Historical note:

            Max H. Flaxman (1914-1995) was born in Providence, R.I. to Meyer and Anne Flaxman. He graduated from Hope High School in 1930. He received his undergraduate degree from Brown University in 1934 and his Master's Degree in Education from Rhode Island College in 1936. He taught science and math in various junior and senior high schools from the late 1930s to the mid- 1950s. Mr. Flaxman was the head of Guidance for Classical High School (1953-1956) and then became Assistant Principal (1956-1969). After his tenure at Classical he became Principal of Hope High School (1969-1970) and then Principal of Nathanael Greene Middle School (1970-1976). After his retirement he continued to teach part-time (late 1970s to early 1990s) for the Moses Brown School and the Lincoln School for Girls. He also served as a consultant for Johnson and Wales University (1977-1978) and for the Providence School Department (1983-1987). Besides his work in education he was a member of several organizations: Temple Emanu-El, the Touro Fraternal Association, and the Providence Hebrew Free Loan Association.

            Max Flaxman married Esther Saslaw (b. 1914) in Providence, R.I. on July 5, 1936. They had three children: Allen, Stephen, and Dorothy. Mr. Flaxman died August 15, 1995 and is buried at the Lincoln Cemetery in Warwick, R.I.

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Scope and content:

            This collection contains material from as early as 1936 to as late as 1995, with the bulk of the information from 1956 to 1969 and from the mid 1980s through 1995. However, the papers are not complete after 1969 and there are gaps in years.

            Found in these records are Flaxman's papers as Assistant Principal of Classical High School, as well as other professional activities, personal papers, and confidential material on students, faculty, and staff that has been sealed until 2050. There is very little information pertaining to his year as principal of Hope High School or his years as principal of Nathanael Greene Middle School. There is some information on when he was a teacher at Lincoln School for Girls and a substantial amount of information pertaining to his consultant work for the Providence School Department. His personal papers consist mostly of employment and personal correspondence.

            There were a few items of special interest found in this collection: information about the"Right to Know Act" - enacted 1983, amended 1985 - as it pertained to the Providence School Department. This act gave individuals the right to know if they were working with or being exposed to hazardous substances (box 3, folder 52); a 1955 air raid bulletin which described exiting and re-entering the building as a gender segregated process in which the boys exit first and the girls re-enter first. "Haste is important because one minute is allowed for passing of male students." "Girls are to return quickly to their rooms before boys are permitted to enter the first floor corridors."(box 1, folder 19); fallout shelter management plans for the community and schools (box 1, folder 59); and a letter describing Cambodia in 1992 (box 4, folder 12).

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Provenance:

These records were donated in 1999 by Dorothy Kupitz, the daughter of Max H. Flaxman.

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Processing note:

A folder of photographs was sent to the Graphics Division and a folder of printed material was sent to the Reference Division.

Restriction:

            Many of the papers in this collection provide detailed personal information on specific students and staff members, including student evaluations, discipline reports, and confidential letters of recommendation. This sort of material was decided to be of great potential interest to the social historian. However, its use during the subject’s lifetime would constitute a breech of confidentiality. Thus, the Rhode Island Historical Society has placed all of the confidential material aside in one box, which is not to be examined for any purpose until the year 2050.

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Inventory:

