The One Hundred and Ninety First Annual Meeting

Of

the Rhode Island Historical Society

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

5:30 P.M.

Aldrich House 110 Benevolent Street

Providence, Rhode Island 02906

2012 Annual Meeting

Of

the Rhode Island Historical Society

Agenda

Call to Order and Welcome Barry G. Hittner, Esq. President Treasurer’s Report James P. Loring, CPA, CFA Treasurer Nominating Committee Report & Election of Officers and Trustees, 2012-2013 The Hon. Roger N. Begin Nominating Committee Chair 2011-2012: The Year in Review C. Morgan Grefe, Ph.D. Executive Director New Business Barry G. Hittner, Esq. President Presentation A Very Different War G. Wayne Miller American writer and filmmaker Closing Remarks Barry G. Hittner, Esq. President Please join us for a reception following the close of business.

PRESENTATION

A Very Different War Commentator: G. Wayne Miller, American writer and filmmaker

In the fall of 2011, Miller wrote The War on Terror: Coming Home, a seven-part series about returning veterans of the post-9/11 wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, published in the Providence Journal. The documentary Coming Home, winner of a 2012 Edward R. Murrow Award, was also nominated for a New England Emmy in the outstanding documentary category by the regional chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Miller will show excerpts from the film to illustrate his talk.

Nominations for the 2012-2013 Board Term Officers Nominated for Term of One Year For President: Barry G. Hittner, Esq., Counselor at Law For First Vice President: William S. Simmons, Ph. D., Professor of Anthropology, Brown University For Second Vice President: Luther W. Spoehr, Ph. D., Senior Lecturer, Departments of Education and History, Brown University For Treasurer: James P. Loring, CPA, CFA, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Senior Vice President, Amica Insurance For Secretary: Sylvia E. Brown, Philanthropy & Donor Advisor, Brown & Fischer Trustees Nominated for Initial Term of Three Years Anthony A. Calendrelli, President, American Ring Company Peter Karczmar, M.D., Physician, Coastal Medical Keith D. Kelly, Senior Vice President, RBS Citizens Bank Corporate Banking Group Robert G. Padula, CPCU, ARM, Chief Executive Officer, Gencorp Insurance Marisa Quinn, Vice President of Public Affairs & University Relations, Brown University Trustees Nominated for Re-election Roger N. Begin, Sales Director, BNY Mellon Private Wealth Management Robert G. Flanders, Jr., Esq., Partner, Hinckley, Allen and Snyder Kathryn B. Mandel, CPA, Partner, Mandel & Tracey, LLC Barbara J. Thornton, A.I.A., Partner, Brewster Thornton Group Architects, LLP

Board of Trustees, Officers, Members and Chairs 2011-2012

Officers and Executive Committee Barry G. Hittner, Esq. Counselor at Law President Mr. Robert J. Manning President, Grays Point Investments LLC President Emeritus William S. Simmons, Ph.D. Professor of Anthropology Brown University First Vice President Luther W. Spoehr, Ph.D. Senior Lecturer, Department of History and Education, Brown University Second Vice President James P. Loring, CPA, CFA Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Amica Insurance Treasurer Ms. Laurie White President Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce Secretary

Other Executive Committee Appointments William M. Fowler, Jr., Ph.D. Distinguished Professor of History Northeastern University

Trustees At Large The Hon. Roger N. Begin Sales Director, BNY Mellon Wealth Management Ms. Sylvia E. Brown Philanthropy and Donor Advisor Brown & Fischer Winifred E. Brownell, Ph.D. Dean of Arts and Sciences, URI Nancy K. Cassidy, Esq. Executive Counsel, Textron, Inc. The Hon. Robert G. Flanders, Jr. Partner, Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP William M. Fowler, Jr., Ph.D. Distinguished Professor of History Northeastern University George M. Goodwin, Ph.D. Independent Historian Ms. Barbara K. Hart Vice President Special Assets Washington Trust Company

Ms. Kathryn B. Mandel Partner, Mandel & Tracy, LLC Carolyn P. Medina, Esq. Formerly, Associate, Partridge Snow & Hahn, LLP Currently, Project Manager, Women’s Development Corporation Mr. Theodore W. Smalletz Chief Financial Officer, Gloria Duchin, Inc. Luther W. Spoehr, Ph.D. Senior Lecturer, Departments of History and Education, Brown University Mr. Dennis E. Stark Former Vice President for Business & Finance, URI Ms. Barbara J. Thornton, AIA Partner, Brewster Thornton Group Architects LLP Mr. Todd D. Turcotte Vice President, Capital Properties

