1Title
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
Maury Loontjens Memorial Library
Narragansett, Rhode Island
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Narragansett.
1860 to 1896Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
6,562Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Narragansett, Rhode Island.
Discover another side of Narragansett, Rhode Island through newspapers preserved in the Maury Loontjens Memorial Library's digital archive. The archive includes Narragansett Times, with material from 1860 to 1896.
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Selected title
From Maury Loontjens Memorial Library’s collection: “Narragansett Times”.
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Free and open access
No subscription or payment required.
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Ways to explore
Read the material in its own context. Keep any date and identifying details with your research notes.
The reporting of earlier years offers a way to explore how events were understood as they happened and how local experiences became part of the historical record. A family story, a classroom project or curiosity about a familiar place can lead to a closer look at the community and the lives of earlier generations. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.
Explore the collection
Titles in this collection
Explore Narragansett Times through 6,562 digitized pages, with material from 1860 to 1896. Through a partnership with Advantage Archives, Maury Loontjens Memorial Library shares these sources from the past. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.
Start with one question, then read this source with its dates in mind.
Narragansett Times
6,562 pages from 1860 to 1896
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About the Library
About The Maury Loontjens Memorial Library
The Maury Loontjens Memorial Library has been serving the residents of Narragansett since its inception in the late 19th century. The library offers a wide range of resources and services to meet the educational, informational, and recreational needs of the community. The library provides public access to computers, free Wi-Fi, and hosts various programs and events throughout the year.
Library History
The History Of The Maury Loontjens Memorial Library
The earliest record of a library room in Narragansett dates back to 1896, when books were available in a classroom at St. Peter’s-by-the-Sea Church. This collection was later relocated to a building on Boone Street, and subsequently to the Old Town Hall. By 1901, the Narragansett Town Council officially recognized the library, with various editions of the Narragansett Times that year documenting book donations. In 1938, the Town Council allocated $1,000 for the Narragansett Pier Free Library. By 1953, the library's collection had grown to 15,953 volumes, necessitating additional space. Construction of a new library building began in 1960, but it remained unused until June 1961 due to a lack of shelving. The building was officially dedicated on October 29, 1961. Throughout the 1970s, the library expanded with the help of the Community Development Block Grant. On June 28, 1987, a ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening of the new Genealogical Center. In 1996, further additions were made, including a computer center, reference area, new front desk, and a "Quiet Room" dedicated to Elaine Loffredo. This expansion was dedicated on June 15, 1997. In October 2006, the library was renamed the Maury Loontjens Memorial Library in honor of Maury Loontjens, Jr. This historical information was researched and compiled by Ruth Degnan Toupin, and published in her book, “Where the Stories Are: A History of the Narragansett Free Public Library 1900 to 2005,” which includes an epilogue covering 2005 to 20
About the Community
About The City of Narragansett
Narragansett, located in Washington County, Rhode Island, is known for its beautiful beaches and historic charm. The town has a rich history dating back to the 17th century and has evolved into a popular summer destination. Narragansett's economy is supported by tourism, fishing, and local businesses.
Local History
Did You Know?
- The Narragansett Pier Free Library accumulated 15,953 volumes by 1953 and required more space for its growing collection. - The Maury Loontjens Memorial Library was initially located in a church classroom before moving to Boone Street and then to the Old Town Hall. - The library underwent several expansions, including the addition of a Genealogical Center in 1987 and a computer center in 1996. - The "Quiet Room" in the library was dedicated to Elaine Loffredo, a flight attendant on TWA Flight 800, with funds donated by her husband, Robert Loffredo. - The library was renamed in honor of Maury Loontjens, Jr. in 2006, recognizing his contributions to the community.
More ways to explore and share local history
Research Guidance
Read a report in its time and place
The history of Narragansett includes individual lives as well as events remembered by the wider community. In the digital archive shared by the Maury Loontjens Memorial Library, begin with a name, place or date connected with the story you want to explore. When using historical newspapers, try alternate spellings and nearby dates, then read the surrounding page to place a local story in its time. Compare later reporting or another available title to explore different perspectives rather than treating one account as the whole story. Check nearby issues or another listed newspaper when available. Differences in timing and wording can add perspective to a story, while the issue date and surrounding articles help show what kind of account you are reading.
Follow a promising report into a nearby issue or another title where available. Compare dates and surrounding coverage; a single account is one perspective on a story. Use the surrounding account to shape your next question, while keeping each source's perspective distinct.
Keep the title, date, page, or item reference with each useful finding. Separate the words in a historical account from your interpretation, and note conflicting perspectives rather than choosing one too quickly. These notes help connect a local story to its evidence and show what remains uncertain.
Community Partnership
Keeping local history a community resource
This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Maury Loontjens Memorial 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.
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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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