Given the current health climate, the Newport Historical Society & Museum of Newport History are closed to in-person researchers and visitors. However, our staff are still staying active behind-the-scenes to fulfill research requests and ensure continued access to Newport’s endlessly interesting history. As a useful starting point for any distance-research, here is a quick guide to our existing resources:
Collections Online
Search and discover our Collections Online hub, which contains catalog records for our object and photograph collections. Just use the search bar to call up specific terms and browse our materials. This database is especially useful for:
- General research:
Learn more about Gilded age Newport, Newport mansions, notable properties & streets (the Colony House, the Brick Market, Thames Street & Bellevue Avenue, among others), and Newport events (America’s Cup, the Newport Jazz Festival, and more). - Historic Events:
View collections chronicling significant events, from the aftermath of the devastating hurricane of 1938, to the redevelopment of Thames street in the 1960s-1970s. - Daily Scenes:
Curious about how people dressed in the 1860s? Interested in historic automobiles? Look no further!
Though only a portion of our holdings are available online, the items that have been digitized and cataloged are representative of our wider collections. If you are interested in learning more about a specific item, please record the object number of the item, and reach out to our collections staff at research@newporthistory.org
History at Home
While the Museum of Newport History is currently closed, we are striving to make Newport’s endlessly interesting history accessible from the comfort of your home. Please enjoy a virtual tour of the Museum here!
Staff Research Requests
If you would like to take a deeper dive into our collections, we are happy to accommodate remote research requests. Below are examples of the types of inquiries we typically receive, as well as information about how to structure a staff research request. Please note our staff research fees for all requests are $50/hour for NHS Members, or $75/hour for non-members. Our quoted project fees will vary depending on the nature of your query. All requests should be sent to research@newporthistory.org
Property research:
If you are interested in researching a property local to Newport, including determining date of construction, chain of ownership, as well as reviewing historic property images from our collections, our staff will be able to compile a research report on your behalf. Please reach out to the email above with details about your area of interest.
Genealogy:
Interested in researching your family tree, or individuals known to be associated with Newport? Our staff genealogist will be able to conduct research on your behalf. Contact information and fees are outlined above.
Manuscript collections:
To learn more about what materials are housed in our archives, please consult our manuscript index and finding aids. If you would like us to conduct research on your behalf, please email research@newporthistory.org with the details of your request, including the collection name and inventory ID.
Object & Artifact collections:
If you have located items from our collection in our online database, and would like us to conduct further research into our collection on your behalf, please record the object number and reach out to our collections staff at research@newporthistory.org
Photo Orders:
If you are interested in acquiring an image of any of our collections objects or items from our photo archive please review our reproduction and image use fee structure. All image requests can be emailed to the address below. Make sure that you outline the Object number of the item you are interested in, as well as the complete nature of the request (research, personal use, or publication).
Looking to publish our images? Please download and complete our ‘Permission to publish’ form, and return it to kbleho@newporthistory.org