US-RUn-msg54 Guide to the Rhode Island's Islands Oral History Project Finding aid prepared by Kevin Logan. University of Rhode Island Library, Special Collections and Archives Unit 2007
University Library, Special Collections and Archives 15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011Tel: 401-874-4632E-mail: archives@etal.uri.eduWebsite: http://www.uri.edu/library/special_collections/
 Finding aid encoded by Nicholas Albaugh on 2008 May 22, updated by Hailie D. Posey on 2009 September 29 English Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) Overview of the Collection Wood, Linda Rhode Island's Islands 1985-1986 5 box(es) (2.5 linear feet) The collection consists of interviews with residents of three of Rhode Island's islands: Block Island, Conanicut Island, and Prudence Island. The interviews attempt to define the islands culturally and socially, rather than geographically, through oral history. Special Collections and University Archives
Special Collections and University Archives 15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 Tel: 401-874-4632 email: archives@etal.uri.edu
 Mss. Gr. 54 The records are in English. Physical Charateristics or Technical Requirements

Audiocassette player required for access.

Biographical or Historical Information

Under the sponsorship of the Rhode Island Historical Society and the Jamestown Historical Society and a grant from the Rhode Island Committee for the Humanities, Linda Wood and Michael E. Bell interviewed residents of Conanicut Island (Jamestown), Prudence Island, and Block Island during 1985 and 1986. A total of 64 interviews were conducted with residents whose ages ranged from 55 to 98.

An eight page newspaper format publication, Island Voices, was distributed to 100,000 Rhode Islanders and visitors during the 1986 summer season to promote the project.

The principal investigators, Wood and Bell, aided by two historians and a cultural anthropologist, attempted to define the Islands culturally and socially, rather than geographically, through oral history. The universal appeal and mystique surrounding island life prompted the investigators to challenge the islanders to reflect on how their lives differ from these ideals and how their lives have been enriched or diminished by their island life.

Open for research.

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

Rhode Island's Islands. Oral History Project , Mss. Gr. 54, University of Rhode Island Special Collections.

 Scope and Content Note

The collection contains audiocassettes of the interviews, release forms, and detailed typed indexes for each interview.

Series III contains the publication Island Voices

Arrangement

After processing, the collection was arranged in three series by island. The tapes are numbered in a chronological sequence, however, the series is arranged alphabetically by interviewee.

1. Block Island 2. Conanicut Island 3. Prudence Island

Open for research.

 Acquisitions Information

The collection was transferred by Linda Wood on February 23, 1987.

The collection was previously held by Linda Wood.

The collection was processed by Kevin Logan in 1986.

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.

There are no known related materials

No materials were seperated during processing.

Names Quinney, Valerie Subjects Oral history Block Island (R.I.) Conanicut Island (R.I.) Prudence Island (R.I.) RIAMCO Browsing Terms Maritime Social Life and Customs Rhode Island/Local Interest Inventory Series 1 Block Island 1985 1.5 box(es) (.75 linear feet) sound recordings forms interviews indexes

This series contains interviews of 20 individuals from Prudence Island, Rhode Island, release forms, audiocassettes, and detailed typed indexes for each interview.

 Arrangement

The tapes are apparently numbered in a chronological sequence, however, the series is arranged alphabetically by interviewee.

1 1, Tp. 14 1985 Aug 22 Ball, Luella 1 1, Tp. 10 1985 Aug 22 Benson, Frederick 1 2, Tp. 24 1985 Oct 2 Blane, Edith 1 2, Tp. 32 1985 Oct 18 Dodge, Francis 1 3, Tp. 13 1985 Aug 21 Dodge, Linus 1 3, Tp. 48 1985 Nov 18 Downey, Mortimer 1 4, Tp. 49 1985 Nov 15 Gaffett, Sandy 1 4, Tp. 8 1985 Aug 23 Gill, Bernice 1 5, Tp. 12 1985 Aug 21 Gray, John 1 5, Tp. 11 1985 Aug 22 Lee, John 1 6, Tp. 22 1985 Oct 2 Lewis, John R. (Rob) 1 6, Tp. 27 1985 Oct 5 Littlefield, Richard 2 7, Tp. 45 1985 Nov 11 Napier, Jean 2 7, Tp. 31 1985 Oct 18 Payne, Frank 2 8, Tp. 46 1985 Nov 15 Phelan, Harriet and Bill 2 8, Tp. 23 1985 Oct 2 Rose, Arthur 2 9, Tp. 41 1985 Nov 15 Smith, Spencer 2 9, Tp. 33 1985 Oct 18 Steadman, Gladys 2 10, Tp. 2, 2 Tp.s 1985 Aug 22 Thomas, John F. and Mabel Series 2 Conanicut Island 1985-1986 1.5 box(es) (.75 linear feet) sound recordings forms interviews indexes

