Preserving Southern Rhode Island Historical Collections

FAIN: PF-280954-21

South County History Center (Kingston, RI 02881-1624)
Erica Luke (Project Director: January 2021 to present)

Enhancement of storage environments through HVAC improvements, new equipment to better serve the area where collections storage has been consolidated, installation of insulation and other passive improvements, and protection of the collection from pests and other risks.

The Pettaquamscutt Historical Society, operating as the South County History Center, requests a $110,833.30 National Endowment for the Humanities Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections implementation grant for HVAC improvements and repairs to the building envelope. These improvements will help ensure the protection of the Center’s collection from temperature shifts, moisture and excess humidity, pests, and the impacts of climate change on our region.

Media Coverage

South County history will be preserved as center gets key grant (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Ryan Blessing
Publication: The Independent (newspaper, Rhode Island)
Date: 9/3/2021
Abstract: "The priceless archival collection of the South County History Center, housed in the old Washington County jail, are about to get some more much-needed attention. The center is embarking on a 19-month project to improve the old jail's heating, ventilation and air condition system to better protect its historical artifacts and documents. More than $100,000 for the work comes from a National Endowment for the Humanities Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collection grant."
URL: https://www.independentri.com/news/article_85c9f1de-0b78-11ec-9bff-3bb0aa310284.html

Center awarded state preservation grant to preserve old Washington County Jail (Media Coverage)
Publication: The Narragansett Times (newspaper, Rhode Island)
Date: 1/12/2022
Abstract: The South County History Center is pleased to announce it has been awarded a State Preservation Grant by the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission (RIHPHC). This $42,075 grant award will fund capital preservation projects at the Old Washington County Jail, ensuring the preservation of the Jail and the Center’s historical collection, which documents the history of South (Washington) County, Rhode Island.
URL: https://www.ricentral.com/chariho_times/center-awarded-state-preservation-grant-to-preserve-old-washington-county-jail/article_baad7118-73f2-11ec-bc68-6b3537b980aa.html