???Fireside Chat??? to Launch Civil Rights Study With Funding From National Park Service
RIHS, RI Black Heritage Society, RI Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission Partnering on New Project
(PROVIDENCE, R.I.) ??? The National Park Service (NPS)* announced earlier this year a $49,557.76 grant to the Rhode Island Historical Society, working in partnership with the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society (RIBHS) and Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission (RIHPHC), for the purposes of a multi-phase project focusing on African Americans’ struggle for civil rights in Rhode Island during the 20th century.
The RIHS, RIBHS, and RIHPHC aim to identify new primary source materials, establish a comprehensive study of the state???s 20th-century civil rights history, compile a survey report and recommendations for National Register listing, and assemble educational materials that impart the findings to both a formal educational audience and the general public.
To launch the research work, a special event has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 15, 2017, 6pm, at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, 475 Cranston St., Providence. ???A Fireside Chat??? will bring together several noted Rhode Island civil rights and history leaders to discuss the history of civil rights in Rhode Island. The audience will have the opportunity to join in on the conversation with the speakers in retelling the major events, places, and people that shaped 20th-century civil rights in Rhode Island. For more information, please contact Theresa Guzman Stokes, Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, at soni.stokes@riblackheritage.org.
*This project is partially funded by the African American Civil Rights program of the Historic Preservation Fund, National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.
About the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission
The Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission is the state agency for historical preservation and heritage programs. The Commission operates a statewide historical preservation program that identifies and protects historic buildings, districts, structures, and archaeological sites. The Commission also develops and carries out programs to document and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Rhode Island’s people.
About the 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 descendants??? history and accomplishments in Rhode Island. Its primary mission is the preservation of African Diaspora descendants??? historical artifacts ??? books, art, papers and images, as well as facilitating the interpretation efforts by those seeking to enlighten others about black heritage.
About the Rhode Island Historical Society
Founded in 1822, the RIHS, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is the fourth-oldest historical society in the United States and is Rhode Island???s largest and oldest historical organization. In Providence, the RIHS owns and operates the John Brown House Museum, a designated National Historic Landmark, built in 1788; the Aldrich House, built in 1822 and used for administration and public programs; and the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center, where archival, book and image collections are housed. In Woonsocket, the RIHS manages the Museum of Work and Culture, a community museum examining the industrial history of northern Rhode Island and of the workers and settlers, especially French-Canadians, who made it one of the state???s most distinctive areas.