Guide to the Erl Bates Papers,
[ca. 1920-1960]

Erl Bates was a physician and advisor in Indian Extension at the New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell University.

Dr. Bates worked with New York county farm bureaus and home bureaus and the New York State Department of Education for the benefit of New York's Native Americans.

Papers include correspondence and memoranda pertaining to the background and passage of a state bill (1920) appropriating $10,000 to the College of Agriculture for Indian extension work and to the early progress of this work; correspondence and printed, mimeographed, and typescript reports, memoranda, newsletters, and pamphlets pertaining to the Cornell Indian Boards, Six Nations' Agricultural Society, Indian Farmers' Schools, Indian student attendance at Cornell University "short courses" in agriculture and home economics, the De Yen Twas Society, formed by Cornell Indian students to promote the welfare of the Six Nations, especially in agriculture and homemaking, the New York State Indian Welfare Society, the Indian Rights Association; Indian participation in Farm and Home Week, the New York State Fair, county fairs, and the Indian Fair; Bates' work with farm and home bureaus, and the New York State Education Department; the work of the Home Missions Council and the Council of Women for Home Missions on the reservation, the Cayuga-Seneca Land Case, 1920, the Syracuse Americanization League, Inc.; and lectures given by Bates to various groups. Also, typescript and mimeographed histories concerning New York Indians and the origins of various fruits cultivated in the U.S. by Indians, mimeographed and printed historical tour guides for various New York counties, Indian legends, a copy of Bates' book, Tell Me an Indian Story , and newspaper clippings.

Includes collection #21-24-1605.