Research & Resource Hub

Start at the Source

Whether you are tracing your ancestors and their connections to Newport, looking for historical background on a Newport property, or exploring Newport’s rich history documented in manuscripts and primary sources, we invite you to begin your research at the Richard I. Burnham Resource Center.

Please plan ahead. Our Resource Center remains closed for walk-in researchers. Appointments must be made in advance, and are contingent on staff availability, the latest R.I. health guidance, and the availability of relevant resources within our collection. For more information, please email research@newporthistory.org or call 401-846-0813, ext. 190.

Contact us

Research Policies

  • Apointments & Access

    Appointments, Fees and Protocols
    More information

  • Research Services

    Remote Research, House Histories & Plaques, Genealogy, Transcription & More
    More information

  • Photography, Reproductions & Image Use

    Image Requests, Personal Photography, Permission to Publish and Use Fees
    More information

Quick Guide for Research

  • Access

    You must make an appointment to access our collections.

  • Fees

    Edward W. Kane Library appointments are $5/hour. Appointments to see photographs or manuscripts are $10/hour.

  • Hugh D. Auchincloss III Reading Room

    All personal belongings must be stored in lockers in the Hamilton Family Atrium. Food, drinks and pens are forbidden.

  • Photography

    Monitored personal photography is permitted, with restrictions and for a fee: $5 for NHS members, $25 for non-members.

  • Image Use

    Images from the collection may be reproduced only with written consent of the NHS.

  • Staff Research

    Can't come in-person? NHS staff can conduct research on your behalf for $75/hr. The first half hour is free.

  • Member & Student Rates

    Some research-related costs are reduced for students and NHS members.

More Information

Resource Guides — How to Make the Most of Our Online Materials

Digital Resource Guide — Rhode Island’s African American History

Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) Resources on African American...

Teachers and Education Content Providers — Educational Resources from the NHS

Many of you have been asked to develop lesson plans...

Calling All Armchair Researchers: Continue to Access Newport’s History from the Comfort of Your Home

Given the current health climate, the Newport Historical Society &...

Invoice Payment

If you have been issued an invoice for image or research fees, you may pay the total due by clicking the button below to pay online.