Trustee Ex-Officio Mr. Thomas R. Evans State Librarian, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation

Rhode Island Historical Society COMMITTEES

2011-2012 Staff Liaison: Morgan Grefe as Executive Director is a liaison for all committees. Other staff contacts are listed by name. Annual Fund & Membership Committee George Goodwin (Chair) Kathryn B. Mandel Luther Spoehr Ted Smalletz Barbara Thornton Staff Contact: Kathy Clarendon Audit Committee Theodore W. Smalletz (Chair) Kathryn B. Mandel Lawrence Davidson* Staff Contact: Charmyne Goodfellow Collections Committee William S. Simmons (Chair) Thomas R. Evans William M. Fowler, Jr. George M. Goodwin Robert D. Galli* David W. Gregg* Tracey Keough* Dale Thompson* Stanley Weiss* Staff Contact: Kirsten Hammerstrom Comphrehensive Campaign Committee Roger N. Begin (Co-Chair) Nancy K. Cassidy (Co-Chair) Staff Contact: Kathy Clarendon Education Committee Winifred E. Brownell (Chair) William M. Fowler, Jr. George M. Goodwin Theodore W. Smalletz Luther W. Spoehr Staff Contact: Elyssa Tardif

Executive Committee Barry G. Hittner (Chair) James P. Loring Robert J. Manning William S. Simmons Luther W. Spoehr Laurie White By appt. William M. Fowler, Jr. Facilities Committee Todd Turcotte (Chair) Barbara J. Thornton Robert J. Manning Lyle Fain* Staff Contact: Kirsten Hammerstrom Finance Committee James P. Loring (Chair) Barbara K. Hart Dennis E. Stark Todd Turcotte Lyle Fain* James M. Nagle* Kathryn Spoehr* Stephen Williams* Staff Contact: Charmyne Goodfellow Subcommittee of Finance Committee Investment Committee James Wing* (Chair) James P. Loring (Ex-officio) Lydia Schroter* (Investment only) Stephen Williams* Governance Committee Barry G. Hittner (Chair) Roger N. Begin Sylvia E. Brown Robert G. Flanders William S. Simmons Laurie White Staff Contact: Morgan Grefe

Nominating Committee Roger N. Begin. (Chair) Nancy K. Cassidy Robert G. Flanders, Jr. Barry G. Hittner Robert J. Manning Carolyn P. Medina William S. Simmons Staff Contact: Morgan Grefe Publications Committee Luther W. Spoehr (Chair) Theodore W. Smalletz James Findlay* Robert Allen Greene* Reverend Robert Hayman* Jane Lancaster* J. Stanley Lemons* William McKenzie Woodward* Staff Contact: Elyssa Tardif *Indicates non-trustee committee member

