David W. Dumas Papers

University Archives and Special Collections
15 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881-2011
Tel: 401-874-4632

email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Published in 2010

Collection Overview

Title:	David W. Dumas Papers
Date range:	1982-1998
Creator:	Dumas, David W.
Extent:	6 box(es) 3 linear feet
Abstract:	The collection contains letters of correspondence, memoranda, newspaper articles, and press releases, which pertain to different legislative or political topics that were of interest to Mr. Dumas during his time as a State Representative.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	University Archives and Special Collections
Collection number:	Mss. Gr. 151

Scope & content

The collection contains documents including letters of correspondence, memos, newspaper articles, and press releases, which pertain to different legislative or political topics that were of interest to Mr. Dumas during his time as a State Representative, including abortion, gay rights and education. There is also material related to significant events that occurred during Mr. Dumas’s time in office, such as the RISDIC banking crisis. There are also letters of correspondence between Mr. Dumas and several notable public figures, including politicians and civic leaders, such as Bruce Sundlun and various members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. The collection includes material from 1982-1998.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into two series as follows:

• 1. Subject Series
• 2. Correspondence Series

Biographical note

David W. Dumas was born in 1943 in Lowell, Massachusetts. He graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts in 1960. In 1964, he graduated from Brown University with an A.B. in Latin, and also earned an M.A. in Classics and History from the University in 1977. In addition, he obtained his L.L.B. and J.D. in 1967 from the University of Virginia Law School. In 1982, Mr. Dumas was elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives from District 43 in East Greenwich. He was elected Republican House Minority Leader in 1990, a post which he held until 1992, when he decided not to seek re-election to the Rhode Island House. In the early 1990’s, he was a member of the select commission to investigate the failure of Rhode Island Share and Deposit Indemnity Corporation-insured institutions (RISDIC). He was also a member of the Blue Ribbon Commission on the General Assembly, as well as the Rhode Island Ethics Commission. Prior to his time in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, Mr. Dumas served on the East Greenwich School Committee from 1976-1983, and was the chair of the Committee from 1976-1980. Mr. Dumas has also taught several classes at local colleges and universities. From 1988-1994, he was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Rhode Island, where he taught courses such as Administrative Law and Procedure and the American Legal System. He was also an Adjunct Professor at the Community College of Rhode Island from 1995-1996, where he taught a number of classes, including Western Civilization and State and Local Government. Mr. Dumas has also held membership in several prominent organizations, including the Brown University Alumni Schools Program, the Society of the Cincinnati, the Society of Colonial Wars, the Providence Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Rhode Island Historical Society. Mr. Dumas is currently a lawyer in private practice in East Greenwich.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	Any qualified person doing scholarly research is permitted to use material housed in the Special Collections Unit.
Use of the materials:	Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.
Preferred citation:	David W. Dumas Papers, Mss. Gr. 151, University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections.
Contact information:	University Archives and Special Collections 15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 Tel: 401-874-4632 email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	This collection was donated to the Special Collections Unit by David W. Dumas on December 10, 2001.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Mark Dionne.
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by Mark Dionne and updated by Hailie Posey 2010 Mar 29, updated by Erin C. Mullen on 2012 January 09, updated by Mark Dionne on 2020 April 27.
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory

---

Inventory