Isaac Comstock Bates was born July 27, 1843 in Blackstone, MA to Laban and Lydia (Comstock) Bates. He arrived in Providence in 1868 where he became partners with his maternal uncle Andrew Comstock, Esq. in a pork-packing business at 101 (later 199) Canal Street. In 1880 he and his cousin Louis H. Comstock bought out the business and re-opened it as Comstock and Company. Mr. Bates accumulated great wealth through this business and was active in it until his death January 1, 1913. He married Emily Mansfield of Millville, MA on October 27, 1870. They had no children. They lived at 34 Olive Street in Providence and had a home on Bennet Point in Narragansett.
Bates had a lifelong interest in the arts. He used the proceeds from the meat-packing business toward acquiring valuable works of arts and supporting local artists. He was an early member of the Providence Art Club, joining in 1884 before becoming involved with RISD in 1885. Bates’ bequest of nineteenth century paintings established the RISD Museum of Art‘s early emphasis on American painting more than any other individual and continues to form the core of the current collection. (10, Rosenfeld).
Bates served as President of RISD from 1907-1913. Prior to serving as President, he was a Trustee, 1885-1913 and Vice President, 1891-1907. He was on the Executive Committee, 1907-1913, the Museum Committee, 1893-1913, the Library Committee, 1907-1913, the Committee of Management, 1887-1888, Committee on Lectures from 1888-1893, and the Finance Committee from 1894-1896.
In addition to his involvement with RISD, Bates also took an active interest in the City of Providence. He was a member of The Hope Club, the Squantum Club, the University Club and the RI Historical Society. Upon his death, Mr. Bates left bequests to Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, Butler Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Providence Lying-In Hospital, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Providence Athenaeum, Providence Art Club and St. Andrew’s Industrial School.
The use of certain documents and collections may be restricted. Please consult the Archives staff for further details.
Permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from archival materials must be obtained in writing from the Archives. The researcher assumes full responsibility for use of material and for conformity to all applicable laws, including copyright.
Isaac C. Bates Scrapbook, Rhode Island School of Design Archives.
The scrapbook of Isaac Comstock Bates, 1877-1887, contains letters from artists and dealers about the purchase of paintings and engravings. Bates was primarily interested in purchasing small pictures as is specified in these letters. Noted artist and artwork include: Sanford Gifford, “Coming Storm,” and “Sunset Marine,” Jervis McEntee, “Autumn in Vermont,” William H. Hart, “Head of Blonde Beauty,” Gustave Courbet “Landscape,” Samuel Coleman, “Lincoln Cathedral, England,” Alexander H. Wyant, “Evening,” and “A Landscape,” Charles Miller, “Autumn Afternoon,” “Sweet Autumn,” and “Early Spring,” William Morris Hunt, “Small Landscape,” James D. Smillie, “Up the Hill,” “Old Cedars,” Cedar Meadow,” and “Old Mill.”
The collection includes one photograph and two booklets. The undated photograph shows what appears to be an exhibition or display of prints in an unidentified room. The two pamphlets are both reprints of magazine articles: Charles Sumner, "The Best Portraits in Engraving, 4th ed." NY: Frederick Keppel, 1875 and Frederick Keppel, "The Golden Age of Engraving: An Introductory Essay on the Old Engravers," NY: Frederick Keppel, 1878. The Keppel pamphlet includes the cover notation "Isaac C. Bates, Esq. with F. Keppel's respects Oct. 29, 1878."
Scrapbook arranged by correspondent.
Isaac Comstock Bates Scrapbook was transferred to the Archives by the Museum of Art's Registrar's office in 2004.