Rhode Island Resources for Jewish Genealogy: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Compiled by Paul S. Moverman <73377.2553@CompuServe.com> Edited by Warren Blatt May, 1996 Contents: 1 - Rhode Island Supreme Judicial Court Records Center 2 - Registrar of Vital Statistics, City of Providence 3 - Division of Archives and History, City of Providence 4 - Office of the Probate Court, City of Providence 5 - Providence Public Library 6 - Rhode Island Historical Society Library 7 - Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association 8 - Rhode Island State Archives 9 - United States District Court, Providence 10 - Chesed Schel Emess Association, Lincoln Park Cemetery =============================================================== 1 Rhode Island Supreme Judicial Court Records Center 1 Hill Rd Pawtucket, RI 02860-3913 J. Stephen Grimes, Archivist (401) 277-3249 The Rhode Island Supreme Court Judicial Archives contains all of the extant pre-1900 court records of the colony and the state of Rhode Island. This encompasses the records of the two basic court levels: the Supreme Court and its lineal predecessors, and the five Courts of Common Pleas and its lineal predecessors of the five Rhode Island judicial counties of Newport, Providence, King's / Washington, Bristol and Kent. The records of the courts are composed of three basic record series: file papers, docket books and record books. Accompanying the record books are index books. These are the name indexes only, and indicate on what page of what record book the summary of a particular case may be found. This facility has possession of Naturalization Petitions from the Rhode Island Supreme Court, Division of Common Pleas (and all predecessors) from 1793 to 1893 and from 1917 to 1982. The naturalizations that took place between 1893 to 1917 have been lost. Twentieth century naturalizations are arranged chronologically by county. This office also maintains all divorce records from 1749. Providence County divorces are indexed in two separate groups, 1843 to 1905, and 1905 to 1933. All other counties divorces are intermixed with other court proceedings, therefore, the researcher should contact the County Clerk's office to try to ascertain the exact date of the proceeding. Hours of operation are from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Researchers should call to arrange an appointment with the Archivist. Records may be pulled in advance by telephone request. ============================================================== 2 City Registrar of Vital Statistics City of Providence City Hall - Room 104 Providence, RI 02903-1789 (401) 421-7740 The Registrar's office has birth, death and marriage certificates (recorded in Providence only) from approximately 1853 to present. This office usually provides quicker service than the RI Department of Health, Division of Vital Statistics. This office closes at approximately 3:30 PM. ============================================================== 3 Division of Archives and History City of Providence City Hall - Room 503 Providence, RI 02903-1789 Carole B. Pace, City Archivist (401) 421-7740 x314 The Division of Archives and History maintains the only complete set of indexes to births, deaths and marriages recorded in the City of Providence between 1879 - 1945. Indexes are chronologically arranged in roughly five year increments, and then alphabetically by surname. The Division also has rescued and maintains a card file index of all naturalized citizens that registered to vote within the City of Providence. These cards in most instances note the date, court and naturalization petition number of the individual. The file is separated by gender and thereafter arranged alphabetically by surname. This office is in physically cramped quarters on the top floor of the Providence City Hall and is normally open to researchers by appointment only. =============================================================== 4 Office of the Probate Court City of Providence City Hall - Room 501 Providence, RI 02903-1789 Julia Rollins, Senior Clerk (401) 421-7740 x304 This office maintains all wills, administrations, guardianships, name changes and conservatorships filed in the Providence Probate Court from 1649 to present. Alphabetical indexes by surname are available. The index books are broken into the following time periods, 1649 - 1899, 1900 - 1924, 1925 - 1970 and 1971 - present. Copies are available for $1.50 per page. Hours of operation are 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. All documents must be returned to the Clerk by 3:30 PM. ============================================================= 