RI Historical Society -- Upcoming Events

Friday, May 29
Evenings of full WaterFire lightings, 5:30 p.m.
Tour departs from the
John Brown House Museum
52 Power Street, Providence
$10 per person
Reservations requested: Dalila Goulart
(401) 331-8575 x45 or programs@rihs.org
 
RiverWalk: Before the Fires are Lit
The 2009 WaterFire schedule has officially been announced! For the full schedule, check www.waterfire.org <http://www.waterfire.org/> .
 
Discover the winding history and continued importance of Providence’s rivers! Urban outdoor sculpture and beautiful civic and commercial buildings of varied architectural styles provide the setting for stories of Providence’s fabled past and dynamic present. This walk shares the history of Rhode Island’s capital city and the history of WaterFire. $10 per person. Reservations requested for this tour. For schedule of WaterFire lightings: www.waterfire.org <http://www.waterfire.org/> , or (401) 272-3111. This walk is offered in collaboration with WaterFire.

*************************************

Saturday, May 30, 10:00 a.m.
Tour departs from the
John Brown House Museum
52 Power Street, Providence
To R.S.V.P.: Dalila Goulart
(401) 331-8575 x45 or programs@rihs.org
 
African-American History Walking Tours
These walking tours celebrate the history of African Americans who lived on College Hill from 1701 to the present. Ray Rickman, a well known community leader, will lead a lively discussion and offer his perspective on the people and historic buildings of Providence's oldest neighborhood. Tickets are $10 per person; tour lasts about ninety minutes. Reservations are required.

*************************************
 
 
At the Providence Public Library …

A fragile memory: Turn of the century glass negatives
Monday, June 1st - Saturday, June 27th 2009
Opening Reception June 1st, 6-8pm
Providence Public Library
Special Collections Exhibition Hall
150 Empire Street
Providence RI 02903

For more information:
Richard J. Ring
Special Collections Librarian
401-455-8021
rring@provlib.org

Over one thousand glass plate negatives have long lain forgotten in the Special Collections of the Providence Public Library. Now a select handful of them will be hand printed and revealed to the public eye, possibly for the very first time. The project was conceived and curated by Agata Michalowska and was brought to bear through a close collaboration with local photographers working out of the AS220 Paul Krot Community Darkrooms. Around two dozen plates will be printed and exhibited along with a selection of glass negatives. The plates represent a wide range of topics including portraits of wealthy Rhode Island families, interiors of textile factories, and landscapes of New England. These glass negatives constitute a cabinet of wonders and a glimpse of a world long past.

During the opening reception, on June 1st, James DaMico and Richard Ring will lend their expertise to help us further imagine the stories these photographs quietly suggest. DaMico, the Rhode Island Historical Society's Graphics Archivist, will talk about the technical development of photography with his presentation "Glass plate negatives: A Look at a 19th Century Photographic Innovation".  Richard Ring, Providence's Special Collections Librarian, will offer us an informed historical perspective on the city at the dawn of the twentieth century with his presentation, "The Beehive of Industry: Providence in the Late Victorian Era, 1890-1910”.

RI Historical Society - New England Museum Association Workshop at the Museum of Work & Culture

Saturday, June 6 and June 20
9:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Museum of Work & Culture
42 South Main Street, Woonsocket

Workshop: Save Your Collection, Share Your Story, Sustain Your Mission:
A Primer for Small Museums and Historical Societies
The New England Museum Association is pleased to be able to offer a two-part Saturday workshop for small museums and historical societies in Rhode Island. Topics essential to all organizations will be addressed including: mission and governance, collections care and preservation, fundraising, education, and exhibitions.
This is a great opportunity for even the smallest historical site or museum to engage in affordable, high-quality professional development. For organizations run by volunteers or with a small number of paid staff, this program will cover the basics and help you build a stronger organization for the future.
 
Presenters:
Kirsten Hammerstrom, Deputy Director for Collections, Rhode Island Historical Society
C. Morgan Grefe, Ph.D., Director, Newell D. Goff Center for Education and Public Programs, Rhode Island Historical Society

$35 for the two-part workshop--lunch included.
For registration information, please visit http://www.nemanet.org/workshops/PrimerRI.htm.
Registration deadline: May 26, 2009

********************

Made possible through major funding from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, an independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage.

