William Carey Poland was born on January 25, 1846, in Grasmere, New Hampshire, to James and Sarah (Ayer) Poland. He began his nearly lifelong association with Brown University as an undergrad, earning both his A.B. (Phi Beta Kappa) and M.A. degrees before embarking on a long career as an educator and administrator. He taught Greek and Latin at Brown until 1892, when he turned his attention to Art History, holding a professorship in that field until his retirement in 1915. Among his administrative positions were the directorship of the American School of Classical Studies in Athens in 1891/1892 and the presidency of the Rhode Island School of Design from 1896 to 1907. He earned an honorary Litt. D. degree from Brown in 1904.
He married Clara Frances Harkness, daughter of Brown Classics professor Albert Harkness, in 1882, and they raised three sons, William, Albert and Reginald. According to the National Cyclopedia of American Biography, Poland "maintained a liberal mind, championed no epoch or school, but found interest and quality in the most diverse methods and points of view. He was quick to understand even if he did not always endorse the unconventional" (v. 22, p. 356). William Carey Poland died in Providence, Rhode Island, on March 19, 1929. After Poland's death, his family donated the "William Carey Poland Collection," a lending library of reproductions of significant art works, which students could rent to hang in their dormitory rooms.
For more information on William Carey Poland, please see his entry in Martha Mitchell's Encyclopedia Brunoniana -
There are no restrictions on access.
Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
William Carey Poland diaries and photographs, Ms. 2008.007, Brown University Library.
The William Carey Poland diaries and photographs are a small collection of personal datebooks, diaries and photographs belonging to the late professor of classics and art history at Brown University. Six of the datebooks are in Poland’s hand. Their content ranges from appointments and class schedules to a detailed account of his 1875 excursion to Europe.
Two datebooks are in Clara Poland’s hand and contain short, sporadic entries about the daily events of 1907 and 1909, including the death of her father, Albert Harkness, a professor of classics at Brown University. The 1903 pocket diary is inscribed: “Albert’s diary / Written by Wm. Poland Bro.”, and is in a child’s hand.
Most of the 24 photographs are of Poland family members. 3 of the photographs were taken of Prof. Poland at an archeaological site.
This collection is arranged into the following series:
The William Carey Poland diaries and photographs were purchased by Brown University in 2007.
Brown University Library catalog record for this collection:
RESOURCES AT BROWN:
Researchers seeking materials written by William Carey Poland may search the Brown University Library catalog (Josiah) via this link:
RELATED COLLECTION:
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
For additional biographical information on William Cary Poland, see Martha Mitchell's Encyclopedia Brunoniana:
Pocket diary with entries for June onward made during a European trip.
Appointment book containing mostly class schedules, assignments and citations.
Small diary containing remarks about the weather and daily activities.
Small diary, mostly unfilled, containing remarks about the weather and daily activities.
In a child's hand: "Albert’s diary, written by Wm. Poland Bro."
Small diary in Clara Harkness Poland's hand.
Small diary in Clara Harkness Poland's hand.
Small leatherbound journal.
A paper read before the Rhode Island Historical Society, April 4, 1904 reprinted from the Proceedings of the Historical Society.