{"value"=>"<p>The bulk of these letters (1875 - 1898) were written by James to his family. Since many of the letters were addressed to multiple family members, such as the letters addressed to all of his daughters, they have been included in James, Jr.'s papers rather than in those of the recipients. Letters to his brother George, however, can be found in Series III. He wrote most often when he was touring Italy, and later when his children were away at school and he was living in New York. His letters are affectionate and are often spiritual and philosophical in tone, occasionally including sketches. In these letters, the family members were referred to by pet nicknames: Harriet as 'Hattie', Mary as 'Monies' or 'Minnie', Henrietta as 'Etta', Christopher as 'Chris', and his wife Mary as 'Dolly'. It is apparent that James Jr. loved his children very much and tried to be very present as a father while apart from his family.</p> <p>James' letters from Europe date from February through April of 1882. He was traveling with his wife, Mary J. Colles, his daughter, Elizabeth, and with another traveler referred to in letters as 'Mamie' and assumed to be a grandparent. The first letter is from Florence where they met and spent a great deal of time with their cousin, Frank Metcalfe, who had married an Italian woman and resided there. Prior to arriving in Florence, James and his family had been in Turin and Genoa, both places described in detail by James Jr. In Florence they visited the Monastery of Certosa where James Jr. enjoyed Chartreuse, a liqueur made by the monks . They attended a 'mask' (masque) and dress ball where Elizabeth Colles dressed as a 'Matelotte',(a female sailor). On March 9th, they left Florence and traveled all night to Rome. James Jr. wrote lengthy comparisons of the two cities. The family then traveled to Naples where they visited the Monte de Capa Palace, full of beautiful paintings and a menagerie of exotic birds. They visited Pompeii and surveyed the ruins and volcanic activity there. The last letter from Europe is addressed from Venice where James' son Chris joined the family after taking a break from his medical studies.</p> <p>In 1886 James Jr., who was living at the Benedict Hotel, moved to West 139th Street where he lived for the rest of his life. His letters reveal his advancing age and loneliness, although he often wrote enthusiastically about his children and their visits, and the happiness they brought into is life. His last letter is written to his wife on June 18, 1898, four months before his death. He discussed his rapidly declining health, his extreme physical discomfort, and his doctor's diagnosis of acute indigestion and a weakening of the arteries of his heart. He is prescribed small doses of pure pepsin and bicarbonate of soda. James Jr. died in September 1898 of heart failure.</p>"}