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Feb1:uary

s,

1945

Mr. B.f!U~n Barr Pat ten Vista California Dear Kr. Patten:

Your recent loss is one that is keenly_ shared b7 a host of friends and acquaintances of Gilbert Patten, and by even more friends ot Frank Kerriwell. The loss to Maine is that of a distinguished son; and it is particularly because your rather's birthplace was this state that we take the liberty or writing to you. The Maine Author Collection is an exhibit or about fifteen hundred volumes, insc"ribed and presented, 'written by Maine people. The present interfi'st of visitors is great, but we are admittedly building for the future;and the value of such a collection increases constantl7. We gather also all available biographical, critical and photographic data, and:~pt,eserve the correspondence w1 th our authors. Some time ago we wrote to Mr. Patten -about the possibility of including his work in the collection; we had a most friendly and generous reply in the 'spri11& of 1941, promising us his latest book, MR. FRANK MERRIWELL, and in addition suggesting that it might_be possible for him to send other Merriwell titles for the,:.qollection. · That the gift did not materialize is greatly to our reg~et, tor Mr. Patten was eminent in his field of literature. That is why we are writing to you. We thou,ht it possible th~t;,-y:ou mtght want to present such or your father's books as may 'be available to the Maine Author Collection in tribute to his memory and his long and illustrious career. Such a gift would fill us with gratitude. Sincerely yours hmJ Encls.

Secretary

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