This series contains the interviews of 20 individuals from Conanicut Island (Jamestown), Rhode Island. Contained are release forms, audiocassettes, and detailed typed indexes for each interview.

Arrangement

The tapes are apparently numbered in a chronological sequence, however, the series is arranged alphabetically by interviewee.

2 11, Tp. 26 1985 Oct 2 Armbrust, Henry 2 11, Tp. 6 1985 Aug 28 Biddle, Nicholas Jr. 2 12, Tp. 54 1986 Feb 7 Braman, Frank 2 12, Tp. 42 1985 Oct 29 Buttrick, Polly 2 13, Tp. 5 1985 Aug 27 Chew, Robert 2 13, Tp. 4 1985 Aug 28 Crowell, Anna 3 14, Tp. 55 1985 Nov 7 Drury, Ann and Marguerite Drury Murphy 3 14 undated Godena, Manuel 3 14, Tp. 44 1986 Feb 6 Greig, Martha and Pickett 3 15, Tp. 52 1986 Jan 21 Head, Alton and Caroline 3 15, Tp. 41 1985 Oct 25 Holmes, Lois 3 16, Tp. 53 1986 Jan 28 Murray, Daniel 3 16, Tp. 56 1986 Feb 6 Pemental, William 3 17, Tp. 43, 2 Tp.s 1985 Oct 31 Smith, John 3 17, Tp. 39 1985 Oct 25 Tefft, Rosamond 3 18, Tp. 1, 2 Tp.s 1985 Aug 27 Wharton, Rosamond 4 19, Tp. 40 1985 Oct 25 Wilkinson, Josephine Series 3 Prudence Island 1985-1986 2 box(es) (1 linear feet) sound recordings forms interviews indexes publication

This series contains interviews of 24 individuals from Prudence Island, Rhode Island, release forms, audiocassettes, and detailed typed indexes for each interview. Also included at the end of this series is the publication, Island Voices.

Arrangement

The tapes are apparently numbered in a chronological sequence, however, the series is arranged alphabetically by interviewee.

 4 20, Tp. 7 1985 Aug 27 Atwood, Helen and Robert 4 20, Tp. 18 1985 Sep 19 Bacon, Natalie 4 21, Tp. 9 1985 Aug 24 Bearse, Madeline 4 21, Tp. 21 1985 Sep 26 Blount, Luther 4 22, Tp. 29 1985 Oct 17 Brayton, Emily 4 22, Tp. 34, 2 Tp.s 1985 Oct 5 Butler, Arline C. 4 23, Tp. 20 1985 Sep 26 Canario, John and Olivia 4 23, Tp. 19 1985 Sep 24 Franham, Todd 4 24, Tp. 50 1985 Nov 8 Herreshoff, Rebecca, Nat and Halsey 4 24, Tp. 30 1985 Oct 17 Kaiman, Evelyn 5 25, Tp. 16 1985 Sep 19 Lawrence, Mary B. 5 25, Tp. 51 1986 Nov 13 Marz, Katherine 5 26, Tp. 35 1985 Oct 12 Morris, Lloyd 5 26, Tp. 17 1985 Sep 18 Murray, Florence 5 27, Tp. 15 1985 Sep 19 Sousa, Manny 5 27, Tp. 3 1985 Aug 25 Thresher, Clifford 5 28, Tp. 36 1985 Oct 12 Warner, Chester 5 28, Tp. 38 1985 Oct 24 Watt, Barbara 5 29, Tp. 28 1985 Oct 7 Williams,Dudley 5 29, Tp. 37 1985 Oct 12 Worcester, Cynthia 5 30 1986 Island Voices