Arlo Bates letters to Oric Bates , 1909 - 1914

Series I.A. Arlo Bates letters to Oric Bates, contains letters, clippings, and ephemera sent from father to son predominantly during a time when Arlo Bates was lecturing at M.I.T. and Oric Bates was working as an archeologist in Egypt and Syria. The letters were sent to inform Oric of events and business in Boston and Maine, particularly in regard to Arlo Bates’ social and professional affairs. Often the letters announced the activities of the Tavern Club and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, two organizations with which Arlo Bates was closely affiliated. The letters also forwarded clippings taken from Boston newspapers, primarily regarding the affairs of Harvard University (Oric Bates’ employer) and also archeological events around the globe. Additionally, Arlo Bates frequently offered his literary opinions in these letters, commenting on figures such as Poe, Shakespeare, Emerson, Mark Twain, William and Henry James, and also on his own writing. (Sometimes these opinions would be in anticipation of his own M.I.T. lectures on these subjects.) In addition, Arlo wrote Oric often as a stern father, reminding his abroad son of the unpaid debt he owed back in the United States.