Series 1: Classical High School

Box 1, folder 1: Absence: personnel, 1967

Box 1, folder 2: Accelerated program at Nathan Bishop, undated

Box 1, folder 3: Advanced placement program, 1962

Box 1, folder 4: Advisory committee on vocational education, 1962-1963

Box 1, folder 5: After school activities, undated

Box 1, folder 6: Alternate Learning Program notes, undated

Box 1, folder 7: Anthony medal schedule, 1964

Box 1, folder 8: Armed forces day, 1964

Box 1, folder 9: Articulation of college and secondary schools, 1963-1966

Box 1, folder 10: Assemblies, 1960-1964

Box 1, folder 11: Assistant principal duties, undated

Box 1, folder 12: Athletics, 1960-1961 and undated

Box 1, folder 13: Attendance statistics, 1959-1967

Box 1, folder 14: Audio-visual, 1961-1964

Box 1, folder 15: Biology, 1961 and undated

Box 1, folder 16: Books: issuance and lost books, 1960, 1963

Box 1, folder 17: Brown University, 1962-1965 and undated

Box 1, folder 18: Building advisory committee, 1960-1964

Box 1, folder 19: Bulletins, 1948, 1955 and undated

Box 1, folder 20: Business education day, 1963-1965

Box 1, folder 21: C.E.E.B (college boards), 1962-1968 and undated

Box 1, folder 22: Census department, 1966

Box 1, folder 23: Certification: RI state department of education, 1964

Box 1, folder 24: Chemistry, undated

Box 1, folder 25: Civil defense, 1963-1965

Box 1, folder 26: Class distribution/teacher assignments, 1962-1965

Box 1, folder 27: Classical: outline/philosophy/profile, 1960 and undated

Box 1, folder 28: Classical: proposed new facility, 1961-1964

Box 1, folder 29: Closing school, 1962-1964

Box 1, folder 30: Clubs: YWCA teenage program, 1963

Box 1, folder 31: College admissions officers, 1954-1963

Box 1, folder 32: Colleges: reports, 1956-1957

Box 1, folder 33: Conferences, 1966, 1968 and undated

Box 1, folder 34: Corrective plan for guidance and admission (CPGA), 1963 and undated

Box 1, folder 35: Correspondence, 1957

Box 1, folder 36: Correspondence, 1958

Box 1, folder 37: Correspondence, 1959

Box 1, folder 38: Correspondence, 1960

Box 1, folder 39: Correspondence, 1961

Box 1, folder 40: Correspondence, 1962

Box 1, folder 41: Correspondence, 1963

Box 1, folder 42: Correspondence, 1964

Box 1, folder 43: Correspondence, 1965

Box 1, folder 44: Correspondence, 1966

Box 1, folder 45: Correspondence, 1967

Box 1, folder 46: Correspondence, 1968

Box 1, folder 47: Correspondence, 1969

Box 1, folder 48: Correspondence, undated

Box 1, folder 49: Counselor's meeting: Junior/Senior High School, 1964

Box 1, folder 50: Course of study, 1959

Box 1, folder 51: Curriculum, 1961-1965 and undated

Box 1, folder 52: Data processing, 1965-1968 and undated

Box 1, folder 53: Department meetings, 1962-1966

Box 1, folder 54: Educational testing service, 1960-1963

Box 1, folder 55: Entering 10B's, 1957 and undated

Box 1, folder 56: Examination schedules, 1962-1965, 1967-1968

Box 1, folder 57: Expenditures, 1966 and undated

Box 1, folder 58: Faculty meetings, 1963-1967

Box 1, folder 59: Fallout shelter management, 1962 and undated

Box 1, folder 60: Federal programs, 1966

Box 1, folder 61: Fire, 1962, 1965

Box 1, folder 62: Fire drills, 1961-1967

Box 1, folder 63: Foreign language curriculum, 1957, 1964-68 and undated

Box 1, folder 64: Grade assignments, 1958-1960

Box 1, folder 65: Grade 9 and 10B students by school: list of, 1957

Box 1, folder 66: Graduation, 1958-1968

Box 1, folder 67: Guidance, 1962-1966

Box 1, folder 68: Gymnasium, undated

Box 1, folder 69: Health department notes, 1962-1967

Box 2, folder 1: Hebrew day school, 1963-1968 and undated

Box 2, folder 2: Highlights: year end report, 1964-65, 1967-68

Box 2, folder 3: History department meetings, 1964-1968

Box 2, folder 4: I.Q. distribution 9B class, 1964

Box 2, folder 5: Impacted area assistance program, 1966

Box 2, folder 6: Junior achievement, 1957-1960

Box 2, folder 7: Junior high schools, 1964

Box 2, folder 8: Language lab, 1964

Box 2, folder 9: Library, 1961 and undated

Box 2, folder 10: Lockers, 1963-1964

Box 2, folder 11: Marks, 1965

Box 2, folder 12: Master of arts program at Brown, 1957

Box 2, folder 13: Math curriculums, 1961 and undated

Box 2, folder 14: Mathematics project: Title III ESEA, 1967

Box 2, folder 15: Math, 1964, 1967, andundated

Box 2, folder 16: Memos, 1968

Box 2, folder 17: Meetings: senior high school principals, 1957-1960

Box 2, folder 18: Miscellaneous:

