PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis invites the public to learn more about the heyday of Rhode Island’s dramatic mill era by visiting a free exhibit at the State Archives in downtown Providence.
“Mills: a Glimpse of Rhode Island’s Past” includes an array of photographs, plans, maps and industrial schedules depicting the period from 1858 to 1920 when mills dominated our economy and made Rhode Island the manufacturing capital of the nation.
“This display portrays an era of Rhode Island that has largely disappeared, but is fondly remembered. My 98-year-old grandmother worked in the mills and she recall her days there like it was yesterday,” said Mollis.
The exhibit includes 32 recently discovered black and white images, taken between 1909 and 1910, that offer rarely seen views of mill buildings in Providence, North Providence, Warwick, West Warwick, Coventry, Lincoln, Scituate, Pawtucket and Woonsocket.
Other records on display include 1860 and 1880 manuscript industrial schedules as well as several 19th-century petitions submitted to the General Assembly regarding the working hours and schooling of women and children employed in the factories.
“It is important to remember the evolution of workplace practices. The next generation of citizens must be aware of how far we have come in order to have the context they will need to assess where we should go,” said Mollis.
The exhibit is on display through Aug. 31 at the State Archives, 337 Westminster St., Providence. The facility is open to the public weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. Free parking is available at the In-Town Parking lot across Snow Street from the State Archives.
“I hope exposure to history like this will inspire Rhode Islanders and remind them of the unique treasures the State Archives has to offer,” said Mollis.
In addition to presenting exhibits, the State Archives is also home to thousands of historic documents such as the 1784 law that granted slaves in Rhode Island their freedom and Roger Williams’ handwritten copy of the original 1638 deed buying Providence from the Wampanoag tribe.
Secretary of State Mollis is committed to making it easier to vote, helping businesses grow and making government more open and accessible. For more information on the mill exhibit, call (401) 222–2353 or visit sos.ri.gov.
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