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Founded in 1822, the Rhode Island Historical Society is a privately endowed, membership organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing Rhode Island's history. The nations fourth oldest state historical society, the RIHS houses distinguished museum and library collections that comprise more than 30,000 objects and 500,000 written, recorded, and photographed items. From seventeenth-century manuscripts documenting the beginnings of European settlement to the first television news archives established by a U.S. historical society, the collections document four centuries of Ocean State history. To fulfill its mission, the Society owns and operates the circa 1786 John Brown House (a National Historic Landmark), the Library, and the Aldrich House administrative building in Providence, and the Museum of Work and Culture in Woonsocket. Educational programs, lectures, publications, and exhibits are all part of the Society's 180-year history of bringing the past to life for the citizens of the state. The Newell D. Goff Center for Ingenuity and Enterprise offers lectures and fellowship programs throughout the year, while annual teacher grants recognize classroom innovators across the state. While we preserve the past, our members ensure our future through membership fees, special gifts, and donations to the collections. Rhode Island's history is the story of all the people who have lived here. We need your help to tell those stories. Please join us this season as we explore Rhode Island's past. We make history every day.