RI Historical Society -- Upcoming Events

 
 
 
Thursday, May 21, 7:00 p.m.
Gallery Night
John Brown House Museum
52 Power Street, Providence
Free Admission, To R.S.V.P.: Dalila Goulart
(401) 331-8575 x45 or programs@rihs.org

If These Walls Could Talk … Man with a Horn: Cornetist Bobby Hackett
Come celebrate the life and music of Rhode Island’s own jazzman Bobby Hackett with a retrospective on his decades-long career. Dr. Steven Kane will lead this tribute presentation, which includes some examples of Hackett’s recorded works. Dr. Kane is a practicing psychotherapist in Providence, and is also a professional swing pianist, jazz educator, and keyboard teacher.

************************************
 
Saturday, May 23, 1:00 p.m.
Tour departs from the
John Brown House Museum
52 Power Street, Providence
Tickets: $10
To R.S.V.P.: Barbara Barnes
(401) 273-7507 x62 or bbarnes@rihs.org
 
Gallery Night in the Light of Saturday: East Side
Join us on these walking tours offered by Gallery Night Providence and the Rhode Island Historical Society. Let the fun you had on Gallery Night continue during the weekend. On the Saturday after Gallery Night in May, June and July, walk with a tour guide who knows the neighborhood and an artist who knows the galleries and the art. Learn more about the Providence art scene, and after the tour, linger awhile. Explore the neighborhood; find a great cafe for coffee and conversation; stay for dinner. Maps and local information provided. Today’s tour begins at 1:00 p.m. from the John Brown House Museum, 52 Power Street. Tickets are $10/person. Reservations are requested.

*************************************
 
Saturday, May 23 and Friday, May 29
Evenings of full WaterFire lightings, 5:30 p.m.
Tour departs from the
John Brown House Museum
52 Power Street, Providence
$10 per person
Reservations requested: Dalila Goulart
(401) 331-8575 x45 or programs@rihs.org
 
RiverWalk: Before the Fires are Lit
The 2009 WaterFire schedule has officially been announced! For the full schedule, check www.waterfire.org <http://www.waterfire.org/> .
 
Discover the winding history and continued importance of Providence’s rivers! Urban outdoor sculpture and beautiful civic and commercial buildings of varied architectural styles provide the setting for stories of Providence’s fabled past and dynamic present. This walk shares the history of Rhode Island’s capital city and the history of WaterFire. $10 per person. Reservations requested for this tour. For schedule of WaterFire lightings: www.waterfire.org <http://www.waterfire.org/> , or (401) 272-3111. This walk is offered in collaboration with WaterFire.

************************************

Saturday, May 30, 10:00 a.m.
Tour departs from the
John Brown House Museum
52 Power Street, Providence
To R.S.V.P.: Dalila Goulart
(401) 331-8575 x45 or programs@rihs.org
 
African-American History Walking Tours
These walking tours celebrate the history of African Americans who lived on College Hill from 1701 to the present. Ray Rickman, a well known community leader, will lead a lively discussion and offer his perspective on the people and historic buildings of Providence's oldest neighborhood. Tickets are $10 per person; tour lasts about ninety minutes. Reservations are required.

