Rhode Island's Islands Oral History Project


University Archives and Special Collections
15 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881-2011
Tel: 401-874-4632

email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Published in 2008

Collection Overview

Title: Rhode Island's Islands Oral History Project
Date range: 1985-1986
Creator: Wood, Linda
Extent: 5 box(es)
(2.5 linear feet)
Abstract: 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.
Language of materials: English
Repository: University Archives and Special Collections
Collection number: Mss. Gr. 54

Scope & content

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

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.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: Open for research.
Use of the materials: 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, University Archives and Special Collections.
Contact information: University Archives and Special Collections
15 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881-2011
Tel: 401-874-4632

email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: The collection was transferred by Linda Wood on February 23, 1987.
Custodial history: The collection was previously held by Linda Wood.
Processing information: The collection was processed by Kevin Logan in 1986.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Kevin Logan.
Encoding: Finding aid encoded by Nicholas Albaugh on 2008 May 22, updated by Hailie D. Posey on 2009 September 29, updated by Mark Dionne on 2020 May 12.
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory

Inventory

Series 1. Block Island, 1985
1.5 box(es)
(.75 linear feet)

This series contains interviews of 20 individuals from Block 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.

Container Description Date
Box 1 , Fld. 1, Tp. 14 Ball, Luella
1985 Aug 22
Box 1 , Fld. 1, Tp. 10 Benson, Frederick
 1985 Aug 22
Box 1 , Fld. 2, Tp. 24 Blane, Edith
 1985 Oct 2
Box 1 , Fld. 2, Tp. 32 Dodge, Francis
1985 Oct 18
Box 1 , Fld. 3, Tp. 13 Dodge, Linus
 1985 Aug 21
Box 1 , Fld. 3, Tp. 48 Downey, Mortimer
1985 Nov 18
Box 1 , Fld. 4, Tp. 49 Gaffett, Sandy
 1985 Nov 15
Box 1 , Fld. 4, Tp. 8 Gill, Bernice
1985 Aug 23
Box 1 , Fld. 5, Tp. 12 Gray, John
1985 Aug 21
Box 1 , Fld. 5, Tp. 11 Lee, John
1985 Aug 22
Box 1, Fld. 6, Tp. 22 Lewis, John R. (Rob)
1985 Oct 2
Box 1, Fld. 6, Tp. 27 Littlefield, Richard
1985 Oct 5
Box 2, Fld. 7, Tp. 45 Napier, Jean
1985 Nov 11
Box 2, Fld. 7, Tp. 31 Payne, Frank
1985 Oct 18
Box 2, Fld. 8, Tp. 46 Phelan, Harriet and Bill
1985 Nov 15
Box 2, Fld. 8, Tp. 23 Rose, Arthur
1985 Oct 2
Box 2, Fld. 9, Tp. 41 Smith, Spencer
1985 Nov 15
Box 2, Fld. 9, Tp. 33 Steadman, Gladys
1985 Oct 18
Box 2, Fld. 10, Tp. 2, 2 Tp.s Thomas, John F. and Mabel
1985 Aug 22

Series 2. Conanicut Island, 1985-1986
1.5 box(es)
(.75 linear feet)

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.

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

Series 3. Prudence Island, 1985-1986
2 box(es)
(1 linear feet)

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.

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