Rhode Island Archives and Libraries

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U.S. Archives and Libraries

Rhode Island

Archives and Libraries

Rhode Island Wiki Topics

Beginning Research

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Record Types

Adoption Bible Records Cemeteries Census Church Records Colonial Records Correctional Institutions Court Records Crime and Punishment Directories Emigration & Immigration Genealogies Land & Property Military Records Naturalization & Citizenship Newspapers Obituaries Online Collections Periodicals Probate Records Taxation Town Records Vital Records Voter Records

Rhode Island Background

Biography Further Reading Gazetteers History Maps Migration Periodicals

Cultural Groups

African Americans Indigenous Peoples Cultural Groups Swedish American

Local Research Resources

Archives & Libraries Societies Find a FamilySearch center

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

Wiki Articles on Major Repositories for Rhode Island

American Antiquarian Society (Worcester MA) · American-French Genealogical Society · Brown University Rockefeller Library · Connecticut State Library (Hartford CT) · Davisville Free Library · Department of Health Office of Vital Records · East Greenwich Free Library · Judicial Records Center · National Archives at Boston (Waltham MA) · New England Historic Genealogical Society (Boston MA) · Newport Historical Society · Providence City Hall · Providence Public Library · Rhode Island Black Heritage Society · Rhode Island Genealogical Society · Rhode Island Historical Society · Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association · Rhode Island State Archives · Rhode Island State Library · Roger William University Library · Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence · Tiverton Public Library · University of Rhode Island Carothers Library · Westerly Public Library

Online Records of Rhode Island

Rhode Island Online Genealogy Records Links to online databases and indexes that may include vital records, biographies, cemeteries, censuses, histories, immigration records, land records, maps, military records, naturalizations, newspapers, obituaries, or probate records. National Archives at Boston (in Waltham MA) National Repositories National Archives at Boston 380 Trapelo Road Waltham, MA 02452-6399 Phone: (781) 663-0130 Fax: (781) 663-0154 Email: waltham.archives@nara.gov Website: National Archives at Boston

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.

Statewide Repositories

Department of Health Office of Vital Records

3 Capitol Hill
Providence, RI 02908 USA
Telephone: 401-222-5960
Email: Contact Us form
Website: How to Get a Copy 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.

Judicial Records Center

5 Hill Street
Pawtucket, Rhode Island 02860
Telephone: 401-721-2641
Website: Judicial Records Center

Rhode Island state and county civil, criminal, and divorce cases 1671-1900, and naturalizations 1671-1982.

Rhode Island Black Heritage Society

110 Benevolent Street
Providence, RI 02906 USA
Telephone: 401-588-5177
Email: info@riblackheritage.org
Website: 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.

Rhode Island Genealogical Society

P.O. Box 433
Greenville, RI 02828
Email: info@rigensoc.org
Website: Rhode Island Genealogical Society

Website provides some listings of holdings in Rhode Island libraries pertaining to RI genealogical and historical research. Some online resources available to members only.

Rhode Island Historical Society

RI Historical Society in Providence

121 Hope Street
Providence, RI 02906
Telephone: 401-331-8575
Fax: 401-351-0127
Website: 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.

Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association

130 Sessions Street
Providence, RI 02906
Telephone: 401-331-1360
Email: info@rijha.org
Website: 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.

Rhode Island State Archives

337 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903-3302
Telephone: 401-277-2353
Fax: 401-277-3199
Email: Contact Us e-mail form
Website: 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.

Rhode Island State Library

State Library in RI State House, Providence

State House 2nd floor
82 Smith St
Providence, RI 02903
Telephone: 401-222-2473
Fax: 401-222-3034
Email: statelibrary@sos.ri.gov
Website: Rhode Island State Library

They have the largest book collection in the state, including almost all state and town histories, biographies, and genealogies.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence

Archives
One Cathederal Square
Providence, RI 02903
Telephone: 401-278-4500
Fax 401-831-1947
Email: webmaster@dioceseofprovidence.org
Website: Archivist

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.

Regional Repositories

Amer-French Gen Soc in Woonsocket

American-French Genealogical Society

P.O. Box 830
78 Earle Street
Woonsocket, RI 02895
Telephone: 401-765-6141

Email: info@afgs.org
Website: 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.

