Research Reports
The Preservation Society of Newport County sponsors research and documentation projects to support its mission to preserve and interpret its historic properties. The information contained in these reports is the property of The Preservation Society of Newport County, and is protected by copyright laws. It is provided for your personal, non-commercial and educational use only. This material may not be copied, published, reproduced, transmitted, distributed or modified without the express written permission of The Preservation Society of Newport County.
The Neo-Renaissance Style and the Victorian Interior: The Expression of Identity in the Library at Chateau-sur-Mer, Newport, Rhode Island
In its original incarnation, Seth Bradford's Chateau-sur-Mer was an imposing symbol of the great financial power held by the Wetmore family, the successful China trade and banking clan of New York. Built in 1852, most architectural historians consider it the first of the grand cottages built by the country's wealthiest families as a summer retreat in Newport. Little changed to the interior or exterior until 1869, when George Peabody Wetmore began a decade of extensive changes to the property. He enlisted celebrated architect and Newport favorite Richard Morris Hunt to raise and alter the profile of the roofline in keeping with the fashionable European style. Hunt also went to work on the inside, undertaking an ambitious remodeling campaign in accordance with the Aesthetic taste which was so popular with the social elite of Victorian America and Europe. Determined and bold, Hunt was already recognized as one of the leaders in American architecture. But he was not the only visionary at work at Chateau-sur-Mer. Indeed, one of the most compelling pieces of the revitalized Chateau was Luigi Frullini's library, a Neo-Renaissance masterpiece in carved wood.
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When Walls Talk: Examining Historic House Parts
As one of Newport’s first summer cottages, Kingscote has undergone many transformations in its 176-year history. Often overshadowed by magnificent neighbors, its architectural massing and features seem to grow out of the natural environment rather than dominate it, making it all too easy to overlook its significance. However, this relatively unpretentious, picturesque house contains a complex history encompassing a southern gentleman’s vision, Civil War repercussions, and a family’s place within high society. Kingscote’s architectural evolution tells the story of Newport unlike any other house, if we know how to listen.
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The Preservation Society of Newport County, 1945-1965, The Founding Years
When the Preservation Society of Newport County incorporated in 1945 it was preceded by a little over a century of preservation efforts in the United States. These milestone initiatives provided a valuable frame of reference and the impetus for moving forward in the second half of the twentieth century to merge the cultural inheritance of a singular city with its future. Written by Holly Collins.
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A Study of Chateau sur Mer Report I: The Wetmore Family and Their Domestics
A detailed account of a Victorian household and its domestic staff as seen in Wetmore family letters. Written by Holly Collins.
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A Study of Chateau sur Mer Report II: Rites of Passage: The Wetmores of Chateau sur Mer
This report outlines the Wetmore family's prominent role in Victorian life - from their position as international merchants to their key roles in American politics, the arts and historic preservation. Written by Holly Collins.
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Green Animals Living Art: A Singular Expression of Portuguese-American Cultural Traditions and Values
Examines the historical evolution of the gardens at Green Animals, biographical essays on the key historical figures of the Braytons, who owned the estate, and the Carreiro and Mendoncas, who were the two generations of Portugese-American gardeners at Green Animals. The report also contains detailed information on the topiary forms in the garden. Written by Holly Collins.
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Kingscote's Coming of Age: A Sentimental Journey
This research report is based on the study and editing of letters and journals of members of the King family. Written by Holly Collins.
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Servant Life at The Breakers: A Room with a View
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. Written by Holly Collins.
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Scholarly Papers
The Preservation Society's historians, curators and conservators are frequent guest speakers and lecturers at symposia and conferences around the world. On this page, we share a few of their notable presentations and papers. The information contained in these papers is the property of The Preservation Society of Newport County, and is protected by copyright laws. It is provided for your personal, non-commercial and educational use only. This material may not be copied, published, reproduced, transmitted, distributed or modified without the express written permission of The Preservation Society of Newport County.
The French Connection: Developing a Conservation Treatment Plan for 18th Century Lacquer Panels Adapted for an American Beaux Arts-style House
In October 2009, then-Preservation Society Chief Conservator Jeff Moore was invited to present a paper at the conference "Crossing Borders: The Conservation, Science and Material Culture of East Asian Lacquer" held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Click here to read his paper about the conservation of the lacquer panels in the breakfast room of The Elms.
From Medici to Bourbon: The Formulation of Taste and the Evolution of a Vanderbilt Style
Former Associate Curator Charles J. Burns outlines the evolution of the Vanderbilt family's taste as collectors of European Fine and Decorative Arts, exploring this aspect of the collections of William Henry Vanderbilt (1821-1885) and his two sons, Cornelius Vanderbilt II (1843-1899) and William K. Vanderbilt (1849-1920) at their New York and Newport residences. Click here to read his paper, which was presented at the University of London's Courtauld Institute of Art in 2007.