Rhode Island Historical Society

Statement of Financial Position June 30th, 2012

Statement of Activities June 30th, 2012

2

RIHS Staff

November-2012

Administration

C. Morgan Grefe, Ph.D., Executive Director

Silvia Rees, Executive Assistant

Building, Grounds & Housekeeping

Ed Desjarlais, Buildings & Grounds

Gage Prentiss, Housekeeper

Collections

Kirsten Hammerstrom, Director of

Collections

Development, Public Relations &

Membership

Kathy Clarendon, Director of Development

Colleen Callaghan, Development/Campaign

Officer

Mary Lou Upham, Development Associate

Education

Elyssa Tardif, Director, Newell D. Goff

Center for Education & Public Programs

Barbara Barnes, Tour Services Manager

Dalila Goulart, Education & Visitors

Services Manager

Marie Parys, Education Specialist

Nate Burbank, Public Programs Coordinator

Patty Reynolds, Gift Shop Clerk

Finance

Charmyne Goodfellow, Director of Finance

Ann Dionne, Assistant to Director of Finance

Renata Luongo, Assistant in Business Office

Library

Phoebe Bean, Printed Collections Librarian

Katherine Chansky, Special Collections

Reference Librarian

Jim DaMico, Special Collections Curator

Jennifer Galpern, Library Receptionist

Peter Griswold, Assistant Technical

Services Librarian

J.D. Kay, Digital Imaging Specialist

Liam Kopolow, Library Assistant

Dana Signe Kindstedt Munroe, Registrar

Lee Teverow, Reference Librarian

Museum of Work & Culture

Ray Bacon, Co-Site Director

Anne Conway, Co-Site Director

Darline Amaral, Gift Shop Manager

Irene Blais, Clerical

Gary Boucher, Custodian

Bernard Fontaine, Clerk Receptionist

Liz Maynard, Education Coordinator

Alyce Shulla Sannella, Receptionist/Clerk

Susan Shea, Receptionist/Clerk

Publications

Elizabeth Stevens, Ph.D., Editor,

RI History Magazine

Rentals

Renata Luongo, Rental Program Manager

RHODI Project

Timothy Wade, RHODI Project Coordinator

Chelsea Gunn, RHODI Project Field Surveyor

Ryan Petersen, RHODI Project Field Surveyor

Gian Spicuzza, RHODI Project IT Coordinator

Lifetime Members of the RIHS 2011-2012

Mr. Charles & Mrs. Eiko Adams

Mr. William T. Babcock

Arthur A. Bert, M.D. & Ms. Catherine Little Bert

Mrs. Maurice A. Bissonnette

Captain Nicholas Brown

Mrs. Lucy Aldrich Burr

Nancy R. Carriuolo, Ph.D. and Ralf Carriuolo, Ph.D.

Mr. & Mrs. George H. Cicma

Dr. Patrick T. Conley

Ms. Althea Baker Crowley

Mrs. Philip Drinker

Mr. Elisha Dyer, Jr. *

Mr. Donald Farrar

Mr. Chester A. Files, Jr.

Dr. Edwin & Mrs. Angela Fischer

Mrs. Maryanne Tefft Force (deceased)

Dr. George M. Goodwin & Mrs. Betsey S. Goodwin

Mr. Paul & Mrs. Donna Cameron Gricus

Mr. Henry & Ms. Sandra Harris

Ms. Marion O. Harris

Daniel Harrop, III, M.D.

Mrs. Norman F. Herreshoff

Mr. Peter Lisle

Dr. Eugene Majerowicz

Mr. E. Nicholl Marshall

Mr. Louis H. Maynard

Mrs. A.M. Murray

Mr. Eugene A. Peloquin

Mr. Henry D. Sharpe, Jr. & Mrs. Peggy Boyd Sharpe

Mrs. William Sherman

The Honorable Fernand J. St. Germain

Mr. James F. Twaddell

Ms. Alice Viola

Mr. George H. Waterman, III

Mr. Charles E. Williams

Harrison M. Wright, Ph.D. & Mrs. Josphine Wright

Mr. Eric M. Wunsch

Mr. Louis Yip

∗ Deceased

9 2

ost of us in Rhode Island probably know that Senator Jack Reed has long been a supporter of educational and cultural institutions, but perhaps you might not know that Senator

Reed is actually on the seventeen-member Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, the body that governs the organization. Kindly, when our Board Chair Barry Hittner let Senator Reed know that I had come on board, he facilitated a series of meetings for me with the directors and curators of many of the programs and museums that make up the Smithsonian. I spent an amazing few days in Washington, D.C., learning about the new initiatives of our national museums and saw, at every turn, how our state’s history fits perfectly within their new plans. I hope that this is merely the beginning of some very fruitful relationships that may one day lead to putting Lil’ Rhodie on the national stage.

While in D.C. I was eager to visit the National Portrait Gallery. Not only was I going to meet with their chief curator, but I had hours to spend exploring their collections and their amazing education centers. Like many of you, I can get lost for hours in museums. And that Wednesday was no exception. About an hour into my ramble through the galleries, I found myself in the twentieth-century portrait collection—one of my favorite periods in portraiture. As impressive as the dozens of images were, I caught one out of the corner of my eye and made my way down the hall.

Standing in front of me was one of the most striking men I had ever seen. The power he wielded was clear in his eyes, his stance, the set of his mouth. I was smitten with what looked to be the consummate man of business at the turn of the century. I was so taken with the image that I didn’t look immediately at the attribution to see what man this was and what master painted him.

I looked to the side of the painting and there was his name: Nelson Aldrich. This man whose stare so absorbed me was none other than the man whose house I work in every day. Out loud I exclaimed, “I work in your dining room!” Had I somehow absorbed this sense of Aldrich by spending so much time in his home—walking his halls and meeting in his ballroom?

This gorgeous portrait was painted by Swedish painter and sculptor Anders Zorn. He made seven trips to the United States and painted three U.S. presidents, Taft, Roosevelt and Cleveland. According to NPG’s website (www.npg.si.edu), even among such austere company, Zorn said that Aldrich was the hardest to paint—because it was so difficult to capture the look in his eyes, the look that held my gaze for so many minutes last spring.

I left the National Portrait Gallery wishing that I had taken a picture of the man whose family so generously supported the Society in its gift of the wonderful Aldrich House. But, alas, I was late for another meeting.

