Pre-Civil War Typed Letter by Thomas A. Doyle, Acting Grand Secretary of the Masonic / Freemasons M.W. Grand Lodge Of Rhode Island, under M.W. Jervis J. Smith, Grand Master Oct. 3, 1859, and regarding the death of William C. Barker (previous Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge). Item is typed and signed by hand.

The author, Thomas A. Doyle, would become the 9th, 11th & 13th Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, serving 18 yr in the office between the years 1864 and 1886 and was considered by many to be one of Providence's greatest mayers.

Some specific achievements of his terms of office included:

- Construction of Providence City Hall was completed in 1878.

- Introduction of a uniformed police force, which became a model for other cities.

- Introduction of a fire alarm signal system in December 1870.

- Construction of a municipal water system which drew water from the Pawtuxet River was introduced in December 1870.

- A comprehensive sewer system, which emptied into the river and harbor, was begun in 1872.

- The school system was improved and expanded, and many schoolhouses built, including the high school in 1878.

- Acquisition of Roger Williams Park through donation (1871).

- The city population grew from 54,000 to 120,000.

- The city took on large amounts of debt.

- Doyle began a complete makeover of railroad approaches to Providence, including eliminating grade crossings and constructing a much larger Union Station. These efforts were not completed until after Doyle's death.