Submitted on August 1st, 2014
Submitted values are:
--Section 1: Organization Information-Name of Organization: Richmond Historical Society
Mailing Address: : P.O. Box 408, Wyoming RI 02892
Name of Project Contact Person(s): Richard Wolke
Phone: 401-364-7057
E-mail: Cloud11@cox.net
Type of Organization: Private (citizen, non-profit)
If Other:
Description of Organization and Mission:
The Richmond Historical Society is a private, non-profit
organization founded in 1968 by Lucy Rawlings Tootell. The
purposes of the society are to:
• further the study and collection of the oral and written
history of the region
• foster the collection, preservation, and archiving of
manuscripts and articles of historic interest and
• encourage the preservation and marking of historic sites
• assist in genealogical research
On average, how many individuals does your organization serve per
year? Approximately 120. We serve the town of Richmond and
cooperate with the other Historical Societies in Washington
County RI.
How did you hear about the CPC? An e-mail was sent to The
Historical Society on June17th, outlining the application process
for RWU projects
--Section 2: Project Description-Title of the Project: Organization of The Richmond Historical
Society’s Archives
Project Location (Address, City, State, and Zip): Richmond
Historical Society Archives, Clark Memorial Library, 7 Pinehurst
Drive, Carolina RI 02812
General Project Description (you may attach a longer narrative if
necessary):
Since its founding in 1968, the Society has been collecting and
archiving documents relating to the history of the town and
Washington County. In addition, much genealogical information has
been collected. No trained archivists have been involved in this
endeavor and initially the procedures used were indeed primitive.
In addition, The Society owns and maintains two buildings, the
Bell School and the original Richmond Town Clerk’s Office in
the historic village of Carolina; these buildings are
occasionally open to the public and contain changing displays.
Early in 2000 the Society purchased the software program
PastPerfect, version 3.5. It is presently employed in archiving
newer documents. However, our Archivist and her assistant are
barely able to keep up with new accessions and calls regarding
genealogy, let alone use the program, which has been updated and
improved several times since The Society’s purchase in 2000, to
create an inventory of everything in The Society’s collection.
Currently, there is no actual plan for sorting and categorizing
accessions such as photographs, books, newspapers and clippings,
for maintaining genealogy files, or for preserving photos
(including glass negatives in the archives). There are 15 former
school districts within the town, and we would like to be able to
provide identification numbers and file accessions according to
those school districts. It is our hope that a student versed in
historical preservation could create a plan by which The Society
can properly organize and preserve its holdings.
If the project is approved and undertaken, we then hope to
approach various grantors to obtain a new computer system, as
well as an up-to-date version of PastPerfect, in order to
continue the archival process.
Potential Scope of Work/Tasks for RWU CPC:
It is expected that, after reviewing everything in The Richmond
Historical Society’s archives, and noting the way it is
accessed and stored,
as well as seeing both The Bell School and the original Richmond
Town Clerk’s Office, both located a short distance from the
library where The Society keeps its holdings, the student will be
able to create a plan indicating how everything should be stored,
how it should be documented, and how it should be used, to
benefit the Town as well as those people interested in various
aspects of the Town’s history.
What will be the final product output for this project? (survey,
website, design plans, drawings, etc.): The final product is
expected to be a detailed report.
Proposed Project Schedule (when the tasks/project needs to be
completed): ): Since nothing is being done at present, in the
form of creation of a plan to organize The Historical Society’s
holdings, any time the project is completed would be fine.
Please provide the names and contact information for any staff
members or volunteers who will be playing a primary role in the
proposed CPC project.:
Patty Millar, Archivist
401-539-7676
Betty Mowchan, Asst. Archivist
401-539-7363
Kate Desrocher, PastPerfect Tech
401-248-3131
Richard Wolke, President
401-364-7057
What resources/previous work would the CPC be building upon that
you already have completed? (Please select all items that are
applicable):
- Additional organizational documents
- Previous research
What active support would your organization be able to contribute
should your project be selected? Volunteers
--Section 3: Project Outcomes-Please describe how this project will benefit your organization
and the advancement of your mission: As indicated above, the work
being done to categorize The Richmond Historical Society’s
holdings is somewhat haphazard, and almost overwhelming in its
scope, even though Richmond is, and has always been, a small
town. Though there is a wealth of material in the archives,
access to it, and actual physical conservation of it, is
difficult. The creation of a plan, which Society members can
then implement, would give direction to an endeavor that, for
almost 50 years, has been hit and miss.
Please describe how this project might benefit the overall
community, including specific groups that could benefit from this
project (i.e. target populations, neighborhoods, specific
town/city/region).: Organization of everything in the Historical
Society’s archives will help provide research resources for
students, descendants of Richmond residents, and future
generations.
Please explain why you have chosen to seek assistance from the
RWU CPC with your project request, instead of undertaking the
project using fee-for-services from a paid professional:
With an annual budget of less than $2000, The Richmond Historical
Society does not have enough money to be able to hire a paid
professional.
Please describe how this project will benefit RWU students.:
Working on this project will complement the student(s)’ studies
in historical preservation, providing a “real world”
experience in archival research, documentation, and standards and
practices, as well as providing a platform for writing
comprehensive reports. The student(s) will be actually
“seeing” history….
--Section 4: Financial Information-What is your organization’s annual operating budget? Please
include a copy of your most recent budget with the application in
Section 6..: $1533.18
What are your major sources of funding? Memberships - $415 and
Town Appropriations - $400. Please see Annual
Budget/Treasurer’s Report
How much funding from your annual operating budget is set aside
for this project (if any)? $322.00
--Section 5: Private Sector Involvement-Have you or your organization discussed the project with
practicing professionals (e.g. architect, engineer, planner,
consultants, etc.)? : No
If no, please explain why: With almost non-existent funding,
there does not seem to be any sense in finding someone qualified
to do such work.
--Section 6: Supporting Documents-Budget for the current fiscal year:
https://rwu.edu/sites/default/files/webform/budget.docx
List of current Board members:
https://rwu.edu/sites/default/files/webform/officers_for_the_year_2014_are.docx
Copies of supporting resources identified in section 2 as needed
to support your application:
Additional File Upload:
Additional File Upload 2:
The results of this submission may be viewed at:
https://rwu.edu/node/113561/submission/513451