CARL R. WOODWARD PAPERS
1928-1974
MSG# 1
SCOPE AND CONTENT
NOTE
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 Kinston
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.
