Slate Rock, The Landing Place of Roger Williams
Although it is now largely forgotten, Rhode Islanders of the nineteenth century considered Slate Rock to be one of … Continue reading Slate Rock, The Landing Place of Roger Williams
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
All that Jazz
To complement tonight’s Concert Under the Elms featuring the Greg Abate Quartet, we have pulled a few jazz numbers from … Continue reading All that Jazz
Destruction of History/History of Destruction II
The architectural history of Rhode Island is a fascinating and frequently researched topic in the R.I.H.S. Collections. Buildings that housed or … Continue reading Destruction of History/History of Destruction II
Happy New Year… in April?
It started with a patron, a picture and a juicy story. A patron was looking for photos taken by Providence … Continue reading Happy New Year… in April?
Maps in the Rhode Island Historical Society Collection
There are just over 3,500 maps in our collection, all of which are cataloged and available through NETOP. The … Continue reading Maps in the Rhode Island Historical Society Collection
“No MAN Ever Would Have Been Treated So”: Elleanor Eldridge
Celebrating Women’s History Month by way of an entrepreneur’s 233rd birthday
Lovecraft Walking Tour Returns (March 18 Postponed – New Date April 8)
Each year, the Rhode Island Historical Society marks the anniversary of H.P. Lovecraft’s death in March of 1937 with a walking tour of spaces and places in Providence that were important to his life and work. Recent editions of the tour have also coincided with the release of Narragansett Beer’s latest Lovecraft-themed brew, which for 2017 is the Unnamable Black Lager. We’re excited to announced that ‘Gansett is back and will host a nearby afterparty for tour participants, details on which will be announced ASAP.
Meet Dr. William Bowen
Dr. William Bowen was born in Providence, March 8, 1747. His father, Dr. Ephraim Bowen, called him “Billie”. He is … Continue reading Meet Dr. William Bowen
"Trust To Yr Own Head": an Account of Hurricane Carol
Today in 1954 Hurricane Carole hit Rhode Island with its full force. Read this first-hand account by Providence resident Gorton Thayer … Continue reading "Trust To Yr Own Head": an Account of Hurricane Carol
World Elephant Day
Today is World Elephant Day! To celebrate and honor these amazing animals, we decided to re-post a piece written about … Continue reading World Elephant Day
Attention all Lovers of Nature!
“To the attention of travelers, sea faring men, and all lovers of nature and nature’s handy works, who are willing … Continue reading Attention all Lovers of Nature!
Spring Forward 2016: Facets of the Past
On Saturday, May 14, at the Aldrich House, join us for our annual Spring Forward, Think Back gala – the 2016 edition will celebrate the brilliant past of Rhode Island jewelry-making.
Missing the snow?
On this lovely 43 degree and sunny January day, I cannot help but miss the snow. Of course, like all … Continue reading Missing the snow?
