US-RUn-rcg114 Watson House Committee 1962-2002 (bulk 1960-1980) Finding aid prepared by Sarina Rodrigues. University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections 2003
15 Lippitt RoadKingston, RI 02881-2011Tel: 401-874-4632email: archives@etal.uri.eduWebsite: https://web.uri.edu/specialcollections/
 Finding aid encoded by Sarina Rodrigues 2003, updated by Erin C. Mullen on 2014 March 27, updated by Mark Dionne on 2020 April 20. English Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) English University Archives and Special Collections
15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 Tel: 401-874-4632 email: archives@etal.uri.edu
 Watson House Committee Watson House Committee 1962-2002 (bulk 1960-1980) Watson House Committee 4 box(es) (1.75 linear feet) The records in this group comprise documents relating to the activity of the Watson House Restoration Committee, Watson House Committee as well as its predecessor, the Furnishings Sub-Committee of the Watson House Restoration Committee. Included are minutes of the Committee and its subcommittees, budgets, correspondence of the committee chairs, members, and the Watson House caretakers. There are maintenance records, extensive inventories of the furnishings in the house as well as documents relating to the various activities that have taken place over the course of the committee's supervisory function of the Watson House. Rec. Gr. 114 Historical note

In 1888 the State of Rhode Island purchased the 140 acre Oliver Watson farm in Kingston Rhode Island for $5,000 to establish an agricultural school in Rhode Island. The farm house built circa 1790 remains in its original location and is the oldest structure on the campus. Over the life of the house, it has served as the farm manager's residence, a fraternity house, a dormitory, a tea room and finally as nursery school.

In 1958 when the new Childhood Development Center was built, the last occupants of Watson House vacated the building. Watson House was left abandoned and by the 1960's it was in dire need of extensive repairs. In 1962 the University administration grappled with what to do with the deteriorating building. The prospects of making expenditures for little return did not appeal to the administration. The then University President Francis Horn and the Board of Trustees proposed razing the building or selling it to a developer who would move the building from its original site. A grass roots effort was mounted by President Emeritus Carl Woodward to stay the wrecking ball and keep Watson House right where it was. The Board of Trustees pledged to support a restoration effort if $20, 000 could be raised. Woodward prevailed and the funds were raised. President Horn established the Watson House Restoration Committee with Frederick L. Jackson as chairman to oversee the restoration project. The Watson House restoration was completed by July, 1964 and on July 14, 1964 President Horn dissolved the Restoration Committee. The Furnishings Sub-Committee was continued as a permanent committee and renamed the Watson House Committee. Dr. William D. Metz was appointed chairman. The newly restored Watson House was formally opened on October 11, 1964.

Activity at Watson House has been sporadic over the years. The Committee was inactive in the decade after the tenure of Franziska Noring (Chair, 1980-1990). Watson House continues to serve as a museum and houses a student caretaker who is responsible for providing tours. The house remains under the purview of the Watson House Committee. The upkeep and maintenance is supported by the University and with the help of volunteers. Expenses are supported by a small budget from the College of Arts and Sciences.

Collection Information Arrangement

The collection is arranged into one series as follows: 1. Subject Series

Chairs of the Watson House William D. Metz (1964-1977) Virginia Carpenter (1978-1979) Franziska E. Noring (1980-1990) Irving K. Taylor (1991-present)

Any qualified person doing scholarly research is permitted to use material housed in the Special Collections Unit.

Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.

 Preferred Citation

Watson House Committee, Rec. Gr. 114, University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections.

 Scope and Content Note

The records in this group comprise documents relating to the activity of the Watson House Restoration Committee, Watson House Committee as well as its predecessor, the Furnishings Sub-Committee of the Watson House Restoration Committee. Included are minutes of the Committee and its subcommittees, budgets, correspondence of the committee chairs, members, and the Watson House caretakers. There are maintenance records, extensive inventories of the furnishings in the house as well as documents relating to the various activities that have taken place over the course of the committee's supervisory function of the Watson House. While the dates of the records are 1962- 2002, inclusive, the bulk of the records date in the 60's and 70's when the committee was most active. The records were kept in the second floor office of the Watson House and were transferred to Special Collections in November 2002 by the current Chairman, Irving Taylor. The records are in good condition and are available for research. Records relating to the restoration of the Watson House can also be found in the personal (MSG#1) and Presidential papers (RG#1) of Carl Woodward.

 Administrative Information Acquisitions Information

Documents were transferred to the University Special Collections by Sandy Taylor in November 2002.

 Names

Subjects

RIAMCO Browsing Terms Rhode Island/Local Interest Inventory Series 1 1-4 1-72 Subject Series1962-2002

This record group is comprised of documents relating to the activity of the Watson Committee and its predecessor, the Watson House Restoration Committee. The records comprise minutes of the committee and its subcommittees, budgets, correspondence of the committee chairs, members, and the Watson House caretakers. There are extensive inventories of the furnishings of the house as well as documents relating to the various activities that have taken place over the course of the committee's supervisory function of the Watson House. The records were kept in the second floor office of the Watson House and were transferred to Special Collections in November 2002 by the current Chairman, Irving Taylor. The records are in good condition.

