US-RUn-rcg116A Guide to the Records of the URI Bicentennial Committee 1973-1977 Finding aid prepared by Dr. Kevin J. Logan. University of Rhode Island Library, Special Collections and Archives 21982
15 Lippitt RoadKingston, RI 02881-2011Tel: 401-874-4632email: archives@etal.uri.eduWebsite: http://www.uri.edu/library/special_collections/
 Finding aid encoded by Yuan Li 2007 November 28, updated by Erin C. Mullen on 2011 December 13 English Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) English Special Collections and University Archives
15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 Tel: 401-874-4632 email: archives@etal.uri.edu
 URI Bicentennial Committee Records of the URI Bicentennial Committee 1973-1977 9 box(es), 4.25 linear feet Consists of the records of the University of Rhode Island Bicentennial Committee from 1973 to 1977, including member list, correspondence, minutes, reports, budget request and designs. Rec. Gr. 116A Historical note

The American Bicentennial Celebration struck a responsive chord throughout the nation in 1975 and 1976. The University of Rhode Island was an early and active participant in this event. In April 1975 a group of interested faculty and staff met informally to plan a series of events and projects to celebrate the Bicentennial at URI and to apply to the federal American Revolution Bicentennial Administration for official designation of the University as a National Bicentennial College.

In May an eighteen-member URI Bicentennial Committee was appointed by University President Frank Newman. Neil Ross of the Marine Advisory Service was elected Chairman of the Committee and David Maslyn of Special Collections, Secretary. In July the University received official notice of its designation as a National Bicentennial College.

With that added impetus, the URI Bicentennial Committee over the next year and a half sponsored and coordinated a wide variety of projects and events, ranging from an archaeological dig at the Watson House, to the publication of a "Cruising Guide" for boating visitors to Rhode Island, to a project to retrieve and display artifacts from British warships scuttled off Newport in 1778. These and other projects received the enthusiastic support of the University community.

The URI Bicentennial Committee was dissolved in March 1977 and its records transferred to the University Archives in the fall of 1982.

Any qualified person doing scholarly research is permitted to use material housed in the Special Collections Unit.

Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.

 Preferred Citation

Records of the URI Bicentennial Committee, Rec. Gr. 116A, University of Rhode Island.

 Scope and Content Note

Consists of the records of the University of Rhode Island Bicentennial Committee from 1973 to 1977, including member list, correspondence, minutes, reports, budget request and designs.

 Arrangement

The records are arranged in five series as follows: 1. Subject File 2. Project Series 3. Local Communities 4. Printed and Published Matter 5. Memorabilia

Acquisitions Information

The records were transferred to the University Archives in the fall of 1982.

 Names

Subjects American Revolution Bicentennial, 1976 -- Rhode Island United States -- History -- 1775-1783 University of Rhode Island. Marine Advisory Service Cities and towns -- Rhode Island -- History RIAMCO Browsing Terms Rhode Island/Local Interest Inventory Series 1 Subject File1973-1977

This series consists of material relating to the general activities of the URI Bicentennial Committee. Of particular interest are the minutes of the meetings of the Committee, the various budget reports and requests it submitted, and the application for designation as a Bicentennial College. Also significant are the designs for the "URI-76" logo and a report to University President Frank Newman by the Narragansett Indian Sub-Committee of the URI Bicentennial Committee outlining a series of proposals by which the University could better serve the Indian community.

Subjects are arranged alphabetically and then, where practical, chronologically within folders. Some of the material found in this series is supplemented by material found elsewhere, particularly in the Project Series.

