William Davis Miller Papers (Mss. Gr. 11)

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.