RIAMCO

Rhode Island Archival and Manuscript Collections Online

For Participating Institutions

Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation Division of Tourism photographs (1996-14)

Rhode Island State Archives

Rhode Island State Archives
337 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903
Tel: 401-222-2353
Fax: 401-222-3199
email: statearchives@sos.ri.gov

Scope & content

The Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation Division of Tourism photographs consist primarily of 8x10 black and white (silver gelatin) photographs and 8x10 corresponding negatives (safety film) from ca. 1950-1980. Negatives exist for approximately 40% of the images. The collection also includes some 5x7 and 3x5 black and white photographs, color negatives (mostly 35mm), a small amount of color photographs and some black and white halftone negatives for publication use. Captions penned by the department are included in many of the files (95%). The captions provide interesting and historical information geared towards tourism and travel. The bulk of the photographs were shot during the 1960's and 1970's with some in the 1980"s though very little documentation accompanies the images. Subjects in the photographs include points of interests in the various municipalities within the state such as monuments, tourist destinations (Burlingame State Park, Roger Williams Park, Goddard Park), events (Newport Jazz Festival, Boat Shows, Tuna Tournaments), aerial shots, and houses of worship among others.

A substantial amount of photographs from accessions 1997-136 and 1998-127 are of manufacturing and industrial parks and sites, highway projects (interstate 95) and large scale building projects (Midland and Warwick Malls). It appears that a portion of the shots employed the use of actors as many activities appear to be posed. Accession 1998-127 consists of 4x5 black and white negatives and photographs. A small amount of photographs predate 1950. Accession 1999-03 includes many of the same themes, some of which are duplicates from previous accessions.