Rhode Island College Adams Library

💫🌟Attention readers of Light from Uncommon Starts, this year’s OBOM book. Go to the Library’s OBOM guide to learn more about the novel, Ryka Aoki, events, resources, and more. https://library.ric.edu/uncommon-stars/
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Want to be a reader of this year’s OBOM book? Stop by the Adams Library Reference Desk to pick up a free copy.
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About Open Books—Open Minds (OBOM):
OBOM is the Rhode Island College common book program. This initiative brings together first-year students early in their first semester at RIC, and links them with upper classmen, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and the greater Rhode Island community through book discussions and participation in a rich array of programs and activities.

Welcome! Use your phone to go on the Adams Library Scavenger Hunt by Mon. 9/2 and you’ll be entered to win one of three $25 gift cards from Barnes & Noble and Amazon. The whole thing takes about 5 minutes. Have fun!

https://ric.libwizard.com/f/welcome

🌞LIBRARY HOURS FALL 2024🌞

Monday 7:45am-10:00pm
Tuesday 7:45am-10:00pm
Wednesday 7:45am-10:00pm
Thursday 7:45am-10:00pm
Friday 7:45am-5:00pm
Saturday 11:00am-5:00pm
Sunday 1:00pm-8:00pm

Extended hours: 12/1-12/13
Holiday hours: 10/14, 11/11
Closed: 8/31, 9/1, 9/2, 11/5, 11/28, 11/29

🔗 in bio for detailed daily schedule through November 30. December hours will be available soon.

As we prepare for a new semester to start, we wanted to share a glimpse of the school from the past. The photo depicts the students, faculty, and staff of the Rhode Island Normal School (now RIC) circa 1912.
Photograph from Special Collections

Portrait of Francisco, Maria, and Julia Silva, circa 1913

Depicted in this crayon enlargement (or crayon portrait) are Francisco and Maria Silva, both of whom emigrated from the Cape Verde Islands, with their daughter Julia who was born in Cape Cod in 1905. Francisco arrived from São Nicolau in the late 1800s. Maria, who probably came later, was from Brava. They first lived in southeastern Massachusetts, later settling in North Providence, Rhode Island. Francisco Silva died in 1944, Maria Silva died in 1962, and Julia died in 1987. Photograph is from the Special Collections.

Please note: Adams Library will be closed on Monday August 19. We’ll see you Tuesday!

In celebration of Cape Verde winning their first Olympic medal (after boxer Daniel Varela de Pina recently became the first ever medalist from Cape Verde) we wanted to share some images and documents from the 1996 Olympic games, the first games in which the country competed. The items are from the Glynis Ramos-Mitchell 1996 Olympics memorabilia collection in Special Collections, which contain Ramos-Mitchell’s personal papers relating to the 1996 Olympics, including photographs, newsletters, clippings, and documents. Glynis Ramos-Mitchell was an ambassador working with the Cape Verdean Olympic team during the 1996 Olympics. For more information on the collection, go to RIAMCO.org and search “Glynis Ramos-Mitchell.”

First image: Cabo Verde Olympic pin
Second image: Cape Verdean Delegation in the Olympic Village on opening night
Third image: António Zeferino (Olympic marathon athlete) being interview by NBC
Fourth image: Reebok Competition Apparel Designs for Cape Verde’s team

The 2024 NELLS: Emerging Leaders program is underway and our very own Library Professor Dragan Gill is in attendance! This program is designed to be an introduction to library leadership and is specifically aimed towards mid-career library workers who have demonstrated potential to become leaders in the field, or who aspire to hold leadership positions. Professor Gill had to apply in order to be accepted in this year’s cohort!

Throwback to the Dorrance Hotel* located at what is now 55 Dorrance Street in Providence, RI.
*Post edited to reflect correct name of hotel in the image. The image was captioned “Donahue Hotel” by the creator of the image, however upon further research, this is incorrect.
Photograph from: Wilfred E. Stone photographs, Special Collections

There’s still time to check out the Nancy Elizabeth Prophet exhibit ! The exhibit includes several photographs (originals and reproductions), as well as sketches, drawings, and two other pieces of artwork from the Nancy Elizabeth Prophet collection here at the RIC Special Collections!

