William Davis Miller Papers
University Archives and Special Collections
15 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881-2011
Tel: 401-874-4632
email: archives@etal.uri.edu
Published in 2010
Collection Overview
| Title: |
William Davis Miller Papers |
| Date range: |
1884-1953 |
| Creator: |
Miller, William Davis, 1887-1959 |
| Extent: |
2 box(es)
|
| Abstract: |
These papers focus on the life of William Davis Miller a noted writer, historian of the Narragansett and South Kingston areas, and an active member of the Rhode Island Historical Society in the 1930s. The collection contains some of Miller’s manuscripts, speeches, correspondence, and photographs. |
| Language of materials: |
English |
| Repository: |
University Archives and Special Collections
|
| Collection number: |
Mss. Gr. 11 |
Scope & content
The papers are arranged into three series: Manuscripts, Correspondence, and Miscellaneous. The largest series consists of Miller’s manuscripts including notes, handwritten drafts, and typed copies of his writings and speeches. These date from 1926 to 1041. The second series, Correspondence, includes mainly letters received and is most concentrated in the years 1933-1934 and 1944 but includes letters from 1918 to 1944. The Miscellaneous series includes a few legal and financial papers, printed programs, printed writings of William Davis Miller and others, a manuscript sent to him, newspaper clippings, a pencil sketch, and some photographs.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in three series as follows:
- 1. Manuscripts
- 2. Correspondence
- 3. Miscellaneous
Biographical note
William Davis Miller (1887-1959) was the son of Augustus S. and Mary Lemoine (Davis) Miller. His father was mayor of Providence from 1902-1905. His grandfather on his mother’s side, William Dean Davis, was successful in the woolen business, owning several mills. William Davis Miller graduated from Providence High School and later Brown University in 1909. He also attended Harvard Law School. He married Mary H. Chew before 1929 and she survived him. He enlisted in the Navy in 1918 and was later a Lt. Commander in the U.S. Volunteer Naval Reserve. He had the rank of Commander in Section 6, Volunteer Communications Reserve, First Naval District.
Miller was also known as an historian of Rhode Island, primarily the Narragansett and South Kingston area. He was a member of and/or office holder of several historical organizations. Miller was especially active in the Rhode Island Historical Society, serving as its President from 1932-1934, and later as its Secretary. He served as President of the Providence Athenaeum from 1928 to 1933, and was a trustee of the Brown University Libraries. Papers relating to his activities in the Walpole Society, the Club of Odd Volumes, the Society of Colonial Wars, and the Grolier Club are also present in this collection. Miller wrote several books including
The Silversmiths of Little Rest and
Early Houses in the King’s Province in Narragansett County. Miller also gave several speeches and published many articles in Rhode Island Historical Society publications. Manuscripts of some of his writings are included in these papers.
Access & Use
| Access to the collection: |
Any qualified person doing scholarly research is permitted to use material housed in the Special Collections Unit. |
| Use of the materials: |
Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication. |
| Preferred citation: |
William Davis Miller Papers, Mss. Gr. 11, University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections. |
| Contact information: |
University Archives and Special Collections
15 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881-2011
Tel: 401-874-4632
email: archives@etal.uri.edu
|
Administrative Information
| ABOUT THE COLLECTION |
| Acquisition: |
These papers were given to the University of Rhode Island in 1953 by William Davis Miller. He also gave reprints of some of his writings, most of which have been removed from the this collection and cataloged in the RI Collection. |
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| ABOUT THE FINDING AID |
| Author: |
Finding aid prepared by William C. Maslyn. |
| Encoding: |
Finding aid encoded by Hailie D. Posey
2010 March 16, updated by Mark Dionne on 2020 April 14 |
| Descriptive rules: |
Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) |
Additional Information
Inventory
Inventory
Series 1. Manuscripts
Box 1, Folder 1-24
The manuscript series contains copies of handwritten and typed manuscripts of articles and speeches written by William Davis Miller from 1926 to 1944. Manuscripts with titles which appeared in printed from are arranged alphabetically by title. Untitled manuscripts which were not found in printed from are given subject titles in parentheses. Notes and notebooks are filed in folders labeled “Notes” and are arranged alphabetically. Two one-page fragments are in a folder labeled “Fragments.
