Alva Woods was born in Shoreham, Vermont, on August 13, 1794. He was the son of Abel Woods, a Baptist minister, and Mary (Smith) Woods. He graduated from Harvard College in 1817 and from the Andover Theological Seminary in Andover, Massachusetts in 1821. After his ordination in October of that year Woods accepted a professorship at Colombian College, which is now a part of George Washington University in Washington. D.C.
In 1823, Woods married Almira Marshall (1804-1863). They had two children: Marshall Woods (1824-1899) and Priscilla M. Woods (1826-1827). In 1824 he accepted a professorship of natural philosophy and mathematics at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. After the resignation of President Asa Messer he served as president
Woods left Brown that year to become the fourth president of Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. In 1831 he was appointed the first president of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. While there, Woods helped to found the Alabama Female Athenaeum, whose purpose was to train women to become teachers. In 1884, the first building built on the campus of the University of Alabama after the Civil War was named Alva Woods Hall in honor of its first president.
Woods and his family returned to Providence in 1837, where he managed his business affairs and real estate holdings. He served as a Trustee of Brown University from 1843 to 1859 and as a member of the Board of Fellows from 1859 to 1887. He helped to establish scholarships not only at Brown but also at the Newton Theological Institution and the Worcester Academy in Massachusetts. Alva Woods passed away in Providence on September 6, 1887.
Marshall Woods was born in Boston, Massachusetts on November 28, 1824. He graduated from Brown University in 1845 and from the University of New York Medical School in 1848. The ties between the Woods family and the Brown family of Providence began when Marshall married Anne Brown Francis (1828-1896) in 1848. Anne was the daughter of Ann Carter Brown Francis (1794-1828) and John Brown Francis (1791-1864). Marshall and Anne had two children: Abby Francis Woods (1849-1895) and John Carter Brown Woods (1851-1930). Instead of opening a medical practice, Marshall Woods devoted his time to business and the study of art and literature. He was a director of the Providence National Bank and served as a United States commissioner from Rhode Island to the Paris Exposition in 1855. He was very active in the governance of Brown University, serving as its Treasurer from 1866 to 1882 and as a Trustee from 1858 to 1899. In 1871 Marshall Woods established an endowment of three thousand dollars for a series of lectures on the fine arts and their application to the mechanical arts. However, the lectures did not actually begin until 1919. Marshall Woods passed away in London, England on July 13, 1899.
John Carter Brown Woods (J.C.B. Woods) was born on June 12, 1851 in Providence, Rhode Island. He graduated from Brown University in 1872 and from Harvard Law School in 1874. He was active in Republican politics, serving in both the Rhode Island House of Representatives (1881-1887) and in the Rhode Island State Senate (1891, 1894-1897) . In addition to practicing law, Woods served on the boards of numerous organizations, both public and private. Among them were the State Board of Charities and Corrections ; the Institute for the Deaf of Rhode Island; the corporations of Rhode Island Hospital, Butler Hospital and the Providence Lying-in Hospital (now called Women and Infants Hospital); and the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He was one of the founders of the Hope Club and served as its president from 1892 to 1898. Like his father and grandfather, J.C.B. Woods was active in the governance of Brown University. He served on many university committees and was a Trustee from 1884 until his death in 1930. Woods was the author of the pamphlet entitled John Carter of Providence, Rhode Island…and his Descendants, which is in the Alva Woods papers. J.C.B. Woods never married. He passed away in Providence in 1930.
Many members of the Brown family are represented in the Alva Woods papers. John Browne (1662-1719) was commissioned an Ensign in the Providence militia by King William III of England. John Brown (1736-1803) was a wealthy Providence merchant and the brother of Nicholas Brown (1729-1791), also a merchant, and Moses Brown (1738-1836), who became a Quaker and an abolitionist. Nicholas Brown’s son Nicholas (1769-1841) married Ann Carter (1770-1798) in 1791. They had four children: Nicholas Brown, Jr. (1792-1859), Ann Carter Brown (1794-1828), John Carter Brown (1797-1874) and Moses Brown (1793-1794). After the death of his wife Ann, Nicholas married Mary Bowne Steele (1769-1836) in 1801.
Nicholas Brown, Jr. married his cousin Abby Mason (1800-1820) in 1820. After her death he married Caroline Matilda Cements (1809-1879) in 1831. They had five children. The eldest, Alfred Nicholas Brown (1832-1864) married Anne Mauran in 1857. Of their three children only Nicholas Brown (1862-1891) lived to adulthood.
In 1822 Ann Carter Brown (1794-1828) married John Brown Francis (1791-1864). Francis was the Governor of Rhode Island from 1833 to 1838 and a United States Senator from 1844 to 1845. They had three children: Abby (1823-1841), John (1825-1826) and Anne Brown Francis, who married Marshall Woods in 1848.
The Alva Woods papers contain a variety of material, chiefly correspondence belonging to members of the Woods and Brown families; documents, publications, writings and photographs. The material is dated between 1657 and 2011. Most is dated between 1812 and 1918.
