John Hutchins Cady (1881-1967) was an architect, architectural historian, preservationist and urban planner. He was the youngest son of John Hamlin Cady of Providence. He graduated from Brown University in 1903 and from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1906. Before opening his own architectural firm in 1910, he worked for the Providence firm of Stone, Carpenter and Wilson. He served as the Rhode Island Preservation Officer from 1955-1960 and was a consultant on the Rhode Island State Planning Board Maps. He was an active member of the American Institute of Architects, the Providence City Plan Commission, the Proprietors of Swan Point Cemetery, the National Planning Board, the State Planning Commission and the Providence Housing Association. He was the author of seven books on history of architecture and urban development of Providence and Rhode Island as well as author of numerous articles.
There are no restrictions on access. This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Providence Public Library Special Collections department.
Researchers are requested to cite the collection name and the Providence Public Library in all bibliographic references.
John Hutchins Cady Research Scrapbooks, VM011, Rhode Island Collection, Providence Public Library.
The collection consists of eleven scrapbooks created by John Hutchins Cady. The scrapbooks are organized topically and include photographs, postcards, clippings and Photostats of buildings of architectural interest in Rhode Island with a strong emphasis on the City of Providence.
The collection consists of eleven scrapbooks originally housed in three ring binders. The scrapbooks are organized topically and include photographs, postcards, clippings and photostats of buildings of architectural interest in Rhode Island. Most images are of the building exteriors although certain buildings include interior and landscape shots.
The scrapbooks are arranged topically. Within each topic, organization is primarily alphabetically by location, including in most cases a full street address. One binder contains copies of various historic maps of Rhode Island as well as maps created by John Hutchins Cady. Due to preservation concerns, the pages were removed from the binders and placed in folders.
The collection is broken out into six series, which reflect the titles of the binders:
Acquired after the death of John Hutchins Cady in 1968. Series 6, Old Providence Barns, was a gift of Robert C. Chapin at an unknown date.
In the Providence Special Collections, there are two related collections: VM 002 Collection of Rhode Island Architecture, Historic American Buildings Survey and VM 004 Harold Mason Photograph Collection. The Rhode Island Historical Society has John Hutchins Cady Collection and Cady Family Papers. At Syracuse University Libraries, John Hutchins Cady Papers can be found as well.
This series includes photographs of buildings and location in towns across Rhode Island excluding Providence. It was originally split into three volumes in binders, categorized by town or city. Volume 1 contained A-D, Vol. 2 M-S, and Vol. 3 T-W.
This series includes maps of Rhode Island, mostly reproductions or photostats. It was originally contained in one volume with no discernible organization. A Table of Contents appears in the front of folder 14.
This series includes photographs of buildings in Providence, RI. It was originally split into three volumes in binders, categorized by street. Volume 1 contained streets A-D, Vol. 2 E-P and Vol 3. R-Z
This series includes photographs of buildings in Providence that were built from the Colonial through the Early Republican period. It was originally housed in two binders as two volumes. Vol. 1 contained streets starting A-O, and vol. 2 contained streets P-W.
This series includes primarily street scenes and landscape views of Providence. It was originally housed in one binder.
This series includes a study of and photographs of barns and carriage houses in Providence. It was originally housed in one binder.