Printed copies of his work which were found in the collection in 1974 are in a folder in Series III, Miscellaneous labeled “Printed Writings. Miller, William Davis.” Others may be found in the publications of the Rhode Island Historical Society and through the HELIN Catalog.
Abbreviations used in this series:
AMS: Autograph manuscript (handwritten, one copy)
AMSs: Autograph manuscript (handwritten, multiple draft)
TM(s): Typewritten manuscript(s)
Inc: Incomplete
Cop: Copies
| Box 1, Folder 1 |
|
"Address at the graduation exercises of the Memorial Hospital School of Nursing"
|
|
1938 Jun 8 |
| Box 1, Folder 2 |
|
"Address delivered at the opening of the South County Museum in Wickford"
|
|
1934 Jan 2 |
| Box 1, Folder x-ref |
|
(Biographical Sketches) See: Notes in Notebooks. Biographical sketches.
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 3 |
|
"Biscuit City"
|
|
1933? |
| Box 1, Folder x-ref |
|
"Capture of His Majesty's Ship Siren" See: Series III. Printed writings. Miller, William Davis.
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 4 |
|
"Cat Inspector of South Kingstown"
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 5 |
|
"Early Houses in the King's Province in the Narragansett County. Introduction."
|
|
1941? |
| Box 1, Folder 6 |
|
"Early Houses in the King's Province in the Narragansett County" (specific houses)
|
|
1941? |
| Box 1, Folder 7 |
|
"Enjoyment of local history and legend" (radio speech)
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 8 |
|
(Fragments) "Address to Newcomen Society"
|
|
1937 May 12 |
| Box 1, Folder 9 |
|
(Fragments) "Kingston, from the ice age to colonial times"
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder x-ref |
|
Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, Address to. See "Address at the Graduation…"
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 10 |
|
(Narragansett, dispute with Connecticut, 1660)
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder x-ref |
|
(Newcomen Society, address to.) See: Fragments
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 11 |
|
(Notes. From other sources)
|
|
1929? |
| Box 1, Folder 12 |
|
(Notes. In notebooks. Biographical sketches)
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 13 |
|
(Notes. In notebooks.) "State Papers Colonial" "Notes Re: Perkins, Casey, Waite"
|
|
1928? |
| Box 1, Folder 14 |
|
"Notes and queries concerning the early bounds and divisions of the township of East Greenwich"
|
|
1937? |
| Box 1, Folder 15 |
|
(Revolutionary days in Little Rest)
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 16 |
|
"The Rogues of Little Rest" (untitled fragment about Samuel Casey as a counterfeiter)
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder x-ref |
|
"The Rogues of Little Rest" See also: "Thomas Mount"
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder x-ref |
|
Sewell, Samuel. See: (Notes. In notebooks. Biographical sketches)
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder x-ref |
|
"Silversmiths of Little Rest" See: (Notes. In notebooks.) "Notes re: Perkins, Casey, Waite"
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 17 |
|
"Some Ancient Roads in the Pettaquamscutt Purchase"
|
|
1931? |
| Box 1, Folder 18 |
|
"Some Historical Aspects of the Narragansett Country"
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder x-ref |
|
South County Museum, Address. See: "Address delivered at the opening of…"
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 19 |
|
(Speech at the dedication of a new legislative (?) building)
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 20 |
|
"Talk in East Greenwich (2nd Proof)"
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 21 |
|
"Thomas Mount"
|
|
1927? |
| Box 1, Folder 22 |
|
"Village of Kingston 1826-1833"
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder x-ref |
|
"Walpole Society: A Tribute" See: Series III. Printed Writings. Miller, William Davis.
