Content and Scope: Begun in 1939 as essentially a one-man operation, the Urban League of Rhode Island developed into a multi-faceted organization by the late 1960s. This Collection documents the story of the Urban League's programs, successes and failures in the battle for racial equality throughout the country, especially in the Rhode Island area, from 1938 through 1970. The Collection is also largely the story of James N. Williams, who served as Executive Director from 1940-1970. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, clippings, financial records, and reports from both the national and local perspective, primarily from the 1950s and 1960s. The folders are arranged according to alphabetical listings of subjects in the following 7 categories: City of Providence, Providence Urban League, Newport Urban League, National Urban League, Rhode Island state government, Rhode Island groups/organizations/ miscellaneous, National organizations and groups. Providence College acquired microfilm copies of 2 newspapers of the period, the Boston Chronicle and the Providence Chronicle to aid researchers. See Black Newspapers, 1932-1957, for information on the microfilm.

Finding Aids: A published finding aid to the collection is available in the College Archives and Special Collections Department. This inventory can be purchased from the Department or borrowed through your local library. Check the catalog in your academic or public library for ownership of: Providence College Phillips Memorial Library, Matthew J. Smith, Archivist (comp.). An Inventory to the Urban League of Rhode Island Collection, compiled by Providence College Archives staff, Matthew J. Smith, Archivist. Providence, R.I.: Phillips Memorial Library, Providence College, 1977.

A revised edition of the Inventory is available in the Department.  There are 200,000 pieces in this collection.

For more research assistance
  Ask Archives