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Portrait of John Hay
John Singer Sargent
-- American painter
1903, Washington D.C.
John Hay Library,
Brown University,
Providence, Rhode Island
Oil
Size?
Gift of Hay's grandson,
John Hay.
Jpg: Brown
University
John Hay was the U.S. Secretary of
State.
From: Brown University
During the month of February,
1903, John Singer Sargent painted John Hay's portrait. In a letter
written to his daughter, Helen Hay Whitney, Hay wrote facetiously: "It
is an odd thought that most of my reputation will depend on this picture."
The following year, Augustus
Saint-Gaudens began his bust of Hay and completed it just before Hay's
death on 1 July 1905. . .
(Brown)
* * *
In July of 1905, John Hay, Class
of 1858, perhaps the most famous Brown graduate of his day, died in office
as U.S. Secretary of State. The following year his widow, Clara Stone Hay,
presented 400 books and manuscripts from Hay's personal library to Brown.
These books, still maintained as a separate collection, contain many volumes
which are inscribed to John Hay.
By the early 1890's, the library
had so little room for books that lesser used materials had to be
stored in the basement. Repeated requests for a new library were unavailing
until 1906, when Andrew Carnegie contributed $150,000 toward
a new library building honoring his late friend, John Hay.
A matching amount was raised, ground was broken in 1908, and the new building
was dedicated in November, 1910.
(Brown)
Notes:
See the year in review 1885-1886
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