FW: Historic New England e-newsletter

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News from Historic New England e-newsletter May 2009  An innovative approach An example of Historic New England's leadership in providing models for other historical organizations is the impact of the article "The Future of the Historic House Museum" that President Carl Nold presented in the Summer 2008 issue of Historic New England magazine. The article was quickly quoted by historical groups in their own newsletters, including a president's column in the Castle Chronicle for Smith's Castle Museum, Wickford, Rhode Island.  Connecticut Landmarks, the largest heritage organization in that state, requested permission to reprint the article in their publication.  That appearance generated an invitation for Mr. Nold to speak to the Chairman's Council of the Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich, Connecticut.  Forty-eight community leaders gathered for a talk, including people with connections to the Bruce Museum, Nantucket Historical Association, the Finance Museum, and other organizations.  As groups across the region work to engage communities with historic sites, Historic New England's success at building membership and audience is an example for others. Preserving traditional buildings A close look at two historic houses This spring Historic New England's properties in Lincoln, Massachusetts, were the focus of an assessment during the Traditional Building Exhibition and Conference in Boston.  More than twenty architects, along with Historic New England's property care staff, participated in a workshop on surveying historic buildings.   Participants from as far away as Hawaii enjoyed lectures and discussion, after which they separated into two groups to examine either the c. 1740 Codman Estate or the 1938 Gropius House. Each team analyzed the site, structure, systems, and finishes.  The course on assessments was well timed, since Historic New England has recently begun to survey all thirty-six properties as part of the recently awarded, multi-year Preservation Maintenance Fund grant.  Click here to read a recent article on the grant. Bringing professionals from different backgrounds together afforded everyone the opportunity to share expertise and view familiar problems from new perspectives. Preserving food memories May Year of the Kitchen recipes Foodways change with the times, varying according to availability of ingredients, geography, and ethnicity. Recipes can be considered a microcosm of social history. During the Year of the Kitchen, Historic New England offers recipes of the month to share its efforts in preserving stories about food and foodways.  In May, we invite you to our website for some of the recipes Ise Gropius prepared at the Gropius House from the 1940s through the early 1980s for her family and guests. We also invite you to visit the Gropius House and view Ise's kitchen for yourself. Preserving kitchen stories "America's Kitchens" opens at the New Hampshire Historical Society's museum on June 11.   The "America's Kitchens" exhibition uses the kitchen as a way of understanding four centuries of American history. Kitchens tell stories - about families and women's roles; preparing food without running water, electricity, or refrigeration; household help; new technologies; changes in gadgets and appliances; and dramatic shifts in values and everyday life. The exhibition features vignettes of historic kitchens in Colonial New England and nineteenth-century Illinois, as well as a traditional adobe kitchen in the Southwest, and a 1950s bright blue, "show kitchen."   Be sure to visit the exhibition and experience what life in the kitchen was like in other times and places. Churn butter, share a kitchen memory, or jot down a recipe from one of the many cookbooks available.   Historic New England members, RSVP today for the special members-only reception on Saturday, June 27, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., with exhibition curator Nancy Carlisle. Contact Membership@HistoricNewEngland.org or call 617-227-3956. Preserving farm friends Two little pigs Big Dave and Little Romeo are vacationing at the Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, and were recently welcomed to the farm by pre-school children participating in the Farm Friends program.  The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals brought the two pigs to meet six sheep, two goats, one horse, and the turkey "ambassador"  housed at the farm as part of a farm animal foster care partnership.  Big Dave and Little Romeo are staying at the farm through the summer.  Stop by and say hello.   The pigs are fed by donations from the restaurants at The Tannery in Newburyport, owned by Historic New England member David Hall. Big Dave and Little Romeo enjoy buckets of fresh fruit and vegetable scraps three times a week, plus plenty of hay and pig chow. Preserving kitchen resources Historic New England Council member Charles French recently donated a copy of our latest publication, America's Kitchens, to the collection at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.   Fifty guests attended the evening reception at Johnson & Wales' Culinary Arts Museum and enjoyed a presentation by co-author Jennifer Pustz, museum historian at Historic New England.  Historic New England is honored that America's Kitchens is now a part of the Joan French Cookbook Collection at the school, a collection of more than 12,000 books from all over the world that is actively used by the students and researchers.   Click here to purchase your own copy of America's Kitchens. Preserving windows The wood-frame windows in the nineteenth-century townhouses attached to the 1796 Otis House have suffered from the damaging effects of the New England climate. Thirty-one windows on the east and west façades are currently undergoing restoration. With repairs and re-painting to prevent moisture penetration and energy loss, this project preserves the historic sash elements, prevents water penetration into the sash and wall cavity, and improves energy efficiency.   On the Massachusetts North Shore, the first phase of work on the window restoration project started at Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House.  Approximately 85 window sash were removed for restoration work, which consists of complete sash removal, conservation services, and replacement of rotted sills. The re-installation of the conserved sash begins this month in preparation for the public tour season beginning on June 2. Follow our Beauport blog. Program highlights June is Members Month Free programs and events, exclusively for Historic New England members throughout the month.  Join photographer Geoffrey Grosss in Gloucester, Mass., for a presentation on his fascination with the historic houses he photographs; visit the animals, learn to make a kite, and attend the farmers market at Casey Farm;  listen to tales of heroes, rogues, and thieves during a walk between Castle Tucker and Nickels-Sortwell House; or start off your Saturday with a beginner yoga class at the Langdon House. These programs and more, are available exclusively for members. To register, e-mail Membership@HistoricNewengland.org or call 617-227-3956.   Decades of Dishes Saturday, May 16, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.; Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, Conn.; 860-928-4074; $5 Historic New England members, $8 nonmembers. Registration recommended. Learn about late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century ceramics and what these objects tell us about the social history of dining in America. Hear an illustrated lecture about American and imported ceramics, highlighting changes in style, materials, and manufacturing technology, then tour rooms that the Bowen family used for entertaining and examine their collection of china, including pieces not regularly on display. Favorite Things and Hidden Treasures Saturday, May 30, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.; Cogswell's Grant, Essex, Mass.; 978-768-3632; $10 Historic New England members, $18 nonmember. Registration required. See some of the favorite objects of renowned American folk art collectors Bertram K. and Nina Fletcher Little, including objects hidden in cupboards and cabinets, and thake extra time to linger over the wealth of objects on view in the house. The tour includes a rare opportunity to see treasures stored in the attic, which is not usually open to the public. E-mail membership@HistoricNewEngland.org Telephone: 617-227-3956 Web: http://www.historicnewengland.org In this issue... An innovative approach Preserving buildings May recipes Preserving kitchen stories Two little pigs Preserving kitchen resources Preserving windows Program highlights Join today to receive Historic New England magazine   Or call 617-227-3956. Become a fan of Historic New England on Facebook       Listen to a Historic New England podcast Shop online   Calendar of events   Paint color chart   Function rentals   Employment opportunities