1 1 1972,1977, 1979-1990 Annual Reports 1 2 1975 Archeological Investigation 1 3 1966,1976-1978 Budget, Establishment 1 4 1990 Budget, Expenditures Book 1 5 1964-1965 Budget, Expenses 1 6 1976, 1978-1983, 1985, 1990 Budget, Expenses 1 7 1980-1987, 1990 Budget, Operating 1 8 1963-1964 Classical Agricultural School, Correspondence; Louisa White and Carl Woodward 1 9 1964-1990 Committee, Appointment Letters/list 1 10 1964 Committee, Establishment of Duties 1 11 1964-1993, scattered dates Committee, Meetings, Minutes, Notes, Notices 1 12 1976 Cusack Memorial 1 13 1976 Cusack Memorial - Slides of Memorial Dedication 1 14 1963-1964 Donors, Watson House Restoration Fund 1 15 1963-1966, 1968 Furnishings, Acknowledgements 1 16 1986, 1989 Furnishings, Caretaker 1 17 undated Furnishings, Interior Descriptions 1 18 1976, 1986, undated Furnishings: Light Fixtures and misc. 1 19 1963-1964 Furnishings, Sub-Committee 1 20 1964, undated Furnishings, Suggestion List 1 21 1964, 1975, undated Furnishing: Textiles 1 22 undated Friends of the Watson House Steering Committee 1 23 1975-1987 Guest Book 1 24 1987-2002 Guest Book 2 25 1992 Historic Preservation Bond Issue 2 26 undated History, Watson House 2 27 1964-1979 Insurance 2 28 1976-1990 Insurance: Appraisal 2 29 1964, 1965, undated Inventory Cards 2 29a 1965, 1978 Inventory Cards: Textiles 2 30 1989, undated Inventories 2 31 (1986?) Landscaping Colonial Garden (Joyce J. Wallace?) 2 32 1965, 1978-1979, undated Loans 2 33 1974-1975, undated Maintenance: Chimney 2 34 1964,1985-1987, undated Maintenance: Landscape 2 35 1964-1981, 1987, scattered dates Maintenance / Repairs 2 36 1983-1988 Maintenance / Repairs Requests 2 37 1964,1977, 1990 Management 2 38 1969-1970,1976-1996 Occupant / Caretaker Applicants, Contracts, Correspondence 2 39 1989, undated Occupant / Caretaker Contract Drafts and Blank 2 40 1984 Occupant / Caretaker Guide:" Care and Maintenance of Watson House" Susannah Worth 2 41 1990, undated Occupant / Caretaker Notes, Misc. 2 42 1984-1986 Occupant / Caretaker Worth, Susannah 2 43 1964 Oct 10-11 Open House, Invitation List, Press Release 3 44 1976 Peckham Plaque 3 45 undated Photographs: Historic Costume 3 46 1974, 1975 Photographs: Mary Whitlock; Kate Edgerton 3 47 undated Photographs: Watson House Exterior, Interior 3 47a 1963 Oct Plan, Watson House 3 48 undated Pot Holder 3 49 undated Publications: Audiovisual Programs For Museums - Conservation Office of Museum Programs, Smithsonian 3 50 undated Publications: Historic Topics, Periods 3 51 1990 Publications: South Kingston School Department Resource Book 3 52 1965-1986 scattered dates Publication: Re Watson House 3 53 1964,1965, 1978, undated Publicity: Advertisement 3 54 1963-1992 Publicity: News clippings 3 55 1962 Dec-1964 Jul Restoration Committee 3 56 1990 Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission 3 57 1965, 1991, undated Safety, Security Vandalism, Theft 3 58 1964, 1969-1971, 1975, 1984 Security / Safety 3 59 undated Sewing Pattern, Wrap Around Dress (?) 3 60 1980-1981 Sign Bond 3 61 1964, 1965-1968, 1970 Space Allocations Committee 3 62 1986 Sweet Pillow 3 63 1982 Textiles:" Eighteenth Century New England Window and Wall Treatments" Diane L. Erdmann 3 64 1977, undated Textiles and Weaving Pamphlets and Reprints 3 65 1977 Tour Guide 3 66 1979,1984, undated Tours / Use, Children's 3 67 1965, 1969, 1972, 1977-1980, 1983, 1984,1987, 1989 Tours / Use 3 68 1963-1964 Use Committee 3 69 1976 Use: A Proposed Program for the Watson House Museum: Summer 1976 Mary Keane 3 70 1984 Nov 14 Winterthur Museum: Windsor Chairs 3 71 1968-1991, scattered dates Miscellaneous Correspondence 3 72 undated Miscellaneous notes, flyers 4 1964 Inventory Cards