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 23 |
|
Village of Kingston about 1905-1910
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 24 |
|
"Volumes from book shelves in 1938, Old South County"
|
|
undated |
Series 2. Correspondence
Box 1, Folder 1-3
The correspondence series includes handwritten and typed letters received by William Davis Miller from 1918 to 1944, concentrated in 1933-1934 and 1944 and scattered through the other years. Few responses are included and these are filed under the name of the institution or person to whom they were sent of meant to be sent. All letters are arranged alphabetically by the name of the person or organizations which corresponded with William Davis Miller. Usually, letters sent from a person representing an institution are filed under the name of the institution and vice versa. Letters from officials in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Naval Reserve are filed under “U.S. Navy” or “U.S. Naval Reserve.”
The correspondence deals with historical subjects, family matters, naval duties, and book collecting. The correspondent most represented is William B. Goodwin, who wrote mainly about historical topics. Others include Chauncey Nash, John Hill Morgan, and Colonial Williamsburg (Harold Shurtleff).
| Box 1, Folder 1 |
|
Admiralty, Britain, Librarian
|
|
1933 Nov 2 |
| Box 1, Folder 1 |
|
Antiquarian Book Company, Stratford-on-Avon, Britain
|
|
1924 Apr 28 |
| Box 1, Folder 1 |
|
Bayley, W.W. (?)
|
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1944 May 26? |
| Box 1, Folder 1 |
|
Bird, Harrison Ken. Jr.
|
|
1933? |
| Box 1, Folder 1 |
|
B, GA (Blumer, G. Alder?) of the Providence Athenaeum
|
|
1928 Jan 20 |
| Box 1, Folder 1 |
|
Brown University. John Carter Brown Library
|
|
1944 Jun 23 |
| Box 1, Folder 1 |
|
Colonial Williamsburg, Inc.
|
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1933 |
| Box 1, Folder 1 |
|
Congdon (?), Leon C.
|
|
1935 Mar 20 |
| Box 1, Folder 1 |
|
Crichton & Co., Ltd., Goldsmiths and Silversmiths, New York
|
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1933 Dec 5 |
| Box 1, Folder 1 |
|
Fielding, Mantle
|
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1933 Nov 14 |
| Box 1, Folder 2 |
|
Goodwin, William B. (one item is a copy)
|
|
1933 |
| Box 1, Folder 2 |
|
Industrial Trust Company, Providence
|
|
1924 Apr 15 |
| Box 1, Folder 2 |
|
Irving & Sasson- A.H. Davenport Co. (furniture manufacturer)
|
|
1944 Oct 3 |
| Box 1, Folder x-ref |
|
Isham, Norman Morrison. See: Series III. Pictures.
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 2 |
|
LaFayle (?), Christopher
|
|
1934 Apr 24 |
| Box 1, Folder 2 |
|
Lolly (?), U.S. Navy Yard stationary
|
|
1944 |
| Box 1, Folder 2 |
|
Lowry (?), Bob, First naval District
|
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1944 Sep 4 |
| Box 1, Folder 2 |
|
Luce, A. A., Trinity College, Dublin
|
|
1933 Nov 1 |
| Box 1, Folder 2 |
|
Maggs, Frank B., Maggs Bros., London
|
|
1933 Oct 19 |
| Box 1, Folder 2 |
|
Mary (?)
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 0 |
|
Merrymount Press. See: Updike, D.B.
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 2 |
|
Metropolitan Museum of Art
|
|
1933 Oct 3 |
| Box 1, Folder 2 |
|
Miller, Elizabeth Lemoine Davis (mother). See also: Series III, Miller family.
|
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1930 Nov 24 |
| Box 1, Folder 2 |
|
Miller, Mary Chew (wife)
|
|
1929 |
| Box 1, Folder x-ref |
|
Miller, William Davis, Letters sent. See: U.S. Naval Reserve. Wilbour, Mr.
