Rhode Island Historical Society Awarded Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Resources Regional Grant
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (October 2021) – The Rhode Island Historical Society (RIHS) and Rhode Island History Day (RIHD), have been awarded a $16,633 grant from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Regional Grant program managed by Waynesburg University, TPS Eastern Region. The grant project, titled Using the Library of Congress Archives in Student Research and Historical Argumentation, supports a four-part virtual teacher workshop series aimed at teachers who participate in the National History Day (NHD) program, though any teacher or school librarian of grades six through twelve are invited to attend.
Participating teachers will learn how to utilize and instruct their students in the use of Library of Congress and local Rhode Island archives in student research and how those sources support student historical argumentation. Funding includes stipends for Rhode Island teachers and school librarians of grades 6-12 to attend the workshops. Workshop partners include the Rhode Island State Archives, the Tomaquag Museum, the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, and the 1696 Heritage group. Workshops begin on October 27. In addition to the workshops, funding includes support fees and travel for Rhode Island teachers and students whose History Day projects advance to the National History Day contest in June 2022.
“National contest fees and travel costs can deter students from traditionally underrepresented communities from competing, knowing that, if they advance to the national contest, they likely would have to forfeit their spot, says Geralyn Ducady, Director of Education of the Rhode Island Historical Society and the Rhode Island State Coordinator for National History Day. “I am truly excited for this award to help us on our journey to removing financial barriers to teacher and student participation. This is just the beginning of our attempt at this goal as the Rhode Island Historical Society enters into its 200th year.”
Teachers and librarians who have considered implementing the National History Day program with their students are encouraged to attend the workshops and learn more about taking advantage of this year’s opportunity. With this award, the RIHS and RIHD become TPS Consortium Members.
Visit https://bit.ly/NHDworkshops for more information about each session and to register or contact Geralyn at gducady@rihs.org or 401-331-8575 ext. 345
The Library of Congress, the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution, is the world’s preeminent reservoir of knowledge, providing unparalleled integrated resources to Congress and the American people. Founded in 1800, the Library seeks to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections, which bring to bear the world’s knowledge in almost all of the world’s languages and America’s private sector intellectual and cultural creativity in multiple formats.
The TPS Regional program grants awards to organizations and collaborations of organizations that design and deliver projects using Library of Congress materials for specific educational goals in formal or informal settings. Learn more about the Library’s TPS program and other resources available to teachers at
About the Rhode Island Historical Society
The Rhode Island Historical Society, the state’s oldest and only state-wide historical organization, is dedicated to honoring, interpreting, and sharing Rhode Island’s past to enrich the present and inspire the future. Founded in 1822, the RIHS is an advocate for history as a means to develop empathy and 21st-century skills, using its historical materials and knowledge to explore topics of timeless relevance and public interest. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, it is dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible public programming and educational opportunities for all Rhode Islanders through its four sites: the John Brown House Museum, the Museum of Work & Culture, the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center, and the Aldrich House.
The headquarters of the Rhode Island Historical Society are located at 110 Benevolent Street, Providence, RI 02906. Information: (401) 331-8575. Website: rihs.org. Follow the RIHS on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Rhode Island History Day
Rhode Island has been a state affiliate of National History Day for over 30 years and the Rhode Island History Day program is proudly managed by the Rhode Island Historical Society. Rhode Island History Day allows students in grades 6-12 to deeply explore an aspect of history, gain research and critical-thinking skills, and creatively deliver their research findings. Annually, the Rhode Island History Day program engages over 1,000 students across the state.