Earle Williams Newton II

NEWTON Art Benefactor, Author and Historian - Earle Williams Newton II, passed away peacefully at his home in Ponte Vedra on Wednesday, 5/24/06. He was born April 10, 1917 in Cortland, New York to Earle Williams Newton and Anna (Moore) Newton. Dr. Newton received his B.A. degree magna cum laude from Amherst College, Mass., his Masters degree from Columbia University, N. Y. and his PhD from Walden University, Naples. He was a Fulbright Scholar studying in London, England, received his diploma of Museum Administration from Bristol University, England, was a Senior Research Scholar at the University of London and Lecturer at Uppsala University in Sweden. Dr. Newton served his country as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor. Dr. Newton began his career when he started his own printing business, The Bibliophile Press, out of his parents' home in 1930 when he was just 13 years old. The young Earle printed cards, letterheads, and pamphlets. He continued to operate his press duringthe summers while he was a student at Amherst College in Massachusetts. Amherst's poet-in-residence, Robert Frost, was very interested in his student's printing career. Frost offered Newton the opportunity to print the first separate edition of his poem, "The Gold Hesperidee". Earle's mother, herself an accomplished artist, illustrated the cover and a friend and best man at Earle's wedding, Charles Miller, designed the text cut. The publisher's copy of the poem is inscribed, "To Earle Newton, my best wishes in his next undertaking as a publisher, Robert Frost". Dr. Newton founded two magazines, Vermont Life and American Heritage in the late 1940s. Over his long and distinguished career, Dr. Newton was Director of Historical Research for Webster Publishing Company in St. Louis, Director of the Vermont Historical Society, Director of Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts, Director of the Institute on Historical and Archival Management at Radcliff-Harvard Universities, Director of thePennsylvania Bureau of Museums and Historic Properties and Director of the Museum of Art, Science and Industry in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Executive Director of the Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board, Director General of the National Quadicentennial Commission, President of St. Augustine Restoration, Inc., Acting Director of Libraries at Flagler College, St. Augustine, Executive Director of the Pensacola Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission, Acting Chancellor of Mark Hopkins College, Brattleboro, Vermont, Executive Director of the Richmondtown Restoration, Long Island, Adjunct Professor of Humanities and Honorary Fellow at Norwich University, Vermont, Director of the Museum of the Americas, Vermont and donor of and consultant to the Earle W. Newton Center for British American Studies, Savannah School for Art and Design, Savannah. Conferred honors and awards include The Queen of England's honor of Officer of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003 for his large donation of British and American artwork to Savannah School of Art and Design, Savannah, Georgia and his lifelong desire to promote "anglo-american" culture ( www.scad.edu/newton); Knight Commander of the Order of Isabella la Catolica, Spain presented in 1965 for Dr. Newton's work in the restoration of St. Augustine during the 1960s; American Institute of Graphic Arts' Editorial Award for the years 1950, 1951 and 1952; Special Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History in 1949. Dr. Newton was the author of The Vermont Story: A History of the People of the Green Mountain State 1749-1949, Before Pearl Harbor, Essays on the Social and Economic History of Vermont, The Americanization of the Gulf Coast 1803-1850, The Upper Connecticut: Narratives of Its Settlement and Its Part in the American Revolution, Spain and Her Rivals on the Gulf Coast, In Search of Gulf Coast Colonial History, and Our American Heritage - An Interpretation. Dr. Newton was a member of the American Association of State and Local History, American Association of Museums, American History Association, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Vermont Historical Society, Inter-American Institute of Fine Arts, British Museum Association, International Council on Museums, Newcomen Society, Rotary, Phi Beta Kappa, Cum Laude Society and Sigma Delta Chi.

Dr. Newton leaves behind his beloved wife and life partner of 69 years (1938) Josephine Antoinette Lyon Newton of Cortland, NY/Ponte Vedra, his daughter Antoinette Newton Townsend (Clark) of Jacksonville, a sister Nancy Felt (Arthur) of California, two nieces, a foster son, Augustin Fernandez of Vitoria, Spain and very special friends, John Sundeman of St. Augustine and Cecilia Mott of Jacksonville. He was predeceased by his son Earle Williams Newton III in 2000, and his sister India Alida Newton in 1995. He also leaves an incredible legacy through his tireless work in the arts and generosity of his knowledge and contributions to past and future history. The family wishes to thank the Northeast Florida Community Hospice for their invaluable care and support, and all the wonderful caregivers who truly cared for Earle. By request of the family, no public services will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be given to the NE Florida Community Hospice. Services under the direction and care of Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com