Born in Providence, RI, L. Earle Rowe graduated from Brown University in 1904. While at Brown, Rowe studied drawing and watercolor painting at RISD as part of a new agreement between the two schools. He attended Saturday classes at RISD as a child in 1892. Studying under Professor William C. Poland (RISD President, 1896-1907), Rowe was one of the first Brown students to receive a Master's in Fine Arts (1906).
Rowe studied at the American School of Classical Studies, Athens (1906-1907) before accepting the position of Docent at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in 1907. He became an Assistant in the Egyptian Art Department in 1910 and then traveled to Egypt in 1912 as a Field Assistant on an archaeological expedition. He returned to Providence later that year to accept the position of Director.
Deemed RISD's first "museum man," Director Rowe devoted far greater energies to the Museum of Art than his predecessors serving as Secretary of the Museum Committee and Editor of The Rhode Island School of Design Bulletin, first published January 1913. He inaugurated Sunday Gallery Talks and Docent work. In addition, he wrote for the Bulletin of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Art and Archaeology, and Antiques. He attempted to resign in 1918 in order to serve during World War I. The Board of Trustees did grant a leave of absence, but the Armistice was signed before he could leave.
Rowe's well-being and the stress of his administrative duties led to the appointment of the first full time Dean in 1919. His health declined during the 1920s resulting in a leave of absence in 1928. His return and the resignation of the Dean brought about a profound change in the administrative structure of RISD in 1929. The Board of Trustees voted to divide his administrative duties between two equal positions: the Museum Director and the Educational Director. Rowe continued as Museum Director until his death February 17, 1937. Shortly thereafter, the Museum Director was placed under the administrative control of the newly created position of Executive Vice-President, which replaced the Educational Director.
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L. Earle Rowe papers, Rhode Island School of Design Archives.
The L. Earle Rowe personal papers, 1910-1937, include correspondence (1912-1936), with correspondence regarding Rowe’s hire as Director in 1912, and typed copies of speeches delivered by Rowe. The papers also include personal diaries, 1910-1914 and 1931-1936, as well as books from Rowe’s personal library.
Some contents of this series are in French.
The materials in this collection are arranged in four series:
Series 1, Correspondence of former RISD Museum Director L. Earle Rowe, presented to the Museum of Art in 1980 by his daughter Edith, found in the Rowe summer house in Sorrento, Maine. Series 2-4 were presented to the RISD Archives by granddaughter Anne Rowe in 2022.
The L. Earle Rowe correspondence series largely comprises correspondence, as well as inventories, appraisals, newsclippings, and journal articles which have been created by RISD Museum of Art Director Rowe, agents of museums, galleries and cultural organizations, patrons, artists, vendors, and publishers. Also included are an annual travel expense record (1920/21), a college course outline, "The Appreciation of Fine Arts," prepared by Holmes Smith and approved by the Education Committee of the American Institute of Architects (1924), a publication, "The Betrayal of Andrew Carnegie," by artist Charles Vezin, and a memorial tribute for Eliza G. Radeke, written by Rowe.
The series contains correspondence with Rowe's mother-in-law Edith Talbot Jackson, RISD graduate Nancy Elizabeth Prophet, and artist George William Eggers, who became director of the Worcester Art Museum. Correspondents represent numerous museums including the Brooklyn Museum, the Cleveland Museum of Art, National Gallery of Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
These records are arranged alphabetically by correspondent. Correspondents are generally grouped in "alpha" folders, however several notable correspondents are filed in folders with a personal or corporate name designation. A folder entitled "Miscellaneous Notes" is filed at the end of the arrangement. Within each folder, the contents are arranged alphabetically, with a secondary chronological organization.
Some contents of this series are in French.
The L. Earle Rowe diaries and records series contains biographical information regarding Rowe's career and also includes personal diaries related to his travels abroad.
These records are arranged by subject.
The L. Earle Rowe lectures series mostly comprises typed copies of lectures that Rowe delivered to audiences in the vicinity of Providence, Rhode Island. The series also includes research notes and quotations from various sources.
These records are arranged alphabetically by lecture title or subject.
The L. Earle Rowe personal library series contains copies of published books that belonged to Rowe.
These books are arranged alphabetically by author.