Her Letters to Clark Ashton Smith: Annie E. P. Gamwell

Death is not the end. There are always those that are left behind to grieve, to mourn, and to pity—the lingering strands of a broken web of social relationships—and to sort out the ownership of the deceased’s property. When Howard Phillips Lovecraft died, it fell to his surviving aunt Annie Gamwell to spread the sad news, receive the condolences from her nephew’s many friends, and dispose of his possessions in accordance with his wishes. Those she couldn’t contact directly, were informed by friends.

I am writing a letter off tribute and condolence to Mrs. Gamwell—a letter that would have gone forward some time ago if it had not been for delay in verifying her name. In going through a lot of HP’s letters, I couldn’t find that he had ever referred to her as anything but “my aunt.” I feel sure that she will have received myriads of letters and expressions of sympathy.
—Clark Ashton Smith to August Derleth, 30 Mar 1937, Eccentric, Impratical Devils 243

Shortly after Lovecraft’s death, August Derleth and Donald Wandrei contacted Annie Gamwell with the aim of seeing to the publication of his unpublished works, and a book collection of his stories. This would lead them to create Arkham House in 1939 for this purpose. However, in this endeadvor they also had to deal with someone else: Robert H. Barlow, who had been named Lovecraft’s literary executor in his “Instructions In Case of Decease.” Annie Gamwell did her best to abide by her nephew’s wishes.

Later, Mrs. Gamwell will write you about other books of Howard’s. He left you the choice of a good many, after specific requests.
—R. H. Barlow to Clark Ashton Smith, 4 Apr 1937, To Worlds Unknown 272

The implications from Smith’s correspondence is that he wrote a letter of condolence to Annie Gamwell first, and she replied. How many letters they exchanged is not clear; only two postcards from Gamwell to Clark survive. Yet there are traces of at least an intermittant correspondence from 1937-1938 in Smith’s letters.

She has just written me, saying that HPL’s instructions left me a second choice of his effects after Barlow. This choice, with full appreciation of his generosity, I am loath to exercise, and I am telling her that I would rather have his things remain in her care as long as possible. It is evident that the breaking up of the study is painful to her.
—Clark Ashton Smith to August Derleth, 6 Apr 1937, Eccentric, Impratical Devils 248

While everyone involved wished to do right by the memory of Lovecraft, and by his surviving aunt who desperately needed whatever money her nephew’s writing or possessions could bring, they were not all on the same page about how to accomplish this. Derleth and Wandrei ended up at cross purposes with Barlow, with Smith caught in the middle. Marcos Legaria treats with this at length in L’Affaire Barlow: H. P. Lovecraft and the Battle for his Literary Legacy (2023).

None of this seems to have come through the Smith-Gamwell correspondence, but it shows in Smith’s letters to others about the situation.

I have suggested the memorial preservation of the study to Mrs. Gamwell; admitting, at the same time, that I am in no position to judge the practicality of the plan. Certainly nothing could be more desirable.
—Clark Ashton Smith to August Derleth, 13 Apr 1937, Eccentric, Impratical Devils 256

The first known surviving postcard from Annie Gamwell to Clark Ashton Smith is dated 15 May 1937, and was found tucked into a copy of Tales of Mystery and Imagination (1933) by Edgar Allan Poe.

My dear Mr. Smith—

I have found your ode to Howard—I’m sorry I wrote so hastily, hope it did not bother you.

My mind & life are very much confused & I wonder if I can ever be calm & happy again. Howard was such a safe & sound & beautiful companion & I feel so helpless & queer without him.

With best wishes.
A.E.P. Gamwell.

[PS] Your book started to-day.
—Annie E. P. Gamwell to Clark Ashton Smith, 15 May 1937, Brown Digital Repository

The “ode” was presumably “To Howard Phillips Lovecraft” by Clark Ashton Smith, which would be published in the July 1937 issue of Weird Tales; Smith must have sent a manuscript copy. While going through her nephew’s things, she found something addressed to Smith, which she sent to him—a copy of The Californian (Winter 1936).

Mrs. Gamwell sent me The Californian with your Night Ocean, which HPL had put aside in an envelope address to me.
—Clark Ashton Smith to R. H. Barlow, 16 May 1937, To Worlds Unknown 275

Then followed a gap. How much more did the two have to say to one another? We can only speculate. Yet another postcard is attested to, which suggests that Annie Gamwell was still in contact with Smith at least periodically, possibly while still going through his things.

My dear Mr. Smith—

I am still in the midst of my sad memories & the many things which my nephew loved. His loss becomes more serious continually. I found these cards & hope you will care for them. This card is a new excellent old library very near our house, the Providence Athen[a]eum.

Sincerely, A. E. P. Gamwell

—Annie E. P. Gamwell to Clark Ashton Smith, 30 Nov 1938, Dawnward Spire, Lonely Hill 667

It was a hard life for Annie Gamwell, who had outlived not only her parents, brother, and sisters, but also her son and beloved nephew. Aside from a few cousins, she was the last of her family, and the last few years of her life must have been sad ones—a sadness probably only alleviated by the obvious evidence that her nephew was still remembered and loved by his friends after his death, and that they were there to offer their words of comfort and support in her time of need.

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Bobby Derie is the author of Weird Talers: Essays on Robert E. Howard and Others and Sex and the Cthulhu Mythos.

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