5 Providence Public Library 225 Washington Street Providence, RI 02903-3281 Betty Fitzgerald, RI Collection Librarian (401) 455-8000 The library has two indexes to the "Providence Journal". One index was created and donated by the Journal and the other index was created and is maintained by the library staff. ============================================================= 6 RI Historical Society Library 121 Hope Street Providence, RI 02906-2028 Meredith Sorozan, Librarian (401) 331-8575 Established in 1822, the Library is one of the oldest in the country. The collection of Rhode Island related materials includes over 150,000 volumes of printed material including town and city histories, municipal documents, military histories, biography, and economic, social and political history. The Library is the repository for the third largest genealogical collection in New England. There are several card files that are of interest to genealogists: The Main Card File is the main access point to the printed collection. Author, subject and title cards are interfiled. The Genealogical Card File (pink tabs) index various magazines and major Rhode Island genealogical sources by surname. The Providence Journal Index (1915-1934 only). The RIHS Library has an excellent collection of city and town vital records and probate records on microfilm. The collection includes the multi-volume sets of "Arnold's Vital Record of Rhode Island" (1636-1850). Also on hand are the National Archives microfilms, "Passenger Arrivals at the Port of Providence, 1911-1943" and "Passengers Arriving at Providence, Newport Bristol and Warren, 1820 - 1871." Both of these materials are indexed. The Library houses the most complete collection of city directories, tax records, telephone books and reverse directories in the State of Rhode Island. The collection of city directories also includes the nearby Massachusetts towns of Attleboro and Fall River. Local newspapers of interest to genealogists include: "Rhode Island Israelite" The Israelite Publishing Co. Aug 1, 1894 - Apr 1, 1895 (Monthly) Apr 10, 1895 - Jul 26, 1895 (Weekly) "Israelite" (Providence, RI) The Israelite Publishing Co. Aug 2, 1895 - Nov 29, 1895 (Weekly) Jan 1, 1896 - Jul 1, 1896 (Monthly) "Jewish Herald" (Providence, RI) Jewish Press Publishing Co. Nov 14, 1930 - Nov 28, 1958 (Weekly) "Rhode Island Herald" Jewish Press Publishing Co. Dec 5, 1958 - Mar 16, 1989 (Weekly) "Rhode Island Jewish Herald" Jewish Press Publishing Co. Mar 23, 1989 - Present (Weekly) "Rhode Island Jewish Review" Review Publishing Co. Feb 20, 1920 - Sep 22, 1922 (Weekly) "Jewish Review" (Providence, RI) Review Publishing Co. Sep 29, 1922 - Nov 20, 1931 (Irregular) "The Providence Journal" Providence Journal Co. Feb 10, 1920 - Present (Daily & Sunday) =============================================================== 7 Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association 130 Sessions St. Providence, RI 02906-3444 Eleanor Horvitz, Librarian (401) 331-1360 As one of the first local Jewish historical associations in the United States, the Association has published its' scholarly historical journal, "Rhode Island Jewish Historical Notes," on an annual basis since 1954. Subject matter ranges from the Jews in 17th and 18th century Newport to the development of Jewish institutions in the wider Rhode Island area in more recent times. A cumulative Index of the "Notes" covering the period 1954-1978 has been published by the Association. The office and library in the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island building provides the Association with air-conditioned quarters where its collections of books, manuscripts, pictures and records are stored. Large (uncatalogued) vertical files contain information on many Jewish synagogues, fraternal organizations, burial societies, rabbis, prominent Jewish citizens and many Jewish institutions. Hours of Operation are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM. =============================================================== 8 Rhode Island State Archives 337 Westminster St. Providence, RI 02903-3302 Ken Carlson, Archivist (401) 277-2353 A) Vital Records All records of births, deaths and marriages between 1636 and 1850 were compiled in 1894 into a ten-volume "Vital Records of Rhode Island" by James Arnold. The original records are maintained at the local town or city hall. The ten volume set is available at the RI State Archives. From 1853 to 1900 all births, deaths and marriages were maintained in large registers with 35 to 50 names listed per page. All of these records are available on