This summer, however, I made another trip to the Gallery to see our lovely painting of Pawtucket Falls, which is featured in the NPG’s impressive exhibit, 1812: A Nation Emerges (which is well worth a trip to our nation’s capital, by the way). My mother joined me and I asked her if she wouldn’t mind taking a picture of me with the man I think of every day while I’m at work, the impressive Senator Nelson Aldrich. No photograph could do this painting justice, but I promise you, in person it is quite something to behold.

I am still tickled by this wonderful, little coincidence, but I am also left with great gratitude to one Rhode Island senator for helping me to find my story with another. cOil on canvas, 1913National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian InstitutionGift of Stephanie Edgell, in memory of Elsie Aldrich CampbellNPG.69.85

When Morgan Met Nelsonby C. Morgan Grefe, Ph.D., Executive Director

M

c Hear Ye, Hear ye

Individual Supporters

$10,000+Ms. Sylvia E. Brown †

$5,000 – 9,999Mrs. Norman F. HerreshoffMr. Barry G. & Dr. Kathleen C. Hittner †Mr. James P. Loring †

$2,000 – 4,999Captain Nicholas Brown †Ms. Nancy K. Cassidy & Mr. Jeffrey C. Schreck †Dr. & Mrs. Edwin Fischer †The Honorable & Mrs. Robert G. Flanders, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. ManningMr. & Mrs. Albert T. KlybergMr. Henry D. Sharpe, Jr. & Peggy Sharpe †Luther W. Spoehr, Ph.D. & Kathryn T. Spoehr, Ph.D.

$1,000 – 1,999Mr. William T. BabcockMr. Erik & Ms. Michelle EckilsonMr. Arnold M. FriedmanDr. & Mrs. George M. GoodwinMrs. Gustavus R. Ide, Jr.Ms. Linda MacLachlanMs. Kathryn B. & Mr. Peter MandelMr. Theodore W. & Ms. Robin SmalletzMs. Barbara J. Thornton, A.I.A. & Mr. Peter J. Thornton

$500 - 999The Honorable Roger N. BeginDr. Winifred BrownellMr. Richard & Ms. Germaine CayerMr. & Mrs. Richard S. ChafeeMs. Pauline ClancyWilliam M. Fowler, Jr., Ph.D.C. Morgan Grefe, Ph.D.Mr. J. Terrance & Suzanne MurrayMr. & Mrs. Paul C. Nicholson, Jr.Ms. Carla W. & Dr. Russell J. Ricci † Prof. William & Mrs. Cheryl SimmonsMr. John W. Wall † Mrs. Beth & Mr. Stanely WeissMr. James WingMr. & Mrs. Kenneth R. Woodcock †

$250 - 499Mr. Steven Baird & Mr. Michael ConwayDr. James & Mrs. Katherine BrennanMr. John & Mrs. Debra CallaciMr. Russ & Ms. Mary DexterMr. & Mrs. Karl F. EricsonMr. Thomas R. EvansMs. Mary Jean FreemanMost Reverend Bishop Louis GelineauMs. Marion O. HarrisMs. Barbara K. HartMs. Elizabeth C. KingsleyMs. Sharon LewisMs. Nancy Wilcox MattisMr. Mark & Mrs. Jean PatikyProf. James & Mrs. Cynthia PattersonMr. Paul & Mrs. Eleanor PierannunziMr. Kenneth E. & Mrs. Irene G. RobertsMrs. Barbara & Mr. Tom SlaightMs. Laurie White

