A Woman's Touch: Ann Franklin, Printing Pioneer
Ann Smith was born in Boston, Mass. in 1696 to puritans Samuel and Anna Smith. For some context, this means … Continue reading A Woman's Touch: Ann Franklin, Printing Pioneer
Odes for the Fourth of July, 1796
For this holiday week celebrating the Declaration of Independence from Britain in 1776, I delved into the R.I.H.S. collections to … Continue reading Odes for the Fourth of July, 1796
A Solstice Almanac Tale
We have just celebrated the Winter Solstice yesterday, Dec. 21st. Today we look at the seasons of yore, specifically 1795 … Continue reading A Solstice Almanac Tale
Pushing Paper: Collections Highlight
For Rhode Island one of the most important events of the late 18th Century was the opening of paper mills … Continue reading Pushing Paper: Collections Highlight
"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: Little Benjamin, or, Confess your Faults
Little eyes and little hands needed books too. The Rhode Island Historical Society holds a lovely collection of children’s books … Continue reading Object Thursday: Little Benjamin, or, Confess your Faults
Object Thursday: Keeping Smallpox Out of R.I., 1729.
The well-documented smallpox epidemic in Boston in 1721, with its ensuing inoculation controversy, was by no means the end of … Continue reading Object Thursday: Keeping Smallpox Out of R.I., 1729.
Object Thursday: Oh the Places You’ll Go
With summer quickly approaching our thoughts in Rhode Island turn to the sea. For many, our thoughts are always with … Continue reading Object Thursday: Oh the Places You’ll Go
RIHS Ink: Why So Old
While most of the Society’s library materials start with 1636, the date of the founding of the Providence, the Printed … Continue reading RIHS Ink: Why So Old
Tale of Two Books
When is the same book not the same book? One of my greatest joys at the Library has been cataloging … Continue reading Tale of Two Books
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!