having the letters with their annotations read like a narrative, with-
out the choppy or intrusive effect of numerous footnotes, when-
ever possible I have included relevant annotated information in
these introductory paragraphs. I have identified all individuals the
first time they are encountered in the correspondence, either in
the preceding introductory passages or in footnotes. I have at-
tempted to identify all persons mentioned and have provided bio-
graphical information on all with whom I have succeeded, no matter
how universally they may be known. A number of individuals,
however, have eluded all efforts at identification and are referred
to in footnotes as "unidentified." In addition, I have enlisted foot-
notes to present translations of foreign phrases or passages as well
as less significant information such as locations of restaurants and
identification of geographic names.

Finally, I have used the words black and homosexual rather than
African-American and gay, reasoning that the former seem more
suited to the language used during the time period of these letters,
with the latter terms being more rooted in contemporary aware-
ness and culture.

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