The Victoria Lederberg papers are now accessible in Special Collections! Lederberg was a psychology professor at RIC, RI state representative in the General Assembly, and a member of the RI Senate. She also served as a judge in the Providence Municipal Court and was a member of the Rhode Island Supreme Court. The collection contains materials relating to the life and accomplishments of Victoria Lederberg, including campaign materials, legislative actions taken, committees formed, and bills passed with Lederberg’s involvement during her time in the General Assembly, as well as many documents concerning state education programs and the funding of public schools. Contact Special Collections to check out the collection!

Olneyville Square near the intersection of Westminster St. and Manton Ave, circa 1925. This undated photograph is captioned, “Olneyville Sq.” on the reverse. From: Wilfred E. Stone photographs in Special Collections.

Throwback to Providence when Westminster Street was a pedestrian mall. In the early 1960s this section of Westminster was closed to vehicular traffic, however in 1986 the street was opened once again to vehicular traffic. Photographs from the Chester Smolski papers in the Special Collections.

Leaf from a Benedictine Book of Hours, circa 1430. This leaf is part of the Bacon Ballinger papers in Special Collections.

New exhibit!! Come check out the new exhibit on the 3rd floor of Adams Library featuring objects, documents, and photos from various Cape Verdean related collections in Special Collections!

On Friday, we had the pleasure of giving .amore and others a tour of the Special Collections. We discussed how we incorporate these wonderful and diverse collections into RIC curriculum, how our students utilize the materials, and their importance to the Rhode Island community.

HAPPY PRIDE! Adams Library has highlighted some resources from the library’s collection to celebrate! Come check out the display inside the main entrance off the quad or visit virtually using the guide linked below (and in our bio on Instagram). The physical display will be up through the summer!

Here is the accompanying guide on the library’s website: https://library.ric.edu/pride

View of the Rhode Island Normal School and the Rhode Island State House located in Providence R.I, circa 1900.

Rhode Island Normal School occupied several locations prior to moving to the building in the image in 1898. The Normal School changed its name to Rhode Island College of Education in 1920 and in 1958 the college began the move to its current location in the Mount Pleasant area of Providence. It then shortened its name to Rhode Island College in 1960.

The downtown building next to the State House was demolished in the 1990s and replaced by the Providence Place Mall.

This image is from the Wilfred E. Stone photographs in Special Collections.

We are excited to add Issue No. 10 of to the Rhode Island Collection in our Special Collections. Headmaster is a Providence, RI-based Q***r art publication. Matthew Lawrence, a RIC alum (’04), is one of the editors and founders of the magazine, along with Jason Tranchida. It joins Headmaster issues 3-9 in Special Collections.

New collection in Special Collections! Nichole Aguiar RIC Women’s Studies Organization scrapbook (dated 2004-2007) was recently donated by Aguiar, who was once president of the Women’s Studies Organization at Rhode Island College, and graduated in 2007. The scrapbook contains flyers and pamphlets regarding the organization and their events, as well as photographs of members. It also includes newspaper clippings, correspondence, and press releases surrounding the RIC WSO event “Keep Your Rosaries Off Our Ovaries,” the removal of the signs on campus relating to the event, and the subsequent court case, Women’s Studies Organization of Rhode Island College v. Rhode Island College.

This past spring semester, two RIC students researched the court case as part of their research on student experiences on college campuses. We are excited to add this scrapbook to Special Collections, and further information about it can be found by going to RIAMCO.org and searching “MSS-0059.”

In April 1925, members of the Dramatic and Debating Society of Rhode Island College of Education (now RIC) held a production of “As You Like It.” This photograph includes members of the cast in their costumes.

Collection number: MSS-0058

We had a wonderful time yesterday afternoon showcasing our new exhibit on the life of Joseph George Ray. Special Collections intern, Ellen Cummings, introduced the exhibit, while Ray’s grandson, John, also offered some remarks. Ellen, who described the Joseph George Ray papers and curated the exhibit, also had a chance to show John his grandfather’s papers. We love moments like these when family members can see how their loved one’s work is preserved and accessible for researchers. We appreciate the Institute for Portuguese and Lusophone World Studies and Marie Fraley (Ray’s daughter) for helping with the event and for their ongoing support of the Rhode Island Portuguese American Archives at RIC.

We have a new collection accessible in the Special Collections: Joseph George Ray papers. Ray was born in West Warwick, RI to Frank and Mary Ray, both of whom immigrated to the US from the island of São Miguel in the Azores. He served in WWII as an automotive mechanic and participated in at least 41 motor marches across Europe during the war. He was honorably discharged in 1945 as a Sergeant. Upon returning home to West Warwick, Ray began work at the Valley Lace Company as a lace weaver. He devoted a great deal of time in promoting the lace industry in RI as part of the Project Leavers Lace Initiative and by gaining the support of Governor Chafee in proclaiming May 1-6, 1966 as Rhode Island Leavers Lace Week. Joseph George Ray passed away on February 25th, 2012.

