| Description | <p>Manuscript unless otherwise stated. The letters were found divided between four folders, and arranged chronologically, except one folder containing letters to Maria S Pearson. A fifth folder contained only photographs of Parker. The letters have been described below in these groups.</p>
<br></br>
<p>Letters covering the period 1878-1880. The majority of the letters cover ancient Greek philosophy and religion, and German philosophy. Also addresses Parker's reading of Goethe and referring to Pearson's holiday in Beaumaris, on going to France for a month and reading Schiller, on experiences living with French family in Paris, about "development theory" and its potential opposition to notions of equality, regarding the 1879 feast in honour of the window and fountain at King's College, Cambridge, on general events at Cambridge and his own studies and results, on theatre and plays following his trip to see <i>Hernani</i> by Victor Hugo in Paris, about disposing of Pearson's belongings and furniture in his rooms at Cambridge, on surprise that Pearson might try for the bar rather than turn to science, asks Pearson for three short papers titled "Germany" for the <i>Cambridge Review</i> enclosing the journal prospectus, on socialism, asking how Pearson likes Germany, about political dissent in Ireland, on Pearson's decision to return to Cambridge and not go to the bar in March 1880, on Pearson's pessimism, and offering congratulations on Pearson's sister's (Amy Pearson) marriage.</p>
<br></br>
<p>Letters covering the period April - December 1881 on Pearson's sister's illness, asking if Pearson will join him and Conway in Zermatt, Switzerland, about life in the Swiss valleys, about helping with his sister's (Emma Conway) work, offering criticism of Pearson's play and enclosing a letter from Oscar Browning offering work as a Domestic Tutor in Mathematics and Classics, on taking Conway's rooms and reminiscing about midnight walks with Pearson along the River Cam, about Pearson's time in Heidelberg and having an identity outside one's profession, offering counter-argument to Pearson's talk of his work as "waste" probably alluding to the passion play, about the next Master of Trinity College being Munro or Sidgwick, and views on Edwin Arnold's <i>The Light of Asia</i>.</p>
<p>This bundle also contains 5 letters to William Martin Conway, Baron Conway of Allington, covering his election to a Fellowship at King's College, whether Conway is leaving his rooms, on events at Cambridge, on reading Conway's article "Art as an Historical Factor", and outlining a scheme for a book on Progress.</p>
<br></br>
<p>Letters covering the period 1882-1884 on Parker's comments on rhyming lines in Latin verse written by Pearson, about Pearson's unrest at Coniston, about poor harvests and family matters, congratulating Pearson on his sister's newborn, Pearson's lecturing in Germany, the funeral of William Rawnsley, giving news of Pearson's brother and mother's progress during Karl's German sojourn, about a stay with Lawrence Green enclosing a letter from Green, about responsibilites of thoroughness and accuracy in specialists funded by the public (with reference to the British Museum), referring to Pearson's decision to quit the legal profession, on going to the Hyde Park demonstration in 1884, about visiting Pearson in Tyrol and forwarding post including examination papers for marking, <i>Mathematical Quartely</i> proofs and newspapers, about moving out in preparation for marriage, about searching for homes in Surrey and asking Pearson to visit Claxby, about Arthur Beilby Pearson-Gee's engagement to Amy Wilmott, and on reading proofs on socialism and mathematics in Clifford's <i>Common Sense of the Exact Sciences</i>.</p>
<p>Includes a letter from Clementina Black to Parker about asking Pearson to read a paper at a "Club meeting" (the Men and Women's Club).</p>
<br></br>
<p>Letters from the year 1884, being letters to Fanny Pearson (Karl's mother), on Pearson's election to the Goldsmid Chair of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics at UCL, and thanking the Pearsons for their congratulations on his marriage to Constance Berkely.</p>
<br></br>
<p>Letters covering the period 1885-1889 regarding Pearson's paper on "The Woman's Question" for the first meeting of the Men and Women's Club, about exposé on procuration in the Pall Mall Gazette, the possibility of Brian Donkin joining the group and his views on sexual politics, on Pearson's meaning of "prostitution" and "marriage" in his paper, about the death of Henry Bradshaw (includes typescript copy), on considering application for the Secretaryship at UCL, about Pearson's holiday in Tyrol with W H Macauley, about finding accommodation for Pearson in Dorking, Surrey, in 1887, about birth of his daughter Gwen, on the wedding of Hume Chancellor Pincent to Ellen Parker, and on Pearson's engagement to Maria Sharpe.</p>
<br></br>
<p>Letters from the year 1889, being two letters to Fanny Pearson, reassuring her about Karl's worries and on the revival and prosperity of Maria and Karl's relationship.</p>
<br></br>
<p>Letters covering the period 1890-1894 comprising comments on George Meredith's book <i>The Egoist</i>, on happiness at Pearson's wedding day (30 June 1890), reminiscing on scenes from the occasion, congratulating Karl and Maria on the birth of Sigrid, on purchase and sending of golf clubs and balls, on Pearson's reponse to Kidd on "Is Biology Opposed to Socialism?" in the <i>Fortnightly Review</i>, on questioning the rational basis for morality, on Pearson's response to Lord Salisbury in the <i>Fortnightly Review</i> and the function and significance of social sanctions on moral conduct, about a contention in the University of London Senate about rules for vacancies, and referring to an article by Balfour.</p>
<br></br>
<p>Letters covering the period 1896-1901 on his sympathy for the death of Pearson's brother Arthur Beilby Pearson-Gee and apologies for not being able to attend the funeral, on holidays, on Constance's illness and operation to remove her appendix, on Greek compound words for scientific use (including photocopy of letter), on an operation on an abscess in his leg, about subscribing to <i>Biometrika</i>, and on a family holiday to Norway.</p>
<br></br>
<p>Letters covering the period 1904-1917 refer to neighbours in Haslemere who might assist Pearson's work growing plants and illustrating, offering condolences on the death of Pearson's mother Fanny, on the well-being and work of the family and his thought of "taking silk", on the death of W F R Weldon, thanking Pearson for his note (after Parker became a Chancery Judge), on acting as executor [for William Pearson?], about a claim from a Fred Pearson [or Mockett?] asserting he is Karl's illegitimate brother, on the death of William Pearson, sending Pearson his new full title, regarding the endowment for Professorship in Eugenics in Galton's Will, and enclosing Parker's entry for the <i>Oxford Dictionary of National Biography</i> (comprising positive and negative prints).</p>
<p>Includes three letters to William Pearson, Karl's father, offering sympathy following the death of Fanny Pearson, thanking him for his congratulatory note following Pearson's appointment as Chancery Judge, and refers to personal and professional kindness shown to him by W Pearson.</p>
<br></br>
<p>Letters to M S Pearson, comprising two dated 1890 about future happiness for herself and Karl, and one dated 1910 thanking her for the photograph of Karl, on raising children and the activities and news of the Parker children.</p>
<br></br>
<p>Seven portrait photographs of Robert John Parker, three by the studio Elliot T Fry Ltd., and a pencil sketch portrait.</p> |