The Nicholas King Collection on David King (1812-1882) includes David King (1812-1882) memorial materials and a photograph as well as correspondence between Nicholas King and Elizabeth "Betty" Morris Smith, with the Preservation Society of Newport County, on the subject of these materials and the King family history.
All researchers seeking to publish materials from the collections of the PSNC Archives and Special Collections are requested to contact the archivist, prior to reproducting, quoting, or otherwise publishing any portion or extract from this collection. Although the Preservation Society has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim copyright ownership. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the copyright and to obtain any necessary permission from them.
The collection is open to the public, and there are no restrictions on access. However, the collection can only be seen by scheduled appointment.
Title of item, PSNCA.H.060: Nicholas King Collection on David King (1812-1882), Box #, Folder #, Preservation Society of Newport County, Newport, R.I.
The collection is arranged into two folders. The David King memorial materials are in one folder and the Nicholas King correspondence about those materials is in another.
Dr. David King (1812-1882), known both as Dr. David King Sr. and Dr. David King Jr. throughout his life was born May 12th, 1812 to the physician Dr. David King (1774-1836) and Ann Gordon (1782-1852). King had four siblings, George Gordon King (1807-1870), Anna Maria King (1810-1843), Edward King (1816-1875) and William Henry King (1818-1897).
King graduated from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1831 and received his M.D. from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1834. In 1837, Dr. David King married Sarah Gibbs Wheaton (1814-1882), the daughter of Reverend Dr. Salmon Wheaton (1782-1844) and Ann Dehon (1782-1855). The couple had seven children, William Dehon King (1837-1870), David King Jr. (1839-1894), Theodore Wheaton King (1841-1862), Sarah King (1843-1932), Mary Jane King (1845-1891), Anna Edith King (1846-1938), and Georgianna King (1848-1930).
After graduating medical school in 1834, Dr. David King returned to Newport to serve as a physician and joined the Rhode Island Medical Society. He would serve as its president from 1848-1849. King served as a consulting physician for the Newport Hospital and Rhode Island Hospital, he was also a member of the Newport Sanitary Protection Society. In 1848, he co-founded the American Medical Association and the Island Cemetery Co. in Newport, Rhode Island. He served as president of the Island Cemetery Co. for thirty-four years. King was also a bibliophile and active member of Newport’s Redwood Library and Athenaeum, he served as its president from 1849 to 1859. King was a founder and president of the Newport Historical Society in 1853. He was also a member of the Rhode Island Historical Society and the Society of the Cincinnati in Rhode Island. From its formation in 1877 until his death, King served as president of the Rhode Island State Board of Health. Dr. David King died in Newport, Rhode Island on March 7th, 1882.
Nicholas King (1924-1992) was the great grandson of Dr. David King’s (1812-1882) brother, Edward King (1816-1875). Nicholas King was the son of Leroy King (1884-1962) and Mary Isabel Lockwood (1901-1985). Leroy King was the son of LeRoy King (1857-1895) and Ethel Ledyard Rhinelander(1857-1925). LeRoy King (1857-1895) was the son of Edward King (1816-1875) and Mary Augusta Leroy (1829-1905).
This collection was given to Elizabeth "Betty" Morris Smith, in her capacity as chairperson of Kingscote, for the Preservation Society of Newport County in 1981. Prior to processing, this collection was found together in an envelope that was noted as having been moved to Kingscote from the curatorial files in 1989. The envelope was returned to archives storage at an unknown later date. All materials found in the envelope were processed as part of this collection. Nicholas King's letters to Elizabeth "Betty" Morris Smith indicate he may have sent additional materials to her, but these were not found in the envelope and therefore were not included in the collection.
The Nicholas King Collection on David King (1812-1882) was processed by archives fellow, Megan O'Connell, on
No accruals to this collection are expected.
This collection is related to the following other collections:
Writing added to the envelope in pencil was added by Preservation Society of Newport County staff at an unknown date.