            Brown University lecture program "The Comprehensive High School," 1958

            List of college applications for the class of June 1968

            Lists of student names for study hall and period 1 classes, undated

            Flyer for Harkness Painting Company, undated

            Notes, undated

Box 2, folder 19: Music department, 1964, 1967

Box 2, folder 20: New programs, 1964-1965 and undated

Box 2, folder 21: Newspaper clippings, 1967, 1969, and undated

Box 2, folder 22: Organization, 1963-64, 1966-67

Box 2, folder 23: Personnel list, 1964, 1966

Box 2, folder 24: Physical education assignments, 1968

Box 2, folder 25: Physical science study committee, 1958 and undated

Box 2, folder 26: Physics, 1955, 1959-60, and undated

Box 2, folder 27: Placement services, 1961

Box 2, folder 28: Policies and procedures, 1960, rest undated

Box 2, folder 29: Policy on student teachers, 1959, 1965

Box 2, folder 30: Principals' meetings (Sr. high) 1961-1963, 1966-1967, and undated

Box 2, folder 31: Programming, 1962-1964

Box 2, folder 32: Project Discovery, 1966-1967

Box 2, folder 33: Promotional plan: staff, 1964

Box 2, folder 34: Promotion: certified personnel, 1957

Box 2, folder 35: Quinn, Edward: assistant superintendent, 1962-1964

Box 2, folder 36: Released time: attendance report, 1964-1965

Box 2, folder 37: Repairs, 1965, 1967

Box 2, folder 38: Report: Donald E. Leonard. "The Role of the Principal in the Organization and

Direction of Guidance Services," 1965

Box 2, folder 39: Reports by Max H. Flaxman, 1957, 1959, 1967-1968

Box 2, folder 40: Retirement: school personnel, undated

Box 2, folder 41: RICAPS (RI Citizen Association for Public Schools), 1958

Box 2, folder 42: RI guidance and personnel association, 1957, 1960

Box 2, folder 43: RI secondary school principals association, 1957-1966, and undated

Box 2, folder 44: RI state scholarship program, 1962, 1964

Box 2, folder 45: Robinson, William: Department of Education, 1963, 1965

Box 2, folder 46: Room record sheets, 1964

Box 2, folder 47: Roster of graduates with doctorates, 1957-1962

Box 2, folder 48: Salary scale: principals, 1964 and undated

Box 2, folder 49: Saturday Review article: "Teenage Tyranny," 1963

Box 2, folder 50: Saturday seminar program (URI), 1960-1961

Box 2, folder 51: Scholarships: African-Americans, undated

Box 2, folder 52: Scholarship requirements, 1956-1960

Box 2, folder 53: School committee yearly report, 1958-1959

Box 2, folder 54: Science department, 1960-1962 and undated

Box 2, folder 55: Science fair, 1963

Box 2, folder 56: Science outlines, undated

Box 2, folder 57: School lunch program, 1966

Box 2, folder 58: School staff and administration, undated

Box 2, folder 59: Smoking project, 1965

Box 2, folder 60: Social studies curriculum study, 1964

Box 2, folder 61: Special bulletins, 1965-1968

Box 2, folder 62: Special education, undated

Box 2, folder 63: Speeches, 1960-1969 and undated

Box 2, folder 64: Standard procedures, 1960 and undated

Box 2, folder 65: State reports, 1960-1966

Box 2, folder 66: Student budget, undated

Box 2, folder 67: Student council constitution, undated

Box 2, folder 68: Student handbook information, undated

Box 2, folder 69: Student teaching, 1966

Box 2, folder 70: Study habits, undated

Box 2, folder 71: Summer reading list: tenth and eleventh grade, 1967

Box 2, folder 72: Summer theater workshops, undated

Box 2, folder 73: Sunshine fund, 1963

Box 2, folder 74: Superintendent memos, 1969

Box 2, folder 75: Supervisory staff meetings, 1961-1966

Box 2, folder 76: Surplus equipment, 1960, 1964

Box 2, folder 77: Teachers, 1957-1963 and undated

Box 2, folder 78: Teacher's cooperative, 1963

Box 2, folder 79: Teacher's education scholarships, 1960

Box 2, folder 80: Theater trips: RI School of Design, 1966-1968

Box 2, folder 81: TV programs: educational, 1955, 1958 and undated

Box 2, folder 82: Traffic squad, 1963

Box 2, folder 83: Transfers, 1964

Box 2, folder 84: Tuberculosis League, 1964

Box 2, folder 85: United Fund, 1957-1960

Box 2, folder 86: US senate youth program, 1962

Box 2, folder 87: Vocational/technical education, 1967-1968

Box 2, folder 88: Vocational rehabilitation, undated

Box 2, folder 89: Yale University: statistics on admission and financial aid, class of 1967

