William Carey Poland diaries and photographs, 1860-1910

(bulk 1875-1910)

John Hay Library , Special Collections
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
email: hay@brown.edu

Published in 2013

Collection Overview

Title:	William Carey Poland diaries and photographs
Date range:	1860-1910, (bulk 1875-1910)
Creator:	William Carey Poland, 1846-1929
Extent:	0.625 Linear feet
Abstract:	The William Carey Poland diaires and photographs consist of 9 diaries and 24 photographs dating from about 1860 to 1910. Two of the diaries are in Clara (Harkness) Poland’s hand and one is in William Jr.’s hand. Included in the photograph series are various images of the Poland family and of Prof. Poland at an archaeological site.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	John Hay Library , Special Collections
Collection number:	Ms.2008.007

Scope & content

The William Carey Poland diaries and photographs are a small collection of personal datebooks, diaries and photographs belonging to the late professor of classics and art history at Brown University. Six of the datebooks are in Poland’s hand. Their content ranges from appointments and class schedules to a detailed account of his 1875 excursion to Europe.

Two datebooks are in Clara Poland’s hand and contain short, sporadic entries about the daily events of 1907 and 1909, including the death of her father, Albert Harkness, a professor of classics at Brown University. The 1903 pocket diary is inscribed: “Albert’s diary / Written by Wm. Poland Bro.”, and is in a child’s hand.

Most of the 24 photographs are of Poland family members. 3 of the photographs were taken of Prof. Poland at an archeaological site.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Harkness, Albert, 1822-1907
• Poland, Clara Harkness
• Poland, William Carey, 1846-1929

Subject Topics

• Art -- History -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- United States
• Art appreciation -- Study and teaching -- United States -- 19th century

Occupations

• Art historians
• College teachers
• Educators

Document Types

• Clippings
• Diaries
• Photographs

Subject Topics

• Rhode Island/Local Interest

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series:

• Series 1. Diaries
• Series 2. Photographs

Biographical note

William Carey Poland was born on January 25, 1846, in Grasmere, New Hampshire, to James and Sarah (Ayer) Poland. He began his nearly lifelong association with Brown University as an undergrad, earning both his A.B. (Phi Beta Kappa) and M.A. degrees before embarking on a long career as an educator and administrator. He taught Greek and Latin at Brown until 1892, when he turned his attention to Art History, holding a professorship in that field until his retirement in 1915. Among his administrative positions were the directorship of the American School of Classical Studies in Athens in 1891/1892 and the presidency of the Rhode Island School of Design from 1896 to 1907. He earned an honorary Litt. D. degree from Brown in 1904.

He married Clara Frances Harkness, daughter of Brown Classics professor Albert Harkness, in 1882, and they raised three sons, William, Albert and Reginald. According to the National Cyclopedia of American Biography, Poland "maintained a liberal mind, championed no epoch or school, but found interest and quality in the most diverse methods and points of view. He was quick to understand even if he did not always endorse the unconventional" (v. 22, p. 356). William Carey Poland died in Providence, Rhode Island, on March 19, 1929. After Poland's death, his family donated the "William Carey Poland Collection," a lending library of reproductions of significant art works, which students could rent to hang in their dormitory rooms.

For more information on William Carey Poland, please see his entry in Martha Mitchell's Encyclopedia Brunoniana - http://www.brown.edu/Administration/News_Bureau/Databases/Encyclopedia/search.php?serial=P0290

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access.
Use of the materials:	Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	William Carey Poland diaries and photographs, Ms. 2008.007, Brown University Library.
Contact information:	John Hay Library , Special Collections Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Tel: 401-863-2146 email: hay@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	The William Carey Poland diaries and photographs were purchased by Brown University in 2007.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Deborah Peterson
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013-04-17

Additional Information

Related material:	RESOURCES AT BROWN:Researchers seeking materials written by William Carey Poland may search the Brown University Library catalog (Josiah) via this link: Poland, William CareyRELATED COLLECTION:Sidney S. Rider papersADDITIONAL INFORMATION:For additional biographical information on William Cary Poland, see Martha Mitchell's Encyclopedia Brunoniana: William Carey Poland
Other information:	Brown University Library catalog record for this collection: William Carey Poland diaries and photographs

Inventory

---