Historical note:

            Reuben Aldridge Guild (1822-1899) was born in West Dedham, now Westwood, MA, died in Providence, RI. His life's work was as the Librarian at Brown University; a position he held from 1848 to 1893. In addition to raising a family of six children with his wife Jane Clifford Hunt, Reuben was an avid historian and writer. He published many essays, sketches, addresses and reports both separately and in numerous historical journals. His topics focused on the history of Brown University and the history of Rhode Island.

Bibliography:

Representative Men and Old Families of Rhode Island, 127. Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1908.

Rogers, L.E., ed. The Biographical Cyclopedia of the Representative Men of Rhode Island, 465. Providence: National Biographical Publishing Co., 1881.

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Scope and content:

            Reuben Aldridge Guild prepared two extensive handwritten manuscripts on the life and work of Roger Williams. The unpublished manuscripts make up the entirety of this collection. The first manuscript entitled Life and Writings of Roger Williams: Founder of the State of Rhode Island was revised between August and September of 1888. The second manuscript entitled Roger Williams: Early Life, Missionary Labors, and Selections from his Writings was revised during May of 1898.

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Provenance:

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Processing note:

            The two manuscripts were incorrectly filed for a period of time with the Rhode Island Roger Williams Memorial Association Records.

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Inventory:

Life and Writings of Roger Williams: Founder of the State of Rhode Island, 1888

Folder 1. Chapter I: Birth and Parentage, 1602

Folder 2. Chapter II: Childhood and Youth, 1602-1623

Folder 3. Chapter III: College Life at Cambridge, 1623-1627

Folder 4. Chapter IV: Professional Life in England, 1627-1630

Folder 5. Stray Pages

Roger Williams: Early Life, Missionary Labors, and Selections from his Writings, 1898

Folder 6. Part I: Investigations and Inquiries Concerning the Birth, Parentage and Early Life of

                            Roger Williams

Folder 7. Part II: The Conversion of the Indians, an Important Factor in the Great Puritan

                              Emigration - Roger Williams as Missionary

Folder 8. Part III: Account of the Writings of Roger Williams

Folder 9. Part IV: Select Works of Roger Williams

                                    Section 1: Christenings Make Not Christians, London, 1645

Folder 10.                 Section 2: Experiments of Spiritual Life, London, 1652

Folder 11.                 Section 3: Butler's Fourth Paper, London, 1652

Folder 12.                 Section 4: Hireling Ministry, London, 1652

Folder 13. Part V: Selection from the Letters of Roger Williams

Folder 14. Letter to Georgiana Guild from Clarence S. Brigham regarding

                                    the manuscript, 1909 Aug 20

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Subjects:

Life and Writings of Roger Williams: Founder of the State of Rhode Island

Roger Williams: Early Life, Missionary Labors, and Selections from his Writings

Williams, Roger, 1604-1683

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RIHS1822