$100 - 249Ms. Sue AndrewsMr. John & Ms. Kyle AdamonisMrs. Thomas R. AdamsAtty. Andy & Mrs. Linda AndreoniMr. Greg E. AtkinsonMs. Lucille E. AtkinsonMr. Raymond & Mrs. Simone BaconMr. Norman & Mrs. Ann BakerMiss Mary-Elizabeth BartonMrs. Pauline BeaucheminMr. Maurice & Mrs. Barbara BellMs. Melissa Rae BingmannMr. Michael BriggsMr. Albert Brunnelle, Jr. & Mrs. Carol BrunelleMrs. Helen D. BuchananMr. Philip L. BudlongMrs. Susan & Mr. Gary CarlsonMs. Julia Conway & Ms. Karen TurnerMr. Patrick Conway & Ms. Katlyn R. LacroixMr. Peter and Mrs. Anne ConwayMr. Darin CooperMs. Elizabeth CummingsMr. & Mrs. Murray S. Danforth, IIIMs. Renee Darling & Mr. Ronald MillerMs. Jane Desforges & Mr. Michael J. WhiteMs. Rosemary V. DonahueMs. Grace M. DonnellyMrs. Doris DonovanDr. Raymond & Mrs. Laura DufresneMr. Normand & Ms. Agnes DugasMs. Norine DuncanReverend Gerald FinneganMr. Jack W. FlynnMr. Anthony & Mrs. Barbara FontaineMr. David FontaineMrs. H. Gordon Fraser, Jr.Mr. Jim FrutcheyMrs. Jane D. GearyMr. Michael Gerhardt & Ms. Doree GoodmanMr. Robert & Ms. Lori GodinMrs. Marcella H. GossMr. David A. GriswoldMr. & Mrs. Calvert C. GrotonMrs. Shirley GulvinMr. Andrew F. GurleyMrs. Virginia D. HalesMr. & Mrs. Benjamin P. Harris, IIIMrs. Marcia and Mr. Robert HicksMr. Douglas E. HinmanMr. James A. HopkinsMr. Wally L. JabsMr. Albert Kandarian, Jr.Dr. & Mrs. E. M. Knights, Jr.Mrs. Adrienne L’EsperanceDr. Gerald & Ms. Trudy LamoureuxMr. James LantiniMr. Richard LappinAtty. Robert & Mrs. Jeanne LarderMr. J. Stephen LawtonProf. Francis J. Leazes, Jr. & Ms. Audrey LaforgeMr. Mark A. LehrerJ. Stanley Lemons, Ph.D. & Linda Bausserman, Ph.D.Mr. Wardwell C. Leonard, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Leonard I. LevinMr. & Mrs. Stanley Livingston, Jr.Mrs. Alys & Mr. R. Bruce MacLeodDr. David MarcouxMr. Bryce G. MarshallDr. Richard & Ms. Sheila MassonMr. & Mrs. Norman E. McCulloch, Jr.Mr. Arthur & Ms. Martha Milot

Mr. & Mrs. Henry Aldrich MuellerMr. James & Ms. Susan NagleMr. Carl & Ms. Pam NealMs. Mildred NicholsMr. Daniel & Ms. Louise O’BrienMr. Kenneth Orenstein & Ms. Barbara FeibelmanMrs. Lorraine PalmerMr. Andy & Ms. Patricia ParadisMr. & Mrs. Daniel PeloquinMr. Ron & Ms. Lorraine PenningtonMs. Beverly PettineDr. George & Mrs. Jacqueline PicardAmbassador & Mrs. Joseph A. PreselThe Honorable & Mrs. Vincent A. RagostaMr. & Mrs. Steve ReillyMrs. Cathe & Mr. James RezendesMrs. Elsie R. RidgeMs. Thelma RochaMr. David A. RourkeMr. Glenn W. Russell, Jr.Mr. Philip V. SarcioneMrs. Katharine & Mr. Robert SchellengMrs. Katherine & Mr. Irving SheldonMr. Daniel G. SiegelMs. Gretchen Dow Simpson *Mr. David SoucyMs. Mary C. SpeareMr. Marc StaelenDr. Karl & Mrs. Doris StephensMs. Elizabeth C. Stevens, Ph.D.Ms. Phyllis ThomasMr. Jim & Ms. Cindy ThorsenMs. C. June Tow Mr. Robert & Ms. Patricia ValleeMr. Al VanasseMs. Nancy WegimontMr. Rick WhitesellMs. Judith B. WilsonProf. & Mrs. Gordon S. WoodMs. Evelyn Zifcak

RIHS Corporate, Foundation, Organizations and Government Support

$100,000 +Alfred Tauber Philanthropic FundAndrew W. Mellon FoundationAnonymousInstitute of Museum of Library Services ‡National Endowment for the Humanities ‡State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations

$40,000 City of Woonsocket **

$15,000 - 39,999The 1772 Foundation, Inc.John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission

$10,000 – 14,999Community Development Block Grant, City of WoonsocketThe Rhode Island FoundationThe Rhode Island Foundation – Roger E. Potter Fund

$5,000 – 9,999Amica Companies Foundation$2,000 – 4,999Amica Mutual Insurance CompanyCVS Caremark CorporationHope FoundationMuseum of Work & Culture

Preservation FoundationSharpe Family FoundationTextron Matching GiftsThe Rhode Island Foundation – Dexter FundThe Rhode Island Foundation – Hittner FundThe Rhode Island Foundation – Moore Fund

