Antoinette Downing Papers

Historic preservationist, Providence, R.I.

Papers, 1910-1993

Size: 21 linear feet

Catalog number: MSS 98

Processed by: Cindy Bendroth, May 1992

Additions processed by Rick Stattler, Robin Flynn, and Lori Salotto 1995-2000

©Rhode Island Historical Society

Manuscripts Division

Antoinette (Forrester) Downing has helped shape, change, and yet keep the same the architectural landscape of Rhode Island. Her work in architectural history and, foremost, historic preservation in Rhode Island, has set a precedent and standard nationally and especially for Rhode Island.

Antoinette Forrester was born in Paxton, Ill. on July 14 1904, the daughter of Jay and Myrtle E. (Hartley) Forrester. She was raised in Springer, New Mexico. In 1925 she graduated from the University of Chicago. In 1929 she married George E. Downing, who later became the chairman of the art department at Brown University. They had two children: Jay E. Downing and Grace A. "Jan" Downing.

Mrs. Downing came to Rhode Island in 1932 after her husband accepted a position with Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design to conduct a Carnegie-funded Community Arts Project. Her project research on surveying Rhode Island architecture was published in Early Homes of Rhode Island (1937). In the late forties, as the Preservation Society of Newport was forming, she was hired to survey Newport and published The Architectural Heritage of Newport Rhode Island in 1952. This book outlined historic Newport, and mentioned who lived where and in what neighborhood.

In the 1950s and 60s, urban renewal, the destruction of city centers, and suburbanization crept into Providence and surrounding areas. Feeling the strain from a growing student population, Brown University eyed Benefit St. for expansion. After the destruction of several College Hill structures, John Nicholas Brown and other concerned citizens formed the Providence Preservation Society (PPS). Under a grant through the Urban Renewal Administration, Housing and Home Finance Agency, and with the cooperation of the City, PPS published College Hill: A Demonstration Study of Historic Area Renewal (1959), revised in 1967. This report was received nationally and had crucial impact on preservation policy in the United States up to that time. It helped spur on the national preservation act in 1966 and formation of state historic preservation boards.

Mrs. Downing was appointed chair of the newly formed Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission in 1968, a position she still holds in 1992. The Commission was formed to carry out the National Preservation Act of 1966 which helps identify significant structures, assists owners with federal grants or low interest loans for caring for a historic structure and protects national Register buildings from destruction. In her post, she has helped plan and review many of the town and village surveys done for the Commission.

She also has been on the board for SWAP (Stop Wasting Abandoned Property), an organization that began in 1975 through a National Trust and National Endowment for the Arts Conference on Neighborhoods. It concerns such issues as revitalization without displacing the population, and how to save buildings that the city has condemned due to neglect, abandonment, and unpaid taxes. SWAP formed to match owners with abandoned property, providing advice on restoration methods and federal financial incentives.

Mrs. Downing has won national recognition for her work, receiving awards from the American Institute of Architects and the National Trust for Historic Preservation; honorary degrees from Roger Williams College, Brown University and the University of Rhode Island; and numerous other citations and awards.

This collection consists of Ms. Downing's working files. The series contain correspondence, notes, reports, news clippings and plans. Some contain drawings of architectural details and research notes on houses. Most of her work was done in Providence and Newport, and with the Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission. Filing arrangements often duplicated themselves (such as Providence). One set of files was retired and a new set started. The series attempted to reflect her filing system, however, where possible, her working files were put together. The collection was originally processed in 1992. Four additional accessions have arrived since that date, and have been processed separately rather than re-boxing the entire collection each time. These recent accessions are filed as Series VIII at the end of the collection.

This series includes notes (on very brittle paper) of architecture styles, especially those in Newport. Some notes could be from Norman Isham's class or notes she took early in her career. Arranged in notebook order.

This series consists of news clippings, correspondence, reports and drawings of either streets, buildings or areas in Providence. Photographs and reports were separated. Most files were created through Mrs. Downing's work as Chairwoman of the Historical Commission. Arranged alphabetically.

News clippings, some reports and correspondence concerning buildings in Providence, usually street by street. Many of the photographs (probably from the HABS Survey) were transferred to Graphics. Arranged alphabetically.

Deed research and other information on individual East Side properties for the Providence Preservation Society. Arranged alphabetically by street name, with miscellaneous files at the end.

Working files concerning Newport with news clippings, some reports and correspondence. Arranged alphabetically.

Clippings, correspondence and research concerning town buildings. Arranged alphabetically by town and sometimes county.

Series VII: Correspondence and Miscellaneous, 1970s and 1980s (1.5 linear feet)

Consists of correspondence requesting help, concerning building restoration, notes and reports. Arranged alphabetically. Other states preservation activities are filed at the end of the series.

Material received from 1995 to 2000, covering all phases of Downing's career. Ultimately, these accessions should be interfiled with the other seven series.

The Antoinette Downing Papers were given to the Historical Society in several gifts between 1980 and 2001 by Mrs. Downing and her children. Mrs. Downing's 1989 gift was the largest. The #1997.57.1.1- accession arrived via the Providence Preservation Society, and the #2000.43.1.1- accession was received from Mrs. Downing via the Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission. The #2002.42 accession was donated from an unknown source, presumably connected to the family.

This collection still needs preservation work. More than half of the collection has been refoldered into buffered, acid-free folders and the rest of the files need to be refoldered. Series I and other series have very brittle paper that should be photocopied. Newspaper can be photocopied. Not all staples and paperclips have been removed.

Outside area and West Side: 57 Bernon St., 40 Governor, 129 Chace, 28 Eames, 72 Orchard, 12 Cole Ct.

Covell House, Jewish Community, Joseph Rogers Stevens House, Newport Steam, Industrial National Bank

House Nominations - Lucas Johnson, Common Burial Ground, Coasters Harbor island, Clarke St. Meeting House

Mawdsley, Bull, Shiloh Church, United Congregational Church, Ft. Adams, Eisenhower

"The New Destiny of Historic Preservation in the U.S." by Larry Tise (movie review)

Donated by Downing in 1980 as part of the Historic American Building Survey Records.

This box consists of Downing's personal notes, apparently unrelated to the Survey but included with that gift. Transferred to Downing Papers on 6/25/1996.

"The Child: Outline." Description of Antoinette Forrester circa 1910 by Miss Camp.

Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission - county and town projects, continued

Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission - Recommendations, requests, updates, advisements, opinions, etc.

Massachusetts: Waterfront Historic Area League: New Bedford, 1976-1986 and undated

There may be other added entries in the card catalog; a list was not made at the time of cataloging.