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RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

EIN 05-0259110 PROVIDENCE, RI

Revenue 2023
$3,081,897
Expenses 2023
$3,427,496

Program services were 69.1% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
A82Z
Classification
1000
Street
110 BENEVOLENT ST

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, THROUGH ITS COLLECTIONS, MUSEUMS, AND EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, WELCOMES EVERYONE TO ENGAGE WITH RHODE ISLAND'S COMPLEX AND SIGNIFICANT PAST.

  • LIBRARY PROGRAM - THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S ROBINSON RESEARCH CENTER HAS OVER 100,000 VOLUMES RELATING TO THE HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND AND SURROUNDING NEW ENGLAND. THIS RESEARCH CENTER ALSO HOLDS MORE THAN 1,200 MANUSCRIPT COLLECTIONS (OVER 10 MILLION PAGES), 20,000 ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS, 1,000,000 PHOTOGRAPHS, AND 9 MILLION FEET OF MOVING IMAGE FILM. IN FY 2023, MUCH OF OUR WORK WAS FOCUSED ON INCREASING DIGITAL ACCESS TO MATERIALS RELATED TO THE APPROACHING 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF U.S. INDEPENDENCE. TO FURTHER THIS WORK, A DEDICATED WEBSITE HOLDING SCANS OF ALL OF OUR MANUSCRIPTS RELATED TO THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR ENTITLED "THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR IN RHODE ISLAND" WENT LIVE ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2022. A NEWLY DESIGNED, MORE USER-FRIENDLY INTERFACE FOR OUR ONLINE CATALOG (THE CABINET, FORMERLY NETOP) WENT LIVE ON DECEMBER 9, 2022.

    Expenses $713,685 · Revenue $9,320

  • MUSEUM PROGRAM - THE RIHS OPERATES TWO MUSEUMS, THE JOHN BROWN HOUSE MUSEUM AND THE MUSEUM OF WORK AND CULTURE, AS WELL AS OPERATING THE ALDRICH HOUSE, WHICH SERVES AS ITS HEADQUARTERS, EVENT VENUE, AND EDUCATIONAL SPACE. THE MUSEUM OF WORK AND CULTURE ALSO SERVES AS A VISITORS' CENTER FOR THE BLACKSTONE RIVER VALLEY. IN ADDITION, THE JOHN BROWN HOUSE MUSEUM SERVES AS THE PRIMARY LOCATION OF OUR MUSEUM ARTIFACTS, WHICH NUMBER OVER 20,000. IN 2022, A GALLERY SPACE IN THE JBH WAS DEDICATED TO ANNUAL DISPLAYS RELATED TO THE "ROAD TO REVOLUTION," CULMINATING IN 2026 (THE 250TH OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE). THE FIRST DISPLAY WAS ON THE BURNING OF THE BRITISH CUSTOMS SHIP GASPEE, AND IN MAY 2023 THE HISTORY OF SUGAR AS A COMMODITY THAT ENGAGED RHODE ISLAND IN THE 18THC GLOBAL ECONOMY, INCLUDING THE SUGAR AND MOLASSES ACTS, WAS INSTALLED.

