Howard Chandler

Christy's 1938 portrait

after her hair color was

changed to blonde.

The original Christy

portrait shows Collette

as a brunette. The two

nearly identical paintings

are what intrigued writer

James Head to reach out

to Collette about Christy.

Howard Chandler

Christy painting

Collette Ramsey Baker

as a brunette.

One of several paintings

that Christy gave to Collette.

Collette is the model

for this Metropolitan

Opera House cover, one of

many patriotic artworks Christy

created, along with painting

U.S. Presidents, First Ladies,

and other famous people.

Oct 7 ≈ 36.
Dear Collette.

            Your wedding cards

came this morning and

here are my hearty congratulations

and the wish that you may

always be a happy girl for

if any one deserves happiness

you are that Very one   ─ and

the man who has been

fortunate enough to have

you ─ should be very happy

over his good fortune.  So

heres to you Both and

real admiration and affection

to you.  always.

Howard Chandler Christy 

Nov 27 ≈ 37
Dear Collette

            So you were the one

who sent me the box of fruit

from Florida ─ and I did not

know whom to thank ─ so right

here I thank you for thinking

of me ─ you are a darling

girl!

Why not run in to see me

sometime the first of the week?

I’l be so pleased to see you.

If I knew your phone could call

you ─ as you know mine is

___ - 7-6600 ─

With best regards to you both

and love to you.

            Sincerely always,

                        Howard Chandler Christy

March 2 ≈ 38

Dear Collette.

            I am so mixed in

my engagements that I

believe it will have to be next

week before you and I can

get to work on the portrait.

And I am so anxious to paint

this portrait of you ─ so stand

by me Collette, and we’l get

there.  Sure ─ we’l get something

beautiful I know ─

I just seem to jump between

here and Washington until

my business there is settled.

With love to you. always

            Yours.

            Howard Chandler Christy

April  18 ≈ 38
Dear Collette.  Ive had a

Dickens of a time trying to

get straightened out ─ between here

and Washington, etc. and even

now I don’t know but I may

leave to return to Washington, today,

but it all will straighten out and

I can settle down to a normal

life  ─

I want to thank you for your

Easter greeting.  I thought of you

too and was going to phone you

but so many people here and

Ive had to go to two big parties ─

I want to thank Mr. Ramsey

for his mighty fine letter and

I appreciate it very much ─

and I send my best to him, and

love to you, always.

            Sincerely yours Howard Chandler Christy

Jan 24  ≈ 40

Dearest Collette.

            The time mentioned is

just right so I’l be looking

for you ─ you can see the

painting Monday morning before

it is rolled up ─ which will be for

two days only.

Till then and with all affectionate

wishes to you, and little Collette.

            Always yours

                        Howard Chandler Christy

Wednesday April 1941

Dear Collette.

            My heartiest and

most affectionate congratulations

over the good news which

comes this morning ─ that

of the new arrival and the

little playmate for Collette

It will be wonderful for them

Both and for you and Hob ─

This is only a note and

will write you again later,

but its filled with lots of

love ─ and happiness for

you.

            always

            ─ Sincerely yours,

            Howard C.C.

Nancy sends love ─

Nov 28 ≈ 45

Dear Collette

            That was a very lovely

letter which arrived this morning

and it made me very happy

that I can be of any use

to those I love ─ you always

were a fine girl and still you grow

finer as time goes on and your

Loyalty is a glorious possession.

Whenever you come in, be

be sure to let me me know ─ and

maybe we all can have dinner

together, downstairs ─ ?

With affectionate friendship, always.

            Sincerely yours,

                                    Howard.

Thanksgiving 1947

Dear Collette.

            I tried to reach you

all tonight (by phone) but

no answer ─ so  ─ this ─ to

thank you for the card.

and the thought which comes

with it ─ which to me is

very beautiful and fine in every

way.  ─ The one wrong

thing about it all is ─ I never

see you ─ so let’s get that thought

improved upon ─ ?

Here’s lots of love to you, and

yours! always ─

            Sincerely

            Howard ─

Friday February 1948

Dear Collette.

            I was pleased to get

your Valentine and wish

you had come with it.

Why don’t you ─ when you

are in the City ─ run

in and become friends with

a fellow ─ and we can

talk things over ─ ?

Always my best to you

and Hobe and “the girls”

(too big now – to say little girls.)

Always –

Howard

Two new paintings I would like

you to see — ? Come soon!

Easter Sunday 1950

Dear Collette

            I tried to reach you

by phone this Easter evening

but no answer, so ─ this

note to thank you for your

Easter greeting which

makes me very happy

Now, the big painting of

Thomas Edison is completed and

I’d like you to see it - -

Why not come in ─

just let me know when,

maybe to lunch or

whatever you like ─ and

maybe Hob would like to

see it, too ─ in the mean

time ─ my best to you all

and love to yours

always ─

Howard.