Brown University, located on College Hill on the east side of the river, is a beautiful campus to stroll through and simply absorb the Ivy League atmosphere. While you are there you may want to check out the following points of interest (campus map available here; be sure to note the hours of each location).
David Winton Bell Gallery
List Art Center, 64 College St., 401-863-2932
Brown University’s contemporary art gallery. “Broadly concerned with the exhibition of exemplary work by artists living today, the gallery takes pride in showing artwork irrespective of media, content or subject and makes special efforts to support and show the work of emerging or under-recognized practitioners locally, nationally and internationally.” Two exhibitions will be on during the conference, with both scheduled to open April 3. One is Daniel Heyman’s I am Sorry It is Difficult to Start and the other is Wafaa Bilal’s The Ashes Series. Each represents the artist’s response to the war in Iraq.
John Hay Library
20 Prospect St., 401-863-3723, hay@brown.edu
The John Hay Library offers particularly strong collections in American literature and history, popular culture, military history and iconography, history of science, and the art and history of the book. It is known for, among other things, the toy soldiers on display in the Anne S. K. Brown Military Collection, the Audubon Double Elephant folio, the Abraham Lincoln collection, and its artists’ books collection. It is open to the general public; any researcher presenting a valid personal identification card with photo is welcome to use the collections. A virtual orientation with images is available for first-time users. Tours of the Library may be arranged by calling or e-mailing ahead.
John Carter Brown Library
On the Main Green near the intersection of Brown and George streets. 401-863-2725, JCBL_Information@Brown.edu
The John Carter Brown Library, is an “independently administered and funded center for advanced research in history and the humanities, founded in 1846 and located at Brown University since 1901. The library collects primary historical sources pertaining to North and South America before ca. 1825.” Visitors may enter the Reading Room to look at its exhibition cases. Only registered researchers may use the tables in the Reading Room. See their calendar of exhibitions to find out what’s on display when you visit.
Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology
In Manning Hall on the Main Green. 401-863-2065.
Brown University’s teaching museum, offering exhibits, public lectures, performances, symposia, festivals, and a broad range of programs and events for all ages. See their schedule of exhibits to see what will be on display in early April.
Annmary Brown Memorial
21 Brown Street, 401-863-2942 (note that the building hours are 1:00 to 5:00 pm, M-F)
Large tomb built by Rush Hawkins as a tribute to his beloved wife Annmary Brown, who died in 1903. Three of the four rooms feature selections from his collection of art and other items (the rare books that were originally included have subsequently been moved to the John Hay Library), while the fourth room provides the final resting place for both Annmary and Rush.
