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Andrews House (Brown University)

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Photo of the entrance portico of Andrews House on Brown Street
The building as viewed from Brown Street

Andrews House is a historic building at 13 Brown Street on the campus of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. It is currently home to the Cogut Institute for the Humanities at Brown University. The building was named after the eighth president of the university E. Benjamin Andrews in 1939.

Winter Home

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The building was designed by architect Ogden Codman Jr. in 1900–1901[1] to serve as a winter home for the Scottish-American industrialist Alfred M. Coats.[2]

The residence combined two parcels to form one property in excess of 23,500 square feet. "The estates purchased," The Providence Daily Journal reported, "include the Mason house at 17 Brown street and the Deacon Read estate on the corner of Charles Field and Brown Streets."[2] "The latter house," the journal noted, "has stood for years as a landmark in the section of the city. It is an old-fashioned brick homestead, standing right on the street line and is at present occupied by the heirs of Deacon Read, at one time so well known in the woolen trade."[2] The Providence Daily Journal estimated the cost of the project at $125,000.[3]

The Providence Daily Journal compared the house, "built in the old Colonial style, and finished in the interior in pure marble and white decorations," with "one of the old mansions along the east shore of Maryland in its surroundings, and is richly furnished. [...] large, double doors, opening from a side hall alcove to a porch of white marble, overlook[ed] the yard. On the Brown street side and in the rear as well, the yard is enclosed by a brick wall, with a gate in the rear wall, opening on the stable yard."[4]

R.I. Governor Mansion (1915–1921)

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Image of the doorwayat 13 Brown Street in Providence, RI. Vines grow on the portico and the exterior of the brick building. A fanlight is above the open doorway.
Photograph of 13 Brown Street. Harold Mason Photograph Collection (c.1910–c.1920), Providence Public Library.

R. Livinsgton Beeckman moved to 13 Brown Street in 1913[5] and used the building while in office from 1915 to 1921.[6][7][8] The "executive residence" was the site of an annual reception for members of the [R.I.] Legislature[9] as well as an annual dinner for members of the press.[10][11]

During that time, the building housed Beeckman's personal collection of four French and Flemish tapestries and four embroidered armorial tapestries from the 16th and 18th centuries, which were briefly exhibited at the Rhode Island School of Design after Beeckman's move.[12][13]

In a first-person recollection of the 1919 dinner for the press, journalist David Patten (who started his career as a reporter in 1918 and went on to become the managing editor of the Providence Journal and Evening Bulletin[14]) recalled an extensive serving staff, music from a hidden string orchestra, and "RLB" engraved silverware.[11]

Faculty Club (1922–1938)

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Brown University acquired the building in 1922 to house faculty and graduate students and converted the first floor into its faculty club.[6][7] The new facility opened in March 1923 on Visiting Day in the presence of "more than 200 alumni, many members of the corporation and board of trustees, and practically all the faculty."[15][16]

The ballroom was kept "for the holding of meetings and for social purposes," with white and gold walls and panels of light blue and cream-colored velvet velour.[16] Other features included, on the first floor, a lounge, a library and a dining room, the latter two rooms "exquisitely finished in brown oak"; in the basement, "a commodious room where billiards will afford relaxation"; and a new steam heating system to serve the apartments of "bachelor members" of the faculty and graduate student body.[16]

Brown University Infirmary and Health Services (1939–2021)

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A $300,000 gift by Charles Henry Hare (Class of 1885) made the conversion of the building into Brown's infirmary possible together its naming for E. Benjamin Andrews, president of Brown University from 1889 to 1898.[6][17][18][19] The new infirmary included X-ray machinery and a developing room in the basement; a waiting room, a medical office, a surgical office on the first floor; a dental office on the second floor; and rooms for in-patients.[8]

Brown University Health Services moved to a new location on Brook Street in 2021.[20] The building served as a temporary home for the Department of Africana Studies in 2022–23.[21][22] Brown University announced in 2022 the renovation of Andrews House to become the home of the Cogut Institute for Humanities.[23][24][25]

