What is the history of Newport? Historical Society offers a 'more comprehensive version'
NEWPORT – The goal is for readers to be educated, enlightened and entertained. And not overwhelmed.
So, the Newport Historical Society's latest book, the paperback "Newport: A Concise History," takes readers from the 17th century to the present, making the journey in 155 pages that also include, in the words of NHS Executive Deputy Director for Operations and Academic Services Ingrid Peters, “fantastic images from our archives and collections.”
Peters is also one of the authors.
This NHS' paperback history of Newport and Newport County is actually a fourth generation child. In 1976, using essays written by St. George's School history teacher, the late C.P.B. Jefferys, the NHS published "Newport, 1639–1976: An Historical Sketch of Newport." The book was updated in 1992 and renamed "Newport: A Short History." It was slightly revised in 2008, with the title "Newport: A Concise History."
The current version, soon to be available for purchase, is “drastically revised” and shares a “more comprehensive version” of the story of the City by the Sea, Peters said.
What is the history of Newport?
According to the NHS website, the new "Newport: A Concise History" tells a more inclusive Newport story, starting in the 17th century with the Indigenous inhabitants. It shares how the city's economy grew, fueled in no small part by its participation in the African slave trade. The book later focuses on Newport's thriving Black business community at the end of the 19th century, and on immigration from Ireland and Portugal helping power another commerce boom in the 20th century.
The story carries right into the 21th century downtown revitalization.
The images include street scenes, manuscripts, people, artifacts and more.
“It's a good easy read, full of fantastic information,” Peters said. “You could write an encyclopedia of Newport's history. It was a fun project.”
The fun project, she said, took about a year to complete. The primary authors are NHS staff members, including Peters, including Kaela Bleho, Bert Lippincott, Bridget Newton, Sean O’Brien, and Elizbeth C. Stevens (also the editor). This edition also draws on the work of a number of historians and scholars, in particular David J. Silverman and John Quinn as well as writings that have been published in NHS’ journal Newport History.
Want to be a guide?: Newport Historical Society tours are expanding to meet demand
The book ($24.99) is not yet available. But the wait is not long. It will be for sale at the Newport Historical Society's book launch on Wednesday, May 8, at its museum and shop at 127 Thames St., in the historic Brick Market. The book may be pre-ordered at www.newporthistoryshop.com, for delivery on May 13.
Other NHS books include "Newport Baseball History," "Newport History Bytes," "Ghosts of Newport," "Newport: A Novel," and "Jackie's Newport."
The historical society's walking tours (newporthistorytours.org) also provide insight into the city's history.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Newport RI history: Book explores Indigenous, Black contributions