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 2 |
|
Morgan, John Hill. See also: Series III. Miller family.
|
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1933 Dec 7 |
| Box 1, Folder 3 |
|
Nash, Chauncey (?) C.
|
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1933 |
| Box 1, Folder 3 |
|
Nolton, C.K.
|
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1934 Aug 28 |
| Box 1, Folder 3 |
|
Providence Athenaeum
|
|
1933 Nov 1 |
| Box 1, Folder 3 |
|
Rhode Island Historical Society. See: Series I. Notes.
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 3 |
|
Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art
|
|
1944 Sep 6 |
| Box 1, Folder x-ref |
|
Shurtleff, Harold R. See: Colonial Williamsburg
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder x-ref |
|
Skelton, E. See: Antiquarian Book Company.
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder x-ref |
|
Smith, D.B. See: Admiralty, Britain, Library
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder x-ref |
|
Taylor, W.D. See: Series III. Manuscript writings of others
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 3 |
|
Updike, D. B., Merrymount Press
|
|
1934 Sep 6 |
| Box 1, Folder 3 |
|
U.S. Naval Reserve. First Naval District
|
|
1938, 1941 |
| Box 1, Folder 3 |
|
U.S. Navy (copy)
|
|
1918 Nov 12 |
| Box 1, Folder 3 |
|
Wickham, J.C., Colonel in the British Army
|
|
1933 Dec 1 |
| Box 1, Folder 3 |
|
Wilbour, Mr. (to be sent to)
|
|
undated |
| Box 1, Folder 3 |
|
William H, Robinson, Ltd., Dealers in Rare and Fine Books
|
|
1933 Jan 14 |
| Box 1, Folder 3 |
|
Woolsey, John
|
|
1933 Nov 17 |
| Box 1, Folder x-ref |
|
Wroth, Lawrence B. See: Brown University. John Carter Brown Library
|
|
undated |
Series 3. Miscellaneous
Box 2, Folder 1-13
This series contains items other than manuscripts, manuscripts notes, or letter sent to William Davis Miller. These items include financial and legal papers, letters sent to his mother (Miller family folder), a manuscript sent to him, printed copies of his own works and works of others, newspaper clipping, photographs, and programs of meetings. The dates begin in the 1800s with the newspaper clippings. Folders are arranged alphabetically by title.
| Box 2, Folder 1 |
|
Financial: bank accounts, receipts, bond
|
|
1949, 1921, 1934, 1949 |
| Box 2, Folder 2 |
|
Legal documents
|
|
1924, 1925, 1933 |
| Box 2, Folder 3 |
|
Manuscript writings of others: Taylor, W.D. "Memorys" pages 1-63
|
|
undated |
| Box 2, Folder 4 |
|
Taylor, W.D. "Memorys" pages 64-finish.
|
|
undated |
| Box 2, Folder 5 |
|
Miller family (see folder for more info)
|
|
1922, undated |
| Box 2, Folder 6 |
|
Newspaper clippings
|
|
1884, 1893, undated |
| Box 2, Folder 7 |
|
Newspaper clippings, Kingston, State Agricultural College
|
|
1889? |
| Box 2, Folder 8 |
|
Newspaper clippings, obituaries (see folder for names)
|
|
1922, 1903? |
| Box 2, Folder 9 |
|
Newspaper clippings, Misc.
|
|
1944 |
| Box 2, Folder 10 |
|
Pictures (see folder for more info)
|
|
1921, undated |
| Box 2, Folder 11 |
|
Printed writings. Miller, W.D. "The Capture of His Majesty's Ship Syren," "The Walpole Society: A Tribute"
|
|
1923, 1940 |
| Box 2, Folder 12 |
|
Printed writings of others (see folder for more info)
|
|
1936, 1934 |
| Box 2, Folder 13 |
|
Programs
|
|
1909, 1940-1941, 1951-1953, 1930 |