Series 2: Other professional activities

Box 3, folder 1: Analysis and recommendations: curriculum - english, math, social studies, and foreign language, 1983

Box 3, folder 2: Analysis and recommendations: curriculum - vocational, industrial arts, home economics, arts, business, and science/health magnet, and science, 1984 and undated

Box 3, folder 3: Articles, 1980, 1987, rest undated

Box 3, folder 4: Brigham Middle School: partitions, 1985

Box 3, folder 5: Business magnet school, undated

Box 3, folder 6: Central High School: science curriculum revisions, undated

Box 3, folder 7: Classical High School: science, 1985

Box 3, folder 8: Community for respectful and responsible people, 1992

Box 3, folder 9: Conference at Classical High School: chemistry/physics teachers, 1985

Box 3, folder 10: Correspondence: Joseph Alamagno, acting superintendent, 1987

Box 3, folder 11: Correspondence: Joe DiPalma, assistant superintendent, 1986-1987

Box 3, folder 12: Correspondence: Dr. Robert Ricci, superintendent, 1986, rest undated

Box 3, folder 13: Correspondence: Providence school department, 1986-1987

Box 3, folder 14: Curriculum development procedures, 1977

Box 3, folder 15: Early childhood program, 1977

Box 3, folder 16: Gender issues in science and math, undated

Box 3, folder 17: Grove Home students in Providence school system, 1986

Box 3, folder 18: Hope High School: correspondence to and from Louis Kramer, acting

superintendent, 1969

Box 3, folder 19: Hope High School: principal, 1969-1970

Box 3, folder 20: Hope High School: arts magnet program, 1983

Box 3, folder 21: Hope High School: miscellaneous papers:

            Memos, 1981-1986

            Correspondence, 1986 and undated

            Interim report, 1986

            Teacher handbook, undated

            Graduation requirements, undated

Box 3, folder 22: Hope High School: teacher's manual, 1981

Box 3, folder 23: Johnson & Wales University, 1977-1978

Box 3, folder 24: Lab safety, 1986

Box 3, folder 25: Lincoln School for Girls: faculty handbook, 1983-1984

Box 3, folder 26: Lincoln School for Girls: miscellaneous papers:

            Correspondence, 1980-1983

            Course syllabus in physics, 1983-1984

Box 3, folder 27: Middle school science room construction, 1985-1987

Box 3, folder 28: Miscellaneous:

            Summer repairs and maintenance: lower school, 1989

            Lincoln School: summer cleaning schedule, 1989

            The Classical Review, 1981

            Issues in middle school education, 1976

            Plans for moving students between schools, undated

            Course listings for Providence high schools, undated

Box 3, folder 29: Moses Brown School: teaching, 1989-1990

Box 3, folder 30: Nathanael Greene Middle School: correspondence, 1975-1976

Box 3, folder 31: Nathanael Greene Middle School: enrollment figures, 1975-1976

Box 3, folder 32: Nathanael Greene Middle School: evaluation report, 1974

Box 3, folder 33: Nathanael Greene Middle School: letter to the providence journal pertaining to the human relations group, 1972

Box 3, folder 34: Newspaper clippings, 1984 and undated

Box 3, folder 35: Paralegal job market report, 1978

Box 3, folder 36: Project Bump, 1986

Box 3, folder 37: Projects, undated

Box 3, folder 38: Projects completed or in progress: list of, 1984-1987

Box 3, folder 39: Providence public school education fund, 1985

Box 3, folder 40: Providence school department, 1984-1986 and undated

Box 3, folder 41: Public works project: school component costs, 1976

Box 3, folder 42: Recommendation: foreign language curriculum, undated

Box 3, folder 43: Repairs: science rooms - Providence high schools, 1987, rest undated

