On February 19, 1970 John received a report from Mitzi Barnett reporting on the current sale of books.  Since December 19th of 1969 they sold 75 more books for a total of 247 books thus far. After ARP commission, they owed John $667.70.  Mitzi asks again about John’s Volume II.[f16-d32] On February 23rd John wrote a letter to Mrs. Curtis (or Mrs. Barnett) in which he requests a full statement of sales within one week and to start receiving the agreed upon monthly statements.  The says that he had hoped to get out Volume II but was “forced to delay the plan until he got Volume I out of the way.”[f16-d34] 

On April 2nd John received a letter from Mrs. Barnett, the president of ARP, with a check for $403.70 and a report of the 246 books sold thus far. She also included copies of 11 current book orders.[f16-d36] On June 22nd  he receives another report in which 22 more books were sold. A check for $224 was enclosed.[f16-d38] On July 30th John receive another report from Mrs. Barnett in which she reports only two additional sales.  She also reports she had not received the copyright number back from the Library of Congress.[f16-d39]

On December 1st John wrote a letter to Mrs. Curtis (or Mrs. Barnett) requesting that they ship him all the remainder of the unsold books and he would process any orders himself.  He goes on to say that it has been six months since he received any report from ARP and for them to send him a “report by return mail with check for settlement up to date.”[f16-d40] 

John receives a reply on December 3rd from Mrs. Barnett and it is not good news.  Mrs. Barnett starts saying,[f16-d41]

“I was very disappointed to learn of your decision to remove your books from my care as I have tried to give you service, and have worked at recovering you initial investment in its publication. I hate to lose it, because a lot of my heart went into its publication, and somehow, I came to feel it was my book instead of yours. However, since I know in my heart that I worked my best, and did my best, I should feel no regrets, for when a person does that, he has done all he can do, and he leaves the rest in the hands of the Almighty.”

She goes on to say it would be around January 15th before the rest of the books would be ready as it would take two weeks to reprint the pages and have them bound. She reports that if she doesn’t have the missing pages from Burford Curtis (the printer) by January 1st she would have the pages reprinted herself.  She says that Mrs. Manney (the bindery lady) has the covers made and is waiting for the missing pages.   

Apparently at some time Mitzi Barnett took over the company, she says “When I took over the company, I asked for all ARP material in Arrow Printing Company to be delivered to [ARP].”  Evidently she was have issues with Mr. Curtis who owns Arrow Printing saying, “Mr. Curtis refuses to deliver or to cooperate with me any way.”  She goes on to say,

“You asked me why you had not been informed as to the other books not having been bound. Well, Mr. Mixson, when you have spent your savings, your time, and injured your health in trying to preserve a company’s reputation so that it may reach the potential it deserves, and fulfill the purpose for which it was started, you don’t go around telling people about its internal problems when you know that it internal these internal problems will be resolved. I offer no excuse, for there is none. I simply say that anything I have obligated myself for, I always deliver.”

She adds a postscript,

“If you would like to check to see if I am telling the truth concerning the reason for American Reference’s problems, you may contact the following people who have been involved with the company during Mary’s management and mine, and they will confirm that I have derived since I have taken over the company, and will also give me a character reference.”

She includes a report:

Books received from bindery             354              Feb. 17th report
Sold by ARP                             204
Shipped to Ashley Mixson                 19
Shipped to your for personal use         20              Jun 22, 1970 report
Sold by ARP, paid for                    19
Sold by ARP, unpaid                       3              Dec. 3, 1970 report
Sold by ARP                              14
Shipped for your personal use             5
To be rebound because of missing pages   10
In ARP office for reference copy          1
Sent to the reunion                      50
To be returned to John                    6                                Total    351

She goes on to say there are 3 books unaccounted for that she will make up and John is due 149 additional copies.

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