Guide to the Oscar Wilde invitation , 1882
Newport Historical Society
82 Touro Street
Newport, RI 02840
Tel: 401-846-0813
Fax: 401-846-1853
email: info@newporthistorical.org
Published in 2012
Collection Overview
| Title: | Oscar Wilde invitation |
| Date range: | 1882 |
| Creator: | Wilde, Oscar, 1854-1900 |
| Extent: | 1 item(s) |
| Abstract: | This collection contains one item, an invitation to hear Oscar Wilde spaek on "The Decorative Arts" at the Casino. |
| Language of materials: | English |
| Repository: | Newport Historical Society |
| Collection number: | MS.2012.3 |
Scope & content
This is collection consists of only one item, an invitation to a lecture given by Oscar Wilde on "The Decorative Arts" at the Casino on July 15, 1882. Wilde spoke about "The practical application of the principles of the aesthetic theory to exterior and interior house decoration, with observations upon dress and personal ornaments."Access Points
Subject Names Subject Organizations Subject Topics Document TypesArrangement
This collection consists of one item.
- Invitation
Historical note
Oscar Wilde embarked on an American tour, in part brokered by Sam Ward. Wilde came to Newport to perform at the Casino Theater and Ward introduced him to his sister Julia Ward Howe. Henry Marion Hall, Howe’s grandson, recalls Wilde’s visit to Howe’s farm in Portsmouth in his memoir Grandmother’s Blue Coach:"Being a small boy at the time my presence at the tea was not requested, but later I was allowed to accompany the guests down into the vallley. The party included Tom Appleton, the famous Boston wit, Adamowski, leader of the Boston Symphony orchestra, Mrs. Paran Stevens, Lilla Eliott, Grandmother’s nephew F. Marion Crawford, and Oscar Wilde, then at the peak of his popularity. Knowing nothing about a fad then known as 'dress reform' I was bewildered at Wilde’s costume when I walked into the vale beside him. He wore a black velvet jacket, knickerbockers to match, dark silk stockings, and low shoes with glittering buckles. A salmon-colored scarf and slouch hat completed his get-up. It struck me as rather queer, but not half so startling as his hair – long, black, and curling to his shoulders… He held a red rose in one hand and sniffed it as he chatted."
Access & Use
| Access to the collection: | There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. |
| Use of the materials: | Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from Newport Historical Society. Although NHS has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them. |
| Preferred citation: | Oscar Wilde invitation, MS.2012.3, Newport Historical Society. |
| Contact information: | Newport Historical Society 82 Touro Street Newport, RI 02840 Tel: 401-846-0813 Fax: 401-846-1853 email: info@newporthistorical.org |
Administrative Information
| ABOUT THE COLLECTION | |
| Acquisition: | There is no accession information for this item, though it may have been donated with the Julia Ward Howe papers. |
| ABOUT THE FINDING AID | |
| Author: | Finding aid prepared by Stacie M. Parillo. |
| Encoding: | Finding aid encoded by Stacie M. Parillo 2012 February 23 |
| Descriptive rules: | Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) |
Additional Information
Inventory
| Box 1, Folder 1 | Oscar Wilde lecture invitation |
1882 July 15 |