For this week’s Redwood History, and due to a very interesting question on our Instagram page, we decided to take a look inside the Collection of Redwood Family Papers, most of which dates from 1729 to 1796. There are personal letters, financial statements and deeds, as well as little insights into the everyday life and sense […]
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In honor of Saint Patrick’s Day, we are sharing a rare book from the T.S. Mathews collection, A Patrick’s Day Hunt. This particular edition is held by only one other library in the world. The story relates the misadventures of the narrator and his neighbors, as they participate in and observe a fox hunt for […]
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]“The appeal of the flower print is through that elusive quality which may be described as ‘charm.’ It is a compound of process techniques, draftsmanship, arrangement or design and color, mellowed and tempered by time. It speaks of an art which is simple, natural, graceful as the sunlight or the rain. It knows neither contortion […]
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In light of the opening of our newest exhibit, Newport Designs: The Art of Architecture, Landscape and Planning, we have decided to do an architectural timeline of the Redwood from our own collection of images. Enjoy this slideshow and marvel at the changes of the Redwood Library over the past 266 years. We hope to […]
This beautiful 19th century, 18 karat gold pocket watch was a gift of Marilyn Curtis. This watch was hand crafted by the Swiss artist Jonas Bergner for Mr. Henry Curtis’s maternal grandfather, Lawson. The original portable timepiece was slightly smaller than the size of a teacup, and was worn around the neck. Known as Nuremburg […]
In honor of George Washington’s birthday each year, the Newport Artillery Company comes to the Redwood to give a cannon salute to our first president at the base of his statue. This particular statue has caused quite a bit of intrigue and speculation over the years, but due to recent research efforts, has become less […]
With the approach of Valentine’s Day, it seems everyone is happy to tell you the best way to express your love and adoration for your partner. Most of the time it’s the traditional fare – flowers, chocolate, jewelry – and the essence of the most romantic holiday is lost. What about those who aren’t in […]
In 1997, to mark our 250th anniversary, the Redwood Library underwent a decade of change during which the building was renovated and restored to its former glory. One such aspect of this restoration focused on the cleaning and repainting of the exterior of the library. When it came time to remove the old paint, 40 layers […]
Among the Redwood Library’s esteemed holdings is a wonderful collection of eighteenth and nineteenth century pattern books. These books range in style and medium from eighteenth century needlepoint designs, to nineteenth century iron works. One of the perks of working in Special Collections is the daily occurrence of finding something “new.” Studies in Design by Dr. […]
Polly Lawton by Bradley Brayton Bucklin, undated. Gift of George P. Lawton, 1876. Mary “Polly” Lawton (1761-1793) was born to a wealthy Quaker family in Newport. She is mentioned in George Champlin Mason’s 1884 work Reminiscences of Newport, when he recounts the meeting of Polly and Count Segur. “Louis-Philippe Comte de Segur” by Unknown (French school) […]
