Guide to the Rhode Island State Home and School records, 1885-2008

(bulk 1885-1960, 2001-2008)

Series 1. State Home and School ledgers, 1885-1971
4 cubic feet

Note: Ledgers 4 and 28 are restricted for 72 years from the date of the last entry in the ledger due to the presence of sensitive information regarding persons who are still living. This parallels the schedule for release of federal census information. Ledger 2 is restricted for 100 years from the date of the last entry due to containing medical information. Photography or reproductions of the ledgers will not be allowed without the permission of the Rhode Island College Special Collections Librarian. Reproductions may be redacted by Special Collections staff prior to dissemination. The unrestricted portions of volumes which also contain restricted data may be viewed under close supervision of the Special Collections Librarian. Scholars who desire statistical information from the records may be, at the discretion of the Special Collections Librarian, permitted to view the records, though no notes may be taken regarding names of children. Photography of the restricted ledgers is not allowed.

Series 1. Subseries 1a. Visitors log, 1885-1918
0.2 cubic feet

The subseries contains a visitors log that includes the name of visitor, agency or town, position, and date of visit. Later entries include relationship to child, child’s name, and city or town. There is a time lapse in the log from 1905 to April 7, 1913. Later dates detail levels in changes of information on visitors’ relationship to children. In later entries, the date of the visit is not given, but instead visitors are grouped by the month in which they visited.

Series 1. Subseries 1b. Isolation register, 1936-1959
0.2 cubic feet

The subseries contains an isolation (due to illness) register that usually includes the name of the child, the date and reason for visit, and a file number; some entries also show action, such as if they were transfer to Exeter; and a discharge date. However, throughout the register, there are differences in the level of information provided.

Series 1. Subseries 1c. Intake ledgers, 1885-1971
3.6 cubic feet

Names of ledgers taken from initial description and embossed titles on them. The listings in the ledgers often include the child’s name, reference number, town and state of origin, date committed, age, year of maturity, nativity, and religion. Some of the intake ledgers also detail the parents’ conditions, placements, and ability to care for children. Some include indentured information of children, including indenture case number, guardian name, town and city, and P.O. Box. Adoption and adoption name are also included. In most ledgers, there are additional remarks on the case on the right page, including whether the child was removed from the home and re-placed or whether the child was moved to Sockanosett. In items 5-10, children are listed alphabetically with cross-references to individual page numbers. In items 11-18, 21, and 23-27, entries on individual pages include management issues at the facility, like ice cutting, as well as the hiring and discharging of staff. There are pages titled “Children received” which include case number, child name, arrival date, date of birth, and age of child. There are also records of children placed in homes, returned from homes, information on vacation leaves by staff, and those hired and those that left employment. However, items 17 and 21 exclude employee information. Some ledgers include additional information not stated above, however this is noted in the individual item list when applicable.

Series 2. Historical information and related projects, 1912, 1940-2008
2.1 cubic feet

The series contains assorted documents pertaining to the State Home and School, including clippings, journal articles, research projects, programs, and recollections. Some information may reference the Oral History Project. Recorded footage of news segments and interviews regarding the State Home and School Project are also included.

Series 3. Oral history project records, 2001-2006
0.95 cubic feet

The first four folders in the series were originally consolidated in a three-ring binder; all documents in the folders relate to the State Home Oral History Project, including meeting minutes, correspondence, invoices, programs, resident gathering notes, and documents regarding the Yellow Cottage. Recordings and transcripts of interviews from Rhode Island College’s Oral History Project are also included.