Brown University - Liber Brunensis Yearbook (Providence, RI)

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REDWOOD LIBRARY Laswell Early Brick Homestead, 1759 One of the show places of Providence is this old cottage in Roger Williams Park, wherein dwelt Betsey Williams, descend- ant of Rhode Island's founder, and the donor of the park which bears her ances- tor's name, Erected in 1773. Laswell Abraham Redwood contributed 500 pounds towards the purchase of books for a permanent literary society and his fellow-townsmen raised 5,000 pounds for the erection of a building to house the collection. The result was the Redwood Library of Newport which for many years was the colony's center of study for the learned. The society was incorporated in 1747. The original idea for such a society came from Bishop Berkeley who stayed in Newport for three years and stimulated en- thusiasm for literary and intellectual pursuits. Plans for the Doric structure were drawn by Peter Harrison, English architect. During the Revolution much of the collection was destroyed. The library was not truly revitalized again until the nineteenth century when many volumes were added. Back in 1640, Newport had alloted land for support of public school the Rev. Robert Lenthal being called by vote to open it. The next important mention of public education is the opening of a Latin school in Newport by Mr. Galloway in 1711. Once again it was demonstrated that the luxuries of society could only be considered when matters of survival had been conquered. The Redwood Library, the development of public education, and later the establishment of the Providence Library Association in 1754 are all exemplary of the gradual awareness of a Rhode Island culture. At 7 -4 m,l,. b .1 3 mi lji? lfMyIWmm, E iy ., i qJ;lt. o nfh A - v;:! e e e Wi, fwa. rm: - -' - alyl s, :5,2 y,h', amn - s : . lutly? T ,.......1 z il 4. ?g',mlf Wi . u:mi e 2 1 i l Al v w i . raw gt u.. L ng . rn M,-v,fgngM 00 From a drawing by G. D. Laswell 28

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George C. Mason General Prescott Headquarters in 1777, Newport 2 ; Georg C. Mason Whitehall, the residence of Bishop Berkeley in Middletown 27

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'.,, M e vl Uil i, ;, b llilfim! L T A A, a 1Y i Ml h l B oL l J ol 3 N I P R From a drawing by G. D. Laswell Erected in 1786, and referred to by John Quincy Adams in 1789 as the most magnificent and elegant private dwelling that I have ever seen on this continent, the John Brown House, 52 Power Street, is still pointed out as one of the city's most beautiful dwellings, and repre- sents the finest work of the Georgian period. Laswell It is now the home of the Rhode Island Historical Society. 29