Servant Life at The Breakers: A Room with a View Holly Collins
The Breakers (1893-95) is a case study in architectural planning for domestic service in late 19th century America. As one of the grandest houses in Newport, and the nation in general, the servants' quarters of The Breakers are an elaborate sequence of work and living spaces designed to support an opulent life style operated with skill and precision. This research report contains an analysis of the architectural plans and communications systems of the servants’ quarters of The Breakers. Also included is a study of servant life at The Breakers within the larger context of the history of domestic service in the 1890s and early 1900s.
TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Domestic Service in the Gilded Age................................................................1-3
II. Richard Morris Hunt’s Service Arrangements at The Breakers........................4-6
III. An Evaluation of the Servants’ Quarters........................................................7-27 Hallways and Corridors Bedchambers Closets Furnishings Bathrooms Unusual Features Summoning Servants
IV. Servant Life at The Breakers.....................................................................28-34 Serving the Wealthy Serving Mrs. Vanderbilt Living-in at The Breakers
V. Several Servant Roles and Proposed Floor Plans for their Bedchambers....35-40 Butler Ladies Maid Valet Kitchen Maid
VI. Proposed Floor Plans and Early 20th Century Servants’ Livery
VII. Figures
VIII. Addendum Synopsis of the In House Communication Systems at The Breakers Graphic Illustrations of Call Systems
IX. Reference Western Electric Co. Catalogue Information Patent Information
X. Bibliography
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The Breakers (1893-95) is a case study in architectural planning for domestic service in late 19th century America. As one of the grandest houses in Newport, and the nation in general, the servants' quarters of The Breakers are an elaborate sequence of work and living spaces designed to support an opulent life style operated with skill and precision. This research report contains an analysis of the architectural plans and communications systems of the servants’ quarters of The Breakers. Also included is a study of servant life at The Breakers within the larger context of the history of domestic service in the 1890s and early 1900s. 
