Rush C. (Rush Christopher) Hawkins

Rush Christopher Hawkins (1831–1920) was an American lawyer, Union Army officer, politician, book collector, and art patron. Born in Vermont, he became best known during the Civil War as colonel of the 9th New York Infantry, a regiment often called Hawkins' Zouaves.

After the war, Hawkins built another reputation as a serious collector of early printed books and manuscripts. Brown University notes that he created the Annmary Brown Memorial in Providence as a memorial to his wife, Annmary Brown Hawkins; the building was completed in 1907 and served as a home for collections he assembled with great care.

That combination of military service and lifelong collecting gives Hawkins an unusual place in American cultural history. He is often remembered not only for his wartime role, but also for preserving books, art, and manuscripts that continued to matter long after his own time.