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John Hay Library

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1910, Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge. 20 Prospect St.
  • (Photograph by Patricia Lynette Searl)
  • (Photograph by Apavlo)

The white marble John Hay Library, now converted for rare books by the firm that originally designed it, recalls the baroque style current in the mother country at the time of the university's founding. In the history of library design, the Hay Library's metal stacks with floors of structural glass as a self-sustaining unit within a multistory space typify progressive book storage design at the beginning of the twentieth century. What was once the third-floor reading room now offers a substantial array of Ann S. K. Brown's collection of lead soldiers, from her larger collection devoted to the history of military costume. The lead soldiers extend back to Renaissance examples and represent armies worldwide.

Writing Credits

Author: 
William H. Jordy et al.
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Data

What's Nearby

Albert and Vera List Art Building, Brown University
Brown University Center Campus
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Humanities Library
Robinson Hall
Athenaeum Block

Citation

William H. Jordy et al., "John Hay Library", [Providence, Rhode Island], SAH Archipedia, eds. Gabrielle Esperdy and Karen Kingsley, Charlottesville: UVaP, 2012—, http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/RI-01-PR115.2.

Print Source

Buildings of Rhode Island, William H. Jordy, with Ronald J. Onorato and William McKenzie Woodward. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004, 103-103.

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