25Titles
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
Island Free Library
Block Island, Rhode Island
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Block Island.
1901 to 2023Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
76,970Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Block Island, Rhode Island.
Explore the past of Block Island, Rhode Island through newspapers as well as family history and genealogy in the Island Free Library's digital archive. Its twenty-five titles include material from 1901 to 2023. The collection also includes local history resources.
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Selected titles
The titles shared by Island Free Library include “Block Island” and “Way It Is”.
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Free and open access
No subscription or payment required.
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A closer look
A familiar name or event takes on another dimension in the newspaper coverage of its time, alongside the stories that mattered to the readers of that issue.
Reporting from the time can reveal how people described the events, work and concerns of their day, placing a local story within the history unfolding around it. Whether you are tracing a family connection, exploring a local event or sharing history with a class, there is more to discover than names and dates alone. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.
Explore the collection
Titles in this collection
Browse twenty-five titles and 76,970 digitized pages, with material from 1901 to 2023. This collection is shared through Island Free Library's partnership with Advantage Archives. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.
Every search for the past starts with a question. Explore the titles below, follow the sources that speak to it, and see what new detail appears.
Block Island
96 pages in 1961
Block Island Cemetery Records
160 pages in 1956
Block Island Descendants of Experience Mitchell
864 pages in 2014
Block Island Descendants of John Paine
420 pages in 2020
Block Island Fly
16 pages in 1917
Block Island History
278 pages in 1901
Block Island Hooter
76 pages from 1966 to 1968
Block Island Newsletter
460 pages from 1973 to 1982
Block Island Newsletter
478 pages from 1972 to 1982
Block Island Reporter
396 pages from 1901 to 1983
Block Island Summer Times
112 pages in 2022
Block Island Times
1,704 pages in 2023
Block Island Times
56,980 pages from 1970 to 2022
Descendants of Nathaniel Mott
756 pages in 2011
Dickens Family of Block Island
120 pages in 2003
Ebb Tide
36 pages in 1980
Historic and Architectural Resources of Block Island Rhode Island
172 pages in 1991
Indians and Slaves of Block Island
350 pages in 1997
Manisses Journal
32 pages in 1901
Ocean View
52 pages from 1976 to 1977
Ocean View
52 pages in 1976
Sprague Family of Block Island
134 pages in 2003
The Block Island Times
7,902 pages from 1995 to 2019
The Works
4,832 pages from 1991 to 2000
Way It Is
492 pages from 1979 to 1983
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About the Library
About The Island Free Library
Nationally recognized for its public library service by Library Journal, the Island Free Library is one of Block Island’s most beloved destinations among islanders and visitors alike, young and old. Open year-round, the library serves as a central hub for education, culture, and community interaction on the island. The library offers a wide range of services and programs for all ages, including book collections, digital resources, meeting rooms, and more.
Library History
The History Of The Island Free Library
Founded to serve the community of Block Island, the Island Free Library plays an integral part in preserving the island's unique heritage while supporting lifelong learning and literacy. Over the years, it has evolved from a modest institution to a cornerstone of the community, providing vital resources and services for residents and visitors alike.
About the Community
About Block Island, Rhode Island
Block Island is a small island located off the coast of Rhode Island. Known for its beautiful beaches, historic lighthouses, and rich history, the island is a popular destination for tourists and a cherished home for locals. Block Island's vibrant community thrives on its natural beauty and the strong sense of connection fostered by institutions like the Island Free Library.
Local History
Did You Know?
Did you know that the Block Island Times , a key part of the Island Free Library’s digital archive, has been documenting the island's history since 1970? The newspaper has been a vital source of news, events, and stories, capturing the unique spirit of Block Island over the decades.
More ways to explore and share local history
Research Guidance
Keep publication context with a finding
A familiar name or place can lead to a new view of Block Island. Use the newspaper titles shared by the Island Free Library to explore how newspapers described the subject in their own time, and compare available accounts before extending one report into a wider community story. Note the newspaper title, issue date, and page for a useful report. Compare another account where available, and keep differences in timing or perspective visible rather than blending them into a single version.
Save the newspaper title, issue date, and page, then compare another dated account where available. Keep differences in timing and perspective visible so the source context is not lost. If the accounts disagree, record what each source supports and use the difference to shape a further search rather than smoothing them into one version.
A research trail is most useful when it leaves room for what is not yet known. Record the title, date, and page or item reference where available, along with what remains uncertain and which question you want to follow next. Those details help keep a possible connection from becoming an unsupported conclusion.
Community Partnership
Keeping local history a community resource
This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Island Free Library, its community, and Advantage Archives. Together, these partnerships preserve local sources and give people a way to explore, learn from, and share the history around them.
Advantage Archives covers ongoing archive hosting, storage, development, and maintenance. The institution and its community do not pay a subscription, seat license, annual support contract, or other recurring archive-service charge. Local history remains a community resource, not a subscription to maintain.
Would you like to see more of your community's history preserved and accessible? Start a conversation with your library, newspaper publisher, historical or genealogical society, museum, or school about the materials they would like to share and a possible partnership with Advantage Archives.
Learn about partnerships
Stories, research tips, and archive news
Read All About It connects archive research with the people and institutions preserving local history. Explore partner and community stories, project updates, research ideas, and perspectives on digitization, education, and working with primary sources. Use the articles as a starting point for your next question or a new way to share a discovery.
May 7, 2025
Why Microfilm is still important in 2023
Preserving documents on microfilm has been a popular method of storage for many years, and it still holds many benefits today. Here…
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May 7, 2025
Don’t Search For An Obituary By Only Searching For An “Obituary”
In the quest to trace our roots and understand our heritage, obituaries often serve as a crucial starting point. Obituaries are undoubtedly…
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April 9, 2025
Unveiling the Hidden Mysteries: Exploring Cold Cases and Unconventional Clues
Even the most esteemed police forces in the county encounter perplexing cold case files. These unsolved mysteries often leave investigators and genealogists…
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April 1, 2025
This Week in History: March 31st through April 6th
Discover History in The Community History Archives. This week in history, there is absolutely nothing to talk about… April Fools! April…
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March 24, 2025
This Week in History: March 24th through March 30th
Discover History in The Community History Archives. It has officially been a year since I started writing This Week in History,…
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March 18, 2025
It’s Your Community’s History, So Why Rent Something You Own?
We believe that history belongs to the communities where it was made - not locked behind paywalls or inaccessible due to budget restrictions. Subscription-based services and large content aggregators are generally more concerned with "content" and less concerned with the history that content contains. Their models typically involve a reoccurring charge for a plan that renews annually or licensing agreements with the library based on population served or circulation numbers. You are essentially Renting Access To YOUR History.
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