Guide to the James Fowle papers, 1965-1982
Rhode Island School of Design Archives
Fleet Library at RISD
2 College Street
Providence, RI 02903
Tel: 401-709-5922
Fax: 401-709-5932
email: risdarchives@risd.edu
Published in 2013
Collection Overview
| Title: | James Fowle papers |
| Date range: | 1965-1982 |
| Creator: | Fowle, James, 1920- |
| Extent: | .5 linear feet |
| Abstract: | The James Fowle papers document the rennovation of the Woods-Gerry House, Providence, RI and the Rhode Island School of Design Faculty strike in 1982. |
| Language of materials: | English |
| Repository: | Rhode Island School of Design Archives |
| Collection number: | 10.2.9 |
Scope & content
The James Fowle papers contain detailed notes, memos, and correspondence documenting the efforts of Fowle, RISD President Talbot Rantoul, and others to save the Woods-Gerry House from demolition during 1965-1969 and the Woods-Gerry Advisory Committee's work to renovate the house, 1970-1971.Personal notes, minutes, agendas, floor plans, financial records, and requests for funding document the renovation of the house and the creation of the Woods-Gerry Gallery and administrative offices. There are brochures, newspaper articles, and photos highlighting the opening of the Woods-Gerry House. The papers include correspondence from faculty, administrators, trustees, and local officials. Folders 1 and 2 include Fowle's handwritten indices of correspondents, documents, and meeting records. Two negatives from J.C.B. Washburn show the house pre-1900.
The collection includes two photographs documenting the RISD Faculty Strike in 1982.
Access Points
Subject Names Subject Names Subject Organizations Subject Topics Subject TopicsArrangement
The collection is arranged in the following manner:
- Chronological
Biographical note
Born 1920 May 24 in Englewood, New Jersey, Professor James Fowle spent his first fifteen years in Istanbul, Turkey, where his father was engaged in missionary work. Returning to this country in 1935 he enrolled in Deerfield Academy and completed his work there two years later. He received his B.A. from Williams College in 1941 and his Ph.D from Harvard University in 1952.Professor Fowle served as a lecturer in fine arts and as a curator of the museum at Bowdoin College. For four years previous to his appointment at Rhode Island School of Design, he served as a full-time member of the Bryn Mawr faculty and intermittently a visiting associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He was appointed to the RISD Art History Faculty at Rhode Island School of Design in 1963 and worked and lectured there until 1985. After retiring, he was named Professor Emeritus at Rhode Island School of Design.
He married Alison Bozorth Fowle on June 21, 1952 and has two daughters.
Historical note
The Woods-Gerry House (or Dr. Marshall Woods House) is an historic house on 62 Prospect Street in Providence, Rhode Island built 1860-1863.Architect Richard Upjohn designed the house in an Italianate style for Dr. Marshal Woods. Senator and Mrs. Peter Gerry purchased the house in 1931. Rhode Island School of Design bought the house in 1959. Plans to raze the house were met with strong resistance from the newly formed Providence Historic District Commission and the Providence Preservation Society.
After a decade of uncertainty and decay, the RISD faculty and students persuaded President Talbot Rantoul to renovate and preserve the house. The proponents, including James Fowle, renovated the first floor ball room in time for a Trustees' Executive Committee meeting held 1969 November 4. The trustees approved the building's renovation for administrative offices and exhibition galleries. The Woods-Gerry House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
Access & Use
| Access to the collection: | The use of certain documents and collections may be restricted. Please consult the Archives staff for further details. |
| Use of the materials: | 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. |
| Preferred citation: | James Fowle papers, Rhode Island School of Design Archives. |
| Contact information: | Rhode Island School of Design Archives Fleet Library at RISD 2 College Street Providence, RI 02903 Tel: 401-709-5922 Fax: 401-709-5932 email: risdarchives@risd.edu |
Administrative Information
| ABOUT THE COLLECTION | |
| Acquisition: | James Fowle donated the papers to the RISD Archives in 1998. |
| ABOUT THE FINDING AID | |
| Author: | Finding aid prepared by Rachael Juskuv. |
| Encoding: | Finding aid encoded by Rachael Juskuv 2013 January 11 |
| Revisions: |
2013 July 11 |
| Descriptive rules: | Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) |
Additional Information
| Related material: | RISD. Office of the President. Real Estate Records. Woods-Gerry, 1959-1978 |
| Separated material: | RISD Negatives, Building and Open Spaces, Woods-Gerry Mansion Exterior Views, [197-] Contains two 2x2 negatives of the Woods-Gerry Mansion Exterior. The photos were provided to Fowle by J.C.B Washbum, the great-grandson of Marshall Woods. |
Inventory
James Fowle papers.
| Box 1, Folder 1 | Correspondence |
1965, 1969 |
| Box 1, Folder 2 | Woods-Gerry Advisory Committee |
1969-1971 |
| Box 1, Folder 3 | Woods-Gerry Advisory Committee |
1969-1974 |
| Box 1, Folder 4 | RISD Faculty Strike Photographs |
1982 |