$1,000 – 1,999AAA Southern New EnglandBNY Mellon Wealth ManagementBrown University Dept. of Community and Government RelationsMary Dexter Chafee FundPartridge, Snow & HahnRhode Island Rentals *Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Rhode Island and Providence PlantationsThe Rhode Island Foundation – Nicholas E. & Ann O. Picchione FundThe Washington Trust Company

$500 - 999Consulate General of Canada in BostonConway Tours *Esten & Richard Agency, Inc.General Society of Colonial WarsHull Graphics, Inc. *Rhode Island Labor History Society *Soucy Insurance AgencyThe Granny Squibb Company, LLC. *The Rhode Island Foundation – Ricci Family FundThe Rhode Island Foundation – John and Mary Wall FundThe Rhode Island Foundation – Woodcock Charitable FundThe Valley BreezeWright’s Dairy Farm *

$250 - 499David Amaral Photography *Fournier & Fournier Funeral ServicesHava Java *Haynes de Boer AssociatesNorthern RI Chamber of CommercePillsbury House Bed & Breakfast *Rotary Club of WoonsocketThe Call **The Woonsocket Main Street Riverfront Initiative

$100 - 249B.U.W. Council Local 310Catholic Financial LifeClub LafayetteConstruction & General Laborers’ Local Union 271Cranston Teachers AllianceE. W. Burman Inc.Freedom BankHopedale Trucking, Inc. *Kane-Barrengos FoundationLepine Financial Advisors, Inc.Li’l General Stores *McLaughlin & Moran, Inc.Nationwide Construction CorporationNE Regional Council CarpentersNorth Smithfield Fire/RescueON-Radio *

Providence Preservation Society *Providence Performing Arts Center *Rhode Island Post Card ClubRI Judicial Professional & Technical

Employees’ Local Union #808RI Laborers’ District CouncilStadium Theatre *WNRI *Woonsocket Teachers’ Guild

RIHS Donors

Mr. Eugene A. Peloquin

101

Board of TrusteesPRESIDENTBarry G. Hittner, Esq.

PRESIDENT EMERITUS Robert J. Manning

Roger N. Begin Sylvia E. BrownWinifred E. Brownell, Ph.D.Anthony A. CalandrelliNancy K. Cassidy, Esq.Robert G. Flanders, Jr., Esq.William M. Fowler, Jr., Ph.D.George M. Goodwin, Ph.D.Barbara K. HartKeith D. KellyJames P. Loring, CPA, CFAKathryn B. Mandel, CPACarolyn P. Medina, Esq.Robert G. Padula, CPCU, ARMWilliam S. Simmons, Ph.D.Theodore W. SmalletzLuther W. Spoehr, Ph.D.Dennis E. StarkBarbara J. Thornton, AIATodd D. TurcotteLaurie White

EX OFFICIOThomas R. Evans

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORC. Morgan Grefe, Ph.D.

Raymond Bacon, Co-Director, Museum of Work & CultureKathy Klees Clarendon, Director of Development and Public RelationsAnne Conway, Co-Director, Museum of Work & CultureCharmyne Goodfellow, Director of FinanceKirsten Hammerstrom, Director of CollectionsElyssa Tardif, Director, Newell D. Goff Center for Education and Public Programs

ALDRICH HOUSE110 Benevolent StreetProvidence, Rhode Island 02906PH: 401.331.8575

JOHN BROWN HOUSE MUSEUM52 Power StreetProvidence, Rhode Island 02906PH: 401.273.7507

LIBRARY121 Hope StreetProvidence, Rhode Island 02906PH: 401.273.8107

MUSEUM OF WORK & CULTURE42 South Main StreetWoonsocket, Rhode Island 02895PH: 401.769.9675

c Main Street

Cover Photo

Oliver Hazard PerryOil on canvas, attributed to Sanford Mason

United States, Rhode Island, Providence ca. 1830

Museum Collection 1895.7.1

This month’s cover is a portrait of Oliver Hazard Perry, the U.S. Navy commander born in South Kingstown, RI in 1785 but best known for his exploits in the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812. The painting is currently on view at the John Brown House Museum as part of the “Rhode Island at War” exhibit on the Museum’s third floor. This portrait, attributed to Sanford Mason, appears to be a copy after the portrait of Perry made by Martin Johnson Head ca. 1855 after the portrait made around 1814 by John Wesley Jarvis. Perry was a popular subject for portraitists in the New Republic, and the curling smoke adds to the dramatic representation of one

of America’s, and Rhode Island’s, early heroes.