The collection contains original documents, poems, letters, newspaper articles, pamphlets, awards, objects, and photographs detailing his life and WWII military service. The collection was donated by Ray’s daughter, Marie Fraley. The collection was described by Special Collections intern, Ellen Cummings, who also curated an exhibit containing materials from the collection, which is available to view outside the Special Collections Reading Room.

To view the collection description go to “riamco.org” and search “Joseph George Ray.”

Adams Library Summer 2024 Hours

Monday 7:45am - 6:00pm
Tuesday 7:45am - 6:00pm
Wednesday 7:45am - 6:00pm
Thursday 7:45am - 6:00pm
Friday 7:45am - 5:00pm
Saturday & Sunday Closed
Does not include Holidays or Intersession

Please visit ric.libcal.com for up-to-date Library hours

🎓🎉Congratulations Madisen Doherty, Diana Guerrier, Alyx O’Donnell, and Myshara Whittington, our Class of 2024 library student employees! Your dedication to learning and perseverance through the pandemic years have paid off.🎓🎉

🔥As you make your next moves, keep in mind the flame of Rhode Island College. It represents ENERGY! You’ve got this.🔥

📷 Image of the College seal on the 1976 Commencement Program, Adams Library Special Collections, Rhode Island College. The seal was designed by Dr. Edith C. Becker (1915-2005), professor emerita of art, who adapted the central flame symbol from the Holbrook Murals in the foyer of Roberts Hall.

Last week students from HIST 101: Multiple Voices, Africa in the World presented their research on their final class project. About half the class used Special Collections materials, while the other half is working on a podcast relating to Haiti. The students presented on: Cape Verdean Independence, Women Experiences in Slavery, African American Women’s Rights: Liberation Union of Rhode Island, Political Ideology in Puerto Rico, Indigenous Tribes and their Relation to the Black Community, Racial Profiling, Black Q***r Intellectual History, and Black Experience in the Working Place in the Mid-20th Century.

Students used materials from the Oling Jackson papers, Cape Verdean periodical collection (specifically Nô Pintcha), the Carl Russel Gross papers, the Social and Political pamphlet collection, Alternative and Underground Press collection (including Liberation Union of Rhode Island, Equal Times, Black Panther Party, Caridad, Gay Sunshine, Fag Rag, and Friends of Haiti), the Scott Molloy social and political materials collection, and books from the Social and Political Rare Books Collections, among others.

The students’ presentations were amazing to watch! We are proud of their hard work in the Special Collections this semester and it was wonderful to see how it all came together.

Finals Snacks start this week! Look out for free snacks of all delicious sorts—sweet, savory, chocolaty—daily between 4/29 and 5/3. See schedule ⬇️

*10:00 PM Monday - Thursday
*2:00 PM Friday

This initiative is sponsored by the Friends of the Adams Library 😊

You are invited! HIST 243 students will present their Oral History assignments to the public in the Reinhardt Room, Level 3, Adams Library, from 4 to 6 PM on Monday 4/29. The students interviewed Latinos in RI and Southern New England about their life stories as part of a course taught by Professor Tommy Ender. See you there!

We were so happy to hear that Special Collections intern, Chinasa Corbie, was one of the 2024 recipients of the John A. and Mary V. Lima Scholarship in Portuguese Studies! Chinasa is majoring in Global Studies and minoring in Portuguese at Rhode Island College. The Institute for Portuguese and Lusophone World Studies has funded an internship for Chinasa to transcribe and translate a 1925 ledger of a Portuguese Society in Rhode Island. She’s been doing great work and we are so happy for her! In this photograph, Chinasa is with RIC alumnus, Victor Santos (‘85), who served as keynote speaker for the Portuguese Honors Society event last night.

Seeking some stress relief between final exams? We hear you (lol, sorry 😜). The Center for Health and Wellness and Adams Library are partnering to provide free auricular acupuncture in the Library’s Reinhard Room from 11AM - 2PM throughout final exam week (April 29 - May 3).
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What is auricular acupuncture, you ask? Ear acupuncture is rooted in Chinese medicine, and has a balancing, homeostatic effect. It has been shown to have many positive benefits, including reducing stress and anxiety, relieving pain, improved sleep, easing digestive issues, etc.