RICH: FREE Skill Share Workshops Start Tomorrow

Dear Friends,
A reminder - and a request to spread word to your networks - about RICH's FREE Skill Share Workshops. These are all lunchtime workshops from 12 - 1:30 p.m. Participants are asked to bring their own brown bag lunches. RICH will provide beverages and cookies. Thanks for your help getting the word out!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
WORKSHOP # 1

Tuesday, May 12: Slater Mill HIstoric Site, 67 Roosevelt Ave, Pawtucket, RI 02860
Planning Your Exhibition on a Shoestring: Tricks for making your budget exhibition look like a million bucks! Learn what you should spend money on and where you can cut costs.

Presenters:
Marjory O'Toole, Managing Director of the Little Compton Historical Society. Marjory has been involved in four special exhibition projects for the Society in recent years.  Each has had a modest budget but produced professional results and generated very positive reactions from the local community. Marjory is a graduate of Brown University and has worked for over 20 years in the non-profit sector raising funds and developing public programs.

Andrian Paquette, Curator at Slater Mill. Andrian has curated and managed several exhibitions for Slater Mill, including the recent Pawtucket Falls exhibition.

Meg Rotzel and Rosie Branson Gill, Co-curators of Art+History, an exhibit currently up at the John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage at Brown University. Art+History is an exhibition and community programming series about the processes of interpreting history. Art+History is a catalyst for conversation about how historical narrative is crafted and a different model for engaging audiences in historical sites and museums through contemporary artwork. Visit the project's website at http://artplushistory.wordpress.com/. Meg and Rosie are recent graduates of the master's in public humanities program at Brown.

Ted Peffer, president, iolabs inc, a Pawtucket-based photographic, fine art and display imaging studio. iolabs has worked with many major museums, organizations and institutions, providing exhibit display and interior photographic panels, event display graphics and interior decor services. Additionally, iolabs provides large and small format archival, printed reproductions and editions of historic or contemporary works of fine art, photographs and illustration.

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WORKSHOP # 2

Wednesday, May 13: AS220, 115 Empire St. Providence, RI 02903
Surviving as a Freelancer: Three project directors under the age of 30 share some tips for making ends meet.

Presenters:
Reza Clifton, Online Publisher, Freelance Writer, Independent Radio Producer; Project Director for Rhode 2 Africa - A Concert Series and an Interview/Podcast Series and Video on RezaRitesRi.com.

Matthew Lawrence, Project Director for NotAbouttheBuildings.com, The Library Show, Adult Spelling Bee, Dead-In and many other literary and arts based community happenings.

Paul McCarthy, Independent Radio Producer for Not Your Classroom and What's What Radio.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
WORKSHOP # 3

Monday, May 18: RI EDC, 315 Iron Horse Way, Providence, RI 02908 (directions/map at http://www.riedc.com/contact)
The Biggest Little: Easy and free ways to promote your organization and project in  Lil' Rhody and beyond! Come learn how to enhance your web presence...for free!

Presenters:
Mark Brodeur, Director of Tourism at the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation. Mark is responsible for implementing and managing the activities of the Tourism Division, which includes managing the division's staff, communications, publications, trade events, marketing programs and tourism research. Mark is a 25-year veteran of the tourism and hospitality industry.

Leah Nahmias, is a 2009 graduate of Brown's Masters of Public Humanities program where she researched and co-developed a public humanities toolbox for non-profits to assist in creating great websites using freeware. Leah graduated from Indiana University in 2004 with a B.A. in History, a certificate in Jewish Studies, and a minor in East Asian Languages and Cultures.  With all of these incredibly practical degrees in hand and a spirit of idealism in her heart, she joined Teach For America and moved to Charlotte, North Carolina.  For three years she taught different versions of U.S. history—standard, ESL, inclusion, AP, IB History of the Americas—and AVID at West Charlotte High School.  These various experiences, professional and personal, got her thinking about how individuals and communities think about the past, where they encounter “history,” and the challenges of making these processes accessible and meaningful.