He’s practically Byronic in this portrait, romanticized as it is. The original 1814 portrait by Jarvis (owned by the Detroit Institute of Arts) shows a man with a softer, more receding chin, and a hairline to match, though the curling sideburns have been faithfully rendered from version to version. It’s an interesting thing, to see the progression over roughly 20 years, from what was probably a reasonably accurate portrayal to a more heroic representation. Each successive copyist embellished, refined, or improved the portrait, until an image befitting the hero’s exploits was created.

The heroism was real, even if we can wonder about the line of the chin. On September 10, 1813, Perry’s fleet fought a successful battle against a task force of the Royal Navy in the Battle of Lake Erie. It was at the outset of this battle that Perry famously said, “If a victory is to be gained, I will gain it.” In the course of the battle, Perry’s flagship, the USS Lawrence, was so severely disabled in the encounter that the British commander was certain Perry would surrender it. Instead, Perry personally fired a final salvo, and then had his men row him a half-mile through heavy gunfire to transfer his command to the USS Niagara.

Once aboard, Perry dispatched the Niagara’s commander, Captain Jesse Elliot, to bring the other schooners into closer action while he steered the Niagara toward the damaged British ships. Perry’s force pounded the British until they could offer no effective resistance and surrendered. Although he had won the battle aboard the Niagara, Perry received the British surrender on the deck of the recaptured Lawrence. Perry’s battle report to General William Henry Harrison was famously brief: “We have met the enemy and they are ours; two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop.”

Oliver Hazard Perry died in 1819, returning from a voyage to Venezuela where he had negotiated a treaty.

Endowment Gifts

$5,000 +Ms. Nancy K. Cassidy & Mr. Jeffrey C. Schreck †Mr. Barry G. & Dr. Kathleen C. Hittner †

BEQUESTS$20,000 +Clinton Sellew

Donors to the CollectionMs. Linda AinsworthMs. Carolyn Hale AmentAnonymous Mr. Peter Baldwin Baptist Heritage CenterBrown UniversityBrown University LibraryMr. Henry A. L. BrownMrs. Kathie BrzoskaMr. Paul CaranciMs. Lucia Gill CaseMr. David W. ChaseDr. Leah R. CookMr. Roy CollinsMr. Ned ConnorsCranston Public LibraryMs. Eileen M. DalioMr. Stephen DarleyDaughters of the American Revolution, Bristol ChapterMs. Lori DeemMs. Janice Potter DorchesterMr. Robert Ward DownesMs. Stephanie DoyleMr. John DyerMr. Bernard FishmanFriends of the Berkley Public LibraryMr. William M. Fowler, Ph.D.Mr. Stephen P. GrossMr. Frank L. Grzyb Harvard University Graduate School of EducationMr. Charles HillierMr. Barry G. HittnerMr. Arthur JannittoMr. Varoujan KarentzMs. Susan KephartMs. Gladys M. KingMs. Judith KnutsonMs. Linda KushnerMr. Stephen LauberMr. J. Stanley Lemons, Ph.D.Little Compton Historical SocietyLincoln Public LibraryLincoln SchoolMr. Bradford W. Luther Mr. James LyonsMr. Earl R. Mann Jr.Ms. Amanda McCorkleMs. Patrice McFarlandMcLean County Museum of History

Ms. Janet E. MerrittMiriam HospitalMr. Gerald MorinMystic Seaport MuseumNational Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution)National Society of Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America NetworksMs. Mary O’BrienMr. Thomas A. O’ConnellMs. Leslie OhMr. Allen O. OlsenMr. John PelkeyPerforming Arts and Creative Education Solutions ConsultingProvidence Community LibraryQuincy Historical Society (Quincy, Mass.)Redwood Library and AthenaeumRhode Island Department of Transportation: Engineering DivisionRhode Island Genealogical SocietyRhode Island Heritage Hall of FameRhode Island Historic Preservation and Heritage CommissionRhode Island Labor History SocietyMr. Gary L. RhodesMs. Caroline Burgess RiggsMr. David A. RourkeMr. Charles H. SchoeuleberMr. Henry D. Sharpe Jr. Ms. Gretchen Dow SimpsonMs. Dell W. SmithMs. Marcy Arnold SnappMr. Luther Spoehr, Ph.D.Ms. Elizabeth Stevens, Ph.D.Mr. Ron StrunzMs. Brenda SullivanMr. Arthur L. Tackman IIIMs. Lee TeverowMs. Jean Thornton Therrien Mr. Wayne George TillinghastUnited States. Dept. of the InteriorUniversity of Rhode IslandMs. Fran VanLiewMrs. Alison WatermanMs. Naida D. WeisbergMrs. Jane F. WoodDr. John F. Zwetchkenbaum