Brown Univ Rockefeller Library in Providence

Brown University Rockefeller Library

10 Prospect Street / Box A
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: 401-863-2165
Email: rock@brown.edu
Website: Brown University Rockefeller Library

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

Davisville Free Library

Davisville Free Public Library

481 Davisville Road
North Kingstown, RI 02852
Telephone: 401-884-5524
Email: askref@askri.org
Website: Davisville Free Library

This a good book collection with good genealogical reference works. It includes genealogical periodicals and family folders.

East Greenwich Free Library

82 Peirce Street
East Greenwich, RI 02818
Telephone: 401-884-9510
Email: Email a Librarian form
Website: 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.

Newport Historical Society

Newport Historical Society

82 Touro Street
Newport, RI 02840
Telephone: 401-846-0813
Email: bsullivan@newporthistorical.org
Website: 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.

Providence City Hall

Providence City Archives

25 Dorrance Street
Providence, RI 02903
Telephone: 401-421-7740
Email: City Archives e-mail contact form
Website: 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 Basic Holdings and Research.

Providence Public Library

Providence Public Library

150 Empire Street
Providence, RI 02903
Telephone: 401-455-8000
Email: askref@askri.org
Website: Providence Public Library

This is a very good collection of published genealogies, biographies, periodicals and family folders.

Roger Williams University Library

Roger Williams University Library in Bristol

One Old Ferry Road
Bristol, RI 02809
Telephone: 800-458-7144, or 401-253-1040
Email: libref@rwu.edu
Website: RWU University Libraries

Their huge book selection includes periodicals, newspapers, biography indexes, genealogies, family folders and histories, indexes and the largest Baptist collection in New England.

Tiverton Public Library

34 Roosevelt Avenue
Tiverton, RI 02878
Telephone: 401-625-6796
Email: staff@tivertonlibrary.org
Website: Tiverton Public Library

They have a good collection of published genealogies.

University of RI Carothers Library in Kingston

University of Rhode Island Carothers Library

15 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881
Telephone: 401.874.2672
Email: libadmin@etal.uri.edu
Website: University Libraries

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

Westerly Public Library

Westerly Public Library

44 Broad Street
Westerly, RI 02981
Telephone: 401-596-2877 x3
Email: cbadowski@westerlylibrary.org
Website: Westerly Library and Wilcox Park

There large genealogical book collection includes family folders, family histories, and indexes regarding Rhode Island families.

Outside of Rhode Island Repositories

American Antiquarian Society

American Antiquarian Society in Worcester MA

185 Salisbury Street
Worcester, Massachusetts 01609-1634
Telephone: 508-755-5221
Fax: 508-753-3311
Email: Library@americanantiquarian.org
Website: 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. They have Rhode Island vital records, newspapers, and town histories. One of the best genealogy centers in America.

Connecticut State Library

Connecticut State Library in Hartford, CT

231 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, Connecticut 06106
Telephone: 860-757-6500 or toll free: 866-886-4478
Email: Email Us form
Website: Connecticut State Library
Website: History and Genealogy Home

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. Large genealogy collection of newspapers, books manuscripts, town histories, maps and lots of genealogies. Holdings include the collection, "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). Online digital version; At various Libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 974.6 A1 No. 30.

NEHGS 101 Newbury St in Boston

New England Historic Genealogical Society

NEHGS
101 Newbury Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02116-3007
Telephone:  617-536-5740; Library 617-226-1231
Fax:  617-536-7307
Email:  info@nehgs.org
Website: AmericanAncestors.org

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.

FamilySearch Centers

Some of the above collections are partially duplicated at the FamilySearch Library and its branch FamilySearch Centers around the world. Most centers can help you by:

• Giving you limited, personal, one-on-one research suggestions (but they do not do research for you)
• Providing access to genealogical records through the premium online Internet FamilySearch Center Portal for free.
• Offering free how-to classes (varies by location)
• Fostering contact between genealogical enthusiasts

There are several centers located in Rhode Island, for example:

Providence Rhode Island FamilySearch Center
1000 Narragansett Pkwy
Warwick, RI 02888 USA
Telephone: 401-463-8150

Each center is staffed by volunteers and has varying hours and services. Telephone in advance to verify their hours.

To locate one of these 4,500 centers in your own neighborhood, see Find a FamilySearch Center.

For Further Reading

• Clarence S. Brigham, Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1903, Volume 1 (Washington, D.C.: American Historical Association, 1904) WorldCat 1150082; FS Library film 896553 item 2; book 973 C4ah. An important inventory of manuscript records including Rhode Island state, county, and town archives.