The RHODI Project

The RHODI Project is an initiative to survey Rhode Island’s history and heritage sector. We hope to advance public access to historical knowledge and serve as a much needed impetus for collaboration in the history community. Learn more at rhodi.org.

[providencepubliclibrary]

H.P. Lovecraft and the Providence Public Library

Providence Public Library, as Lovecraft would have known it… From The American Architect and Building News, 9th June 1900: Providence Public Library, complete interior floor plans, 1900 (PDF link…

I was forwarded this blog link from our good friends and partners rhodiproject in the upcoming Lovecraft Readathon.  This is an amazing look into the impact that our Providence Public Library had on a young H.P. Lovecraft.  I can’t tell you how exciting and gratifying it is to think about how our collections might have molded that mind!  

If you are a Lovecraft fan and want to experience the PPL as we read several of his works aloud and listen to local musicians inspired by him, come on August 23rd, 7-10pm to our Lovecraft Readathon. 

[rhodiproject]

A wonderful post on Lovecraft and the Providence Public Library - many thanks to David Haden for sharing his post with us. What wonderful context for the upcoming Readathon - it really seals the deal of Providence Public Library being the perfect location for the event! 

[providencepubliclibrary]

Original artwork by local Providence artist and tattooer Mike Brousseau for our upcoming Lovecraft Readathon on August 23, 7-10pm.

PPL and RI Historical Society are co-hosting a birthday celebration for HP and inviting you to take part in live readings of his short stories and poetry. We’ll also have musical performances from amazing RI bands. Plus you’ll be able to buy some swag with this awesome artwork inspired by “The Tomb”. Buy your tickets at www.lovecraftreadathon.com! (at Providence Public Library)

[rihistoricalsociety]

We are very excited about this collaboration! This promises to be an excellent event, featuring a broad cast of local readers, and music from Ian Fitzgerald, Haunt the House, and Vudu Sister!

[ritba]

Secret Garden Tours in Newport

RI Secret Garden Tours http://www.qoo.ly/35d5g #RI #Newport

[rhodiproject]

Very cool!

[rhodiproject]

Rhode Island Historical Cemetery 83, Burrillville, RI. Burrillville's historical cemeteries are maintained by the Burrillville Historical and Preservation Society. 

Learn more about Rhode Island's historical cemeteries through the Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission. 

[rhodiproject]

RHODI Project Updates & Next Steps

The RHODI directory went live in October 2013. We spent the last months of the year finalizing the RHODI white paper (download PDF here), which we made available in January 2014. The early months of 2014 have been spent fine-tuning the website in an effort to continually evaluate and increase its functionality (including our new locations map feature).

OUTREACH AND AWARENESS

In March 2014, Project Coordinator Chelsea Gunn presented RHODI at the New England Archivists Spring Meeting in Portsmouth, New Hampshire as part of the panel The State of Statewide Repositories in New England & How They Are Aggregating Special Collections.

On June 3, 2014, Chelsea Gunn and Elyssa Tardif will present RHODI at the Rhode Island Library Association Annual Conference in Newport, Rhode Island. They will discuss the process of conducting a statewide survey, their findings as detailed in the white paper, and planned next steps. 

We are continually working to promote use of the directory in-person and through our various social media outlets. For frequent updates, follow along: 

Tumblr

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

NEXT  PHASES

The Rhode Island Historical Society as submitted two IMLS grant applications to move forward with the RHODI Project's next steps.

The survey revealed that there is a desire for professional development training in the following areas: 

Collaborative scholarly programs

Digital literacy 

Visibility

Educational programming & engaging youth

Collections care

We will be partnering with organizations throughout the state that have had success in each of these areas; as community partners, they will share their experiences and expertise. By promoting skill-sharing between organizations, we hope to increase consistency and standardization throughout the state, as well as inter-organization collaboration and communication. 

If you're interested in learning more about our progress, or would like to be involved, email [email protected]. 

[rhodiproject]

It's always nice to take the opportunity to revisit some of the sites we surveyed in the first phase of the RHODI Project. The Gilbert Stuart Birthplace & Museum is beautiful in the springtime. The combination of history, art, and environmental preservation makes this a really special place. They are currently in the process of expanding their visitor's center, which will provide a modern exhibit space to showcase the work of contemporary Rhode Island artists, in addition to work related to Stuart. We look forward to seeing what comes next. 

