Please note that this is a student project, and represents the student's impressions of his visit.
This project should not be considered an authenticated source on the history of the Providence Athenaeum.
To find out more about the Providence Athenaeum, please visit the library's webpage, providenceathenaeum.org.
This project should not be considered an authenticated source on the history of the Providence Athenaeum.
To find out more about the Providence Athenaeum, please visit the library's webpage, providenceathenaeum.org.
One thing that is often said about the Providence Athenaeum is that it represents and has greatly influenced the culture of Rhode Island and America. Most notably, the library has many stories and lore that promote the since of history of the building. Though there are many truths to these stories, over the years they have been slightly exaggerated or expanded.
The Love Affair of Edger Allen Poe and Sarah Helen Whitman
A famous love affair between one of the most famous American poets, Edgar Allen Poe and Rhode Island’s best writer at the time, Sarah Helen Whitman, is said to be facilitated by the Providence Athenaeum. As the story goes, for a Valentine’s Day Party a friend had asked Ms. Whitman to write a poem. Of course, Ms. Whitman obliged and wrote a tribute to Edgar Allen Poe, a romantic interest of hers. In response, Poe wrote a poem in response, entitled “To Helen.” The poem was a depiction of the first time Poe had seen Ms. Whitman in her rose garden in Providence. Though its hard to know for sure, it is believed that most of Poe’s writings of Ms. Whitman, including “To Helen”, were written in the Providence Athenaeum, the perfect environment for writing. In fact, the Providence Athenaeum attributes itself as being the favorite writing spot for many different writers in American history, including H.P. Lovecraft and Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
The Great Theft of the Painting Collection of the Athenaeum
In 1881, two men, Fredrick A. Potter and James Dummanway, stole the painting collection of the Athenaeum. The board of the Athenaeum paid a private eye $200 to investigate the case. In the end, the paintings were found in Brooklyn. This story, of course, is fact, but it’s the story of the criminals after they were caught that is lore. According to rumor, Frederick Potter, son of a very predominant Providence family was only charged with 10 years of prison, and only served 2. In contrast, his partner James Dummanway, thought to be a sidekick to the infamous Jesse James, was sentenced to life.
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