I am still obligated to you, altho, now it's not money anymore, but advice. I shouldn't be so dependent on you, however, this is no time for individualism, as you know my problems as well as I, & can answer them much easier. I also shouldn't impose on you like this, but I excuse my selfishness & disregard for how busy you are, by saying you like to help people out & besides, I can't lose anything by asking him. Now that I've asked, I expect you to answer directly, none of this 'use your own judgement [sic], Neal,' or else 'now I don't know, but maybe this is best, or maybe that is best for you.' I want you to think it over 'till [sic] you know which is best for me. Maybe you don't have to think it over, you may just say, 'see the judge' or 'join the Navy.' I don't care, just solve it for me. It's your baby now". 5) Autograph letter. [Los Angeles, CA]. 17 March 1944. Three leaves, rectos only, on lined paper; in pencil; tape residue to upper margins. Cassady begins the letter with, "You have probably received [sic] my other letter by now. So no need to tell you I'm in jail charged with escape". He continues on the next page, "The plan I have in mind for my defense is; 1, to point out my psychological reason for leaving camp; 2, lack of any criminal tendencies since then; 3, reaction of freedom after reading White's letter to you in August or Sept., implying the case was closed; 4, reason for being in L. A. again, without inquireing [sic] as to how I stood with the law, all based on the assumption that the case was closed; 5, misellanious [sic] examples of good conduct & complete willingness to accompany officers who were not even arresting me, but on the contrary, asking me questions of a friend of mine suspected of murder, thru my testimony it was esthablished [sic] he didn't even have a gun, consequently he was freed". He follows this plan of action by stating, "I shall not use a public defender as I feel my forceful oratory shall either carry the day for me, or put me where days aren't important". 6) Autograph letter. [Buena Vista, CO]. [8 October 1944]. One leaf, recto and verso, on Colorado State Reformatory stationery; in pencil. This is Cassady's first letter written to Brierly from the Colorado State Reformatory, where he was sent from California. He writes that he had been "transfered [sic] from the work gangs (7:30 A.M. to 4 P.M). to the dairy, here's a typical day; get up at 4 A.M., milk 8 cows 'till 6:15, take the cows out to pasture, eat at 6:45, clean cow barn from 7:15 to 9:30, then miscellaneous duties until noon, eat, grind corn or haul hay until 2:30, take a nap until 3:30, go get the cows, eat at 5 P.M., milk cows again from 6 to 8:30, carry milk to kitchens, go to bed at 9:30 P.M.". Cassady adds that, "These hours & the fact that I've been reading a good deal are the primary reasons I haven't written each week as before". He thanks Brierly for his two letters and dictionary, inquires about mutual acquaintances, and notes that Wendell Wilkie died that morning. He closes with the observation: "Strangely enough I don't miss my epicurian [sic] life as much as little things, such as Walt Dean's haircuts; I must get 2,000 marks to get out, I now have 175, 7 months to go". 7) Autograph letter. [Buena Vista, CO]. [October 1944]. One leaf, recto and verso, on Colorado State Reformatory stationery; in pencil. A critically important letter to understanding not only the evolution of the young Neal Cassady's mind, but also the ways in which he felt Brierly had impacted those changes. Cassady opens with, "It is three years ago this month when I first became aware of the "old professor" (as Bob, Gus, & I used to call you)... To more or less mark the starting of our 4th year of friendship I shall devote this letter to analizeing [sic] the influence you have had on my mind, character, temperament & in general my attitude & reaction to life". He continues, in a quite remarkable pair of sentences, "To do this I must assume an objective viewpoint to a matter that, by nature, is necessarily subjective, quite difficult, however, to enable me to put on 1 sheet of paper a worthy statement of what I think I've gained & lost by association with you, I must speak dogmatically, which, of course, means a certain degree of exaggeration & distortion of the true facts, but remember each statement, positive though it may sound, is the result of much thought i.e. a psychoanalizisis [sic] in thought & deeds of the last 3 years, which differ from the years before that. By noting this difference, modifying it & by a process of elimenation [sic], I find not only the amount, but also the degree, of influence you've had on me". Cassady then proceeds to state that while he credits Brierly for helping him develop "a good deal in numerous subjects," including psychology, he believed his "most important knowledge has derived from philosophy, a study to which you have been indifferent, except perhaps indirectly, in fact, I feel you have subtly endevored [sic] to dispersuade me from indulging in it, fearing perhaps I'll become overbalanced, already I have a tendency to be intolerant of society, at least it's [sic] general opinions, which to you, because of your occupation, is quite important". "Character", he feels, is "truly the most necessary of all you've given me," and as for his temperament, "my jaunty manner & ready wit, which is so apparent in my conversation can be largely checked back to you, however, any eveness [sic] in my outlook must be attributed to philosophy, not to any silly, feminine, innocent optimism". 8) Autograph letter. [Buena Vista, CO]. [Early November 1944]. One leaf, recto and verso, on Colorado State Reformatory stationery; in pencil. After thanking Brierly for a "delicious" box of candy, a "subtle" letter, and a copy of Spotlight, Cassady says, "of the 3 I believe I enjoyed the letter most, Thanks & thanks". He notes that he had "read all of Dickens & Twain," and then, responding to Brierly's news that Bob Adams had entered the University of Denver, writes, "I envy him to a degree, not to [sic] high a degree, though, or evidently I would have completed Hi. School & taken a try at some 'higher knowledge.' Ah, sweet opportunity, should I have heed [sic] thee? tut, tut I'm still young". Cassady explains how he lost some marks by lying about a fellow inmate's actions, which meant he would "get out in June instead of May," then rips into Brierly's writing style, stating emphatically that he "can no longer condone the repetition so obvious in your otherwise very good letters". He cites several examples, but then adds in a softer postscript at the bottom of the second page, "I suspect this is caused by you having nothing else to write that you think would interest me". 