Box 3, folder 44: RI legislation to establish a school for the arts, 1984

Box 3, folder 47: Reports: Dr. Robert Ricci, re: Asian students, 1986

Box 3, folder 48: Reports, 1971-1972 and undated

Box 3, folder 49: Reports, 1976-1977

Box 3, folder 50: Reports, 1982

Box 3, folder 51: Reports, 1985

Box 3, folder 52: Right-to-Know law: in relation to Providence schools, 1986-1987

Box 3, folder 53: Roger Williams Junior College, 1963-1967

Box 3, folder 54: Roger Williams Middle School: auditorium project, 1985-1986

Box 3, folder 55: "School-in-the-Park": satellite school proposal, 1994-1995

Box 3, folder 56: Transportation: Camden Avenue, 1986

Box 3, folder 57: Transportation notes, 1986

Box 3, folder 58: Transportation notes, 1986

Box 4, folder 1: Transportation reports, 1986-1987

Box 4, folder 2: Workshop: Biology 1, 1985-1986

Box 4, folder 3: Workshop: Chemistry 1, 1985-1986

Box 4, folder 4: Workshop: Physics 1, 1985-1986

Series 3: Personal papers

Box 4, folder 5: Ancestry notes, undated

Box 4, folder 6: Autobiography

Box 4, folder 7: Brown University: Class of 1934: annual get-togethers, 1963-65, 1989

Box 4, folder 8: Classical High School: class of 1962 reunion book, 1982

Box 4, folder 9: Correspondence: employment, 1953

Box 4, folder 10: Correspondence: employment, 1977 and undated

Box 4, folder 11: Correspondence: employment, 1987-1994

Box 4, folder 12: Correspondence: Cook, Susan, 1990-1993

Box 4, folder 13: Correspondence: personal, 1952 and undated

Box 4, folder 14: Correspondence: personal, 1956-1959

Box 4, folder 15: Correspondence: personal, 1961-1965

Box 5, folder 1: Correspondence: personal, 1966-1969

Box 5, folder 2: Correspondence: personal, 1970-1973

Box 5, folder 3: Correspondence: personal, 1974-1978

Box 5, folder 4: Correspondence: personal, 1982-1986

Box 5, folder 5: Correspondence: personal, 1988

Box 5, folder 6: Correspondence: personal, 1988-1989

Box 5, folder 7: Correspondence: personal, 1990-1991

Box 5, folder 8: Correspondence: personal, 1992

Box 5, folder 9: Correspondence: personal, 1992-1993

Box 5, folder 10: Correspondence: personal, 1993-1994

Box 5, folder 11: Correspondence: personal, 1995-1996

Box 5, folder 12: Correspondence: personal, letters to his future wife Esther, 1934

Box 5, folder 13: Diary: travel log of trip to Europe: written by Esther Flaxman, 1968

Box 5, folder 14: Financial records: investments and savings, 1973-1976

Box 5, folder 15: Hope High School: class of 1930: 65th reunion, 1995

Box 5, folder 16: Hope High School: yearbook, 1930

Box 5, folder 17: Miscellaneous:

            Tickets to a dance, 1936

            Tickets to graduation at Central High School, 1967

            Tickets to graduation at Mount Pleasant High School, 1967

            Article on a stolen art work done by a relative, undated

            Providence statistics, undated

            Anniversary gift announcement for in-laws, undated

Box 5, folder 18: Newspaper clipping: personal, 1975

Box 5, folder 19: Notes: on the book "The Lost Paradise," undated

Box 5, folder 20: Resume, undated

Box 5, folder 21: RI Retired Teachers' Association newsletters, 1991, 1994

Box 5, folder 22: Rodio & Tarro: teaching contract at Lincoln School, 1979

Box 5, folder 23: Temple Emanu-El: special honor, 1960

Series 4: Confidential (Closed through 2050)

