Richard Baynham Garrett on Finis Bates

[Rob Wick]

Going through Ida Tarbell's papers, I found this written account of what happened at Garrett's Farm from Richard Baynham Garrett to a man named A.R. Taylor who lived in Memphis, Tennessee. After Finis Bates's book came out in 1907, Garrett wrote this seven page letter to Taylor on Oct. 24, 1907 in which he discounts Bates's book. I've seen accounts written by R.B. Garrett before, but I can't remember seeing this. Instead of typing this, I've attached the link. I don't see anywhere in Tarbell's papers (of the ones I've examined--I have a ton more to go through) where she used this in anything she wrote. It might be that as a collector, she was simply interested in it.

Enjoy!

Best
Rob