Guide to the Thomas W. Dorr Collection, 1831-1888

Rhode Island Historical Society
121 Hope Street
Providence, RI 02906
Tel: 401-273-8107
Fax: 401-863-2093
Email: reference@rihs.org

Published in 2009

Collection Overview

Title:	Thomas W. Dorr Collection
Date range:	1831-1888
Creator:	Dorr, Thomas Wilson, 1805-1854
Extent:	0.25 linear feet
Abstract:	Thomas W. Dorr (1805-1854) was best known as the leader of the Dorr Rebellion. This collection contains seven letters written by Dorr to miscellaneous persons, as well as one received from Franklin Pierce, selections from Dorr's personal scrapbook, twelve pages of business accounts, and several items relating to the rebellion.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	Rhode Island Historical Society
Collection number:	MSS 391

Scope & content

This collection contains seven letters written by Dorr to miscellaneous persons, as well as one received from Franklin Pierce, selections from Dorr's personal scrapbook, twelve pages of business accounts, and several items relating to the rebellion.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Arnold, Joseph Benedict
• Bailey, William M.
• Capen, Nahum
• Crins, Samuel P.
• Evans, Estwick
• Harris, William J.
• Marsh, Metcalf
• Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869
• Purdy, Elijah
• Turner, George
• Vache, Alexander J.
• Weaver, Silas (1802-1896)

Subject Organizations

• Pawtuxet Artillery Company

Subject Topics

• Dorr Rebellion, 1842.

Subject Topics

• Rhode Island/Local Interest

Document Types

• letters(correspondence)

Arrangement

• Series 1: Correspondence
• Series 2: Miscellaneous

Historical note

Thomas Wilson Dorr, is well known as the leader of the Dorr Rebellion. A Providence lawyer, Dorr had become the leader of the Law and Order Party that had a platform of suffrage reform. At the time, Rhode Island was still operating under the colonial charter of 1663, which stated that only landowners had the right to vote. Dorr's party sought a more democratic constitution which would give voting power to the landless. The party held a convention and adopted a "People's Constitution," which was unofficially ratified by voters in 1841. In 1842, Dorr and his followers held unofficial elections and Dorr was elected Governor. However, the Rhode Island legislature did not recognize Dorr's legitimacy. Dorr formed an army and attempted to take power by force but suffered two humiliating defeats. With these failures Dorr fled Rhode Island, only to turn himself in a year and a half later. He was tried in 1844 and sentenced to life in prison. Dorr was released in 1845 due to a legislative act that freed all prisoners sentenced for treason. In 1854, Dorr's record was expunged as some of those in power came to believe he had been wrongly convicted.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access.
Use of the materials:	Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from the Rhode Island Historical Society.
Preferred citation:	Thomas W. Dorr Collection, MSS 391, Rhode Island Historical Society.
Contact information:	Rhode Island Historical Society 121 Hope Street Providence, RI 02906 Tel: 401-273-8107 Fax: 401-863-2093 Email: reference@rihs.org

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	This collection was gathered together from miscellaneous holdings of the Society circa 1975. There are other Dorr materials remaining in other collections, which can be found through the card catalog at the Society.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Rick Stattler.
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by Mark Chepkwony 2009 June 30
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory

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