Among Friends

We regret to report the death of Robert S. Ames, who for almost 20 years served as the Vice-Chair of the Friends. Bob and his family came to Providence in 1969 when he was transferred to Textron headquarters as a group officer, where he subsequently became an Executive Vice President. Although Bob had no formal Brown affiliation, he quickly gravitated to the John Hay Library through his passion for collecting books and prints, particularly illustrated travel narratives of the American West. A very active member of the Friends, Bob was generous with his time, his counsel, and his great enthusiasm for books and learning. He was a lively and valuable presence at the May meeting of the Friends Board, just a month before his sudden death.

Bob's generosity to the Brown Library extended over many years. He was instrumental in the negotiations that led to the gift of the Gorham Silver Company archives to Brown. The Gorham archive, the centerpiece of a recent conference that brought scholars and silver collectors to Brown from across the country, is the most important archive to survive from Rhode Island's industrial past. Bob and his wife Margaret, who survived him by barely a month, also recently had given their collection of illustrated books to the John Hay Library. This collection is particularly strong in western travel narratives.

Beyond the tangible gifts, it is Bob's and Margaret's friendship that we will miss most, a friendship based upon a love of libraries and books.

Contributions to the library in memory of Bob and Margaret have been received from friends and former colleagues, Textron, Inc., Richard and Helen Arthur, James and Helen Atkins, Susan Cole, Joel Cooper, Charles Frowenfelter, Lillian Gallagher, Katherine Gisel, Frederick Griffiths, Morris Jobe, Mrs. Adolph Kastelowitz, M/M Thomas C. Kee, George Konol, Fraser Lang, M/M William Ledbetter, Duncan Mauran, Ilse Nigro, Mrs. William Nochisaki, William Payne, Katherine Perry, M/M Bernard Raffel, Dr./M Charles Robinson, Robert Riesman, Nino Scotti, Sippican, Inc. and Shelby Wilcox.