microfilm at the RI State Archives. Statewide indexes to vital records are available on microfilm as indicated: Birth Indexes 1853 - 1892 in four year intervals Death Indexes 1853 - 1942 in five year intervals Marriage Indexes 1853 - 1878; 1879 - 1889; 1890 - 1892. B) Rhode Island State Census Records Colonial Censuses were conducted in 1774, 1777 and 1782 by the colony of Rhode Island to determine the number of eligible males for military service. The 1865 Census and Index are available on 9 reels of 35mm microfilm. The 1875 Census and partial name index are available. This census is arranged by city or town. The 1885 Census is arranged by city or town. The 1895 Census was reported missing in 1920. The 1905 Census is currently closed to research due to the fragile condition of the census cards. The 1915 and 1925 Censuses are arranged by city or town. A street index is available. Researchers should consult the appropriate city directory to ascertain the exact street address. The 1935 Census is arranged by city or town and then alphabetically by surname within the city or town. C) City Directories The State Archives maintains a good collection of City Directories from throughout the State of Rhode Island. Copies are available at fifteen (.15) cents per page. =============================================================== 9 United States District Court US Federal Building 1 Exchange Terrace Room 119 Providence, RI 02903-1720 Raymond F. Burghardt, Clerk (401) 528-5188 This office maintains the original naturalization (index card) stubs for all persons that were naturalized in the US District Court in Providence. The index cards are contained in two separate files, pre-1906 and post-1906. Within each file, the cards are arranged alphabetically by surname. This office also maintains the original index card stubs for naturalizations performed in the Kent County Superior Court. The actual naturalization petitions indexed at this location are located at the National Archives branch in Waltham, MA. Hours of operation are from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. ============================================================== 10 Chesed Schel Emess Association Lincoln Park Cemetery 1469 Post Road Warwick, RI 02888-3253 Murray Gereboff, President (401) 737-5333 On August 11, 1896, Barnet Fain of Providence purchased 6.65 acres of land in Warwick, in the village, now known as Lincoln Park. This was the beginning of what is the largest Jewish cemetery in the state of Rhode Island. Although the cemetery does maintain a computerized database of internments, the list was compiled by college students transcribing gravestones, as opposed to actual burial records. The Cemetery has retained a group of apprentice surveyors that will be completing a computerized plot map of the entire facility in time for the Boston Summer Seminar in July. The cemetery is divided by burial societies with many societies owning more than one location. The following is a list of the societies within Lincoln Park: Ackerman's Lot, What Cheer Lodge Baron de Hirsch Lodge #99, O.B.A. Bercovitz Lodge Bichur Cholem Lodge #303, I.O.B.A. Chesed Schel Emess Chevra Shamrei Shabos Congregation Anshe Kovne Congregation Beth David Congregation Beth Israel Congregation Beth Israel Anshe Oestreich Congregation Mishkin Tifiloh Congregation Ohawe Shalom of Pawtucket Congregation Old Beth David Congregation Sons of Abraham Congregation Sons of Jacob Congregation Sons of Zion Congregation Teferes Israel Congergation Tifirith Israel Anshe Kovne Farband Zion Labor Organization First Odessa Independent Association Independent Bessarabian Lodge #119, I.O.B.S. Jacob Schiff Lodge Lenas Hazedk Lodge of the West Louis Feiner Benevolent Association of Providence Loyal Family Circle MacBee Lodge Maimonides Benevolent Association of Providence #112, O.B.A. Providence Beneficial Association Providence City Lodge #143, I.O.B.A. Providence Fraternal Association Providence Workingmen's Beneficial Association R.I. Jewish Fraternal Association R.I. State Lodge #130, I.O.B.A. R.I. Workingmen's Circle Beneficial Association Roger Williams Lodge, I.O.B.A. Roumanian Ahavath Sholom Samuel Bomes South Providence Chevra Kedusha South Providence Hebrew Congregation South Providence Progressive Association South Providence Young Men's Benevolent Association Superior Lodge #516, I.O.B.A. Temple Beth Israel Temple Beth Sholom Temple Emanu-El Touro Fraternal Association What Cheer Lodge #138, I.O.B.S. What Cheer Lodge I.O.B.A. Workmen's Circle Beneficial Association Workmen's Circle Benevolent Association Young People's Benevolent Association