RIHS Docents, Interns & VolunteersMs. Anne AkbayMs. Robin AlaroMr. David AmaralMs. Connie AndersonMs. Simone BaconMs. Sue BarretteMs. Ann BellottiMr. Romeo BerthiaumeMs. Jewel BettezMs. Patricia Bisshopp

Ms. Irene BlaisMr. Ron BlaisMs. Judy BordesMs. Ariane BoultMs. Mary BourqueMr. Albert BrunelleMs. Camille BucciMr. Raymond CallaghanMs. Tara CallaghanMs. Honey CampbellMr. Ged CarboneMr. Michael CarrollMs. Ruth ChamberlandMs. Kelly CherniawskiMs. Muriel ClemMs. Carolyn ColeMr. Darin CooperMs. Gerrie CrowleyMr. Paul DaleyMs. Lucielli DelannoyMs. Danielle DeRottoMr. Justin DesjardinsMs. Donna DesjarlaisMs. Alicia Di FanteMs. Judi DillMs. Mary Ann Dill

Ms. Rosemary DonahueMr. Erik EckilsonMs. Barbara EddyMs. Peggy EdwardsMr. Zachary FariaMr. Carl FarmerMs. Grace FarmerMs. Carolyn FaubertMs. Denise FoggoMr. Tom FoleyMs. Mary FrappierMr. Jim FrutcheyMs. Joan GahanMs. Marje GatesMs. Victoria GendronMs. Judy GlantzMs. Betty GraysonMs. Sally GruberMs. Jennifer HandlerMs. Betty HavrilickMs. Victoria HaworthMrs. Fernande HemondMr. Ed HooksMs. Cathy HurstMs. Patricia JarvisMr. James KabalaMr. Justus KruegerMs. Isabel Kushner

Mr. Russ KushnerMr. Fern & Mrs. Gloria LaquerreMs. Deena LiffmannMr. Kyle LindsayMs. Jacqueline LofgrenMr. Brandon LopezMs. Chantel LouraMs. Mary Beth MaitozaMr. Lee MangioneMs. Elizabeth MansfieldMs. Priscilla MarchandMs. Judy McCormackMr. Jason MetivierMr. Dave MonicaMs. Ellie NachemanMs. Marilyn NapierMs. Irene NebikerMs. Ronnie NewmanMr. Gerry NoelMs. Mary O’ConnorMr. Ed O’DonnellMs. Jean O’DonnellMs. Lorraine PalmerMr. Paul PapineauMr. Donald PelletierMr. Eugene PeloquinMrs. Lois PeloquinMr. Richard PetersonMs. Beverly PettineMs. Maria PreeMs. Kerry QuinnMs. Alice & Mr. Fred ReinhardtMs. Patty ReynoldsMs. Cathe RezendesMs. Karen RiendeauMs. Marie-Josee RivardMs. Rosemary RocchioMs. Shulla SannellaMs. Nadia SedgleyMs. Susan SheaMs. Mary SheridanMs. Mary SpeareMr. Mark SwebergMr. Paul & Mrs. Jackie TardifMr. Robert TaylorMs. Claudette TheodoroffMr. Steve ThompsonMs. Anna TifftMs. Ruth Van DineMs. Allie VanOrsouwMs. Ashley VanOrsouwMr. Steve VanOrsouwMr. Ed WalkerMs. Nancy WegimontMs. Maureen WhittemoreMs. Barbara Zdravesky

* In-kind** Includes In-kind† Includes matching gifts and charitable foundation contributions.‡ Awarded but not yet received

Our volunteers are the lifeblood of the Society. According to Independent Sector.org, the 2012 value for volunteer time in RI is $19.57 per hour. Our 150 volunteers put in a total of 4,989 hours in FY2012. By any measure, their work is priceless; Independent Sector says $97,634.73 All we can say is Thank You!

Names listed recognize donations made between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012. Every effort was made to accurately portray the giving levels of all supporters. If you find an error or omission, we would be grateful for your bringing it to our attention by contacting Kathy Klees Clarendon at kclarendon@rihs.org or 401.331.8575, ext. 35.

In Memoriam: Frederick R. Griffiths, longtime RIHS board member

Mr. Morgan Donahue

We apologize for the following errors in the 2012 Annual Report:

RIHS Donors - Individual Supporters

$100 – 249

Mr. Eugene Peloquin

RIHS Docents, Interns & Volunteers

Mr. Morgan Donahue was erroneous reported as Ms. Morgan Donahue.