Guide to the David Melville letter, 1853

Redwood Library and Athenaeum
50 Bellevue Avenue
Newport, RI 02840
Tel: (401) 847-0292
Fax: (401) 841-5680
email: redwood@redwoodlibrary.org

Published in 2013

Collection Overview

Title:	David Melville letter
Date range:	1853
Creator:	Melville, David, 1773-1856
Extent:	0.01 linear feet (1 folder)
Abstract:	This collection consists of one letter from David Melville (1773-1856) to his son, George W. T. Melville (1826-1900), both of Newport, Rhode Island, in which he provides news about his business and health.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	Redwood Library and Athenaeum
Collection number:	RLC.Ms.525

Scope & content

This collection consists of one letter from David Melville to his son, George W. T. Melville (1826-1900) of Newport, Rhode Island, on July 15, 1853, in which he provides news about his business and health.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Melville, George W. T., 1826-1900

Subject Topics

• Rhode Island/Local Interest

Document Types

• Letters (correspondence)

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in chronological order.

Biographical note

David Melville (1773-1856) was born in Newport, Rhode Island, on March 21, 1773. Melville (sometimes spelled Melvill), was an inventor, pewterer, and pioneer of gas lighting in America. Melville was able to manufacture gas light for his house and street by 1805-1806, but it wasn’t until 1853 when gas lighting was used regularly in Newport. He married Patience S. Sherman (1791-1880) on March 4, 1812, and had six children: Elizabeth (1813-1893), Mary (1818-1838), Benjamin (1823-1890), Henrietta (1815-1885), Sarah (1820-1897), and George (1826-1900). David Melville died on September 3, 1856.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	Access is open to members and researchers at the Redwood Library and Athenaeum.
Use of the materials:	This collection is owned by the Redwood Library and Athenaeum. Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the Special Collections Librarian of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum.
Preferred citation:	David Melville letter, RLC.Ms.525, Redwood Library and Athenaeum.
Contact information:	Redwood Library and Athenaeum 50 Bellevue Avenue Newport, RI 02840 Tel: (401) 847-0292 Fax: (401) 841-5680 email: redwood@redwoodlibrary.org

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	Gift of Mrs. Josephine Melville Goddard in memory of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George W. T. Melville, 1955 June 29.
Processing information:	This collection was initially processed by Aimee Saunders in 2010.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Delmage.
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by Elizabeth Delmage 2013 September 20
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)
Sponsor:	Funding for processing and cataloging this collection was provided by the van Beuren Charitable Foundation.

Additional Information

Bibliography:

Tilley, Edith May. “David Melville and his early experiments with gas in Newport,” Bulletin of the Newport Historical Society 60 (1927): 1-17.

Inventory

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Manuscripts Box 1

Letter to George Melville

1853 Jul 15