Rev. Dr. Roderick Terry, Sr. (1849-1933) was born on April 1, 1849, in Brooklyn, New York, the son of John T. and Elizabeth R. (Peet) Terry. He earned a degree from Yale University in 1870, graduated from the Union Theological Seminary in 1875, and was awarded an LL.D. from Princeton University in 1881. Rev. Terry married Lynda Marquand on September 22, 1875, in Newport, Rhode Island, and they had two children: Roderick, Jr. (1876-1951) and Eunice Terry Hale (d. 1919). Rev. Terry served as an ordained Presbyterian minister for twenty-seven years as well as a chaplain for the 12th Infantry of the New York State National Guard from 1890-1900. Following his retirement, Terry took up residence in Newport, where he was active in philanthropist pursuits and various cultural institutions such as the Redwood Library, the Newport Historical Society, the Newport Hospital, and the Newport chapter of the Red Cross. He served as the President of the Board of Directors for the Redwood Library and Athenaeum from 1916-1933 and was instrumental in the restoration of the Harrison Room. Rev. Dr. Terry died on December 28, 1933 in Newport.
Roderick Terry, Jr. (1876-1951), was born in Newport on August 6, 1876, the son of Roderick Terry, Sr. (1849-1933) and Lynda Marquand (d. 1931). He graduated from Yale University in 1898 and after working for a year at Henry Marquand and Company, bankers in New York City, he attended the New York Law School, graduating in 1904. Terry, Jr. worked as a lawyer in New York City until his retirement in 1940 when he returned to Newport and served as president of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum from 1940 to 1948. Roderick Terry, Jr. passed away on June 7, 1951, in Newport and was survived by no immediate relatives.
Rev. Dr. Terry, Sr. was an assiduous collector of books and manuscripts and a major part of his collection was sold after his death (making $270,000 at three sales in 1934 and 1935), but his son did keep several thousand items. Many of the items retained by Terry, Jr., were left to the Library after his death. These letters came to the Redwood Library as part of the bequest of Roderick Terry, Jr.
Access is open to members and researchers at the Redwood Library and Athenaeum.
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.
Roderick Terry, Jr. autograph collection , RLC.Ms.024, Redwood Library and Athenaeum.
This collection contains correspondence, financial accounts, poems, legal documents, notes, lists, and other documents primarily from people prominent in colonial and early United States history including: George Washington, John Hancock, Aaron Burr, Henry Clay, Jonathan Edwards, Ethan Allen, Baron von Steuben, Lord North, Edmund Randolph, and Ezra Stiles. Materials from notable literary figures are also found within this collection including: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Victor Hugo, W. D. Howells, and four of the five Fireside Poets (Oliver Wendell Holmes, William Cullen Bryant, John Greenleaf Whittier and James Russell Lowell). Letters and documents from Rhode Island and Newport residents during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries are also included.
Items of particular note include a letter to Major General Nathanael Greene from R.I. Governor William Greene about the British withdrawal of troops from R.I. in 1789, fleeing Loyalists, and the subsequent seizure of their property; a 1755 census of the number of people living in Rhode Island and they amount of army they kept in their homes; and a 1740 commission from the English royal government for setting the boundaries between Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
This collection is arranged alphabetically by sender. Oversize documents can be found within Box 2.
Gift of Roderick Terry, Jr, September 24, 1951A
Prior to processing in 2009 by Leah Podolsky, this collection was found within the Steel Cabinet Collection: Drawer 7, Folder 8.
Account of wine brought on board the
Letter to Herman and Levi Allen written in regards to a financial transaction.
Letter to John Hancock regarding repatriating troops and war prisoners back to Europe.
Letter to Mr. Reed.
Letter to [Washington Irving.]
Land survey previously attributed to George Washington (Christopher Coover of Christie's said it is not in Washington's hand, 2001 Mar 8.); typed transcript of document; clip indicating that the land survey was written by Washington, yet signed by Baylis; letter to Donald Jackson regarding the validity of this document.
[See also Washington, George.]
"The Drums," poem.
Letter to Rev. Dean Gervais. Includes typed copy.
Letter to Mrs. Roderick Terry.
Certificate of payment for eight wolves killed in Northfield. Signed by Samuel Mattoon, James Lyman, and Aaron Whitney.
Letter to John Durand.
Letter to James Greenleaf.
Letter to B. Bourn Esq. written in regards to congressional representatives and a presidential election.
Letter to Rev. John Calendar.
Letter to Horace Greeley, written in Newport on Bellevue House stationary. This letter is regarding the U.S. purchase of land near Texas and New Mexico as well as concerns of whether or not new land will become Slave Territory.
Letter to Mr. Butterworth.
