Join us in exploring Rhode Island’s great and illustrious industrial past. Driving around our state one is struck by the number of massive brick factory buildings, now mostly empty or converted to other uses. Slater Mill in Pawtucket is considered the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in America. In addition to the textile industry, we will also examine other industries which made Rhode Island a manufacturing powerhouse, including the machine tool industry, jewelry and silverware production, and the manufacture of yachts, toys, and pens.

We will begin with the pre-industrial age, including the infamous “triangle trade” and the great furniture makers of Newport, and then we’ll trace the rise of giant industrial concerns in the 19th and 20th centuries, devoting some attention as well to the role of organized labor. We will conclude with a look at industry today and in the future. Field trips may include visits to Slater Mill, the Museum of Work and Culture in Woonsocket, the New England Wireless and Steam Museum in East Greenwich, and the Herreshof Marine Museum in Bristol.

Format: Each class participant will be asked to select one industry or company for a brief presentation and discussion. People are welcome to work in pairs. Field trips will be by personal car or carpooling and will involve some walking. We’ll work out the field trip details after registration.

Resources/Expenses: There are no texts. The coordinators will suggest recommended print and web-based resources. There may be modest entry fees.