• Full name of ancestor(s) with approximate birth and death dates
• Location where family resided
• Affiliations of ancestor(s) – religious groups, societal organizations, places of employment, institutional organizations, military service
• Names of persons associated with ancestor

Items one might find in the Manuscripts Collection include:

• Property records – deeds, probate, tax lists
• Personal records – account books, diaries, correspondence
• Military service records
• Business records – employment records, account books, bank accounts
• Organizational records – pew records, member lists, yearbooks, admission records

          All items in the Manuscript Collection must be paged from the closed stacks.  An Item Request Slip must be filled out for each item requested.  A maximum of three items may be paged at one time (e.g. 3 boxes or 2 volumes and 1 box).  All requests are subject to the Paging Schedule.  Slips must be filled out before the time on the Paging Schedule and turned into the Special Collections Desk located at the back of the Reading Room.

            It is recommended that patrons take copious notes when using manuscripts for research.  Citations are also necessary for locating items again in the future.  A citation form is available for researchers needing assistance in properly citing collections.  Patrons may not publish information without the written consent of the Rhode Island Historical Society.  Both forms are available at the Special Collections Desk.

            Materials from the Manuscript Collection may be photocopied at the discretion of library staff.  Only staff members may photocopy items in the Manuscript Collection.  The fee is $.50 per page, plus Rhode Island state sales tax.  Digital reproduction is also available and is performed by library staff only.  Patrons may not use cameras, scanners or other digital reproduction equipment on materials.  Forms for both photocopies and digital reproductions are available at the Special Collections Desk.