Rhode Island Archives and Libraries: Difference between revisions

These archives, libraries, societies, and museums preserve sources, maintain indexes, and provide services to help genealogists document their ancestors who lived in Rhode Island.

=== National Repositories ===

==== American Antiquarian Society  ====

:Best known for its U.S. newspaper collection of over 18,000 bound volumes 1704-1820, history, genealogy, Bibles, maps, biography, directories, Native Americans, women, canals, railroads, photos, manuscripts.<ref name="DB59">William Dollarhide and Ronald A. Bremer. ''America's Best Genealogy Resource Centers'' (Bountiful, Utah: Heritage Quest, 1998), 59. {{WorldCat|39493985}}; {{FHL|728550|item|disp=FHL Ref Book 973 J54d}}.</ref>  They have '''Rhode Island''' vital records, newspapers, and town histories. One of the best genealogy centers in America.<ref name="DB53">Dollarhide and Bremer, 53.</ref><br><br>

==== American-French Genealogical Society ====

:Has collections pertaining to cultural, genealogical, historical and biographical matter relating to Americans of French and French Canadian descent. Collections include databases, cemetery, headstone and obituary records, as well as French-American marriage records for Rhode Island (see The Forget Files). The website has genealogy links and includes a section on Acadian heritage.<br><br>

==== National Archives at Boston ====

:Collects Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and '''Rhode Island''' documents, photos, and maps of 80 federal agencies, War of 1812, fortifications, coastal facilities, World War II research at Harvard and MIT, federal bankruptcy courts, First Circuit Court of Appeals, Navy, Coast Guard, westward expansion, ethnology, genealogy, Revolutionary War, Civil War, captured German records, territorial papers, censuses, passenger arrival records for Boston and New England, and Canadian border crossings.<ref name="DB124">Dollarhide and Bremer, 124.</ref><br><br>

==== New England Historic Genealogical Society ====

:Best overall collection for New England (and '''Rhode Island''') vital records and probates, and excellent collection for Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, and Europe. The manuscript collection for members-only has diaries, letters, account books, business papers, church and town records, sermons, maps, wills, deeds, unpublished town and family genealogies, photos, and papers of the region's best genealogists since 1850.<ref name="Wik">"New England Historic Genealogical Society" in ''Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia'' at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_England_Historic_Genealogical_Society (accessed 30 August 2010).</ref> <ref>[http://www.americanancestors.org/education/learning-resources/read/using-the-nehgs-library/ Using the NEHGS Library] in ''American Ancestors" (accessed 21 September 2015).</ref> <ref name="DB55759">Dollarhide and Bremer, 5, 57, and 59.</ref><br><br>

==== Rhode Island Historical Society ====

:Houses the state's largest genealogical collection including local histories, manuscripts, census, cemetery, military, economic, social, church records, family Bibles, family histories, newspapers, genealogy, women’s history, and business records.<ref name="DB99" /><br><br>

==== Davisville Free Library  ====

:This a good book collection with good genealogical reference works. It includes genealogical periodicals and family folders.<ref name="DB99" /><br><br>

==== Newport Historical Society ====

:The Library dates to the founding of the Newport Historical Society in 1854 and includes works on the history of Newport County and the surrounding area. The collection contains approximately 12,000 volumes reflecting the settlement and development of Newport County. Because Rhode Island was established by settlers and refugees from other colonies, the collection includes works on early Southeastern New England families and governments that contributed to the history of Rhode Island and the Providence Plantations. Also included are general reference works.[[File:Providence Rhode Island City Hall.jpg|right|190px]]<br><br>

==== Providence Public Library  ====

:This is a very good collection of published genealogies, biographies, periodicals and family folders.<ref name="DB99" /><br><br>

==== Roger Williams University Library  ====

:Their huge book selection includes periodicals, newspapers, biography indexes, genealogies, family folders and histories, indexes and the largest Baptist collection in New England.<ref name="DB99" /><br><br>

==== Westerly Public Library  ====

:There large genealogical book collection includes family folders, family histories, and indexes regarding Rhode Island families.<ref name="DB99" /><br><br>