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) […]
Uncle Tom’s Cabin; or Life Among the Lowly, 1852 Among one of the most prized and recognizable treasures in the Redwood’s collection is a first edition copy of Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. When it was published, Uncle Tom’s Cabin was the most popular novel of the nineteenth century, and only the second most influential and famous […]
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Visitors to and members of the Redwood Library recognize the importance of the name Jane Stuart. She was a visionary painter, and daughter to one of the fathers of American painting — Gilbert Stuart. It’s easy to forget that Jane was an average person, despite her talents and place in history. She dressed up for […]
Abraham Redwood (1709-1788), founder of the Redwood Library, made his fortune on a sugar plantation in Antigua. By his mid-thirties, he was able to retire as the second wealthiest man in the colonies, and chose Newport as his home. He became close friends with Bishop George Berkeley, who regularly participated in philosophical discussion with other […]
