Redwood Library and Athenaeum

Infobox_nrhp | name =Redwood Library
nrhp_type = nhl


caption =
location= 50 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, Rhode Island
lat_degrees = 41
lat_minutes = 29
lat_seconds = 12
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 71
long_minutes = 18
long_seconds = 34
long_direction = W
locmapin = Rhode Island
area =
built =1747
architect= Peter Harrison
architecture= Georgian
designated= October 9, 1960cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=17&ResourceType=Building
title=Redwood Library |accessdate=2008-06-29|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service]
added = October 15, 1966cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]
governing_body = Private
refnum=66000015

The Redwood Library and Athenaeum is a private subscription library in Newport, Rhode Island. Founded in 1747, it is the oldest community library still occupying its original building in the United States. [http://www.projo.com/extra/2006/slavery/day1/side1.htm] The original section of the building was constructed in 1750 by the architect Peter Harrison. Designed in the style of Italian Renaissance Architect Andrea Palladio, it was the first classical public building built in America. The main facade, facing Bellevue avenue, is based upon plates in the Edward Hoppus' "Andrea Palladio's Architecture" published in 1735. The oldest section, today called the Harrison Room, still houses the majority of the original books that were purchased as a collection in London. Occupying British troops allegedly looted numerous books (many of which were later returned) prior to the Battle of Rhode Island during the American Revolution. [http://books.google.com/books?id=zO8OAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA246&lpg=RA1-PA246&dq=british+troops+redwood+library+newport&source=web&ots=GmRsXQ2Z5L&sig=gOIsYU71Mf8Cx3EiyrACkVkjxAs] In 1932, historian and architect Norman Isham restored the eighteenth century Harrison room to what he concluded was its original appearance. The Library's modern collection now includes more than 160,000 volumes as well as a museum collection of art and artifacts. The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966. [ [http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=17&ResourceType=Building NHL listing summary, accessed June 20, 2008] ]

Ezra Stiles, later president of Yale University, was one of the most prominent librarians at the Library.

The ceiling of the library collapsed in 2003.

References

* [http://www.projo.com/extra/2006/slavery/day1/side1.htm Paul Davis, "Abraham Redwood, Antigua and the West Indies Trade," Providence Journal, March 12, 2006]
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=nEc4AAAAMAAJ&q=redwood+%22oldest+library%22&dq=redwood+%22oldest+library%22&pgis=1 John Williams Haley, The "Old Stone Bank" History of Rhode Island, (Providence Instituion for Savings: Rhode Island, 1944), p. 91]

External links

* [http://www.redwoodlibrary.org Redwood library]