The History of Newport Through the Gilded Age

Tiverton Public Library, 34 Roosevelt Avenue. This talk, presented by Fred Zilian, will examine the first 275 years of Newport's history, with emphasis on its founding, its eighteenth century Golden Age, and its nineteenth century Gilded Age. When we arrive at its Gilded Age, we shall look at the lifestyles of the rich and then consider the four women who essentially led Newport high society during the two months of the "summer colony." These women—because of their pedigree, their personalities, or the plenty of their wealth—stood above the rest of society in their influence and impact. They spent and spent on their mansions in NYC and "cottages" in Newport, their clothes, their dinners, parties and balls, their platoons of servants, and their expensive hobbies. Free. (401) 625-6796; www.tivertonlibrary.org.