Grant will Help East Greenwich Historic Preservation Society

EAST GREENWICH, RI—The East Greenwich Historic Preservation Society is among 15 organizations statewide to receive a share of some $28,000 from the Rhode Island Foundation through its Archive, Document, Display and Disseminate (ADDD) Fund.

“By offering the resources to strengthen libraries and other civic, cultural and literacy-focused organizations, we can expand their role as community centers that stimulate dialogue around critical issues,” said philanthropist Herman Rose, who created the ADDD fund in 1986. Over the years, it has awarded more than $372,000 in grants.

The primary goals are to increase public access to information through archiving, documenting, displaying or disseminating print, digital or other material and to provide challenge grants for fundraising campaigns for the acquisition of equipment, special collections and publications among other material.

The $700 grant enabled the East Greenwich Historic Preservation Society to buy equipment that will make it easier for it to expand its collection by digitizing private collections of photos and illustrations that document the town’s history.

“We plan to purchase a large-format, high-resolution flatbed scanner to digitize our entire collection. Once we have our photographic collection scanned, we will be able to provide access to our collection to researchers, and also for use in our own publications. The added protection of having files digitized in case of a disaster will also be beneficial,” said Rachel Peirce, EGHPS vice president.

“We will also implement a program inviting the public to share their images of East Greenwich. We have found that most people would happily share their photo collection, yet would rather not donate them for sentimental reason. We could significantly add to our archives and knowledge with this strategy, and

perhaps help some people who don't have the ability to digitize their own photos,” she added.

“We hope to share the history of East Greenwich with local residents of town, but also with people outside of East Greenwich researching their family's connection to our town. We plan to keep our members updated through our monthly newsletter, and to use our website and the local media to reach a wider audience,” said Peirce.

Among the other organizations receiving grants are the Lincoln School in Providence, which was awarded $800 to digitize the school’s archives in order to make them accessible to alumnae and others who are interested in researching shifts in education for girls since the 1800s; and the Providence Preservation Society, which won $1,500 to create an exhibit documenting how its “College Hill Study” helped save the historically and architecturally significant neighborhood from demolition in the 1960s.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. In 2015, the Foundation awarded $41.5 million in grants to organizations addressing the state’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities. Through leadership, fundraising and grantmaking activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential. For more information, visit www.rifoundation.org.