1 1 1975 Application for Designation as a National Bicentennial College 1 2 1975 American Revolution Bicentennial Administration 1 X-ref See also: Printed and Published Matter 1 3 1976 Nov Bicentennial Day-URI 15 1 4 1975 Bicentennial Medal 1 5 1975 Bicentennial Programs-URI: List 1 6 n. d.[1976] Bicentennial Women's Committee 1 7 1975-1976 Budget Reports: Drafts 1 8 1975 Aug-1977 Mar Budget Reports: Final 1 9 1973-1974 Clippings 1 10 1975-1977, n. d. Clippings 1 11 1974 Feb 05-1977 Apr 01 Correspondence: A-M 1 12 1975 Aug 22-1976 Aug 18 Correspondence: Maslyn See also: Project Series 1 13 1975 Jul 23-1977 Apr 05 Correspondence: N-R 1 14 1975 May 21-1978 May 31 Correspondence: Ross, Committee Chairman 1 15 1976 Mar 19-1977 Mar 21 Correspondence: S-W 1 16 1976 Jan 19-Mar 05, n.d. Daily Agenda 1 17 1978 Mar 18, n.d. English Bullet Award 1 18 1977 Mar 18 Final Meeting Invitation: URI Bicentennial Committee 1 19 n.d. Historic Districts: List 1 20 1976 May 04 Indian and Colonial Research Center: Notebook Inventory 1 21 1976 Logo: URI Bicentennial Symbol See also: Memorabilia 1 22 1975-1976 Logo: Use on Publications 1 23 1976, n.d. Maps 1 24 1975 May 09 Members of URI Bicentennial Committee: List 1 25 1977 Mar 18-1975 May 15 Meeting Agenda: URI Bicentennial Committee-incomplete 1 26 1975 Apr 24-1975 Dec 11 Meeting Minutes: URI Bicentennial Committee 1 27 1976 Jan 15-1977 Mar 18 Meeting Minutes: URI Bicentennial Committee 1 28 1976 Apr 24-1976 May 13 Meeting Minutes: URI Bicentennial Committee: Duplicates 1 29 1976 Aug 18, n.d. Museum of Primitive Culture 1 30 1975-1976, n.d. Narragansett Indians 1 31 1976 Feb 10-Mar 25, n.d. Narragansett Indian Sub-Committee 1 32 n.d. Narragansett Indian Sub-Committee Report: Draft 1 33 1976 Aug Narragansett Indian Sub-Committee Report 2 34 N Aug. 1976 Narragansett Indian Sub-Committee Report: Duplicate 2 35 1975, n.d. Native American Committee 2 36 1976 Native American Indians in Rhode Island 2 37 1976 Jun Newport: Schedule of Events 2 38 n.d. Personal Contacts: Lists 2 39 1975 Purchase Requisitions 2 40 1976 Purchase Requisitions 2 41 1973-1976, n.d Rhode Island Bicentennial Commission See also: Rhode Island Printed and Published Material 2 42 n.d. Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission See also: Rhode Island Printed and Published Material 2 43 n.d. Rhode Island Historical Society 2 44 1977 Mar 15 Secretary's Report: URI Bicentennial Committee 2 45 1975-1977 Working File: Committee Chairman 2 46 1976 Work Study Students Series 2 Project Series1973-1977

The Project Series consists of materials pertaining to the many projects and events sponsored by the URI Bicentennial Committee. The material includes correspondence, reports, project descriptions, clippings, and photographs.

Two of these projects in particular stand out. The first is the publication of a Cruising Guide to Historic Rhode Island for the benefit of seaborne visitors to the State. The Guide on one side lists historic sites in Rhode Island accessible by water and on the other side, a reproduction of a 1777 chart of Narragansett Bay. The second is the Underwater Bicentennial Project to retrieve artifacts from the Orpheus and the Cerberus, two British warships scuttled off Newport in 1778.

The series is arranged alphabetically by the name of the project or event and chronologically within folders where possible.

3 1 1975 American Issues Forum, National: A-C 3 2 1975 American Issues Forum: Calendar See: Oversize 3 3 1975-1976 American Issues Forum, National: Community Workshops 3 4 [1975-] American Issues Forum, National: H-S 3 5 1975-1976, n.d American Issues Forum: URI 3 6 1975-1976, n.d. American Musical Heritage Program 3 7 1976 May 16 Barrington Boys Choir 3 8 1976 Bell Ringing 3 9 [1975] Bicentennial Museum: Brochures 3 10 1975 May 29-1977 Mar 25 Bicentennial Museum: Correspondence 3 11 1976 Dec, n.d. Bicentennial Museum: Inventory 3 12 1976 Mar 24 Bicentennial Museum: Report 3 13 1976 Dec 10 Bicentennial Museum: Report 3 14 1975-1977, n.d Bicentennial Museum: Schedule 3 15 1976 Apr-May Bicentennial Week 3 16 1976 Jun 03 Birthday Celebration: King George 111 3 17 1975, n.d. Clam Bake Workshops 3 18 1976 Feb-Apr Crafts Fair 3 19 [1976] Cruising Guide to Historic Rhode Island Draft I 3 20 [1976] Cruising Guide to Historic Rhode Island Draft II 3 21 [1976] Cruising Guide to Historic Rhode Island Final Draft 3 22 1976 Cruising Guide to Historic Rhode Island See also: Rhode Island Printed and Published Matter 3 23 1975-1976, n.d. Cruising Guide to Historic Rhode Island: Clippings 3 24 1974 Dec 24-1976 Aug 10, n.d. Cruising Guide to Historic Rhode Island Correspondence 3 25 1975 Jul 30, n.d. Cruising Guide to Historic Rhode Island: Cost 4 26 1975, n.d. Cruising Guide to Historic Rhode Island: Miscellaneous 4 27 1975 Sep 17-1979 Jun 08, n.d. Cruising Guide to Historic Rhode Island; Receipts/Requests 4 28 n.d. Flag Program See also: Subject Series; Clippings 4 29 1975 Jul 26-1976 Apr 16 Flower Show: Palm Sunday 4 30 1976 Apr 05 Language Department Program 4 31 1975 Jul 27-Nov 03, n.d. Mini-Courses 4 32 1978 Apr 07-Aug 05 Narragansett Indian Workshop: Correspondence 4 33 1976 Apr Narragansett Indian Workshop: Miscellaneous 4 34 [1976] Pioneer Skills Project 4 35 1975 Preservation of Rhode Island Historical 4 36 n.d. Project Application Form 4 37 n.d. Projects Status Report 4 38 1975 Ram Band in Colonial Dress 4 39 1975 Aug 02-1976 May 15, n.d. Rule Rhode Island (Play) 4 40 1976, n.d. Student Opinion Survey 4 41 1975 Jul 26-1976 Apr 16 Symposium on Ocean Environment 4 42 1973 Sep-1974 Jun, n.d. Underwater Bicentennial Project: Articles 4 43 1975-1976 Underwater Bicentennial Project: Budget 4 44 1972 Jul 19-1973 Dec 30 Underwater Bicentennial Project: Clippings 4 45 1974 Underwater Bicentennial Project: Clippings 4 46 1975 Underwater Bicentennial Project: Clippings 4 47 1976 Underwater Bicentennial Project: Clippings 4 48 1973 Sep 28-1974 Nov 21 Underwater Bicentennial Project: Correspondence 4 49 1975 Feb 07-1977 Mar 28 Underwater Bicentennial Project: Correspondence See also: Subject Series, Correspondence 4 50 1975 Underwater Bicentennial Project: Miscellaneous 4 51 n.d. Underwater Bicentennial Project: Photographs 4 52 1975 Sep Underwater Bicentennial Project: Proposal 4 53 1976 Feb Underwater Bicentennial Project: Report See also: Rhode Island Printed and Published Matter 4 54 1975 Apr Underwater Bicentennial Project: West Point Dive 4 55 1975 Watson House Archaeological Dig 4 56 1975 Watson House Living Exhibit Series 3 Local Communities

