Overview of the Collection
Bradner, Lawrence H.
Plum Beach Light Research Collection
1864-2000
4 box(es) (2.5 linear feet)
The collection consists of print and audio/visual material regarding the construction, history, and restoration of the Plum Beach lighthouse.
Special Collections and University Archives
15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 Tel: 401-874-4632 email: archives@etal.uri.edu
Mss. Gr. 138
The records are in English.
Historical Information
In 1988, Lawrence H. Bradner, inspired by an inaccurate news article on the Plum Beach Light, began to record the history living in the people who still remembered when the lighthouse served as an important guide to ships in the West Passage of Narragansett Bay. The lighthouse was closed permanently in 1941. In preparation for writing what became a book on the subject, Bradner amassed information regarding all aspects of the Plum Beach Lighthouse and some information on lighthouses in general in the New England area. The Plum Beach Light : the birth, life, and death of a lighthouse , 1989 was the final result of this labor.
Open for research.
Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.
Preferred Citation
Plum Beach Light Research Collection, Mss. Gr. 138, University of Rhode Island Archives.
Scope and Content Note
The collection contains original notes, interview tapes and notes, photographs, photocopies of news articles, and correspondence, both original and photocopied, regarding the construction, history, and restoration of the Plum Beach lighthouse. Also contains ancillary material regarding 19th and early 20th century lighthouse and maritime history in the New England area.
ArrangementMaterials accessioned in 2007 were interfiled with the existing unprocessed Plum Beach Light research materials accessioned in 1990. The collection is arranged in alphabetical order. Oversized materials are at the end of the collection; some plans and oversized materials are stored in the map case. The collection is arranged in one series.
- 1. Subject File
Acquisitions Information Gift of Lawrence H. Bradner. The materials were deposited by Bradner in the URI Special Collections Unit in two accessions, in 1990 and in 2007.
No further materials are expected for this collection.
The book, The Plum Beach Light : the birth, life, and death of a lighthouse published 1989 is in the Rhode Island Collection.
A collection of papers related to Bradner as Episcopal priest and chaplain of the Rhode Island State Hospital were separated from the 2007 accession and made a distinct collection, Rev. Lawrence H. Bradner Papers, Mss. Gr. 206.
The following books were removed and cataloged in the Rhode Island Collection:Great storms and famous shipwrecks of the New England coast by Edward Rowe Snow; Boston, Mass. : The Yankee Publishing Company, 1946, 3d ed. and Picture postcard views of Rhode Island lighthouses and beacons : together with a brief history of lifesaving stations / an excursion with commentary by Mildred Santille Longo; Providence, RI : Rhode Island Publications Society, 1990.
Names
Bradner, Lawrence H
Subjects
Lighthouses
Lighthouses -- Rhode Island -- North Kingstown
North Kingstown (R.I.)
Rhode Island
RIAMCO Browsing Terms
Maritime
Rhode Island/Local Interest
Inventory
Series 1
Subject File
1864-2000
3, 1 oversize box(es) (2.5 linear feet)
architectural drawings
clippings
letters(correspondence)
photographs
sound recordings
Contains material regarding the construction, history, and restoration of the Plum Beach lighthouse. Also contains ancillary material regarding 19th and early 20th century lighthouse and maritime history in the New England area. The series is arranged in alphabetical order by topic.
1 1 Babcock, Edwin S. (Babbie) 1985
1 2 Books and Articles, excerpts 1922,1985, undated
1 3 Burroughs, Frank, articles, publications, letters re. 1882-1903
1 4 Cook, Charles interview notes 1987, 198[?]
1 5 Corps of Engineers 1864,1876, undated
1 6 Correspondence re. research and publication 1985-1990
1 7 Crolius, Richard W., interview notes and articles 1938, 198[?]
1 8 Divelly, Bill and Helen, intervies notes 1984
1 9 Drafts, notes, chapter 1 198[?]
1 10 Drafts, notes, chapters 1-3 198[?]
1 11 Drafts, notes, chapters 4-6 1988
1 12 Drafts, notes, 3.25 computer discs 1984-198[5]
1 13 Eaton, Joseph L., articles re. undated
1 14 Establishing light and fog signal 1895-1901
1 15 Nancy Blunt Farin, memoir re. Plum Beach 1984
1 16 Friends of Plum Beach Light 1992-2000
1 17 Heap, David Porter, publication excerpts 1881, 1889
2 18 Images, illustrations
2 19 Images, illustrations (also in map case)
2 20 Interview notes and cassette tapes:Earl Camwell, Alda Kay, Waldo Wright 198[?]
2 21 Light House Board index strips 198[?]
2 22 Light House keepers, notes and articles re. 1901-1993
2 23 Light house keeper, Erie Huling, arrticles and letters re. 1970-1997
2 24 Light house keeper, John Ganze, interview notes 198[?]
2 25 Ludlow, William, book excerpts articles re. 1896, 1901, 1969
2 26 McAndrews Eugene PhD dissertation: William Ludlow 1973
2 27 Mock-ups and publishing information 1988-1989
3 28 National Maritime Initiative, preliminary inventory of aids to navigation with United States Coastguard Lighthouse Policy Review 1992
3 29 Osborn, James re. lawsuit 1970-1998
3 30 Plum Beach Light, articles re. history of 1971, undated
3 31 Plum Beach Light ownership, disposition, closing, restoration 1895-2004
3 32 Putnam, George, Sentinal of the Coasts excerpt [1937]
3 33 Repairs and reinforcement 1896-1899
3 34 Research notes 198[?]
3 35 Research notes, articles re. weather 1918, 1928, 1977
3 36 Research notes re. construction 198[?]
3 37 Research notes re. Aldrich 198[?]
3 38 Steamer Harmmonton, log excerpt 1938
4 39 Aldrich, Nelson articles and correspondence re 1891, 1939, 1987, 1980
4 40 Blizzard of 1898 1898 Nov 27
4 41 Jamestown Bridge construction 1940, 1941, 1988
4 42 Hurricane of 1938, articles re. 1938, 1988, 1993
4 43 Light house articles and miscellaneous publications re. 1921, 1985-1988
4 44 Maritime issues, articles re. 1880, 1896 - 1899
4 45 Navagation and shipping, articles re. 1888, 1896
4 46 Providence and Stonington Steamship Co, articles, letters re. 1886-1892
4 47 Plum Beach Light construction, plans and articles re. (also in map case) 1895, 1896, 1899, 1919
4 48 Whale Rock Light, articles re. letterbook index, plans 1876, 1923, 1939, 1971