Surprising Volunteer Turnout Helps Providence City Archives

Eight volunteers are currently working with archivist Paul Campbell to help organize collections of photographs and centuries old records at the Providence City Archives. In late September, Mayor Angel Tavares included a call for archives volunteers in his weekly newsletter which was sent out to about 28,000 people.

Campbell explained how he received an immediate response through e-mails and phone calls; "It was a surprising response, and the quality of people that contacted us was very impressive. We did not expect as many replies as we received."

Volunteers Tom Lonsdale (top left) and
Julia Ruman (top right) at work in the archives.

The eight volunteers offer the archives a variety of different skills, such as Susan Shepard, who has been a writer for over 30 years, and Yvonne Smart who is a retired public librarian. Shepard is putting her writing skills to the test and is currently working on mayoral biographies, while Smart has begun processing the Aldermen's Papers. Carole Larson, who has experience in media and advertising, will assist with grant writing and develop a sponsor package to help raise funds to restore the city's painting collection. Rhode Island College communications major, Stephanie Rossi is currently using her public relations skills to help with the painting restoration project, and is also creating newsletters and press releases for the city website. Providence native and retired teacher, Ed O'Donnell is helping by reorganizing old photos and prints. O'Donnell is also a volunteer for the Rhode Island Historical Society at John Brown House Museum. Byron Monge will apply his knowledge building databases by working on a finding aid for building permits. Julia Ruman is processing City Council records which have been unavailable for research. Ruman has a background in budgeting, drafting, proposals, reviews, and much more. Tom Lonsdale is working on his masters in History at Providence College. Lonsdale is organizing early 19th century town papers and warrants.

The quaint and cavernous archives holds many records and documents-some that have not yet been discovered, and every day there are possibilities for new findings. Campbell has only been working with Providence archives for a little over a year, and according to City Clerk Anna Stetson, "the archives today sees more travel than it has in a very long time. Paul has single handily brought in volunteers to assist the archives. Most of them are students, retired librarians and/or historians who are researching for grants, organizing records, or helping the archives to continue its cleanup."

The city archives is located on the fifth floor of City Hall at 25 Dorrance Street Providence Rhode Island. Hours are from 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday. The nearly 40,000 cubic feet of records give researchers a variety of information from when the colony was founded in 1636 to present day.

For more information about the archives visit our website www.providenceri.com/archives or contact archivist Paul Campbell at 401-421-7740 ext. 558. You can also send us an e-mail at Archivist@Providenceri.com