Rhode Island Historical Society Announces Series of Bite-Sized Collections Talks
Virtual Lunchtime Series to Showcase Behind-the-Scenes Archival Work
The Rhode Island Historical Society will host a weekly virtual series, Love Our Collections, highlighting the behind-the-scenes work of its staff to preserve and share the over 20,000 objects, 9 million feet of motion picture film, and 10 million pages of manuscripts in its collection. The series begins on Thursday, February 1, at 12 pm and will be offered weekly throughout the month of February. Programs include:
Thursday, February 1, 12pm: RIHS Collections: Acquisitions in the 21st Century – People often ask how the RIHS has built its collection over the past 201 years. Meet with two key members of the acquisition committee, Deputy Executive Director of Collections & Interpretation Richard Ring and Associate Director of the Robinson Research Center Phoebe Bean, as they discuss the process of taking in new pieces and highlight recent arrivals.
Thursday, February 8, 12pm: Film at the RIHS – The RIHS film collection features over 9 million feet of moving picture film. RIHS Moving Image and Audio Collection Archivist Alyssa Hefflin and Deputy Executive Director of Collections & Interpretation Richard Ring will discuss what it takes to care for such a large and fragile collection, with a focus on the labor process required to inspect, repair, and view what we have. Hefflin will also break down the specific collections and give a brief description of their history and differences.
Thursday, February 15, 12pm: Silk Threads and Love Tokens – The RIHS cares for a large and impressive collection of samplers, some of which will be displayed in the Aldrich House in 2024. RIHS Cabinet Keeper and Library Collections Manager Dana Signe K. Munroe and Deputy Executive Director of Collections & Interpretation Richard Ring will showcase some of the intricate samplers in our collection along with some love tokens featuring embroidery and wood carving in honor of Valentine’s Day.
Thursday, February 22, 12pm: Traveling Treasures from the Rhode Island Historical Society – Cultural institutions such as museums, archives, and library collections often borrow and loan out pieces that can help add context to an exhibit or gallery. In this talk, RIHS Collection Manager Luis Vasquez and Deputy Executive Director of Collections & Interpretation Richard Ring will discuss the process of lending and borrowing between institutions.
Thursday, February 29, 12pm: Depositing History: The Old Stone Bank Digitization Project – The Old Stone Bank records offer some of the most informative individual documentation of 19th-century Rhode Island immigration from both a genealogical and historical perspective. The bank’s records reveal the birthplaces and families of thousands of Irish, Italian, Scandinavian, Eastern European, and Azorian immigrants. Even African Americans who left the South during and after the Civil War list their birthplaces. Join researcher Ray McKenna, who has led a group of dedicated volunteers in digitizing the gigantic signature books of depositors at the Old Stone Bank that range from 1844-1897, and Deputy Executive Director of Collections & Interpretation Richard Ring as they discuss some of the information the books hold and the process of digitizing them.
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.