9) Autograph letter. [Buena Vista, CO]. [23 October 1944]. One leaf, recto and verso, on Colorado State Reformatory stationery; in pencil. Cassady writes of continuing his reading - "They have the Harvard Classics up here, the five foot shelf of books, I've read about 2 feet of it, very nice, I especially enjoy Voltaire and Bacon (Francis)" - and the reformatory's football season ("a flop"), before getting to what was the most consequential recent event: "Please excuse the penmanship, as I can only see out of one eye. This morning I took the cows out to pasture, but on the way they ran out of the road into the corn field, the jackass I was riding couldn't run fast enough to head them, so I jumped off & started to tie him up to a barbed wire fence so I could chase the cows on foot, just as I had tied the reins to the wire he jerked so hard it pulled a staple out of the fence post & into my left eye. It gorged a chunk out of my eyeball, but luckily failed to hit the cornea. I may lose that eye". 10) Typed letter. [Buena Vista, CO]. [30 October 1944]. One leaf, recto only, on Colorado State Reformatory stationery. In an atypical typed letter, Cassady writes that he appreciates "the interest you have shown in the eye matter, and I want to thank you for it," then updates Brierly that "although at the moment I wrote the letter I thought it probable that I might lose the eye, I was told later (by an eye doctor) I would regain satisfactory sight in that eye shortly, a week has gone by and I can see well but not as good as before the accident, also, I am still wearing dark glasses". Cassady further thanks Brierly for writing to the warden, even though he had been replaced in July ("you must have purposely overlooked the article, because of the unimportance of the death fo [sic] an ex-warden of a reformatory"), and adds, "I would like to point out at this time that I have been surprized [sic] at some of the petty attitudes the gaurds [sic] assume up here, but most of all I'am [sic] surprized [sic] at the amount of justice this is, on the whole, utilized by most of the officials. After all, in a [sic] institution of this size it is hard to be fair with everybody, as is quite apparent to all, consequently I find it rather easy to accept with phililosophical [sic] calm the winds of dispute that swirl around this place". He announces in closing that due to a change in his residence ("a new building with recreational facilities"), he "cannot sit down to write an intelligent letter, therefore, I'am [sic] not going to write ofterner [sic] then [sic] once a month here after". 11) Autograph letter. [Buena Vista, CO]. 8 January 1945. One leaf, recto and verso, on Colorado State Reformatory stationery; in pencil. Cassady thanks both Brierly and "Mina" for the "candy & nuts" and a book that was "a ton of assorted sweets & I thank you accordingly," adding, "Really, I find it hard not to rave about it, however, to save space to devote to other things. I merely, say, Thomas Wolfe is great". He then writes, "To say I would just as soon be here as in Denver, would be a bit awkward at this time, nevertheless, I honestly think that in the not to [sic] distant future I will have become as conditioned to this place that that statement might be true. How jolly!" Cassady goes on to inform Brierly that, "Since I have last written you I have lost my job in the dairy barn (for hitting a cow) & since Dec. 10 have been shoveling sheep manure for my keep, on Dec. 21st I recieved [sic] a goosegg [sic]as they call it& in my case that means losing 100 marks (17 days), so I get out about June 30 now". 12) Autograph letter. [Buena Vista, CO]. 5 February 1945. One leaf, recto and verso, on Colorado State Reformatory stationery; in pencil. Cassady begins by commenting on both Brierly's "great-grandpa," Sir Oswald, as well as the death of Mina Walters, expressing his regrets to Brierly, and writing, "I took her for an airing in city park in the 1932 Buick she had in the garage". He goes on: "I rather pride myself on how completely I have become conditioned to reformatory life, adjustment in my case began in the intellect, which after some months led to control of the passions, then 90% of the battle was over, after that my psychological pattern ebbed into an objective resignation. I only hope I can retain some degree of the mental ease I have developed up here, when I again plunge into civilian life. I feel certain the only way is thru a study of philosophy & applying all the gems of wisdom gathered by sages from Socrates to Santayana, while concentrating on the more important (to me) ones". Now that he was looking to a future beyond the reformatory, another important issue for Cassady concerned his youngest sister, who had been living in an orphanage since she was 8, and upon turning 15 that May, would need to take employment as a maid. He writes, "I'm working on several angles now, where some close friends of me will need either need [sic] a maid or will adopt her in June when Shirley (her name) gets out. Things are moving". He closes with, "I'll be 19 Feb. 8th." 13) Typed letter. [Buena Vista, CO]. 26 March 1945. One leaf, recto and verso, on Colorado State Reformatory stationery. Another atypical typewritten letter, in which Cassady explains on the second leaf: "I was quite amazed this A.M. to find I had been given the best job in the place here, 'Office Boy' I am now called, which means I merely sit and type all day. That, of course, explains why this letter is being typed". He tells Brierly of a girl "who (I presume) was naive enough to wire me asking if I wished her to come," his participation in a basketball tournament at Walsenberg, and of being contacted by his "drunken father". Cassady notes that he saw that "Lucius Bebee [Beebe] has been taking up some of your time, from our previous talks together I understand you and he are quite close, I'll wager his visit was interesting". He comments that in addition to a head cold, he had a "terrific ear ache," and excuses himself at he end of this final letter by writing, "My ear is giving me an awful beating, therefore, I do believe I shall quit for this evening". 13 autograph and typescript letters, on both plain paper and printed stationary, several with franked envelopes. Generally very good condition.
