Well it was a long shot but Google got me an answer and was a convoluted process. I really could not find much on Risser. I could find references to James Risser but that was about it. It was by was by way of other people associated with the name that I was able to track down Lise the writer of the letters. At first I was off to Mucduff Everton (a fabulous photographer) and then to his wife Mary Heeber, an artist whose name had been associated with Risser.
She is an artist & a writer and had written about visiting her daughters Godmother, Lise Apatoff in Italy. When I saw the name Lise I almost fell off the chair. Is it possible? I emailed Mary and she replied back that indeed she knew of Mr Risser but he had had a very difficult life and passed away early in life. He had known Lise as a student in Santa Barbara and then Lise went to Italy to study art and the correspondence took place. They had an affection for each other and it shows in the one letter that was in the envelopes. Mary seemed to feel it would be OK to contact Lise and gave me her email. Well I was pretty excited and then all hell broke loose in my life and the project went by the wayside. I lost all my contact informations. That was as far as I got.
Doing these posts has inspired me to take up where I left off and try and trace down Lise in Italy and make contact with her and let her know about the letters. I'm hoping there is fodder for a book perhaps. A quick search tells me she has now co-authored a book on what Italians do best.
I'll let you know if I make any progress. Any way it just goes to show how the world is rapidly shrinking. Tommorow back to Beatrix.
6 comments:
This is all so very intriguing, Stephen. I think it would make for an excellent book!! It's charming, international, romantic. Go for it!!!
Willow, it's on the list. like the list of books to read. Wow what a great response to quirks!!
How fascinating, I love the artist book below.
Some years ago we stayed in the Midland Hotel in Manchester. They had an exhibition of letters left at the hotel. People would use the hotel's address to communicate with each other when sending a letter to a home address would have been impossible. Many of the letters and post cards were illustrated, many quite heartbreaking. It was obvious that some of the "friendships" went on for years.
Wow! It's so amazing that you were able to track down people associated with the letters--you should have been an historian!
This is fascinating. I love your curiosity and research. Yes, it does sound like you could have a book there. It seems like it was there waiting for you. Wow
Been chasing fishies;
Valerie, thats one of the letters. Love your story on the hotel and the 'Comings & Goings'
Margaret, Historian, now that was one career move I did not contemplate.
Nana, I just have to get off my duff and do it I guess.
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