Guide to the Perry Expedition Centennial papers, 1953
The Preservation Society of Newport County
424 Bellevue Avenue
Newport, RI 02840
Tel: 401-847-1000
museumaffairs@newportmansions.org
Published in 2025
Collection Overview
| Title: | Perry Expedition Centennial papers |
| Date range: | 1953 |
| Creator: | Newport Publicity Commission |
| Extent: | .208 linear feet (one half-width document case) |
| Abstract: | Materials documenting the planning and activities of the committee commemorating the 1953-1954 centennial of Commodore Matthew C. Perry's U.S. Naval Expedition to Japan. |
| Language of materials: | English |
| Repository: | The Preservation Society of Newport County |
| Collection number: | PSNCA.H.042 |
Scope & content
Includes materials related to the planning of Perry Expedition centennial events and outreach by the Newport Publicity Commission to engage participants from local to international levels. While the committee existed from January 1953 until October 1954, this collection solely includes materials from 1953.Access Points
Subject Names Subject Organizations Document Types Subject Topics Geographical NamesArrangement
Found in collection. Collection was most likely arranged by a previous archivist, possibly between 2000 and 2010. These materials are arranged by subject in a single series.
Historical Note
The Newport Publicity Commission formed the executive committee for the Perry Expedition Centennial in January 1953 to run a year-long program of celebration and cultural exchange with Japan in commemoration of Newport native Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry's opening of Japan to trade with the United States in 1854. This two-year naval expedition was instrumental in ending the Japanese isolationist foreign policy of sakoku. Largely through intimidation, Perry negotiated the signing of the Convention of Kanagawa, or Japan–US Treaty of Peace and Amity, with the Tokogawa Shogunate in March 1854. The Centennial celebration coincided with a Japanese Open Door Festival in Japan commemorating the treaty. The celebration included an exchange of gifts between Newport and Japan; an essay contest for local students; celebrations of living Perry descendants; and releases of a commemorative stamp and cachet envelope.Monique (Mrs. Leonard) Panaggio served as head of the Newport Publicity Commission at this time. The joint chairmen of the Perry centennial celebration were Capt. Henry Hederman, commander of the Naval Base, and Newport Mayor Dean J. Lewis.
Access & Use
| Access to the collection: | The collection is open to the public, and there are no restrictions on access. However, the collection can only be seen by scheduled appointment. |
| Use of the materials: | All researchers seeking to publish materials from the collections of the PSNC Archives and Special Collections are requested to contact the archivist, prior to reproducting, quoting, or otherwise publishing any portion or extract from this collection. Although the Preservation Society has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim copyright ownership. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the copyright and to obtain any necessary permission from them. |
| Preferred citation: | "Courtesy of the Preservation Society of Newport County." |
| Contact information: | The Preservation Society of Newport County 424 Bellevue Avenue Newport, RI 02840 Tel: 401-847-1000 museumaffairs@newportmansions.org |
Administrative Information
| ABOUT THE COLLECTION | |
| Acquisition: | Source unknown; materials were found in collection and had been donated or transferred to The Preservation Society sometime prior to 2023. Because Monique Panaggio was head of the Newport Publicity Commission during the centennial and later worked for the Preservation Society, it is possible that she donated the papers. |
| Accruals: | Additional accruals are not expected. |
| Appraisal: | During the 2025 processing, duplicate copies of printed materials were removed. Whether other materials were appraised or discarded in the original processing is unknown. |
| Processing information: | At an unknown time, someone, possibly a former archivist, arranged the materials into the folder groupings currently used in the collection. In 2025, archivist Genna Duplisea removed several pages of duplicate materials, chronologized some papers within folders, and wrote the finding aid, otherwise maintaining the order and folder sequence as found. |
| ABOUT THE FINDING AID | |
| Encoding: | Finding aid encoded by archivist Genna Duplisea, 2025 May 14 |
| Descriptive rules: | Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) |
Additional Information
| Bibliography: |
"Newport Plans For Perry Centennial Program Include Invitation To Ike," Newport Daily News, Friday, January 9, 1953, p. 18. "Local News Briefs," Newport Daily News, Monday, October 18, 1954, p. 4. |
Inventory
| Box 1, Folder 1 | Publicity |
1953 |
| Box 1, Folder 2 | Cachets |
1953 |
| Box 1, Folder 3 | Expenses |
1953 |
| Box 1, Folder 4 | Student Essays |
1953 |
| Box 1, Folder 5 | Invitations and Committees |
1953 |
| Box 1, Folder 6 | Correspondence |
1953 |