The Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission (RIHPHC) is working to diversify the list of historic preservation sites in the state to include more places significant to African and African American history.
Under the “Diversifying Historic Preservation in Rhode Island” initiative, the RIHPHC began researching the history of African Americans and Cape Verdeans in the College Hill Historic District in Providence. This research led to the nomination of seventy-five properties to the National Register that were previously overlooked.
The RIHPHC is also working to prepare a National Register nomination for the Pawtucket residence of groundbreaking African American journalist John Carter Minkins. The nomination aims to highlight Minkins’ role in calling out and fighting racial injustice from the 1900s to the 1950s.
The RIHPHC is grateful for the assistance of the National Park Service and is excited to be part of a mission to ensure that the National Register better reflects the important places and significant stories of all Americans.
The National Park Service administers the Underrepresented Communities Grant program which has awarded the RIHPHC a $66,000 grant. This grant is expected to be used to prepare the documents necessary for the nomination of the Pawtucket property.
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