Our Mission...
The mission of the Western Rhode Island Civic Historical Society Archive is to collect, document and preserve the history of western Rhode Island and provide a repository for the records and publications of the Western Rhode Island Civic Historical Society.
The Archive makes its manuscripts and library available for use by teachers, students, researchers, and the public in cooperation with churches, granges, patriotic organizations, schools, museums, and historical societies to promote the history of western Rhode Island. The Archive commits to providing suitable care, storage and access for all items in the collection.
For the most up-to-date information about the Archive, follow us on Twitter!
The Archive makes its manuscripts and library available for use by teachers, students, researchers, and the public in cooperation with churches, granges, patriotic organizations, schools, museums, and historical societies to promote the history of western Rhode Island. The Archive commits to providing suitable care, storage and access for all items in the collection.
For the most up-to-date information about the Archive, follow us on Twitter!
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About the archive...
The collection of the Western Rhode Island Civic Historical Society (WRICHS) is housed at the Paine House Museum, which is located on Station Street in Washington Village of the town of Coventry, RI. Our collection consists of manuscripts, books, letters, journals, government records, newspapers and other ephemera donated to the WRICHS by past Society members and by the public. Our collections date from the early 1800s to the present day. We are also planning a "Western Rhode Island Oral History Project" to begin collecting the stories western Rhode Islanders. |
The WRICHS Archive is looking for...
- Donations of historical records and documents to add to our collection -- from individuals, families, businesses, churches, clubs, and civic organizations from western Rhode Island dating from the colonial era to today
- Donations of books related to the history of western Rhode Island or written by people connected to western Rhode Island
- Any papers or records related to the Western Rhode Island Civic Historical Society from its foundation in 1945 to today
- Donations of office equipment and furniture for our public research space
Email WRICHS Archivist Peter Bennett or WRICHS Historian Mark Gardner today to make an appointment!
Archive NewsThe archive collection is currently closed to the public while it is being organized. Once the collection has been properly organized, it will be cataloged in a computer database, organized and stored. This is to ensure the collection's preservation and to make the collection easily accessible to the public for the first time.
Cataloging 19th century newspapers in the archive workspace (August 2013)
Research and storage space has been organized on the second floor of the Paine House Museum, and an inventory of our collection is currently taking place. The archive space is open during tours of the Paine House Museum -- visitors are welcome to see the work being done and to view current exhibits.
For more information, see the Archive Cataloging, Conservation and Public Access Project page. |
At the Paine House Museum The Paine House, home of the Western Rhode Island Civic Historical Society, was the site of Coventry's first town meeting in 1741. In the 1780s the house was known as the Brayton Tavern, and in the mid-19th century it was purchased by the Paine family, who owned it for 87 years. The 19th-century entrance to the tavern is located on the ground floor door, at street level.
Important Events
During Phase III of RI's reopening during the Covid-19 pandemic, the hours for the Western Rhode Island Civic Historical Society and the Paine House Museum are currently limited to Fridays and Saturdays, 10 am to 2 pm We are planning to stay open on this limited basis for the foreseeable future! Stay tuned for information about Heritage Day 2020 and follow our Twitter @WRICHSarchive, for information regarding upcoming meetings of the Western Rhode Island Civic Historical Society! The Paine House Museum is located at 7 Station Street, Coventry RI. Meetings and events listed here are held inside the Museum or on the Museum grounds unless otherwise noted. |