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References

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  1. ^ Metcalf, Pauline, ed. (1988). Ogden Codman and the Decoration of Houses. Boston Athaneum. p. 198.
  2. ^ a b c "Another Handsome Dwelling: It Will Be the Winter Home of Alfred Coats on Brown Street". The Providence Daily Journal. April 24, 1900. p. 12.
  3. ^ "A Prosperous year: The Building Trades Did a Fair Amount of Business in 1900". The Providence Daily Journal. January 2, 1901. p. 9.
  4. ^ "Dog as Burglar Alarm: [...] Bull Terrier Awoke Caretakers of East Side House [...] Residence They Attempted to Enter Occupied by Alfred M. Coats". The Providence Daily Journal. July 9, 1902. p. 12.
  5. ^ "Senator Beeckman Host. Entertains Members of Steering Committee at Dinner". The Providence Daily Journal. March 28, 1913. p. 19. Senator R. Livingston Beeckman of Newport [...] entertained [...] yesterday afternoon at his Providence home, 13 Brown street
  6. ^ a b c Mitchell, Martha (1993). Encyclopedia Brunoniana. Brown University.
  7. ^ a b "Faculty at Brown to Have Dormitory: Corporation Buys Coats Place to be Used as Clubhouse and Living Quarters". The Providence Journal. October 12, 1922. p. 14.
  8. ^ a b "Andrews House, New 50-Bed Infirmary". The Brown Daily Herald. January 4, 1939. pp. 1 and 4.
  9. ^ "Personal and Social". The Providence Daily Journal. April 11, 1917. p. 11. According to their annual custom, the Governor and Mrs. Beeckman entertained the members of the Legislature [...] at the executive residence on Brown Street
  10. ^ "Personal and Social". The Providence Daily Journal. April 11, 1917. p. 11.
  11. ^ a b David, Patten (January 14, 1954). "Tillinghast Set Political Course for Beeckman". The Providence Journal. p. 5.
  12. ^ "Governor Presents His Collection of Hangings to R.I. School of Design: Decorations in Mr. Beeckman's Brown Street Residence Given to Institution. — State's Executive Considering Purchase of Smaller Dwelling". The Providence Journal. December 29, 1920. p. 1. Governor Beeckman, who has presented the costly hangings in his home in trust to the School fo Design, announced yesterday afternoon that he will give up his home at 13 Brown street.
  13. ^ "Beeckman Collection of Rare Tapestries on Exhibition at School of Design". The Providence Sunday Journal. February 6, 1921. p. 58.
  14. ^ "Obituary: David Patten, 87, Ex-Editor Of Providence Newspapers". The New York Times. December 25, 1975. p. 24.
  15. ^ "Educational Notes and News". School and Society. 17 (428): 271. March 10, 1923. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  16. ^ a b c "Brown's New Faculty Club Has Luxurious Home". The Providence Sunday Journal. March 18, 1923. p. 3. Coats Mansion on Brown Street, Acquired by University Last Year, Informally Opened as Social Centre for Professors and Instructors
  17. ^ "$300,000 INFIRMARY IS GIVEN TO BROWN; Gift by Unnamed Alumnus Is Memorial to Dr. Andrews, Former President". The New York Times. June 21, 1932. p. 18.
  18. ^ "Dr. Charles H. Hare: Noted Physician Dies at Harvard Club at 84". Boston Globe: 11. January 22, 1947.
  19. ^ "50-Bed Infirmary Opened at Brown". The New York Times. January 8, 1939. p. 54.
  20. ^ Tabak, Jessica (September 16, 2021). "New Center and Residence Hall Realizes Brown's Vision for Integrated Student Wellness Experience". News from Brown. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  21. ^ Onderdonk, Sarah (January 30, 2023). "'Lovely, gracious building': Tracing the History of Andrews House". The Brown Daily Herald.
  22. ^ Kimball, Jill (July 20, 2022). "Renovation of Churchill House, Rites and Reason Theatre to usher in new era for Africana studies". News from Brown. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  23. ^ Barnett, Sofia (October 5, 2022). "'Parity and balance': Faculty, Admins Make Changes to Academic Priorities Committee". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  24. ^ Clynes, Charlie (October 24, 2022). "Brown launches new Operational Plan for Investing in Research". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  25. ^ "Andrews House Renovation". Brown University Facilities Management. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
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