Newport Historical Society facts for kids
| Founded | 1854 |
|---|---|
| Type | non-profit |
| Purpose | Collect, document and preserve Newport’s unique contribution to our national narrative over the course of five centuries. |
| Headquarters | Newport, Rhode Island |
The Newport Historical Society is a special group in Newport, Rhode Island. It was started in 1854. Its main job is to collect and keep safe old books, papers, and objects. These items all tell the story of Newport's past. The society helps everyone learn about the city's unique history.
Contents
Discovering Newport's Past: The Society's Story
The Newport Historical Society officially began in 1854. But its collections started even earlier, about 30 years before. They were part of the "Southern Cabinet" of the Rhode Island Historical Society. That larger society was founded in 1822.
By 1853, some important people in Newport saw a need. They wanted a group just for Newport's history. So, the collections from the Southern Cabinet became part of the new Newport Historical Society.
In 1902, work began on a new brick library building. It was at 82 Touro Street. This new building was connected to the Sabbatarian Meeting House. The society had bought the meeting house from the Seventh Day Baptists. The new library offered offices and a safe place for old documents.
Later, in 1915, the meeting house was moved. It went to the back of the property. A new three-story brick building was built between the library and the meeting house. The meeting house also got new brick on the outside. This made it match the other buildings. It also helped protect it from weather and fire.
Today, the society has many interesting things. It shows different exhibits that change over time. It has old colonial items, silver, china, and portraits. You can also see ship models and over 200,000 historic photos.
If you want to do research, they have archives. These are full of old papers. They include the earliest town records and church records. The library also has the second-largest collection of family history information in Rhode Island. You can even take walking tours that start from the Museum of Newport History.
Historic Buildings: Places the Society Cares For
The Newport Historical Society looks after several important old buildings. These buildings help tell Newport's story.
| Image | Name | Year built (*around) |
Style | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
The Richard I. Burnham Resource Center | c. 1902 | 82 Touro Street | |
 |
Brick Market | 1762 | Georgian | 127 Thames Street |
 |
Wanton–Lyman–Hazard House | c. 1697 | Colonial, Georgian | 17 Broadway |
 |
Great Friends Meeting House | 1699 | 30 Farewell Street | |
 |
Old Colony House | 1736-1739 | Georgian | Washington Square |
Treasures: What the Society Collects
The Newport Historical Society has many different collections. They help us understand life in Newport long ago.
- Museum collection (old objects and artifacts)
- Photographs and graphics collections (pictures and drawings)
- Library collections (books and written materials)
Special Library Collections: Deeper Dives into History
The library has some very special collections. These focus on specific parts of Newport's history.
- Business records (how businesses worked)
- Maritime records (stories of ships and the sea)
- Church records (information from old churches)
- Family papers (letters and documents from families)
- Diaries and journals (personal writings)
- African-American history (stories and records of African-Americans in Newport)
- Municipal records (official city documents)
- Other collections (many more unique items)
See also
- List of historical societies in Rhode Island
- List of libraries in Rhode Island
