Public Historian Laurence Cotton to Speak on Olmsted 200th Anniversary
Cotton will explore Olmsted’s lasting impact on public landscapes for Goff Lecture
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Rhode Island Historical Society will host public historian and filmmaker Laurence Cotton on Sunday, May 15, at 3 p.m., for its annual Goff Lecture highlighting the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frederick Law Olmsted, the master designer of public parks and a founder of the field of landscape architecture.
Cotton will discuss the remarkable life and career of the Renaissance man Olmsted, a prolific writer, social reformer and advocate for the preservation of natural spaces. The talk will explore the influences of the design traditions, aesthetics and philosophies that shaped Olmsted’s thought – including English garden design, the Hudson River School and transcendentalism.
The program will be hosted at the historic Corliss-Carrington House across the street from the John Brown House Museum. Guests are encouraged to walk the grounds of the Great Lawn of the John Brown House following Cotton’s talk to learn more about the RIHS’s 200th anniversary initiative “Putting Down Roots,” which will see the transformation of Benefit Street’s largest greenspace. The new plans pay homage to the original landscape design of the Olmsted Brothers, circa 1900.
Registration is limited. Event tickets are free and available at rihs.org
The annual Goff Lecture is a part of the Rhode Island Historical Society’s Bicentennial Celebrations, sponsored by Amica Insurance.
A practicing public historian, Cotton was trained as a cultural anthropologist and brings that lens to bear on much of his work. He served as a historian, filmmaker, originator and consulting producer for the PBS special Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America. Currently based in Portland, Oregon, Cotton originally hails from Boston, renowned for its Olmsted landscapes and the home base for the Olmsted Brothers firm.
About the Rhode Island Historical Society
The Rhode Island Historical Society, the state’s oldest and only statewide historical organization, is dedicated to honoring, interpreting and sharing Rhode Island’s past to enrich the present and inspire the future. Founded in 1822, the RIHS is an advocate for history as a means to develop empathy and 21st-century skills, using its historical materials and knowledge to explore topics of timeless relevance and public interest.
As a Smithsonian Affiliate, it is dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible public programming and educational opportunities for all Rhode Islanders through its four sites: the John Brown House Museum, the Museum of Work & Culture, the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center and the Aldrich House.
The headquarters of the Rhode Island Historical Society are located at 110 Benevolent St., Providence, RI 02906. Information: (401) 331-8575. Website: rihs.org. Follow the RIHS on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.