Letter to Professor Stillman with two of her poems attached.
Letter to the Respective Offices of His Majesty's Ordinance Stores at Quebec regarding order for troops. An image of Gen. Carleton is included in the folder.
Letter signed to unknown.
Letter signed to Mr. Aaron [Burne?].
Receipt signed to Ticknor and Fields.
Letter to Miss Terry, his cousin, Allyn House, regarding a visit. A typed transcription is also included.
Letter to D. W. Gooch. Emerson received a letter for Gooch by mistake and sent it to him.
Letter to Rev. Dr. Sprague in regards to an autograph.
Letter to George D. Canale.
Letter to Messrs. Manners and Miller, Paris.
Letter fragment.
Letter to Isaac Winslow, Newport.
Promissory note.
Letter to Major General Nathanael Greene about the British withdrawal of troops from Rhode Island, fleeing Loyalists, and the subsequent seizure of Loyalist property in Rhode Island.
Letter from Warwick to Newport to Major General Nathanael Greene.
Letter to Thomas Kings.
Letter to G. D. Canch Esq.
Letter to G. D. Canch Esq.
Letter to John Avery Collins of Newport, in regards to coffee shipments and other business in Newport. Also includes an undated engraving of Hancock.
Certificate signed by John Hartford and Thomas Powell in London granting Power of Attorney to Henry Marchant; witnessed by Abraham Ogier, Moses Pitt, and William Cornafleau. Also includes an Act of Substitution, signed by Henry Marchant of Newport and witnessed by Henry Ward, Joseph Borden, and Edward Wanton.
Letter to E. P. Roe.
Letter fragment.
Letter sent to Newport for William R. Prince.
Letter to Madam.
Poem.
Deed to John Andres. Also included is an undated engraving of Hopkins.
Letter to James Sullivan.
"Midway," poem.
Manuscript draft of "Un Mot sure John Brown," with a presentation inscription to M. Marquand by Hugo. This document is in French.
Note sent to Downing St. stating that Mr. Huskinson would not be able to wait upon the Lord Mayor at dinner that day.
Letter to Bartholomew Poirsou.
Copy of a letter from Albany, NY, signed to Stephen Hopkins asking for troops to assist him against the French. This contemporary copy was delivered to Abraham Redwood.
Typed letter to Roderick Terry, Sr. in regards to their Keats manuscript collections.
Letter to Roderick Terry, Sr. in regards to the Keats manuscripts and his sister, Amy Lowell's, death.
Letter to L. Clark David Esq.
Letter to John Derby sending payment for the payment of two miniatures. Print of Malbone's portrait. Typed letter from William Arthur Dupee to Richard Champlin of the Redwood Library in regards to the "Derby Miniatures."
Letter to Reverend.
Letter.
Letter from Bushy Park, England, to Lieut. Gov. Clarke (Jamaica).
Letter.
"A Knot of Blue," poem.
Letter to Mrs. Willard.
Letter to Lizzie [Elizabeth Wormeley?].
Letter Henry W. Longfellow.
Letter to John Elliot and includes a reply from Thomas Staples.
Copy of a letter from George Washington to General Lee, Headquarters Cambridge. (Copied by Edmund Randolph, his aide de camp.)
Copy of a letter from George Washington to Lord Alexander Stirling, commander of forces at New York, Headquarters Cambridge. (Copied by Edmund Randolph, his aide de camp.)
Account of the People in the Colony of Rhode Island - Whites and Blacks, together with the Quantity of Arms and Ammunitions In the Hands of Private Persons.
Commission for settling the eastern boundaries of the colony of Rhode Island towards the province of the Massachusetts Bay.
Letter to F. Corbin.
Bond monies signed by John Rogers and David Sweet.
Letter to Mr. Seton.
Letter to John Palmer regarding his work at Palmer's theatre, hoping to receive an advance on his salary.
Note signed on the anniversary of the Battle of Burgoyne in 1777.
Letter to William Travers Jerome.
Letter also signed by John Hinton, addressed to Sir.
Letter to Rev. Solomon Williams.
Letter from Yale College to Lieut. Hingham.
List of "members actually communicating" at Stiles' church.
Letter.
Letter from Headquarters at Providence to Samuel Grey.
Letter to Monsieur Dupertuis, written in French.
"To Teresa," poem.
"The flower of Lincoln Castle," poem.
Poem.
Letter to his brother, James Vernon.
Letter to Mr. Willard regarding the Boundary Commission and General Assembly of Rhode Island. Includes a response by T. Hubbard.
Receipt of payment from Dr. David Stuart.
[See also Baylis, John.]
Letter to John Elderkin Esq.
Poem.
"Garrison of Cape Ann," poem.
Letter.