Guide to the Berkeley House collection , 1881-1895, undated

(bulk 1884-1895)


Newport Historical Society
82 Touro Street
Newport, RI 02840
Tel: 401-846-0813
Fax: 401-846-1853
email: info@newporthistorical.org

Published in 2012

Collection Overview

Title: Berkeley House collection
Date range: 1881-1895, undated, (bulk 1884-1895)
Creator: King, LeRoy
Extent: 1.668 linear feet
Abstract: This collection contains 4 architectural drawings and specifications, personal artwork, and household receipts related to LeRoy King and his residence, Berkeley House.
Language of materials: English
Repository: Newport Historical Society
Collection number: MS.2012.33

Scope & content

This collection contains 4 architectural drawings and specifications, personal artwork, and household receipts related to LeRoy King and his residence, Berkeley House.

The receipts, which make up a bulk of the collection, are a comprehensive view into the work and life of running a household and being a part of Newport Society at the turn of the 20th century. The business of everyday life is cataloged and recorded with local and national vendors, purveyors and service providers, including Western Union Telegraph Co
., Caswell Massey and Co
., McKim, Mead, and White
, the Old Colony Steamboat Co
., and the Newport Daily News
. Also represented are memberships to social, intellectual and religious institutions including Trinity Church
, Redwood Library
, the Newport Business Men's Association
, and The Newport Natural History Society
. Receipts of administrative business are present including taxes and fees to the City, utility bills, servant wages, house maintenance, and horse care.

Also included are two notes of received payment from Edward R. Wharton, husband of Edith Wharton.

Access Points

Subject Names Subject Organizations Subject Topics Subject Topics Document Types

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into two series:

  • 1. Berkeley House records, 1881-1895, undated
  • 2. Artwork, undated

Historical note


Berkeley House is located at 1 Berkeley Avenue in
Newport, RI. It is a brick, Queen Anne cottage built in 1884-1885 for LeRoy King of Newport and New York, It was designed by the firm of McKim, Mead and White
. It replaced a smaller wood structure that stood on the corner site of Berkeley and Bellevue Avenues.

LeRoy King (1857-1895) was the son of Edward King and a member of the extended King family that amassed a fortune in the China Trade. Other Kings include Dr. David King (Muenchinger-King
building), Edward King (King Senior Center), David King Jr. (Kingscote
), George Gordon King (Edgehill) and the artist Charles Bird King. At one time the Kings were the largest land owners, ever, in Newport. LeRoy King also built the King block of shops adjacent to the Newport Casino.

The house remained in one family for one hundred years. It passed from LeRoy King to his wife Ethel Rhinelander King, then to their children including Ethel King Russell, then to her son John Stephen Howland Russell. It is presently a three family dwelling.

Chronology of Berkeley House, 1 Berkeley Avenue, 262 Bellevue Avenue, Plat 33, Lot 26

1876

Atlas shows a corner lot with a wood house owned by Eliza T. Goffe, widow of John Goffe, adjacent to larger lot owned by Edward King.

1878 August 2

Deed transferred from Eliza T. Goffe to Mary King, David King, Jr. and LeRoy King, trustees under the will of Edward King, for $10,500, Land and improvements(LE 49:460).

1883

Atlas shows owner as LeRoy King, 50,673 sq. ft. wood house on corner, larger lot.

1884

Wood house moved to south end of lot or demolished. November 22 1885 The Newport Mercury reports that plans have been drawn for a new brick villa and the foundation has been poured.

1884-1885

House erected. Plans by McKim, Mead, and White. William Underwood, contractor.

1893

Altas shows owner as LeRoy King, 50,673 sq. ft. Brick house on corner, wood house to south.

1895

LeRoy King dies.

1907

Atlas shows owner as Ethel R. King, 53, 877 square feet, same.

1921

Atlas shows owner as Ethel R. King, same.

1925

Ethel R. King dies. House is passed to heirs.

1971

Ethel King Russell dies. House is willed to son, John Howland Russell.

1984

House sold to Josiah and Diana Bunting.



Ref: Lippincott, Bert. (2006 February 23). Berkeley House. (Institutional House History). Newport Historical Society, Newport, RI.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment.
Use of the materials: Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from Newport Historical Society. Although NHS has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation: Berkeley House collection , MS.2012.33, Newport Historical Society.
Contact information: Newport Historical Society
82 Touro Street
Newport, RI 02840
Tel: 401-846-0813
Fax: 401-846-1853
email: info@newporthistorical.org

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: The Berkeley House collection was recieved in August 2012 from David Chase.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Stacie M. Parillo.
Encoding: Finding aid encoded by Stacie M. Parillo 2012 August 21
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory

Series 1. Berkeley House records

Architectural drawings
Contents Note: Four architectural drawings stored separately in flat files.

 1892 February 24, undated
Box 1, Folder 1 Architectural Specifications
 1885
Box 1, Folder 2 Household Receipts
 1881-1883
Box 1, Folder 3-4 Household Receipts
 1884
Box 1, Folder 5-6 Household Receipts
 1885
Box 1, Folder 7-8 Household Receipts
 1886
Box 2, Folder 1-3 Household Receipts
 1887
Box 2, Folder 4 Household Receipts
 1888
Box 2, Folder 5-7 Household Receipts
 1889
Box 3, Folder 1 Household Receipts
 1890
Box 3, Folder 2-4 Household Receipts
 1891
Box 3, Folder 5-7 Household Receipts
 1892
Box 4, Folder 1-4 Household Receipts
 1893
Box 4, Folder 5 Household Receipts
 1894
Box 4, Folder 6 Household Receipts
 1895
Box 4, Folder 7 Household Receipts
 undated

Series 2. Artwork

Box 4, Folder 8 Artwork
 undated