Box 6, folder 1: Clerical staff, 1962-1963

Box 6, folder 2: Correspondence: admissions: 1957-1964

Box 6, folder 3: Correspondence: admissions: NYU, 1966-1968

Box 6, folder 4: Correspondence: college entrance, 1957-1962

Box 6, folder 5: Correspondence: faculty: classical, 1962-1967

Box 6, folder 6: Correspondence: graduates, 1966-1968

Box 6, folder 7: Correspondence: miscellaneous, 1962-1967

Box 6, folder 8: Correspondence: student, 1957

Box 6, folder 9: Correspondence: student, 1958

Box 6, folder 10: Correspondence: student, 1959

Box 6, folder 11: Correspondence: student, 1960

Box 6, folder 12: Correspondence: student, 1961

Box 6, folder 13: Correspondence: student, 1962

Box 6, folder 14: Correspondence: student, 1963

Box 6, folder 15: Correspondence: student, 1964

Box 6, folder 16: Correspondence: student, 1965

Box 6, folder 17: Correspondence: student, 1966

Box 6, folder 18: Correspondence: student, 1967

Box 6, folder 19: Correspondence: student, 1968

Box 6, folder 20: Correspondence: student, undated

Box 6, folder 21: Custodians and watchmen, 1959 and undated

Box 6, folder 22: Discipline records, 1962-1964, 1967-1968

Box 6, folder 23: Discipline records, 1957-1960

Box 6, folder 24: Grades, 1967, 1962

Box 6, folder 25: Hebrew day school, 1962-1963

Box 6, folder 26: Miscellaneous:

            Notes on students, undated

            Rensellear Science Award - grades, 1961

            Scholarship list, 1961 and undated

Math study assistance classes, 1964

Box 6, folder 27: Rank: class, 1963-1968

Box 6, folder 28: Promotion/demotion: students, 1962

Box 6, folder 29: Recommendations: students, 1969

Box 6, folder 30: Recommendations: students, notes, undated

Box 6, folder 31: Reports: incident, 1965-1968 and undated

Box 6, folder 32: Report: draft: suspensions, undated

Box 6, folder 33: School dance episode, 1965

Box 6, folder 34: Suspensions: student, 1965-1966

Box 6, folder 35: Trial students, 1963

Box 6, folder 36: Tutors, 1959-1962 and undated

Box 6, folder 37: Brigham Middle School, 1995

Box 6, folder 38: Correspondence: faculty: Nathanael Greene Middle School, 1970-978

Box 6, folder 39: Correspondence: student: Nathanael Greene Middle School, 1975

Box 6, folder 40: Correspondence: student, 1974, 1978, 1984, 1992

Box 6, folder 41: Correspondence: recommendations, 1978 and undated

Box 6, folder 42: Grievance report, 1975

Box 6, folder 43: Lincoln School: student evaluations, 1981

Box 6, folder 44: Recommendations: student, 1970-1972

Box 6, folder 45: Recommendations: student, 1980

Box 6, folder 46: Recommendation: student, 1991

Box 6, folder 47: Report: superintendent, 1984

Box 6, folder 48: Complaint record: Pawtucket police department, 1992

Box 6, folder 49: Detective report, 1983

Box 6, folder 50: Flaxman: college records, 1959, 1961, 1969

Box 6, folder 51: Flaxman: Stephen's college records: URI - Kingston, 1958-1962

Box 6, folder 52: Flaxman: Allen's college records: Brown University, 1955-1958

Box 6, folder 53: Flaxman: Allen, Stephen, and Dorothy's elementary and high school records,             1948-1962

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Subjects:

Alamagno, Joseph

Brigham Middle School - R.I. - Providence

Cambodia - Description - Travel

Central High School - R.I. - Providence

Classical High School - R.I. - Providence

Community for Respectful and Responsible People

Diaries - 1968

DiPalma, Joe

Education - R.I. - Providence

Europe - Description - Travel

Fallout Shelters - R.I. - Providence

Flaxman, Esther (Saslaw)

Hope High School - R.I. - Providence

Jewish Educators - R.I. - Providence

Johnson & Wales University - R.I. - Providence

Lincoln School for Girls - R.I. - Providence

Math - Study and Teaching - R.I. - Providence

Mathematical Abilities - Sex differences

Moses Brown School - R.I. - Providence

Nathanael Greene Middle School - R.I. - Providence

Providence, R.I. - Schools   

Ricci, Robert Dr.

Right-to-Know Law

Roger Williams Junior College - R.I. - Providence

Roger Williams Middle School - R.I. - Providence

School-in-the-Park - R.I. - Providence

Science - Study and Teaching - R.I. - Providence

United States - History - 1945 -

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RIHS1822