The "Local Community" Series consists of brochures, pamphlets, and other printed and handwritten material describing sites of historic interest and tourist attractions in local communities throughout Rhode Island. The material in this series was used primarily as a research source for the Cruising Guide to Historic Rhode Island.

The series is arranged alphabetically by the name of the community.

5 1 Barrington 5 2 Bristol 5 3 Charlestown 5 4 Cranston 5 5 East Greenwich 5 6 East Providence 5 7 Jamestown 5 8 Little Compton. 5 9 Middletown 5 10 Narragansett 5 11 Newport 5 12 Newport 5 13 New Shoreham (Block Island) 5 14 North Kingston 5 15 Pawtucket 5 16 Portsmouth 5 17 Providence 5 18 South Kingston 5 19 Tiverton 5 20 Warren 5 21 Warwick 5 22 Westerly Series 4 Printed and Published Matter1975-1977

This series is divided into two sub-series, Rhode Island and General. Rhode Island Printed and Published Matter contains material specifically relating to Rhode Island and/or its role in the American Revolution. Included are publications of the Rhode Island Bicentennial Commission and the Division of Tourist Promotion of the Rhode Island Department of Economic Development. The materials are arranged alphabetically by title or subject. General Printed and Published Matter contains almost exclusively publications of the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration. Of particular interest in this sub-series are the Comprehensive Calendars of Bicentennial Events and the Master Register of Bicentennial Projects. Items are arranged alphabetically by title.

 Sub series 1 Rhode Island 6 1 A-C 6 2 1976 Bicentennial Calendar of Rhode Island See also: Subject Series, Rhode Island Bicentennial Commission 6 3 1976 Cruising Guide to Historic Rhode Island See also: Project Series 6 4 E-G 6 5 H 6 6 H 6 7 40544 6 8 1904 Lands of Rhode Island (copy) 6 9 M-R 6 10 Rhode Island 6 11 S-U 6 12 1976 Underwater Bicentennial Expedition Report 6 0 See also: Project Series Sub series 2 General 6 13 n.d. A-B 6 14 1975 Oct-Dec Bicentennial News 6 15 1976 Jan, 1976 Mar Bicentennial News 7 16 1976 Apr-Oct Bicentennial News 7 17 C-H 7 18 1975 Oct Comprehensive Calendar of Bicentennial Events, c. 1 7 19 1975 Oct Comprehensive Calendar of Bicentennial Events, c. 2 8 20 1976 Sep Comprehensive Calendar of Bicentennial Events 8 21 I 8 22 1976 Feb Index of Bicentennial Activities 8 23 L-S 8 24 1976 Feb Master Register of Bicentennial Projects 8 25 n.d. T Series 5 Memorabilia1975-1977

The "Memorabilia" Series consists of flags, postcards, printers' slugs, and sheet music, all commemorating the Bicentennial. Of particular significance is the Rhode Island Bicentennial Flag flown by the ship Endeavor in 1976. Also included in this series are the printer's slug of the "URI-76" logo used by the URI Bicentennial Committee on its mailings and publications, a sign displaying the logo, and the letterhead stationery of the URI Bicentennial Committee.

The series is arranged alphabetically by name or title.

9 1 1976 American Revolution Bicentennial Flag 9 2 1976 Bicentennial Committee Stationery 9 3 1975 Happy Birthday America: Sheet Music 9 4 1976 Logo: "URI-76" Printer's Slug 9 5 1976 Logo: "URI-76" Sign See also: Subject Series 9 6 1975 Lucy Lee and Johnny Free: Sheet Music and Tape 9 7 1976 Rhode Island Bicentennial Flag 9 8 1976 Rhode Island Bicentennial Postcards