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Rhode Island Historical Society

The Rhode Island Historical Society is a privately endowed membership organization, founded in 1822, dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the history of Rhode Island. Its offices are located in Providence, Rhode Island.

History[edit]

Founded in 1822, the Society is the fourth oldest state historical society in the United States (after the Massachusetts Historical Society, New-York Historical Society, and Maine Historical Society). The Rhode Island Historical Society was founded and funded by many of Providence's early Yankee philanthropists, including Moses Brown and Henry J. Steere.[1] In 1854 the "Southern Cabinet" of the Rhode Island Historical Society became reorganized as the Newport Historical Society.[2]


As of October 2022, the organization’s executive director is C. Morgan Grefe, Ph.D., and the board chair is Robert H. Sloan, Jr.[3]

The Robinson Research Center (library) (121 Hope Street, Providence)

(52 Power Street, Providence) (a National Historic Landmark) built in 1786;

John Brown House Museum

(Society Headquarters/Goff Center) (110 Benevolent Street, Providence), also a National Historic Landmark, built in 1822;

Nelson W. Aldrich House

(42 South Main Street, Woonsocket), a regional history museum devoted to the ethnic history of northern Rhode Island.

Museum of Work and Culture

The Society owns and operates the following notable museums and properties:

List of libraries in Rhode Island

Official website

41°49′31″N 71°23′45″W / 41.8253°N 71.3957°W / 41.8253; -71.3957