PROVIDENCE, RI October is American Archives Month and Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea is highlighting the rich and diverse history of our state by sending treasures from the State Archives out to public libraries.
"Many Rhode Islanders don't realize how special and unique our history is or that we have a State Archives with volumes of historical treasures that document our rich and robust history," Secretary Gorbea said. "Since our current State Archives facility has limited capacity for public programming, we have decided to bring select treasures from the archives' collection out to our public libraries."
Traveling Treasures The newly launched Traveling Treasures program is a one-hour pop-up exhibition with an archivist to answer questions. The first exhibition features Rhode Island Folklife: The Work of Michael Bell which explores the personal stories of Rhode Island and its people through more recent archival documents and photographs. State Archivist Ashley Selima will be on hand to answer any questions.
Schedule of Traveling Treasures: Saturday, October 6 West Warwick Public Library, 1043 Main St, West Warwick, RI 02893, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Friday, October 12 Rochambeau Library, 708 Hope St, Providence, RI 02906, 3 - 4 p.m.
Monday, October 15 Cranston Public Library, 140 Sockanosset Cross Rd, Cranston, RI 02920, 11 a.m. 12 p.m.
East Smithfield Public Library, 50 Esmond St, Smithfield, RI 02917, 6 - 7 p.m.
Tuesday, October 16 Clark Memorial Library, 7 Pinehurst Drive, Carolina, RI 02812, 6:30 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 26 Greenville Public Library, 573 Putnam Pike, Greenville, RI 02828, 10 11 a.m.
Pascoag Public Library, 57 Church St, Pascoag, RI 02859, 1 - 2 p.m.
Roving Roger Also traveling to public libraries around the state this fall is a 7 foot tall statue of Roger Williams. Secretary Gorbea developed the Roving Roger exhibition program to help increase awareness and knowledge of Rhode Island's colonial founder. Traveling with the statue are panels that highlight Williams' pioneering role in establishing freedom of religion and separation of church and state in the American colonies, as well as his authorship of the first translation dictionary of the Narragansett dialect into English.
Roving Roger will be located at the Coventry Public Library located at 1672 Flat River Road in Coventry until October 16, 2018. From there it will travel to the Woonsocket Public Library as part of their 150th anniversary celebration.
Libraries interested in hosting the Traveling Treasures or Roving Roger should contact the State Archives at 401.222.2353. The State Archives staff will provide all necessary materials and transportation of materials to and from the library.
The Rhode Island State Archives, a part of the Rhode Island Department of State, is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30 pm at 337 Westminster Street in downtown Providence. Two-hour validated parking during business hours is available adjacent to the building at InTown Parking.
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