[ssuuppeerrvviissiioonn]

Maybe it’s time to start thinking of paper and screens another way: not as an old technology and its inevitable replacement, but as different and complementary interfaces, each stimulating particular modes of thinking. Maybe paper is a technology uniquely suited for imbibing novels and essays and complex narratives, just as screens are for browsing and scanning. “Reading is human-technology interaction,” says literacy professor Anne Mangen of Norway’s University of Stavenger. “Perhaps the tactility and physical permanence of paper yields a different cognitive and emotional experience.” This is especially true, she says, for “reading that can’t be done in snippets, scanning here and there, but requires sustained attention.”

http://www.wired.com/2014/05/reading-on-screen-versus-paper/ (via aa-nn-dd)

[localsonly401-blog]

Did You Know…

Did you know the nations oldest active military organization is the Newport Artillery Company, established in 1741?

[rhodiproject]

And you can visit their military museum in Newport! More info here. 

[localsonly401-blog]

Alec Baldwin Doing it Big for Rhode Island

CENTRAL FALLS, R.I – A Hollywood heavyweight will hold a fundraiser for the Adams Memorial Library in Central Falls this summer. 

[rhodiproject]

Don't miss this event - a great fundraiser for a truly great library. 

[rhodiproject]

Happy National Librarians Day!

Rhode Island is home to over 200 incredible libraries, each offering unique collections and programs, all staffed by incredible librarians. 

Here's a quick round-up of some of Rhode Island libraries & library organizations on Tumblr:

Adams Memorial Library

AskRI

Cranston Public Library

Providence Athenaeum YA blog

Providence Public Library

Rhode Island Historical Society (our mothership!)

Rogers Free Library

Woonsocket Harris Public Library

Are there more we're missing? What are your favorite Rhode Island library blogs?

[rhodiproject]

Exciting news! 

We've added an additional way to browse the RHODI directory: via this visual map of history and heritage organizations!

It's interesting to look at a visual representation of the distribution of sites throughout the state. This is a feature that will undoubtedly become increasingly interesting as the site continues to grow and include more organizations. 

We hope you like this new feature as much as we do!

[libraryjournal]

[rogersfree-deactivated20160211]

Fantastic!

[providencepubliclibrary]

The bloody collar of Major Sullivan Ballou from the RI Soldiers and Sailors Society records at PPL. Retrieved after he was decapitated and his body was desecrated by the Confederates after the First Battle of Bull Run in the U.S. Civil War. Read more about the grisly story in a blog post on providencepubliclibrary.tumblr.com. #providence #rhodeisland#rhodeislandhistory #civilwar #ballou #soldiers #artifacts #clothing #19thcentury (at Providence Public Library)

[rhodiproject]

An amazing collection item from the Providence Public Library. 

[rhodiproject]

It's always a good day when PBS contacts you to be a contributor to one of their incredible projects!

RHODI has been contributing to the Engineering Map of America, which, as the title suggests, maps out engineering feats throughout the country. Bridges, buildings, subways, airports, and power sources are among the many accomplishments of engineering explored in this amazing interactive exhibit. 

Thanks for including us! Can't wait to keep adding Rhode Island's unique parts of engineering history to this map!

[rhodiproject]

Daffodil Days has begun at Blithewold in Bristol, RI. The weather here in Rhode Island is finally warming up, and it's a perfect time of year to visit one of the state's historic mansion museums. In addition to being a beautiful example of Arts and Crafts style architecture, the mansion is home to an arboretum and extensive gardens, making this a perfect site to visit as spring finally arrives. 

(Fun fact for knitters: Blithewold was among a number of Rhode Island sites recently featured in a Berroco photo shoot. Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming patterns featuring beautiful RI scenery...)

[thepostcardmuseum]

December 8, 1914 — Depot Square, Woonsocket, R. I.

Mrs. Albert Willard, Crescent St., Franklin, Mass.

"The duet ‘Love Divine’ which you were unable to hear last September will be repeated next Sunday Dec. 13th. Trust you will be present + enjoy it.

Sincerely yours, Earl. W. French”

[rhodiproject]

Last night I went on a tour of RISD's Fleet Library hosted by the Providence Athenaeum.  

I sometimes forget that as a member of the Athenaeum (a beautiful library in its own right) I have borrowing privileges at the Fleet Library. It was great to take a walk through and remember how many resources I can take advantage of here. 

There's more information on both libraries over on the official RHODI blog. 

It's worth noting that the Providence Athenaeum is always open to the public, and the RISD Fleet Library is open to the entire RISD community, Athenaeum members, and outside users with relevant research interests. 

Do you ever just feel really lucky to live in a place with so many beautiful buildings and useful resources?