RI Historical Society -- Upcoming Events

Wednesday, May 13, 12:00 noon
Free, Contact: Barbara Barnes
(401) 273-7507 x62 or bbarnes@rihs.org
 
Downcity Alive! Spring Has Sprung Downcity!
Join us on 45-minute noon time walks sponsored by the Providence Foundation and Rhode Island Historical Society that are free and open to all! They are discovery tours for those who work, shop and walk downtown at lunch time. Today, come find out what the summer has in store and what's new on Westminster and Weybosset Streets.

**************************************
 
Thursday, May 21, 7:00 p.m.
Gallery Night
John Brown House Museum
52 Power Street, Providence
Free Admission, To R.S.V.P.: Dalila Goulart
(401) 331-8575 x45 or programs@rihs.org

If These Walls Could Talk … Man with a Horn: Cornetist Bobby Hackett
Come celebrate the life and music of Rhode Island’s own jazzman Bobby Hackett with a retrospective on his decades-long career. Dr. Steven Kane will lead this tribute presentation, which includes some examples of Hackett’s recorded works. Dr. Kane is a practicing psychotherapist in Providence, and is also a professional swing pianist, jazz educator, and keyboard teacher.

************************************
 
Saturday, May 23, 1:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10
To R.S.V.P.: Barbara Barnes
(401) 273-7507 x62 or bbarnes@rihs.org
 
Gallery Night in the Light of Saturday: East Side
Join us on these walking tours offered by Gallery Night Providence and the Rhode Island Historical Society. Let the fun you had on Gallery Night continue during the weekend. On the Saturday after Gallery Night in May, June and July, walk with a tour guide who knows the neighborhood and an artist who knows the galleries and the art. Learn more about the Providence art scene. After the tour, linger awhile. Explore the neighborhood; find a great cafe for coffee and conversation; stay for dinner. Maps and local information provided. All tours begin at 1 p.m. at a specific neighborhood location to be announced. Tickets are $10/person. Reservations are requested.

*************************************
 
Saturday, May 30, 10:00 a.m.
Tour departs from the
John Brown House Museum
52 Power Street, Providence
To R.S.V.P.: Dalila Goulart
(401) 331-8575 x45 or programs@rihs.org
 
African-American History Walking Tours
These walking tours celebrate the history of African Americans who lived on College Hill from 1701 to the present. Ray Rickman, a well known community leader, will lead a lively discussion and offer his perspective on the people and historic buildings of Providence's oldest neighborhood. Tickets are $10 per person; tour lasts about ninety minutes. Reservations are required.

OPEN SOURCE: A Scheme for art production and curating?

OPEN SOURCE: A Scheme for art production and curating?

Friday May 8, 2009
10am-Noon
AS220 Performance Space/115 Empire St.
FREE.

LIVE STREAM from Positions in Flux Symposium ,at The Netherlands Media Art Institute in Amsterdam,
on the changing role of the artist and art institutes in the networked society.

Open Source – A scheme for art production and curating?

This session deals with the concept of open source for art production and its presentation. The open source movement is driven by the idea of collective, process-based, sustainable production and improvement. In software development this strategy has already proven to be valid; however can this model be applied to other products such as artworks or even exhibitions? In how far does the open source model differ from other forms of artistic collaboration? Is there a new role model for both the artist and the curator in the future? Which (economic) value and impact has expertise in open source production? How could institutions and organisations respond to this trend? How could institutions and organisations respond to this trend and create public domains?

Jaromil, dyne.org and researcher at NIMk
Denis 'Jaromil' Roio is the main author of the GNU/Linux Live CD Dyne:bolic as well as of a number of audiovisual tools. He is also an artist who has been part of international exhibitions such as CODeDOC II by the Whitney Museum Artport and speaker on conferences such as Ars Electronica. Inspired by Richard Stallman's 'free as in free speech' approach as well as liberatory politics, Jaromil seeks to transgress borders between art and code, social activism and research and development.
jaromil.dyne.org/journal/

Femke Snelting (NL) and Renée Turner (US)
De Geuzen is a foundation for multi-visual research and the collaborative identity of Riek Sijbring, Femke Snelting and Renée Turner. Since 1996 they have employed a variety of tactics to explore female identity, narratives of the archive and media image ecologies. Their work has been featured in events, publications and spaces such as Manifesta 2, Mute, NIMK, Peacock Visual Arts and Furtherfield.org. Exhibitions, workshops and online projects operate as thematic framing devices where the group investigates and tests ideas collectively with different publics. Characterising what they do as research, their work is open-ended, values processes of exchange and promotes critical interrogation.
www.geuzen.org <http://www.geuzen.org>

