Page 1 of 10 Guide to the Rhode Island's Islands Oral History Project 1985-1986 15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 E-mail: archives@etal.uri.edu Website: http://www.uri.edu/library/special_collections/ Published in 2007 University of Rhode Island Library, Special Collections and
Page 2 of 10 Collection overview Title: Rhode Island's Islands Date range: 1985-1986 Creator: Extent: Abstract: Language of materials: Repository: Wood, Linda 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. English Collection number: 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
Page 3 of 10 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. Open for research. Use of 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. 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: Contact information: Rhode Island's Islands,, University of Rhode Island LibrarySpecial Collections and 15 Lippitt Road
Page 4 of 10 Administrative information About the collection Kingston, RI 02881-2011 E-mail: archives@etal.uri.edu Website: http://www.uri.edu/library/special_collections/ Aquisition: Custodial history: The collection was transferred by Linda Wood on February 23, 1987. The collection was previously held by Linda Wood. Processing information: The collection was processed by Kevin Logan in 1986. About the finding aid Author: Encoding: Descriptive rules: Finding aid prepared by Kevin Logan. Finding aid encoded by Nicholas Albaugh on 2008 May 22, updated by Hailie D. Posey on 2009 September 29 Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) Search terms Names: Subjects: Quinney, Valerie Oral history Block Island (R.I.) Conanicut Island (R.I.) Prudence Island (R.I.)
Page 5 of 10 Inventory Series 1, Block Island, 1985 1.5 box(es) (.75 linear feet) This series contains interviews of 20 individuals from Prudence Island, Rhode Island, release forms, audiocassettes, and detailed typed indexes for each interview. ArrangementThe 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 Box 1, Fld. 1, Tp. 10 Ball, Luella Benson, Frederick 22 22 Box 1, Fld. 2, Tp. 24 Box 1, Fld. 2, Tp. 32 Blane, Edith 1985 Oct 2 Dodge, Francis 1985 Oct 18 Box 1, Fld. 3, Tp. 13 Box 1, Fld. 3, Tp. 48 Box 1, Fld. 4, Tp. 49 Box 1, Fld. 4, Tp. 8 Box 1, Fld. 5, Tp. 12 Dodge, Linus Downey, Mortimer Gaffett, Sandy Gill, Bernice Gray, John 21 1985 Nov 18 1985 Nov 15 23 21
Page 6 of 10 Box 1, Fld. 5, Tp. 11 Lee, John 22 Box 1, Fld. 6, Tp. 22 Box 1, Fld. 6, Tp. 27 Lewis, John R. (Rob) 1985 Oct 2 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 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. ArrangementThe tapes are apparently numbered in a chronological sequence, however, the series is arranged alphabetically by interviewee.
Page 7 of 10 Container Description Date Box 2, Fld. 11, Tp. 26 Armbrust, Henry 1985 Oct 2 Box 2, Fld. 11, Tp. 6 Biddle, Nicholas Jr. 28 Box 2, Fld. 12, Tp. 54 Box 2, Fld. 12, Tp. 42 Braman, Frank 1986 Feb 7 Buttrick, Polly 1985 Oct 29 Box 2, Fld. 13, Tp. 5 Box 2, Fld. 13, Tp. 4 Box 3, Fld. 14, Tp. 55 Chew, Robert Crowell, Anna Drury, Ann and Marguerite Drury Murphy 27 28 1985 Nov 7 Box 3, Fld. 14 Godena, Manuel undated Box 3, Fld. 14, Tp. 44 Box 3, Fld. 15, Tp. 52 Box 3, Fld. 15, Tp. 41 Box 3, Fld. 16, Tp. 53 Box 3, Fld. 16, Tp. 56 Greig, Martha and Pickett 1986 Feb 6 Head, Alton and Caroline 1986 Jan 21 Holmes, Lois 1985 Oct 25 Murray, Daniel 1986 Jan 28 Pemental, William 1986 Feb 6
Page 8 of 10 Box 3, Fld. 17, Tp. 43, 2 Tp.s Box 3, Fld. 17, Tp. 39 Smith, John 1985 Oct 31 Tefft, Rosamond 1985 Oct 25 Box 3, Fld. 18, Tp. 1, 2 Tp.s Wharton, Rosamond 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 Box 4, Fld. 20, Tp. 18 Box 4, Fld. 21, Tp. 9 Box 4, Fld. 21, Tp. 21 Atwood, Helen and Robert Bacon, Natalie Bearse, Madeline Blount, Luther 27 19 24 26 Box 4, Fld. 22, Tp. 29 Brayton, Emily 1985 Oct 17
Page 9 of 10 Box 4, Fld. 22, Tp. 34, 2 Tp.s Butler, Arline C. 1985 Oct 5 Box 4, Fld. 23, Tp. 20 Box 4, Fld. 23, Tp. 19 Canario, John and Olivia Franham, Todd 26 24 Box 4, Fld. 24, Tp. 50 Box 4, Fld. 24, Tp. 30 Herreshoff, Rebecca, Nat and Halsey 1985 Nov 8 Kaiman, Evelyn 1985 Oct 17 Box 5, Fld. 25, Tp. 16 Box 5, Fld. 25, Tp. 51 Lawrence, Mary B. Marz, Katherine 19 1986 Nov 13 Box 5, Fld. 26, Tp. 35 Morris, Lloyd 1985 Oct 12 Box 5, Fld. 26, Tp. 17 Box 5, Fld. 27, Tp. 15 Box 5, Fld. 27, Tp. 3 Murray, Florence Sousa, Manny Thresher, Clifford 18 19 25 Box 5, Fld. 28, Tp. 36 Box 5, Fld. 28, Tp. 38 Warner, Chester 1985 Oct 12 Watt, Barbara 1985 Oct 24
Page 10 of 10 Box 5, Fld. 29, Tp. 28 Box 5, Fld. 29, Tp. 37 Williams,Dudley 1985 Oct 7 Worcester, Cynthia 1985 Oct 12 Box 5, Fld. 30 Island Voices 1986