Series 1. Correspondence includes letters to and from members of the Woods and Brown families as well as two letters from the poet John Greenleaf Whittier. Most of the letters concern family matters and were written between 1802 and 1918. This series has been divided into three subseries: Subseries A. Woods family, Subseries B. Brown family and Subseries C. Other. It is not clear whether or not the writers or recipients of the letters in Subseries C. were members of the Woods or Brown families. Some of the correspondence includes a typed transcript.
Series 2. Architectural drawings consists of six sheets of plans for the Trinity Building in New York City which was designed by Richard Upjohn and Son. Upjohn designed several buildings in Rhode Island, including Grace Episcopal Church in Providence and the Edward King house in Newport. The drawings are dated 1864 Jun 1.
Series 3. Documents has been divided into three subseries. Subseries A. Real estate contains two original deeds as well as several copies of deeds and other material related to the ownership of property. Most of the deeds are for land purchased by Alva Woods when he was living in Alabama. The deeds are dated from 1657 to 1925. Subseries B. Wills and estates includes copies of the wills of John Carter Brown (1797-1894) and Nicholas Brown (1769-1841) as well as a court opinion regarding Nicholas Brown’s estate. The material in this subseries is dated between 1791 and 1867. Subseries C. Other includes a variety of other documents, including a marriage certificate, Alva Woods’ diploma from Harvard University, a stock certificate, and a document from King William III of England commissioning John Browne (1662-1719) an Ensign in the Providence militia. The material in this subseries is dated between 1697 and 1876. Some of the documents in this series include a typed transcript.
Series 4. Ephemera includes menus, mailing labels, a Brown University commencement program from 1872 (the year J.C.B. Woods graduated from Brown), and tickets to the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson in April 1868. This material is dated from 1868 to 1881.
Series 5. Maps contains one map entitled Plan Detaille de la Rochelle et de ses Environs, dated 1844.
Series 6. Newspaper clippings contains photocopies of the clippings found in the Alva Woods papers. The originals were in fragile condition and were discarded after the photocopies were created. Most of the clippings appear to be from newspapers in Rhode Island or Massachusetts and concern the Brown family in Providence. They are dated from 1860 to 1907.
Series 7. Publications includes almanacs from Rhode Island and New England; one book of engravings from the Gemaldegalerie in Dresden, Germany; one broadside, newspapers, journals and pamphlets. One pamphlet, by N. Fragoumes, is written in Greek and English. Other material in this series is in German or French. Many of the newspapers were published by religious organizations. This material is dated from 1771 to 1918.
Series 8. Recipes contains several handwritten recipes, which are not signed or dated. They include a remedy for lockjaw as well as recipes for cakes and calves foot jelly.
Series 9. Writings contains handwritten notes, a booklet of poems by Maunsell B. Field, and writings by Alva Woods. None of the notes is signed and few are dated. Many concern religious topics. The booklet of poems by Maunsell B. Field is the original manuscript version of his published work
Series 10. Photographs contains loose photographs that were found among other material in the papers. The original owners are not known. Most of the identified photographs are not dated and are of various European sculptures such as the Venus de Milo. Two are of children. The only dated photograph is from 1871.
There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
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.
Alva Woods papers, Ms. 2011.017, Brown University Library.
The collection is housed in four boxes. Boxes 1 and 2 are letter-size Hollinger document cases. Box 3 is a legal-size Hollinger document case and contains material from Series 3. Documents, Series.7 Publications, Series 8. Recipes, Series 9. Writings and Series 10. Photographs. Box 4xxx is a triple oversize box and contains material from Series 2. Architectural drawings, Series 3. Documents and Series 7. Publications.
Deposited by Prof. Lewis Chase in 1932.
No further materials are anticipated for this collection.
Most of the letters in this series are to or from members of the Woods and Brown families. In some cases the name of the recipient or writer of a letter is not known. Some of the letters include typed transcripts. The correspondence in each subseries is arranged alphabetically by the name of the Woods or Brown family member who either received or wrote the letter, and then by date.
Most of the letters concern family, business or professional matters. The letter to Alva Woods from Rev. E.B. Teague in 1869 discusses conditions in the south after the Civil War. The letter from John Brown (1736-1803) to Jacob Whitman, Sr. is about a business transaction. The letter from Nicholas Brown (1792-1859) to Ambassador de Cascelles is the first draft of a letter concerning the bombardment of Rome by French forces, written when Nicholas Brown was the United States Consul to Italy.
One letter is enclosed with the pamphlet entitled
The letters in this subseries are primarily to or from Alva Woods, his son Marshall Woods or his grandson John Carter Brown Woods. The subseries includes copies of letters of recommendation written for Alva Woods when he was being considered for the presidencies of Transylvania University and the University of Alabama, as well as a letter from the poet John Greenleaf Whittier about Whittier’s becoming a Trustee of Brown University.
