In January 1927, the Newport Historical Society published in its bulletin that the vacant lot adjacent to its headquarters building would provide “ample opportunity” for the Society to continue to house its growing collection. The building, built in 1905 and added to in 1915, had not been comprehensively updated in nearly a century. Over the last fourteen months the Society’s Resource Center has undergone a major building renovation with improvements that allow the NHS to properly store and protect its collections while allowing improved access for researchers, visitors and staff.
As a result of the extensive renovation project, collections access has been closed since late 2014. The Society is pleased to announce that research appointments are now being accepted.
The multimillion dollar renovation includes a new glass façade entrance with an accessible ramp, gallery space, modernized storage to better protect its world class collections, comprehensive climate control and other improvements.
“The NHS serves as a resource center for the public, our colleagues, and for scholars,” Executive Director Ruth Taylor explains. “This new facility will allow us to do so with greater ease and effectiveness.”
Capital Campaign Gift Endows Buchanan-Burnham Internship Program
An important program of the NHS includes its prestigious Buchanan-Burnham Internship Program. The Society recently received a major gift from the Trustees of The Helen D. Buchanan Trust which will fully endow the Buchanan-Burnham Internship Program. The gift comes from the Trust upon the recommendation of Helen’s daughter, Monty Burnham, and follows more than a decade of support for this program from Helen Buchanan and Richard and Monty Burnham. The ten week program is regarded as one of the region’s top internship opportunities for graduate students interested in public history and museum studies. Internship applications for Summer 2016 are accepted January 1, 2016 – March 1, 2016.
“We preserve our collections for an unknowable future,” Taylor concludes, “but today we are providing opportunities to study and learn about Newport’s history through the renowned internship program, our renewed Resource Center, and our exciting museum, tours and programs.”
Photo credit: Philip Marshal