In a message dated 9/29/2006 5:21:10 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: If you check the online Union Catalog of Letters to Clemens at: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/MTP/twcorr.html you will see that Twain was back in New York in January of 1868 and could have met Nast then. If you rely strictly on Twain's memory without other supporting evidence, you may get thrown off track from time to time. Barb Barb, thanks for your help. No, I wasn't relying strictly on Twain's memory, but since I hadn't found any other supporting documentation of an actual meeting in 1868 (this one you offer is of Nast's idea of a combined "lecture"), I'd hoped to find support for a 1870 meeting. I may need to look more into Nast's whereabouts to see when and where the two were even together. Was Nast in Washington in 1868 or 1870? Where did he work from? Did he travel back and forth to Washington from NY? I had assumed from my reading that Nast worked from NY. Your quote states his exhibition was in NY. Sam Clemens created self-myth in both the image he projected as "Mark Twain," and had an extremely faulty memory on certain things--of this I'm well aware. In the absence of any other sources and without conflicting information, however, biographers and researchers have little choice, it seems to me, to begin at least with his memory and try to support or disprove it. I've worked decades in genealogical research, where "guesses" and "leaps" have often marred the truth, if it is even knowable. On my current work, I refuse to guess, but if there are varying theories or estimates, I try to present them. There are many such estimates in the sources I'm using. Not to bore the group with my approach, but it is NOT to wade into primary sources to a great extent, or to retread areas where many other noteworthy researchers have spent lifetimes to give us volumes of information. My aim is to extract from what has been printed or is available, and to present in paraphrased or distilled form, the essence of Sam--his writing, thinking, and daily life. This is a huge undertaking. I am using the multi-volume UofCal Mark Twain's Letters as a baseline. This involves not only reading each letter but each note, and then adding other works, of which there are many--I was thinking of posting the Works Cited to date and asking for additional suggestions. I've also scanned a few journals which contain a few day-by-day segments, such as Sam's worldwide trip in 1895. I appreciate the great resource of twainquotes and your work and help. I doubt that I've even yet covered all of your website. Perhaps when I'm a bit further along you might care to review some of my MS. and offer pointers. I note that there are many others here far more learned and qualified than I in Sam's life and times. What I have is the time, the interest, and the persistence to work at the task daily for 4-8 hours at a time. I'm a 63 year old, retired college writing instructor. I know that no matter what sort of rigor I give this project that there will inevitably be errors and omissions. My purpose is to create a research reference, which might also be a way for the general reader to gain more intimate understanding of the man and his times than would be possible by reading a few biographies. If my approach or purposes are misinformed, I would appreciate any correction this group might offer. Such questions as the date and place of Sam's meeting with certain persons such as Thomas Nast may be unanswerable. If all I have is Sam's memory, it would be deluded to omit it on any grounds. If I can find other sources, I will then present both. So far, I have only one time, that is November of 1870 (U of Cal MT's letters say "fall 1870"), and still do not have the place penned down. I suppose it's possible that Nast may have been in any number of towns where Sam lectured during these years. I will examine Paine's work and notes on Nast at the soonest opportunity. Here we have a biographer who produced works on both men, and if there is a recorded date & place, one would think he would have known it. Thanks again. This is a great group. I welcome all input. Private emails are also welcome. David H Fears