Object Thursday: A Band Box for Boxing Day
Elsewhere in the world, it’s Boxing Day, the uniquely British Commonwealth holiday when servants and working people received Christmas boxes … Continue reading Object Thursday: A Band Box for Boxing Day
Object Thursday: Accounting for Overhalls
The Reverend Enos Hitchcock is an interesting figure, not only for his role as a Continental Army chaplain during the … Continue reading Object Thursday: Accounting for Overhalls
Object Thursday: Parkinson's Electric Royal Ice Pick
The Society recently received a gift of a nickel plated Parkinson’s Electric Royal Ice Pick, 1880-1930. Not having heard of … Continue reading Object Thursday: Parkinson's Electric Royal Ice Pick
Object Thursday: Rhode Island Literary Repository
As we digitize and expand the catalog records for the miniatures in the Society’s museum collection, we make connections to … Continue reading Object Thursday: Rhode Island Literary Repository
Object Thursday: Providence from Across the Cove, 1818
Of all the paintings in the RIHS Collection, this is probably my favorite landscape, though its sister painting, made by … Continue reading Object Thursday: Providence from Across the Cove, 1818
Faith and Freedom Friday: Workers' Association for Guaranteed Employment (WAGE)
Mark Toney, a Vallejo, California native, came in 1978 to study at Brown University and became active in the peace … Continue reading Faith and Freedom Friday: Workers' Association for Guaranteed Employment (WAGE)
Faith & Freedom Friday: Sweet Sampler
Once upon a time on Benefit Street stood a church that looked like this. The First Congregational Church, now the … Continue reading Faith & Freedom Friday: Sweet Sampler
Faith & Freedom Friday: Pew Rental
These two prayer benches (or kneeling benches) belonged to John Snow of Providence, where he used them in the Second … Continue reading Faith & Freedom Friday: Pew Rental
Faith & Freedom Friday:A Petticoated Dorrite
In a time when women were rarely published and could not vote, Catherine Read Williams was a self-supporting author and … Continue reading Faith & Freedom Friday:A Petticoated Dorrite
Faith & Freedom Friday: Revolution and Rebellion
On Saturday, April 17, 1841, the Suffrage Association of Rhode Island held a Suffrage Parade. The members of the Association … Continue reading Faith & Freedom Friday: Revolution and Rebellion
Object Thursday: Linen Corsets and Leather Pants
It’s not your typical Casual Friday, but it was a Wonderful Wednesday morning. Dana Signe Munroe, Justin Squizzero and I … Continue reading Object Thursday: Linen Corsets and Leather Pants
Faith & Freedom Friday: Thomas Howland
He appraises us through the paint with a skeptical look, his eyebrow raised and his mouth nearly a smirk—or is … Continue reading Faith & Freedom Friday: Thomas Howland
Smelling Providence
What did the past smell like? I think that’s something many of us would like to know about the past. … Continue reading Smelling Providence
Fireflies in the Courtyard
Opening September 20th, the Rhode Island Historical Society will host the Firefly Grove in the courtyard of the John Brown House Museum. … Continue reading Fireflies in the Courtyard
Rooftop Views of Providence
In Early May the library exterior was covered in scaffolding to prepare for the work on the new library roof—no … Continue reading Rooftop Views of Providence
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
ON THE SECOND DAY AFTER IRENE — ALL IS WELL (AND DRY) IN THE RIHS LIBRARY
As we enter Hurricane Season in Providence we count ourselves lucky to have seen Hurricane IRENE pass by without causing … Continue reading ON THE SECOND DAY AFTER IRENE — ALL IS WELL (AND DRY) IN THE RIHS LIBRARY
The Elephant
Unfortunately, this post just missed Elephant Appreciation Day, but better late than never. “The Elephant”* is a broadside advertising the … Continue reading The Elephant
Providence Vaudeville
“Spring of ’17“, an online resource created by Micah Salkind, recreates the topography of Providence theaters in the early twentieth … Continue reading Providence Vaudeville
Providence WaterFire, 1784
According to the website for Providence’s WaterFire, the summer event requires “hundreds of volunteers” devoting “thousands of hours”. But for … Continue reading Providence WaterFire, 1784
Westminster Stories
According to Florence Simister*, Westminster Street in Providence was named by residents of the street who eventually hoped to set … Continue reading Westminster Stories
Christ Church Records
With this post we’re beginning what will hopefully become a regular feature, our collection of the month, and our first … Continue reading Christ Church Records
Diamonds
The Historical Society is pleased to announce that thanks to a grant from the National Film Preservation Foundation, we’ll be … Continue reading Diamonds
Robots in Providence
The item described here answers the age-old question of what to do on a Saturday afternoon. In this case, the … Continue reading Robots in Providence
Odd Fellows Indeed
Secret societies have an enduring appeal and they’ve prompted speculation about their motivations and influence for a long time. Why … Continue reading Odd Fellows Indeed
Nineteenth-Century Twitter
Cultural critics have gone back and forth about the effect that technologies like text messaging or Twitter are having on … Continue reading Nineteenth-Century Twitter