Servant Life at The Breakers: A Room with a View
The Breakers (1893-95) is a case study in architectural planning for
domestic service in late 19th century America. As one of the grandest
houses in Newport, and the nation in general, the servants' quarters of
The Breakers are an elaborate sequence of work and living spaces
designed to support an opulent life style operated with skill and
precision. This research report contains an analysis of the
architectural plans and communications systems of the servants’ quarters
of The Breakers. Also included is a study of servant life at The
Breakers within the larger context of the history of domestic service in
the 1890s and early 1900s.
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I. Domestic Service in the Gilded Age................................................................1-3
II. Richard Morris Hunt’s Service Arrangements at The Breakers........................4-6
III. An Evaluation of the Servants’ Quarters........................................................7-27
Hallways and Corridors
Bedchambers
Closets
Furnishings
Bathrooms
Unusual Features
Summoning Servants
IV. Servant Life at The Breakers.....................................................................28-34
Serving the Wealthy
Serving Mrs. Vanderbilt
Living-in at The Breakers
V. Several Servant Roles and Proposed Floor Plans for their Bedchambers....35-40
Butler
Ladies Maid
Valet
Kitchen Maid
VI. Proposed Floor Plans and Early 20th Century Servants’ Livery
VII. Figures
VIII. Addendum
Synopsis of the In House Communication Systems at The Breakers
Graphic Illustrations of Call Systems
IX. Reference
Western Electric Co. Catalogue Information
Patent Information
X. Bibliography
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Preservation Society of Newport County, and is protected by copyright
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use only. This material may not be copied, published, reproduced,
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permission of The Preservation Society of Newport County.