Guide to the George C. Mason letters, 1876-1888
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: | George C. Mason letters |
| Date range: | 1876-1888 |
| Creator: | Mason, George C. (George Champlin), 1820-1894 |
| Extent: | 0.01 linear feet (1 folder) |
| Abstract: | This collection consists of letters written by George C. Mason (1820-1894) regarding the selling of his books, Newport and its cottages, and The old house altered. |
| Language of materials: | English |
| Repository: | Redwood Library and Athenaeum |
| Collection number: | RLC.Ms.544 |
Scope & content
This collection consists of four letters written by George C. Mason to Sidney S. Rider, a bookseller in Providence, Rhode Island, and G. P. Putnam and Son, a major book publisher in New York City. These letters generally concern the selling of Mason’s books, Newport and its cottages (published in 1875) and The old house altered (published by G. P. Putnam and Son in 1878).The October 17, 1876 letter to Sidney S. Rider is a photocopy, the whereabouts of the original letter is unknown.
Access Points
Subject Names Subject Organizations Subject Topics Subject Topics Document TypesArrangement
This collection is arranged in chronological order.
Biographical note
George Champlin Mason (1820-1894) was born into a prominent family in Newport, Rhode Island, on July 17, 1820. Following his education in Newport, Mason worked at a dry goods establishment in New York City from 1835 to 1841, leaving on account of ill health. From 1844 through 1846, Mason studied art in Paris, Rome, and Florence, and upon his return to the United States he dedicated himself to landscape painting of architectural subjects in Newport. On August 10, 1848, Mason married Frances Elizabeth Dean and in August 1849, they had their son, George C. Mason, Jr. (1849-1924). After 1858, Mason began to study architecture and established a successful architectural firm in Newport. In 1871, his took his son into partnership and renamed his firm, George C. Mason and Son, which remained in operation until his death in 1894. During Mason’s architectural career, one hundred fifty houses were erected by his firm in Newport, but he also worked throughout the Northeast.Throughout his career, Mason also found the time to author books and newspaper articles. In 1851, he became the editor and part proprietor of the Newport Mercury and in 1854, he began to write letters on general subjects for the Providence Daily Journal and continued to do so until his death. Mason was also a correspondent for the New York Evening Post starting in 1876. Mason wrote and published a number of historical and art works, mostly regarding Newport and its architecture and landscapes. In addition, Mason was influential in the establishment of the Newport Historical Society and the Newport Hospital. He was also involved with the Redwood Library, the Rhode Island Historical Society, the Rhode Island State Society of Cincinnati, and the Newport Sanitary Protection Association. George C. Mason died on January 30, 1894, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was buried in the Island Cemetery of Newport.
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: | George C. Mason letters, RLC.Ms.544, 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 Frances Hubbert. |
| 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 October 23 |
| 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
| Related material: |
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| Bibliography: |
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Inventory
| Manuscripts Box 1 | Letter to Sidney S. Rider (photocopy) |
1876 Oct 17 |
| Letter to George P. Putnam and Sons |
1878 Nov 20 |
| Letter to Sidney S. Rider |
1885 Jul 9 |
| Letter to Sidney S. Rider |
1888 Jan 10 |