Marsden J. Perry, a turn-of-the century railroad financier, assembled an extensive collection of 18th century furniture, ceramics, silver and carpets suitable for furnishing the John Brown house he purchased in 1901. The collection was formed under the advise of connoisseurs C.L. Pendleton (whose collection was given to the Rhode Island School of Design) and Richard Canfield. Mr. Perry purchased many examples from the Canfield Collection upon his death in 1914.