RIAMCO

Rhode Island Archival and Manuscript Collections Online

For Participating Institutions

Carl R. Woodward Papers (Mss. Gr. 1)

University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections

15 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881-2011
Tel: 401-874-4632

email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Scope & content

The papers of Carl Raymond Woodward were given by the Woodward family to the University of Rhode Island Library on June 2, 1975. These materials reveal the many interrelated interests of Carl Woodward. Not only was he an educator, President of Rhode Island State College, now URI, but also a writer and historian. His main interests were agriculture and the local history of Kingston, Rhode Island. He belonged to many clubs and humanitarian organizations.

The papers of Carl Woodward are divided into seven series.

Series I, Correspondence, consists of letters from relatives, friends, business letters, etc. Of interest are letters from Eleanor Roosevelt, Milton and Dwight Eisenhower, and Brigadier General Elliot Thorpe. Additional correspondence is found dispersed among the various series, with the exception of the Subject File. For example, that which deals with historical interests can be found in the Historical series.

Series II, Subject File, consists of photographs, memorabilia, business, personal and legal materials. There is a considerable amount of material on his hobby, gardening and on the construction of "Myrtlewood', the house he built for his retirement.

Series III, University of Rhode Island, consists of records pertaining to people and organizations associated with the University. Most of this is from his retirement years. Materials from his Presidential years (1941-1958) consist mainly of a bound volume of administrative letters; letters concerning his appointment and retirement; directions for maintenance of the President's house and grounds, etc. Of interest are dedications of buildings, materials on "Friends of the Library", and the URI Foundation, for which he served as a trustee.

Series IV, Historical File, consists of records of his historical research and of his association with historical organizations, such as the Kingston Improvement Association, "Friends of Watson House", and the Cocumscussoc Association. Of interest are the records about the Fayerweather House, Watson House restoration, and the history of Cocumscussoc. Also contained is research material on Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and Justin Smith Morrill. His historical interests were generally agriculturally oriented.

Series V, Fraternity File, consists of correspondence and printed materials of the fraternities to which Woodward belonged. Dominating this series is the fraternity material of Phi Gamma Delta; he served as Archon Councilor to and trustee of the Educational Foundation. This material deals mainly with policy trends. Other fraternity material is of general alumni nature.

Series VI, Institutional/Organizational Affiliations, consists of materials accumulated by Carl Woodward while a member of various institutions and organizations. (For a complete list of affiliations, see series description.) Dominating this series are materials relating to the Kingston Congregational Church and the Rutgers's alumni material. Other important associations include Barrington and Bryant Colleges, for which he served as trustee, and the Untied Fund, of which he was President.

Series VII, Writings, is divided into three subseries: Speeches, Articles and Reports, and Books. These materials consist of research, drafts, reprints and correspondence. There are bound volumes of speeches and articles, as well as tapes of the most important speeches given during his years as President of Rhode Island State College. The Books in this series are the published story of Smith's Castle at Cocumscussoc, Plantation in Yankeeland, all re- and post-publication materials and correspondence, and the unpublished autobiographical memoirs of his life on a New Jersey farm, "Boy with a Hoe". with each book are all his research notes, drafts and illustrations. Also in Writings are speeches and articles by other authors.