Annmary Brown Memorial

The Annmary Brown Memorial houses exhibits of European and American paintings from the 17th through the 20th centuries, the Cyril and Harriet Mazansky British Sword Collection, as well as personal mementos of its founder, General Rush C. Hawkins, and the Brown family. The Memorial was independent until 1948, when the building and its holdings were transferred to Brown University. The book and manuscript collections, assembled by General Hawkins and formerly housed in the Memorial, were moved to the John Hay Library in 1990. The Annmary Brown Memorial, designed by Rhode Island architect Norman Isham, was built between 1903 and 1907 as a library, art gallery, and mausoleum. Its monumental bronze doors feature allegorical representations of Art and Learning, signaling to visitors that the Memorial offers many treasures to explore, in addition to the crypt at the rear of the building that holds the remains of Annmary Brown and her husband, General Hawkins. The Memorial was independent until 1948, when the building and its holdings were transferred to Brown University.