Roger Williams Memorial

Roger Williams Memorial

Subject (Topic)
Roger Williams Park--Rhode Island--Providence
South Elmwood--Neighborhoods--Rhode Island--Providence
Monuments--Rhode Island--Providence

Subject (Name)
Williams, Roger, 1603-1683

Subject (Object)
Commemorative sculpture

Created by the well-known American sculptor Franklin Simmons, the artist modeled Roger Williams in early colonial-period dress including a lace collar, doublet, breeches, stockings, and a long coat. Roger’s wears shoulder-length hair. His face reveals a wrinkled brow and deep-set eyes. Simmons has depicted Williams in mid-stride, his left foot steps off the base, and he seems in the process of oration. His right hand gestures downward; in his left hand a volume titled "Soul Liberty 1636."

A bronze female allegorical figure is at the base of the monument. Dressed in a long flowing Hellenistic gown, she stands on the top of the five-stepped platform and lifts her right arm and hand to inscribe on the Westerly granite pedestal "Roger Williams 1636." She is Clio, the muse of history, and she indicates Williams’s historical significance to the city of Providence and the state of Rhode Island.

Simmons, Franklin Bachelder, 1839-1913
Ferdinand von Miller and Söhne of Munich (founders)
Smith Granite Company

Photographs by Eric Sung, Professor, Providence College

October 16, 1877

Betsey Williams; Roger Williams Monument Committee: Mayor Thomas A. Doyle; Alderman Amos W. Snow; Alderman Henry J. Angell; Alderman William V. Daboll; Nelson W. Aldrich (Common Council); Henry T. Root (Common Council); Frederic E. Keep (Common Council); Lewis Dexter (Common Council); Colonel Arthur F. Dexter (Chairman of the Committee on Parks)

City of Providence, 25 Dorrance Street, Providence, Rhode Island, 02903, United States

JPEG

English

Visual Arts-Sculpture

Roger Williams Park, Rose Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island, 02903, United States

Inscription on front of granite plinth:
Roger Williams 1636

Inscription on back of granite plinth:
Erected
By the City of Providence
A. D. 1877

Artist signature on bronze base of statue:
Franklin Simmons
inv. et mod. Romæ
1875

Foundry mark on bronze base of statue:
Gegossen durch FERD. v. MILLER & SOEHNE
München 1876
(Ferdinand von Miller and Söhne of Munich)

Statue: 90 in. (228.6 cm)
Base: 240 in. (609.6 cm)

Bronze; Westerly granite

"Advertisement: To Architects. Monument to the Memory of Roger Williams." Providence Journal, May 18, 1872.

"Advertisement: To Architects. Monument to the Memory of Roger Williams." Providence Journal, May 24, 1872.

"Advertisement: To Architects. Monument to the Memory of Roger Williams." Providence Journal, June 13, 1872.

"Meeting of the Common Council." Providence Journal, January 14, 1873.

"News." Providence Journal, December 4, 1873.

"The Artist Simmons and His Works." Providence Journal, December 17, 1873.

"News." Providence Journal, December 15, 1874.

"Meeting of the Common Council." Providence Journal, September 4, 1877.

"Roger Williams. Oration. Delivered Yesterday Afternoon by Professor J. Lewis Diman at the Dedication of the Monument at Roger Williams Park." Providence Journal, October 17, 1877.

"Unveiling the Statue. Dedication of the Monument to Roger Williams. The Exercises at the Park." Providence Journal, October 17, 1877.

Blanchard, Young & Co. "Roger Williams Monument - Roger Williams Park, Providence, R.I.", n.d., Rhode Island Postcard Collection, PC7945, Rhode Island Collection, Providence Public Library, https://provlibdigital.org/islandora/object/PC7945.

Photograph of Roger Williams Monument and Betsey Williams’ Cottage, n.d., Rhode Island Photograph Collection, VM013_GC2344, Rhode Island Collection, Providence Public Library, https://provlibdigital.org/islandora/object/VM013_GC2344.

Photograph of a Man in a Carriage in front of Roger Williams Memorial, n.d., Rhode Island Photograph Collection, VM013_GC2345, Rhode Island Collection, Providence Public Library, https://provlibdigital.org/islandora/object/VM013_GC2345.

Rose, P.H., Photograph of Roger Williams Memorial and Betsy Williams’ Cottage, n.d., Rhode Island Photograph Collection, VM013_WC1137, Rhode Island Collection, Providence Public Library, https://provlibdigital.org/islandora/object/VM013_WC1137.

Stereocard of Roger Williams Memorial, n.d., Rhode Island Stereocard Collection, VM0120709, Rhode Island Collection, Providence Public Library, https://provlibdigital.org/islandora/object/VM0120709.

Bronze statue of Roger Williams designed by Franklin Simmons of Rome, Italy., 1960, Rhode Island Postcard Collection, PC7944, Rhode Island Collection, Providence Public Library, https://provlibdigital.org/islandora/object/PC7944.

Photograph of Roger Williams Monument, 1959, Rhode Island Photograph Collection, VM013_WC1136, Rhode Island Collection, Providence Public Library, https://provlibdigital.org/islandora/object/VM013_WC1136.

"Origin of Some of Roger Williams Park Statuary in Doubt Because of Incomplete Records: Lack of Records Veils Origin of Park Statues." Providence Journal. January 3, 1932.

"The Unknown Face of Roger Williams: Years Have Failed to Yield Authentic Picture of Founder." Providence Journal. February 2, 1936.

Photograph of Roger Williams Monument, July 1, 1902, Rhode Island Photograph Collection, VM013_FIC0334, Rhode Island Collection, Providence Public Library, https://provlibdigital.org/islandora/object/VM013_FIC0334.

Photograph of Roger Williams Monument, July 1, 1902, Rhode Island Photograph Collection, VM013_FIC0335, Rhode Island Collection, Providence Public Library, https://provlibdigital.org/islandora/object/VM013_FIC0335.
Norman B. Robbins. Betsy Williams Cottage and Roger Williams Statue. Roger Williams Park. Providence, R.I., 1907, Rhode Island Postcard Collection, PC7946, Rhode Island Collection, Providence Public Library, https://provlibdigital.org/islandora/object/PC7946.

Roger Williams Statue and Betsy Williams House. Roger Williams Park, Providence, R.I., 1908, Rhode Island Postcard Collection, PC7948, Rhode Island Collection, Providence Public Library, https://provlibdigital.org/islandora/object/PC7948.

Roger Williams Monument, "The Founder of Providence" Roger Williams Park, Providence, R.I., 1930, Rhode Island Postcard Collection, PC7943, Rhode Island Collection, Providence Public Library, https://provlibdigital.org/islandora/object/PC7943.

Department of Art, Culture, Tourism, City of Providence