Marcos Garcia, director of Interactivos, Medialab Prado (ES)
Medialab-Prado is aimed at the production, research, and dissemination of digital culture and operates at the intersection of art, science, technology, and society. Its primary objective is to create a structure where both research and production are processes permeable to user participation. It has developed a unique workshop model for collaborative art production and knowledge transfer.
www.medialab-prado.es <http://www.medialab-prado.es>  

Joasia Krysa, curator, founder of KURATOR (PL/UK)
KURATOR is a cultural organisation operating as a curatorial agency and research platform at the intersection of art and technology. It has a particular interest in an emerging discourse and practice that links curating with software and networks. Krysa’s recent curatorial projects include openKURATOR, an open submission and presentation platform developed by KURATOR. She is the editor of ‘Curating Immateriality’ (Autonomedia, New York 2006) and lecturer/researcher at the AZTEC (Art Science Technology Consortium at the University of Plymouth.)
www.kurator.org <http://www.kurator.org>  

Moderated by Josephine Bosma, theoretician and critic (nl)
For more than 15 years Bosma’s focus has been on media art and media theory. She has published numerous interviews and essays in book collections and in magazines including Mute (UK), Telepolis (D), UHK (NO), and Switch (USA). She played a key part in organizing the radio part of the Next 5 Minutes 2 and Next 5 Minutes 3 festivals, and has edited the streaming media sections of the nettime book, ReadMe and the N5M3 workbook.
http://laudanum.net/bosma

21.30h. Drinks at Netherlands Media Art Institute
Keizersgracht 264
Amsterdam
www.nimk.nl <http://www.nimk.nl>

RI Historical Society -- May Programs and Events

Through the Spring until July 2nd
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Aldrich House
110 Benevolent Street, Providence
For more information: Dalila Goulart
(401) 331-8575 x45 or programs@rihs.org
 
Exhibit: Rhode Island in the Time of Lincoln
The Rhode Island Historical Society continues to celebrate the bicentennial of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth with an exhibit that takes a look at life in Rhode Island during the 1860s. Though Lincoln made only two stops in RI, they were widely attended and remembered. But what did the Rhode Island that Lincoln visited look like? Rhode Island in the Time of Lincoln will remain on exhibit Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. through the spring. Admission is free. Thank you to the exhibit’s sponsors: The Rhode Island Foundation and the Rhode Island Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.

************************************

Thursday, May 7, 6:30 p.m.
Rhode Island Historical Society Library
121 Hope Street, Providence
Free Admission, To R.S.V.P.: Lee Teverow
(401) 273-8107 x10 or lteverow@rihs.org
 
Lecture: Flesh and Stone: Ruins and the Civil War
Megan Kate Nelson, a New England Regional Fellowship Consortium Research Award recipient, will discuss her book project, Ruin Nation: The Destruction of the South and the Making of America during the Civil War Era. Nelson will explain how and why Americans destroyed southern cities, plantations, forests, and men, and how both soldiers and civilians responded to these different kinds of ruins. She will also talk about the challenges of investigating the environmental history of the Civil War, and the importance that letters and diaries of New Englanders play in her research. Nelson received her Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Iowa and is Assistant Professor of History at California State University, Fullerton.

*************************************
 
Wednesday, May 13, 12:00 noon
Free, Contact: Barbara Barnes
(401) 273-7507 x62 or bbarnes@rihs.org
 
Downcity Alive! Spring Has Sprung Downcity!
Join us on 45-minute noon time walks sponsored by the Providence Foundation and Rhode Island Historical Society that are free and open to all! They are discovery tours for those who work, shop and walk downtown at lunch time. Today, come find out what the summer has in store and what's new on Westminster and Weybosset Streets.

**************************************
 
Thursday, May 21, 7:00 p.m.
Gallery Night
John Brown House Museum
52 Power Street, Providence
Free Admission, To R.S.V.P.: Dalila Goulart
(401) 331-8575 x45 or programs@rihs.org

If These Walls Could Talk … Man with a Horn: Cornetist Bobby Hackett
Come celebrate the life and music of Rhode Island’s own jazzman Bobby Hackett with a retrospective on his decades-long career. Dr. Steven Kane will lead this tribute presentation, which includes some examples of Hackett’s recorded works. Dr. Kane is a practicing psychotherapist in Providence, and is also a professional swing pianist, jazz educator, and keyboard teacher.

