In Memoriam: Paul R. Campbell
1948-2020
The Rhode Island Historical Society joins the Rhode Island research community to mourn the passing of Paul R. Campbell. A prolific researcher and author inspired by the history of Providence, Campbell served as Library Director at the Rhode Island Historical Society from 1980 to 1987.
Campbell wrote some of the most unique and well-illustrated Rhode Island history books, many highlighting R.I.H.S. collections, and many with his frequent collaborator, historian Dr. Patrick T. Conley. Notably: Providence: A Pictorial History (1982); Firefighters and Fires in Providence: a pictorial history of the Providence Fire Department, 1754-1984. (1985); and South Providence (2006)
With his many successful collaborations he also published books as a sole author including: A Community Apart: a history of public housing in Providence and the Providence Housing Authority. (2007)
In addition to the books above, the R.I.H.S. Research Center holds the Paul Campbell Research Notes, MSS 369, which were instrumental in the Narragansett Tribe’s legal land controversies of the 1980s. The collection was donated by Campbell jointly with Glenn LaFantasie, another of his important collaborators. At the time of his death he was working on a book about the silver and jewelry industry in Rhode Island.
We send our deepest condolences to the extended Campbell Family.
A full obituary can be found at: https://www.daiglefuneralhome.com/obituary/Paul-Campbell
