Providence City Archives Assists West Elmwood Students

Archivist Paul Campbell (left) with Amadou Kaba
and his father Mamady.

Recently, a group of eleven West Elmwood students had the opportunity to discover and explore the rich collection of records and documents at the Providence City Archives. Several weeks ago the fifth-graders made their way to the 5th floor of City Hall and left with a better understanding of what their neighborhood's history is truly about.

Thanks to the creative inspiration of Design Collective Urban Youth Coordinator Ari Gelardin, the Recreation Center in Bucklin Park became the headquarters for a five-week long after-school program with the goal of producing an edgy neighborhood resource guide. Published by the group as "The Secret neighborhood Watch Squad," the book provides an eclectic mixture of photos, artwork, maps and notes on the quality of life in the West End neighborhood. Student activities included photography, screen painting, graphic design, story-telling and adventure walks to give participants hands-on experience in learning about their neighborhood. One highlight of the project was an afternoon visit to the City Archives where students explored the fascinating history of their neighborhood.

Recently, the students returned to the City Archives to present Archivist Paul Campbell with a signed copy of their new book, "West Elmwood of the City of Providence." While they were there, Campbell treated them to a tour of the archives and its cavernous storage areas. One student, Amadou Kaba was so impressed that he returned with his father Mamady Kaba a week later for another tour. "The City Archive, Campbell said, is a place where everyone, regardless of age, can discover the city's rich history and it's especially exciting to have middle-school children so excited about exploring their neighborhood's past."

You can visit the City Archives Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:40 p.m.