************************************
 
Saturday, May 23, 1:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10
To R.S.V.P.: Barbara Barnes
(401) 273-7507 x62 or bbarnes@rihs.org
 
Gallery Night in the Light of Saturday: East Side
Join us on these walking tours offered by Gallery Night Providence and the Rhode Island Historical Society. Let the fun you had on Gallery Night continue during the weekend. On the Saturday after Gallery Night in May, June and July, walk with a tour guide who knows the neighborhood and an artist who knows the galleries and the art. Learn more about the Providence art scene. After the tour, linger awhile. Explore the neighborhood; find a great cafe for coffee and conversation; stay for dinner. Maps and local information provided. All tours begin at 1 p.m. at a specific neighborhood location to be announced. Tickets are $10/person. Reservations are requested.

*************************************
 
Saturday, May 30, 10:00 a.m.
Tour departs from the
John Brown House Museum
52 Power Street, Providence
To R.S.V.P.: Dalila Goulart
(401) 331-8575 x45 or programs@rihs.org
 
African-American History Walking Tours
These walking tours celebrate the history of African Americans who lived on College Hill from 1701 to the present. Ray Rickman, a well known community leader, will lead a lively discussion and offer his perspective on the people and historic buildings of Providence's oldest neighborhood. Tickets are $10 per person; tour lasts about ninety minutes. Reservations are required.

