Doing Good by Stealth: The Philanthropy and Service of Annie Burr Lewis
Preservation Society of Newport, RI
The Lewises maintained an eighteenth-century summer home in Newport, Rhode Island, the town where Annie Burr was born and spent her childhood summers. Her attachment to the town and her interest in historic preservation benefited the Preservation Society of Newport County, Newport, Rhode Island, where her experience and advice were valued. For example, her counsel was sought in connection with the restoration and interpretation of the mid-eighteenth-century Hunter House, the purchase of which in 1945 had prompted the establishment of the Preservation Society of Newport County. In the draft of her thoughtful response, one of the few documents in her hand, she expresses concern about the cost of the restoration estimates and suggests alternative strategies. Ultimately, several years later, she donated money to further the restoration of the house.