This subseries contains letters to and from members of the Brown family. Almost all concern family matters. The letters from John Brown Francis to Dr. Boyd and another physician concern the health of his daughter Abby (1823-1841).
It is not known if any of the writers or recipients of the letters in this subseries are members of the Brown or Woods families. The letter from John Greenleaf Whittier concerns whether or not he would accept a Trusteeship at Brown University.
This series consists of six sheets of plans for the Trinity Building at 111 Broadway in New York City. The building was designed by the firm of Richard Upjohn and Son. Upjohn was best known for his Gothic Revival churches, among them Trinity Church in New York City, which was located next to the Trinity Building. Upjohn designed several buildings in Rhode Island, including Grace Episcopal Church in Providence and the Edward King house in Newport.
The documents in these papers have been organized into three subseries, each arranged by date. Subseries A. Real Estate contains deeds and other material related to the ownership of property. Most of the deeds are for land purchased by Alva Woods in Alabama. Subseries B. Wills and estates includes copies of the wills of Nicholas Brown (1769-1841) and John Carter Brown (1797-1874) as well as a court opinion concerning a dispute about the estate of Nicholas Brown (1769-1841). Subseries C. Other contains a variety of documents, including the marriage certificate of Nicholas Brown (1792-1859) and Caroline Matilda Clements (1809-1879) and Alva Woods’ Bachelor of Arts diploma from Harvard University.
Some of the documents include typed transcripts.
This subseries contains two original deeds. The deed for land purchased by James Northfolke in England is written on vellum. The deed for land purchased by the Baptist Charitable Society is in several pieces which have been placed in a mylar sleeve. Other related material includes a surveyor’s report on land purchased by Alva Woods in Alabama; a document describing Woods’ home in Warwick Neck, R.I.; and an assessment of the value of real estate owned by Woods and his wife Almira.
The first item in this subseries is the inventory of the estate of Nicholas Brown (1729-1841), which is handwritten on a piece of paper approximately four inches by two inches. The fragment appears to be a receipt. A typed transcript of these two items is included in the folder. Both wills in this subseries are copies of the originals.
The documents in this subseries include marriage, stock, and membership certificates; Alva Woods’ diploma from Harvard University; and a document commissioning John Browne (1662-1719) an Ensign in the Providence militia. The gravestone inscription for Ann Carter Brown Francis is printed on one page and is not dated.
This series includes three tickets to the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, dated April 1, 6 and 10, 1868. They are accompanied by a calling card for “Mr. Anthony, Rhode Island” on which is written a note asking that “these ladies” be admitted to the Senate chamber. The note may have been written by Henry B. Anthony, who was a Republican Senator from Rhode Island from 1859 to 1884.
This series also contains two menus, one of which is written in French; mailing labels addressed to Marshall Woods, Esq. from a company in London, England; and a program for the Brown University Commencement in 1872, the year John Carter Brown Woods graduated from Brown.
There is one map in this series, entitled
The newspaper clippings in this series are photocopies of the originals, which were in fragile condition. Parts of some clippings had crumbled and were missing. Many of the clippings are not dated, and for some the name of the newspaper they are from was missing.
Most of the clippings concern the Brown family in Providence. They include articles about the death of Nicholas Brown (1729-1791) and his grandson Nicholas Brown (1792-1859); a copy of a letter by John Brown (1736-1803) concerning a business matter; a silhouette of Moses Brown, and an article about Brown family memorials in Providence.
Most of the publications in this series are almanacs, journals, newspapers or pamphlets. The pamphlet by N. Dragoumes is written in Greek and English. A letter and a glee club program are enclosed with the pamphlet written by J.C.B. Woods. Pamphlets written by Alva Woods may be found in Series 9. Writings.
The newspapers are dated from 1841 to 1887. Most are published by religious organizations. The list of newspapers originally found in the Alva Woods papers is arranged by place of publication.
This series also includes a book containing photographs from the Gemaldegalerie in Dresden, Germany; a packet of engravings, a pocket diary for 1852 and one broadside.
The publications are arranged alphabetically.
This series contains a small number of handwritten recipes, all undated. Several are written on three pages that have been folded and sewn together with yarn. The others are on a single folded page that appears to have been part of a small notebook. The recipes are for a variety of things, including cakes, calves foot jelly and a remedy for lockjaw. Some include comments (e.g. not very good).
This series contains handwritten notes, a booklet of handwritten poems by Maunsell B. Field, and writings by Alva Woods. None of the handwritten notes are signed, and few are dated. The titles of the notes were taken from the first line on the page. Most are on one page and concern religious topics. The writings by Alva Woods are dated between 1831 and 1878. All but two are handwritten.
The writings are arranged alphabetically.
This series contains loose photographs that were found in with other material in the Alva Woods papers. The original owner of the photographs is not known. Most of them are pictures of various European sculptures, such as the Venus de Milo. Two are pictures of children.