Guide to the John Hutchins Cady Research Scrapbooks, approximately 1920-1965


Providence Public Library Special Collections, Rhode Island Collection
150 Empire Street
Providence, RI 02903
Tel: 401-455-8021
Fax: 401-455-8065
email: ricoll@provlib.org

Published in 2015

Collection Overview

Title: John Hutchins Cady Research Scrapbooks
Date range: approximately 1920-1965
Creator: Cady, John Hutchins, 1881-1967
Extent: 2 linear feet (5 boxes)
Abstract: The collection consists of eleven scrapbooks created by John Hutchins Cady, an architect, architectural historian, preservationist and urban planner.
Language of materials: English
Repository: Providence Public Library Special Collections, Rhode Island Collection
Collection number: VM011

Scope & content

The collection consists of eleven scrapbooks created by John Hutchins Cady. The scrapbooks are organized topically and include photographs, postcards, clippings and Photostats of buildings of architectural interest in Rhode Island with a strong emphasis on the City of Providence.

Access Points

Subject Names Subject Topics Subject Topics Document Types

Arrangement

The collection consists of eleven scrapbooks originally housed in three ring binders. The scrapbooks are organized topically and include photographs, postcards, clippings and photostats of buildings of architectural interest in Rhode Island. Most images are of the building exteriors although certain buildings include interior and landscape shots.

The scrapbooks are arranged topically. Within each topic, organization is primarily alphabetically by location, including in most cases a full street address. One binder contains copies of various historic maps of Rhode Island as well as maps created by John Hutchins Cady. Due to preservation concerns, the pages were removed from the binders and placed in folders.

The collection is broken out into six series, which reflect the titles of the binders:

  • Series 1. Rhode Island Pictures
  • Series 2. Rhode Island Maps
  • Series 3. Providence Pictures
  • Series 4. Providence Colonial & Early Republican
  • Series 5. Providence Views
  • Series 6. Old Providence Barns

Historical note

John Hutchins Cady (1881-1967) was an architect, architectural historian, preservationist and urban planner. He was the youngest son of John Hamlin Cady of Providence. He graduated from Brown University in 1903 and from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1906. Before opening his own architectural firm in 1910, he worked for the Providence firm of Stone, Carpenter and Wilson. He served as the Rhode Island Preservation Officer from 1955-1960 and was a consultant on the Rhode Island State Planning Board Maps. He was an active member of the American Institute of Architects, the Providence City Plan Commission, the Proprietors of Swan Point Cemetery, the National Planning Board, the State Planning Commission and the Providence Housing Association. He was the author of seven books on history of architecture and urban development of Providence and Rhode Island as well as author of numerous articles.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: There are no restrictions on access. This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Providence Public Library Special Collections department.
Use of the materials: Researchers are requested to cite the collection name and the Providence Public Library in all bibliographic references.
Preferred citation: John Hutchins Cady Research Scrapbooks, VM011, Rhode Island Collection, Providence Public Library.
Contact information: Providence Public Library Special Collections, Rhode Island Collection
150 Empire Street
Providence, RI 02903
Tel: 401-455-8021
Fax: 401-455-8065
email: ricoll@provlib.org

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: Acquired after the death of John Hutchins Cady in 1968. Series 6, Old Providence Barns, was a gift of Robert C. Chapin at an unknown date.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Kate Wells, 2015 January.
Encoding: Finding aid encoded by Stacie M. Parillo, 2015 March 17.
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Related material: In the Providence Special Collections, there are two related collections: VM 002 Collection of Rhode Island Architecture, Historic American Buildings Survey and VM 004 Harold Mason Photograph Collection. The Rhode Island Historical Society has John Hutchins Cady Collection and Cady Family Papers. At Syracuse University Libraries, John Hutchins Cady Papers can be found as well.

Inventory


Series 1. Rhode Island Pictures
This series includes photographs of buildings and location in towns across Rhode Island excluding Providence. It was originally split into three volumes in binders, categorized by town or city. Volume 1 contained A-D, Vol. 2 M-S, and Vol. 3 T-W.

Box 1, Folder 1 A - B
Box 1, Folder 2 C
Box 1, Folder 3 E - F
Box 1, Folder 4 G - H
Box 1, Folder 5 L
Box 1, Folder 7 Newport
Box 1, Folder 8 North Kingstown - North Providence
Box 1, Folder 9 P - R
Box 1, Folder 10 S
Box 2, Folder 11 T - Warren
Box 2, Folder 12 Warwick
Box 2, Folder 13 West Greenwich - Woonsocket

Series 2. Rhode Island Maps
This series includes maps of Rhode Island, mostly reproductions or photostats. It was originally contained in one volume with no discernible organization. A Table of Contents appears in the front of folder 14.

Box 2, Folder 14 Maps, 1 of 2
Box 2, Folder 15 Maps, 2 of 2

Series 3. Providence Pictures
This series includes photographs of buildings in Providence, RI. It was originally split into three volumes in binders, categorized by street. Volume 1 contained streets A-D, Vol. 2 E-P and Vol 3. R-Z

Box 2, Folder 16 A
Box 2, Folder 17 Barberry Hill - Bowen Street
Box 2, Folder 18 Branch Avenue - Butler Avenue
Box 2, Folder 19 Camp Street - College Street
Box 2, Folder 20 Condon Street - D
Box 3, Folder 21 E
Box 3, Folder 22 F - G
Box 3, Folder 23 H - J
Box 3, Folder 24 K - Market Square
Box 3, Folder 25 Mathewson Street - N
Box 3, Folder 26 O - Pond Street
Box 3, Folder 27 Portland Street - Putnam Street
Box 3, Folder 28 R
Box 3, Folder 29 S
Box 3, Folder 30 T - V
Box 3, Folder 31 Wayland Square - West River Street
Box 4, Folder 32 Westminster Street
Box 4, Folder 33 Weybosset Street - Y

Series 4. Providence Colonial & Early Republican
This series includes photographs of buildings in Providence that were built from the Colonial through the Early Republican period. It was originally housed in two binders as two volumes. Vol. 1 contained streets starting A-O, and vol. 2 contained streets P-W.

Box 4, Folder 34 A – Beacon Avenue
Box 4, Folder 35 Benefit Street
Box 4, Folder 36 Benevolent Street - C
Box 4, Folder 37 D - J
Box 4, Folder 38 M
Box 4, Folder 39 N
Box 4, Folder 40 O
Box 4, Folder 41 P - R
Box 5, Folder 42 S - Thayer Street
Box 5, Folder 43 Thayer Street - W

Series 5. Providence Views
This series includes primarily street scenes and landscape views of Providence. It was originally housed in one binder.

Box 5, Folder 44 pp. 1 - 37
Box 5, Folder 45 pp. 38 - 97
Box 5, Folder 46 pp. 98 - 156

Series 6. Old Providence Barns
This series includes a study of and photographs of barns and carriage houses in Providence. It was originally housed in one binder.

Box 5, Folder 47 pp. 1 - 30
Box 5, Folder 48 pp. 31 - 50
Box 5, Folder 49 pp. 52 - 74