online: www.rihumanities.org email: info@rihumanities.org phone: 401-273-2250
The history of Rhode Island and the United States Navy has been inextricably intertwined since the early days of the Republic. Rhode Island had the distinction of having the first state navy and its representatives to the First Continental Congress led the way for the creation of a national navy. Heroes of the navy hailed from the ocean state and the naval presence was well established in Narragansett Bay by the end of the nineteenth century. During the twentieth century, the Naval War College, the Naval Training Station, the Naval Base, and Quonset Point Naval Air Station were fixtures in the region. Today, the naval presence continues to contribute to the economic life of Rhode Island. This talk and power point presentation will discuss and illustrate the past and present history of the navy in our state.
Dr. Evelyn M. Cherpak is the curator of the Naval Historical Collection, the archives and manuscripts division of the Naval War College Library in Newport, RI. She is an adjunct faculty member at Salve Regina University. Her publications include articles on naval history, women’s history, and institutional bibliographic holdings.
Needs: Powerpoint projector, screen; Lighted lectern/water