VIRTUAL: “Founding Mothers: The Verin Case and the Liberty of Conscience in Early Rhode Island”
Joshua and Jane Verin were some of the first colonists in the settlement of Providence. Religious meetings happened in Roger … Continue reading VIRTUAL: “Founding Mothers: The Verin Case and the Liberty of Conscience in Early Rhode Island”
You are HERE: Maps at the RIHS
This blog is in honor of our (and very first successful) Netop Night at the Robinson Research Center! We hold … Continue reading You are HERE: Maps at the RIHS
Of Feet and Seats
If you were to eavesdrop on some specialists discussing furniture without seeing the objects they see, you might wonder what … Continue reading Of Feet and Seats
R.I. Colonial Patriots of Color
Who is lost to the historical record? And can they be “rediscovered”? A long, often accurate, criticism of the teaching … Continue reading R.I. Colonial Patriots of Color
"to render Sincere THANKS"
Three hundred and fifty years ago, Great Britain, France and Spain concluded a world war with a Treaty signed on … Continue reading "to render Sincere THANKS"
Object Thursday: Grenadier's Caps at Gallery Night
Just back from conservation and display in Boston, tonight’s Brief Encounter will feature the ca. 1745 British Grenadier’s cap from … Continue reading Object Thursday: Grenadier's Caps at Gallery Night
Object Thursday: The Narragansett Basket
The Narragansett Basket is one of only two surviving 17th-century Algonkian baskets in the world. Despite an accompanying note describing … Continue reading Object Thursday: The Narragansett Basket
Faith & Freedom Friday: The Reverend and the Governor
James MacSparran (1693-1757) was an Irish born Anglican minister who arrived in Narragansett on April 28, 1721 to take charge … Continue reading Faith & Freedom Friday: The Reverend and the Governor
Object Thursday: Not at Bunker Hill– A British Officer’s Cap
Every object tells a story, and sometimes more than one. In the RIHS Museum collection, we have a very beautiful … Continue reading Object Thursday: Not at Bunker Hill– A British Officer’s Cap
Object Thursday: A Chair, and the Measure of a Man
John Brown, by all estimates, was not a small man. His waistcoat measurements lead one historical clothing expert to estimate … Continue reading Object Thursday: A Chair, and the Measure of a Man
Object Thursdays: Eleanor Cozzens Feke
or, Love, Loss, and What She Didn’t Wear She gazes serenely from the wall at the John Brown House Museum, … Continue reading Object Thursdays: Eleanor Cozzens Feke
What Cheer! Day Preparation Underway
It’s a busy week for us here at the RIHS, as everyone prepares for our first What Cheer! Day on … Continue reading What Cheer! Day Preparation Underway
Framing a Plan
This coming weekend, I’ll be joining in at the Coggeshall Farm Harvest Fair, along with RIHS Registrar Dana Signe Munroe. … Continue reading Framing a Plan
The Pursuit of Peace in Rhode Island
As Tolstoy knew, war and peace go hand in hand so it’s appropriate to the 2012 RIHS theme of Rhode … Continue reading The Pursuit of Peace in Rhode Island
Happy Rhody Independence Day!
Two full months before the Continental Congress in Philadelphia declared independence from Great Britain, the General Assembly of Rhode Island … Continue reading Happy Rhody Independence Day!
The Root of the Matter
On March 22, 1860, a group of enterprising amateur historians set about excavating the grave of Roger Williams. I realized … Continue reading The Root of the Matter
What's in a Pocket?
Lucy Lockett lost her pocket Kitty Fisher found it Not a penny was there in it Only ribbon round it … Continue reading What's in a Pocket?
One for the Little Boy
At an event commemorating the 235th anniversary of the Fall of Fort Lee in New Jersey, I watched the re-enactors’ … Continue reading One for the Little Boy
Rhode Island Begins
In the beginning, there were Wampanoag and Narragansett people, among others. There were villages and crops, the ocean and the … Continue reading Rhode Island Begins
Unknown Soldiers
Tomorrow is Veterans Day, and we hope you will join us at the Museum of Work & Culture at 11:00 … Continue reading Unknown Soldiers
Happy Rhody Independence Day!
! Happy Independence Day Rhode Island! Two full months before the Continental Congress in Philadelphia declared independence from Great Britain, … Continue reading Happy Rhody Independence Day!
Trails of Memory
We had such a great turnout and so much interest in last Wednesday’s program that we wanted to post some … Continue reading Trails of Memory
New Online Resource
We’re pleased to announce the availability of a new online resource: The Atlas of the Rhode Island Book Trade in … Continue reading New Online Resource
Independence Day
It’s that time again, time to celebrate Rhode Island’s declaration of their independence from Great Britain. Last year we posted … Continue reading Independence Day
Charter Day
346 years ago this November 24th, 1663 George Baxter was called before the General Court of Commissioners and asked to … Continue reading Charter Day
An Impartial Hand
In a recent New Yorker article on the history of debtor imprisonment*, Jill Lepore briefly mentions a 1754 Rhode Island … Continue reading An Impartial Hand
The Ardent Desire
Picking up on the discussion of broadsides in a previous post, today we’ll highlight another broadside from the collection: The … Continue reading The Ardent Desire