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MARILYN MONROE

Marilyn Monroe

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Marilyn Monroe
A rare early letter from Marilyn Monroe, signed Norma Jeanne, 1948, the hand-written letter from Monroe to her half-sister, Bernice Miracle, [n.d. but frank-marked Feb. 6, 1948] written in blue ballpoint pen on both sides of two pages of Marilyn headed stationery, addressed My Dearest Sister and apologising for not writing or visiting sooner: ...I've started at least a dozen letters to you dear but something always seems to come up to keep me from finishing them...I almost took a trip to Fla. but I've just signed a new contract and can't get away right now, she goes on to talk about her living arrangements in Los Angeles Tomorrow I'm moving to a very cute apt...I haven't lived with Aunt Ana [Lower - Grace Goddard's Aunt] for almost a year now. She is very sweet and good to me but there just isn't room for me there, besides it's nice to have my own place. When I can I want to buy a little house however that's a little ways off right now, Monroe goes on to express her concern over her relationship with her mother, Gladys: I haven't heard from Mother nor do I write her, in fact all I know is that she is somewhere in Oregon, where - I have no idea. She and I can't seem to be very close due to no one's fault. I wish it could be different but some day I hope to be able to help her out a little, right now it's rather difficult for me, contract or no contract. But everything is coming along wonderfully so I've nothing to complain about really, she finishes by expressing her desire to keep in touch with her sister: I'll send you some pictures if you'd like to have some. I sure would love to see you. I hope you will write to me soon. I'll write again after I move and give you my new address, the letter signed Lovingly, Norma Jeanne, with a humorous P.S. added: Has "Dangerous Years" played down there yet. I'm in it but for heaven's sakes don't blink your eyes you might miss me in it., accompanied by the original mailing envelope addressed in Monroe's hand, the reverse of the envelope printed with Monroe's address as 11348 Nebraska Ave., West Los Angeles, California [her Aunt Ana's address], the street name crossed out and replaced in Marilyn's hand in blue ink with 1711 N. Stanley

Lot Essay

This rare and important letter gives an interesting insight in to Marilyn Monroe's relationships with members of her extended family. Monroe's mother, Gladys Baker, suffered from depression and was hospitalized in 1935, leaving the young Norma Jeanne in the care of a family friend, Grace Goddard. This letter reveals Monroe's desire to improve her strained relationship with her mother and the value she placed on relationships with other family members, such as her half-sister and her Aunt Ana.

The contract Monroe refers to in her letter was probably that which she signed with Columbia Pictures in early 1948, after her contract with 20th Century Fox was terminated in July, 1947. Although most sources state that she did not sign with Columbia until the following month, March, 1948.

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