Correspondence
William showed his love and generosity for friends through frequent and intricately calligraphed correspondence. Each envelope was addressed to the person with exquisitely penned letterforms unique to each occasion with a variety of colors and coordinated stamps.
There is a connection between William’s correspondence and the tradition of Mail art, which started in the 1960s. Mail art is an artistic movement focused on sending small-scale artworks through the postal service. It is a democratic art practice based on generosity and artistic exchange within a community, bypassing the system of commerce in the artworld like galleries and museums. There is a personal, tactile and action-oriented aspect to this tradition that renders the mail art once it is sent.
In this section you will see some magnificent examples of correspondence art William rendered for various friends.
Correspondence with Janaia Donaldson
The correspondence between William and Janaia lasted 40 years.
“Mrs. Aunt Anna Anteater and Cousin Polly”
During one phase in their correspondence William and Janaia took on alter egos.
“William and I had a charming correspondence between his old lady personna, ‘Mrs. Anna AntEater,’ and my inner child, ‘Polly’.”
—Janaia Donaldson
The artwork here and below depicts Aunt Anna and Cousin Polly.
Notice on the 1994 card a mention of the drawing he made of Mrs. AntEater. Our correspondence started early on — I have a letter from 1984 — through at least the mid-90s. In 2005 William sent a little card to ‘Cousin Polly’, some while after Mrs. AntEater had passed away.
Mrs. AntEater appeared at Touchstone at one of William's December holiday teas, around 1983 or so. William had requested a red blouse from me, and I brought him a silky cerise-colored blouse with a narrow scarf in its design. Imagine my surprise when, after excusing himself briefly from tea with myself and Anna Turner of Music from the Hearts of Space radio program, who should appear but Mrs. AntEater in that very blouse, a dark straight skirt, and sensible shoes! I think it was my first glimpse of William in drag.
—Janaia Donaldson