Rhode Island Archives and Libraries: Difference between revisions

=== [[National Archives at Boston]] ===

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:The 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">William Dollarhide and Ronald A. Bremer. ''America's Best Genealogy Resource Centers'' (Bountiful, Utah: Heritage Quest, 1998), 124. {{WorldCat|39493985}}; {{FSC|728550|item|disp=FS Library Ref Book 973 J54d}}.</ref><br><br>

=== Department of Health Office of Vital Records  ===

:Birth and marriage records 100 years or older and death records 50 years or older are considered public records and may be obtained from the city or town hall where the event happened or through the Rhode Island State Archives. City and town clerk offices have records for all the births, deaths, marriages, and civil unions that occur in those cities and towns. All 39 cities and towns can also provide copies of most birth certificates for anyone born in the state on or after January 1, 1960.<ref>[http://health.ri.gov/records/howto/getacopy/ How To Get a Copy of Vital Records] in State of Rhode Island Department of Health (accessed 11 March 2017).</ref><br><br>

=== Rhode Island Black Heritage Society ===

:As one of the oldest African Heritage organizations in the country, the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society has recorded, retained and interpreted historical facts and preserved the documents and artifacts of African-American and African descendant’s history and accomplishments in Rhode Island.<ref>[https://riblackheritagesociety.wildapricot.org/ Preserving Our History, Ensuring Our Future] in ''Rhode Island Black Heritage Society'' (accessed 11 March 2017).</ref><br><br>

=== Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association ===

:City directories, organization records, synagogues, publications such as ''Jewish Herald, Jewish Voice'', and ''The Jewish Voice and Herald'', material about individual members of the Rhode Island Jewish community, and many obituaries.<ref>[http://www.rijha.org/genealogy/ Genealogy] in ''Rhode Island Jewish Historical Society'' (accessed 11 March 2017).</ref><br><br>

=== [[Rhode Island State Archives]] ===

:The earliest town records collection from 1638 to the present, state censuses at ten year intervals between 1865-1935; state birth and marriage records for the years 1853-1897, state deaths for the years 1853-1947; and military records. The archives also maintains a large map collection.<ref name="DB99" /><br><br>

=== Rhode Island State Library  ===

:They have the largest book collection in the state, including almost all state and town histories, biographies, and genealogies.<ref name ="DB99">Dollarhide and Bremer, 99.</ref><br><br>

=== Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence  ===

:Miscellaneous collection of papers, manuscripts, correspondence, books, diocesan newspapers and directories, photographs and memorabilia. Few items predate 1872. Please note: sacramental records (i.e., baptismal and marriage certificates) are maintained at the individual parishes, and not in the Archives.<ref>[https://dioceseofprovidence.org/archivist Archivist] in ''Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence'' (accessed 11 March 2017).</ref><br><br>

[[File:AFGS Building Side4 10 11.JPG|thumb|right|280px|Amer-French Gen Soc in Woonsocket]]

=== [[American-French Genealogical Society]] ===

:AFGS is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization located in Woonsocket, Rhode Island USA.  Since its founding in 1978, the Society has acquired over 20,000 books and nearly 7,000 reels of microfilm. Our library contains one of the largest collections of French Canadian genealogical and historical research.<br><br>

=== [[Brown University Rockefeller Library]]  ===

:Virtually a second state archives with a huge book collection, manuscripts regarding New England settlers, biographies, and genealogies.<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>

=== East Greenwich Free Library ===

:Researchers will find town histories, digital RI newspaper archives, and the RI Sanborn map collection online (this last requires user ID and password). Also, they have a good collection of genealogical reference books periodicals, and family folders.<ref name="DB99" /><br><br>

[[File:Newport Historical Society RI.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Newport Historical Society]]

=== [[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|thumb|right|150px|Providence City Hall]]<br><br>

=== Providence City Archives ===

:Holdings include early town records, vital records (including indexes to births, marriages, and deaths 1636 to mid-20th century - some restrictions may apply), tax records, probate records and indices, various property records, records of government proceedings, etc. For additional information, see [http://www.providenceri.com/archives/about-us/basic-holdings Basic Holdings] and [http://www.providenceri.com/archives/finding-aids Research].<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>

=== Tiverton Public Library  ===

:They have a good collection of published genealogies.<ref name="DB99" /><br><br>

[[File:Carothers Library.jpg|thumb|right|280px|University of RI Carothers Library in Kingston]]

=== University of Rhode Island Carothers Library  ===

:This collection has books, maps, biographies, and histories about Rhode Island residents.<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>

=== [[American Antiquarian Society]]  ===

:The AAS is 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">Dollarhide and Bremer, 59.</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>

=== [[Connecticut State Library]]  ===

:Has the Barbour Collection, Bibles, census, church, [[Charles R. Hale Collection]] newspaper marriages and deaths, cemeteries, probates, vital records, directories, land, local histories, military, naturalization, passenger arrivals, and e-mail questions.<ref>[http://libguides.ctstatelibrary.org/hg/home History and Genealogy Home] in ''CT State Library'' (accessed 21 September 2015).</ref> Large genealogy collection of newspapers, books manuscripts, town histories, maps and lots of genealogies.<ref>Dollarhide and Bremer, 25.</ref> Holdings include the collection, [https://collections.ctdigitalarchive.org/islandora/object/30002:csl ''"Connecticut Archives," 1629–1820'']. Many '''Rhode Island''' residents eventually settled in Connecticut. A helpful inventory of this collection is:

:*Connecticut State Library, ''Guide to Archives in the Connecticut State Library, 3rd ed.'' (Hartford, CT: Connecticut State Library, 1981). [https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/119213-guide-to-archives-in-the-connecticut-state-library?offset=1 Online digital version]; {{WorldCat|8677320|disp=At various Libraries (WorldCat)}}; {{FSC|221829|title-id|disp=FS Library Book 974.6 A1 No. 30}}.<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">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_England_Historic_Genealogical_Society New England Historic Genealogical Society] in ''Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia''  (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>