Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center
The Reading Room is open Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and the second Saturday of the month. For our most current hours, please visit the Robinson Research Center page.
The Reading Room is available for walk-ins and holds the largest genealogical library in the state. Manuscripts, Graphics, and other select collections are available for viewing by appointment only when we are open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Please contact our staff at reference@rihs.org for more information or to schedule an appointment. For additional information about visiting please see our in-person visitor policies.
For Audio or Moving Image inquiries please contact miac@rihs.org
For Museum Object inquiries please contact Luis Vasquez lvasquez@rihs.org
Resources for Frequently Asked Rhode Island Questions
Providence Preservation Society: House Histories
Providence Public Library Digital Collections
Rhode Island Cemetery Database
Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission
Rhode Island Judicial Records Center: Naturalization & Divorce Records
RIHS Reference and Research Services
Staff are here to answer questions related to specific RIHS holdings and collections please email reference@rihs.org
The RIHS has created a structure for the remote reference and research services we can offer. Our goal remains to serve the public as equitably as possible while ensuring the sustainability of the organization.
All remote inquiries will receive 15 minutes of expert research. This includes, but is not limited to, time spent searching our physical card catalogs and already digitized material. If further resources are found, we will reach out regarding fees for services including reviewing and scanning manuscript, printed, and or microfilmed collection material.
Paid research services are available beyond the benefits outlined above:
- $50/hour of research (an estimate will be provided before work begins)
- 1-3 hour limit
**Please note that scanning is subject to the condition of the material.
RIHS Members receive a FREE 1 hour of expert research. RIHS memberships begin at $40 and also feature benefits including our publications, free admission to our museums and annual concert series, discounts on our events and programs, and more. Learn more about becoming an RIHS member.
Rights & Reproductions
To request high-resolution reproductions of RIHS collection materials, see our Rights & Reproductions page.