    Expenses $864,263 · Revenue $169,094

  • EDUCATION PROGRAM - THE GOFF CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS, THE STAFF MEMBERS OF WHICH ARE LOCATED AT THE JOHN BROWN HOUSE MUSEUM AND ALDRICH HOUSE, OVERSEES THE RIHS'S EDUCATIONAL WORK RELATED TO RI AND AMERICAN HISTORY, TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE FIELD OF RI AND AMERICAN HISTORY, PRIMARY DOCUMENT-BASED CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, UNIT PLANS, STUDENT TOURS, AND WRITTEN MATERIALS, INCLUDING THE FREELY AVAILABLE DIGITAL TEXTBOOK, ENCOMPASS, AS WELL AS PUBLIC PROGRAMS, SUCH AS LECTURES, CONCERTS, AND WORKSHOPS. THE GOFF CENTER DIRECTS THE RIHS'S RHODE ISLAND ONLINE DIRECTORY INITIATIVE (RHODI) PROJECT AND ALSO RUNS RI HISTORY DAY, THE STATE AFFILIATE OF NATIONAL HISTORY DAY. THE PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND RHODI STAFF REPORT TO THE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS BUT ARE CONSIDERED PART OF THE GOFF CENTER. DURING FY 2024, THE MUSEUM TEAM FOCUSED ITS ATTENTION ON THE DEVELOPMENT, INSTALLATION, AND PROMOTION OF A NEW IMMERSIVE AND INTERACTIVE PRESENTATION, AND ON ITS CHANGING EXHIBIT PROGRAM. THE NEW IMMERSIVE PRESENTATION WAS ADDED TO OUR EXISTING FARMHOUSE EXHIBIT, BRINGING TO LIFE A FAMILY OF THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY FACED WITH THE DECISION TO LEAVE THEIR COUNTRY TO MOVE TO THE UNITED STATES.DURING THE COURSE OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THE MUSEUM ALSO PRESENTED SIX CHANGING EXHIBITS IN ITS GALLERY. MISHPAKHA (OPENED MAY 2023) CONTINUED TO BRING VISITORS FROM NEAR AND FAR TO DISCOVER THE JEWISH HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET AND TO ATTEND RELATED PROGRAMS. OTHER CHANGING EXHIBITS SHOWCASED THE ARTWORK OF LOCAL ARTISTS AND STUDENTS FROM THE NORTHERN RI ART GROUP AND THE BEACON CHARTER ART SCHOOL; A PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT FROM PRECISION MEDICINE IN AUTISM DURING AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH; HOLLYWOOD COMES TO WOONSOCKET DURING FRANCOPHONIE MONTH; AND THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF MONT ST-CHARLES ACADEMY. SEVERAL PROGRAMS RELATED TO EACH CHANGING EXHIBIT WERE PRESENTED AND WELL ATTENDED.

    Expenses $791,692 · Revenue $29,695

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2023

As listed in Part VII of the 2023 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • ALLETTA MORRIS COOPER

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • MICHAEL L BAKER JR CPA

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • MARK F HARRIMAN

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • FRANK MAURAN IV

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • CHARLOTTE CARRINGTON-FARMER PHD

    TRUSTEE (AS OF 11/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • MICHAEL GERHARDT

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • PAUL A CROCE SCD

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • MEAGHAN E KELLY ESQ

    TRUSTEE (AS OF 11/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • PETER J MINIATI CFP JD

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • ERIN STEVENSON

    EX-OFFICIO

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • SCOTT MACKAY

    TRUSTEE (UNTIL 12/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • MAUREEN MOAKLEY PHD

    TRUSTEE (UNTIL 6/2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • MARCUS P NEVIUS PHD

    TRUSTEE (UNTIL 11/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • ROBERTA E GOSSELIN

    CHAIR (AS OF 11/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • LUTHER W SPOEHR PHD

    VICE CHAIR (ENDING 11/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • STANLEY WEISS

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • PAUL R WILLIAMS

    TRUSTEE (AS OF 11/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • WINIFRED E BROWNELL PHD

    VICE CHAIR (AS OF 11/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • LORI J LOUSARARIAN ESQ

    TRUSTEE (AS OF 11/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • JEANNETTE E RILEY PHD

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • ALICIA J SAMOLIS JD

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • ROBERT H SLOAN JR

    CHAIR (ENDING 11/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • THEODORE W SMALLETZ

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • LANE TALBOT SPARKMAN

    TRUSTEE (AS OF 11/2023)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • C MORGAN GREFE PHD

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $183,128
    From this org
    $170,149
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,979
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $170,149
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,045
    Nontaxable benefits
    $5,934
    Filer's total
    $183,128

The first 25 listed. Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2023
    Revenue
    $3,081,897
    Expenses
    $3,427,496
    Contributions
    $1,457,779
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $4,132,482
    Expenses
    $3,129,852
    Contributions
    $2,803,086
    Grants paid
    $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2023 · 990-T

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    not reported
    Assets (EOY)
    not reported

  • 2022 · 990-T

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    not reported
    Assets (EOY)
    not reported

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,324,394
    Expenses
    $2,906,260
    Assets (EOY)
    $25,912,827

  • 2021 · 990-T

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    not reported
    Assets (EOY)
    not reported

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,629,513
    Expenses
    $2,481,440
    Assets (EOY)
    $30,696,643

  • 2020 · 990-T

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    not reported
    Assets (EOY)
    not reported

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,791,241
    Expenses
    $2,544,016
    Assets (EOY)
    $24,651,841

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,578,006
    Expenses
    $2,593,262
    Assets (EOY)
    $25,436,357

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,993,534
    Expenses
    $2,295,052
    Assets (EOY)
    $26,033,430

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,993,534
    Expenses
    $2,295,052
    Assets (EOY)
    $26,033,430

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2023, the newest we have parsed for this organization.