FW: PPS May E-Newsletter

In This Issue Preservation Education Events Volunteer/Donation Opportunities Community Notes Quick Links Become a Member PPS Website Preservation Nation Upcoming PPS Events Through June 12 Children's Heritage Tours May 6 Most Endangered Properties List Press Conference May 29 Tiffany Garden Party   June 6 2009 Festival of Historic Houses Saturday House Tour June 7 2009 Festival of Historic Houses Sunday House Tour   May 2009 News Preservation May is National Preservation Month! Join Us As We Announce the 2009 Most Endangered Properties List On Wednesday, May 6 at 4:00 p.m., PPS will hold a press conference to announce its highly anticipated 2009 Most Endangered Properties List. The event will take place at 24 Meeting Street in Providence. It is open to the public and all are welcome. Responses are requested; R.S.V.P. to Sara Emmenecker at (401) 831-7440 or semmenecker@ppsri.org. Click here to read more. PPS Championed in Providence Journal Op-Ed   Read Arnold B. Chace, Jr.'s April 22, 2009 op-ed, "PPS's Long History of Success." Federal Hill, Reservoir & West End Charette   The next installment of the City's neighborhood planning process brings planners to the Federal Hill House at 9 Courtland Street May 4-7. Federal Hill, Reservoir, and West End residents are encouraged to come to provide input on a number of critical neighborhood issues. Click here for more information. Traveling Photography Exhibit's Final Stop   As we roll out the new 2009 Most Endangered Properties List, the run of the traveling photography exhibit featuring properties listed in 2008 is coming to an end. Be sure to check it out at Three Sisters, 1074 Hope Street, through May 14. Senate Committee on Corporations forwards Gas Meter Bill to Senate Floor Thank you to all who answered our Preservation Alert and contacted your state senators and Committee on Corporations members urging them to support S-0107, the Senate Bill that would prohibit National Grid from installing gas meters without homeowners' permission. National Grid has successfully stalled the legislative process and continues its efforts to weaken the bill's protections; the vote, once scheduled for April 29, is now set for the middle of next week. Thank you for your assistance with this important advocacy effort. Read more about the issue in Preservation, the magazine of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. What Place Matters to You? In honor of National Preservation Month, PPS invites you to participate in the National Trust for Historic Preservation's endeavor to discuss places that matter to people across the nation. Whether it's the site of a significant historical moment or something more personal, the National Trust wants you to document and publicize the places that matter most to you on their This Place Matters website. One place that matters to us all, the City of Providence, is profiled in the latest issue of Preservation; click here to read the story. Education April Docent Site Visit Gives Behind-the-Scenes Look at John Brown House Dan Santos, Educational Programs and Services Manager at the John Brown House, gave the PPS docents a personalized tour of the house on Tuesday, April 7. Focusing on the early years of the building and its grounds, the tour brought to light discoveries made by local archeologist and Brown postdoctoral fellow Krysta Ryzewski. A full exhibit of her discoveries will eventually be displayed at the John Brown House; stay tuned for updates. PPS Re-launches Adult Education with Fall Symposium This fall PPS will re-launch its Adult Educational Programs by taking a look at the "American Renaissance" (c. 1876 - c. 1914) in Providence with a symposium that coincides with our annual Fall Event, to be held under the gilded dome of one of Providence's most iconic commercial buildings of the period. The cultural and aesthetic trends of this era will be further explored through a series of lectures in 2010, developed in collaboration with other local cultural and historic institutions. Please mark your calendars for October 23-24 and check www.ppsri.org for updates. Children's Heritage Education Tours Bookings are still being accepted for our Spring 2009 Children's Heritage Education Tours, which are led Monday through Friday at 10:00 a.m., through June 12.   Teachers may contact Education Coordinator Kathleen McAreavey at kmcareavey@ppsri.org or (401)831-7440, ext. 103. To learn more about PPS's educational programing, including ways you can help, click here. Art+History: Place Explorations At the Nightingale-Brown House through October 2 Please stop by the Nightingale-Brown House to view the graduate thesis project Art+History. Curated by graduate students Rosie Branson Gill and Meg Rotzel and presenting original works by Carla Hererra- Prats and Jill Slosburg-Ackerman, this exhibit of commissioned artworks reflects on the assembled histories of the house.   For more information, curriculum and public programs visit http://artplushistory.wordpress.com/  and http://www.brown.edu/Research/JNBC/. Events 30th Festival of Historic Houses   PPS celebrates the 30th Anniversary of its Festival in style with a Saturday, June 6 tour on majestic Stimson Avenue and a Sunday, June 7 tour in the eclectic West End. To honor this anniversary Festival, Tiffany & Co. is sponsoring a "Tiffany Garden Party" on Friday, May 29 in an historic Angell Street house and garden adjacent to the Saturday tour neighborhood. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.ppsri.org/festival. Sponsors to date include: Dominion Energy, Pella Windows and Doors, Bank Rhode Island, Dimeo Construction Company, WPRI-TV, and   Volunteer/Donation Opportunities 30th Festival of Historic Houses   Be a volunteer for one of the premier events of the Providence cultural calendar - the Festival of Historic Houses on June 6. Volunteer shifts are 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. or 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Roles include, but are not limited to: house guides, route guides, and registration greeters. Mandatory volunteer meetings are scheduled for Monday, May 4 at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 16 at 10:00 a.m; all volunteers are required to attend one meeting. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Barbara Zdravesky at barbara.zdravesky@gmail.com. General Office/Clerical Assistant PPS seeks a volunteer to assist with general office/clerical tasks, including but not limited to answering a multi-line phone, greeting visitors, working on special projects, mailings, and attending and assisting with various major events. Experience with Microsoft Office programs necessary. Help needed Mondays and Thursdays, 12:00-5:00 p.m., and Wednesdays, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.  Must be pleasant on the phone and able to handle multiple tasks at once. Please email your interest and availability to info@ppsri.org. Community Notes Available for Rent: Shakespeare's Head, 21 Meeting St. Commercial tenant sought for lovely garden-level office space in historic building. Office approximately 400 square feet, it features a row of windows with a view of the tranquil Shakespeare's Head Garden and plenty of natural light. Monthly rent is $650. Terms: Long-term, triple-net lease. Contact Kristi Agniel at (401) 749-5008.    Location: Convenient to Downtown, Courthouse, State House, College Hill and RISD. Owner:  Shakespeare's Head Association.  Availability: Immediate. Keep off the Grass at the John Nicholas Brown Center Original, site-specific theatre, developed by New York-based playwright Molly Rice and students in the Brown University class "Site-Specific Playwriting in Brown's Historical Spaces," will travel from the Nightingale-Brown House (357 Benefit Street) to the John Brown House (52 Power Street), May 11-13 at 5:00 p.m. For questions and reservations please e-mail historicsiteplay@gmail.com. Marcel Breuer: Design and Architecture April 17-July 20, 2009, at the RISD Museum of Art   Marcel Breuer: Design and Architecture is the first exhibition to treat all facets of Breuer's work with equal weight. Breuer's long career was marked by equal parts acclaim and controversy - like the modernist style he helped to define. "Old House Soul" Another chapter of the preservation documentary "Old House Soul" (a work in progress) will be screened on Thursday, May 7 (6:00-7:30 p.m.) at the Providence Public Library in the Barnard Room, 3rd floor, 150 Empire Street, Providence. For more information, visit www.oldhousesoul.com. The mission of the Providence Preservation Society (PPS) is to improve the quality of life in the city of Providence through historic preservation and the enhancement of the built environment. PPS is a nonprofit membership organization, exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and is recognized as a charitable organization.