Letter from the Researcher

I am a professional historian who works for the Rhode Island Historical Society. Currently I do Museum work but I spent a few years working at our rather extensive Library and Manuscripts collection which has a great deal of Poor House information. Also I have done some work in various city and town records here in R.I. which go back to the 17th century.

I have written an introduction of sorts to Rhode Island sources and repositories which I hope may be of some help and might spark further interest in researching poorhouse records. I am hoping to gather more information from older city and town histories that might be of interest and help to researchers.

The Poorhouse Story is  a great site and I would be glad to be of some assistance from the biggest little state in the Union!

Bob Sherman   bsherman@rihs.org
Warren, Rhode Island