Post by Martha Heasley Cox Center for Steinbeck Studies

Peter Van Coutren, archivist at the Martha Heasley Cox Center for Steinbeck Studies gave a captivating presentation at the New Museum Los Gatos titled 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘸𝘯. His talk explored John and Carol Steinbeck’s time in Los Gatos, California from 1936 to 1942. It was during this period in which Steinbeck completed two of his most popular works, 𝘖𝘧 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘦𝘯 and 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩. As Van Coutren explained, these years marked the beginning of Steinbeck's “Dust Bowl trilogy” and his deep engagement with the lives of migrant workers. The Steinbeck’s first Los Gatos residence was on Greenwood Lane, a property chosen by Carol Steinbeck. She designed the home and grounds with the goal of creating a space that complimented rather than disrupted the natural landscape. Their close friend Ed Ricketts, marine biologist, even provided advice on the property’s ecological-friendly design. Surrounded by vineyards and orchards, the home offered beauty as well as frequent encounters with local wildlife. Carol appeared to be handling the work quite well judging by the photo. They had an impressive music system installed and both shared a love of jazz, classical music, and blues. Carol once remarked that jazz music “let her forget,” while John said that classical music helped him “slow down when he was writing.” They had visitors such as actor Charlie Chaplin, who knew of John, but John didn’t recognize him right away. Their home turned out to be just fine, but John and Carol felt that it was a little too out in the open for their liking and wanted somewhere a little more private. The Steinbeck’s moved into the Brush Road home, which overlooked the Santa Cruz mountains. In this home, John finishes 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩 with support from Carol as typist and editor. While living in Los Gatos, Steinbeck immersed himself in researching California’s migrant labor camps and agricultural communities. Troubled by the hardships he witnessed, he spent time speaking directly with workers and their families. This research became a series of seven pieces called 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘎𝘺𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘴, which then became the foundation for 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩. Through Steinbeck’s observations and storytelling, he wrote about people who were overlooked and ignored, in a way that portrayed them as individuals deserving of a voice, compassion, and understanding. Peter Van Coutren said it best in his closing reflection: “We need to do what Steinbeck did, treat people with human dignity. Apply all people with human rights. We’re all humans and equal here, if we take that away from someone else- we lose it for ourselves.” Presentation is found here: https://lnkd.in/gTdhxdGB For more information on NUMU, please visit the New Museum Los Gatos website: https://lnkd.in/g8Wa2ZyR And follow The Steinbeck Center on SteinbeckNow: https://lnkd.in/gAp9UVDE