Battle of Rhode Island Association Announces Partnership with The Redwood Library & Athenæum

The Battle of Rhode Island Association (BoRIA) is pleased to announce that the Redwood Library & Athenæum has become a partner in documenting, telling, and celebrating Rhode Island’s role in the Revolutionary War. Dr. Benedict Leca, Executive Director of the Redwood, commented “We are pleased to join this much needed effort. In our initial project we will jointly be conducting research on Rev. Roderick Terry. He generously served as Board President of the Redwood for a decade, revitalized the Newport Historical Society, and saved the lands at Butts Hill Fort and Fort Barton”. Burton Quist, Director at BoRIA, remarked, “It is significant that we have representation from this nationally recognized institution located in Newport that was a major center in the Revolutionary War”.

The Redwood Library & Athenæum is America’s first purpose-built library (1747), and the oldest continuously operating in its original location. As such, it is the only remaining secular public cultural institution in this country with an unbroken link to the colonial period and the Nation’s founding. Housed in the earliest public Neoclassic building in the U.S., and containing Rhode Island’s first art gallery (1875), it has functioned for nearly three-hundred years as Newport’s intellectual core, a humanities center, and civic learning hub styled after ideals of ancient Athenian culture and philosophy. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960.

The Battle of Rhode Island Association is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit committed to raising awareness of Rhode Island’s role in the War for Independence. Donations may be made payable to “BoRIA” at PO Box 626, Portsmouth, RI 02871.