Small But Mighty
Innovation and ingenuity have been hallmarks of Rhode Island for its entire history. Industry and innovation are one piece of that extraordinary puzzle.
From our First Nations, who developed sophisticated agricultural and land management systems perfectly suited to Rhode Island’s coastal woodlands environment, to Roger Williams who introduced the ingenious and controversial idea of permitting people to follow the religion of their choice, to 20th century engineers who mastered the technology required to harness the power of offshore wind, Rhode Islanders have been quick to identify needs and produce solutions.
This virtual exhibit highlights individuals and businesses that recognized opportunities and challenged traditional practices to move Rhode Island forward.
Westminster and Eddy Streets in Providence, RI (1866) by Rhode Island. Department of StateRhode Island State Archives
Westminster and Eddy Streets in Providence, 1866
This photo, part of the Howard J. Preston Collection, offers a glimpse into the businesses and culture of Rhode Island on the cusp of a shift from small, personal business to the Industrial Revolution influenced by Pawtucket's Samuel Slater.
When Roger Williams arrived in Rhode Island from Massachusetts in 1636, he and his fellow colonists established an economy and society that closely mirrored that of England, differing primarily in social and religious freedoms.
By the 18th century, Rhode Island’s economy was heavily reliant on trade, and in particular, the trans-Atlantic trade that brought captive men, women, and children from Africa to the Americas.
The captives were enslaved and forced to work on farms, in households, or for local businesses in Rhode Island and elsewhere. Sometimes called the Triangle Trade, the practice was very lucrative; merchants bought and sold molasses, sugar cane, rum, and enslaved people at every stop on the voyage.
Most Rhode Islanders, whether they were farmers, ship builders, or merchants, benefitted from the slave trade and from the forced labor of African and Indigenous people.
Shipping Manifest, Volume I (1775-1784) by Rhode Island. Vice-Admiralty CourtRhode Island State Archives
Shipping Manifest, 1775-84, Volume I
Goods travelling in and out of RI ports in the late 18th century provide a glimpse into what colonial Rhode Islanders were trading in to support the growing economy and expanding colonist population before moving towards an industrialized system.
View Shipping Manifests
Pawtucket’s Slater Mill is widely recognized as the first successful factory in the United States, making Rhode Island the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution.
Industrialization brought many changes to the state, including farmland giving way to factories, the arrival of thousands of immigrants seeking work in the mills, and countless innovations that improved manufacturing processes.
Blackstone Manufacturing Company in North Smithfield (1906) by Rhode Island. Factory InspectorsRhode Island State Archives
Blackstone Manufacturing Company in North Smithfield
Textile mills became a common way for working class Rhode Islanders to make a living. Women and children also joined the textile industry, including at the Blackstone Manufacturing Company in North Smithfield, pictured here.
Slater Mill, 1931, Howard J. Preston collection
Powered by water, early factories like the Slater Mill were, by necessity, located along rivers. The invention of the steam engine by Rhode Islander George Henry Corliss meant that factories could thereafter be built anywhere.
Measurement tools produced by Providence-based Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing improved quality control in factories, making mass produced items more appealing and bolstering Rhode Island’s reputation as an industrial force.
Industrial Census, 1870
The Census provides information about various businesses active in Rhode Island. While the expected business boom in Providence and major port cities was prevalent, industry growth was happening across the state with an increase in factories and other new businesses from town to town.
Business thrives when it connects with the community around it. During the more than 300 years since its founding as a colony, Rhode Island has seen businesses grow and innovate.
It also witnessed neighborhood groups, festivals and celebrations, and churches thrive alongside them.
Rhode Island Memories II (c. 1940-1950) by Pediment PublishingRhode Island State Archives
Rhode Island Memories II: The 1940s & 1950s
This festival photo, part of the Rhode Island Memories Collection, shows how community events and festivals played a vital role in commemorating growth and change throughout our history.
Community support is an essential piece of the puzzle that brings success in business and innovation, and Rhode Island has kept community at its center since its founding.
Rhode Island Manual, 1881-1882
This excerpt includes the founding of the First Baptist Church in Providence as the third prominent event since Roger Williams arrived and settled in Providence, making it clear that community groups were and are just as important as the businesses around them.
Old White Mill postcard (undated) by UnknownRhode Island State Archives
The Old White Mill, Cranston St., Providence, RI, postcard
Business continued to explode in Rhode Island during the Industrial Revolution. Eventually, large corporations began to take over many of the smaller, local manufacturing operations throughout the state and across the country.
To stay afloat, small factories had to quickly innovate, making new specialty goods to stay competitive and keep up with the public’s changing interests.
Men working a Saw Mill (undated) by UnknownRhode Island State Archives
Exeter Saw Mill, c. 1920-1930
Business began to boom in this time period, with Rhode Islanders taking on new roles in an ever-expanding climate of industry that produced a wide variety of goods ranging from tools to costume jewelry. By 1947, Rhode Island had over 1,500 factories.
Bar and bar keeps (1905) by UnknownRhode Island State Archives
The Service Industry saw substantial growth
It represents a cornerstone of the economy throughout the 20th century and the United States today. As the economy evolved, small businesses moved beyond a focus on manufacturing to doing work for customers and occasionally providing goods through retail operations.
Some of the more popular service industries included restaurants and hotels; however, the field was, and is, wide.
This photo of 2 barkeeps in 1905 gives a clear peek behind the curtain of what the service industry looked like in early 20th century Rhode Island.
As the service industry grew, so did advocacy for fair and equitable working conditions. Following successful fights laboring for justice in Rhode Island factories, workers continued to fight for living wages across multiple industries.
As industrialization caused the growing middle class across the United States to have more leisure time and a disposable income, travel increased in popularity. In the early 20th century, innovative Rhode Islanders realized that the state had something special to share with the rest of the country.
With its 400 miles of coastline, diverse natural resources, and compact size, Rhode Island advertised itself as “America’s First Vacationland,” focusing on its beaches, sports, arts, and fun for the whole family. Places like Newport, Block Island, and Bristol became hubs of tourist activity in the summer months.
Bicyclists on Block Island (July 1953) by Rhode Island. Department of StateRhode Island State Archives
The couple featured here were photographed by the Economic Development Corporation to highlight the scenic qualities of Rhode Island in order to court new tourists and visitors.
The Vanderbilts, as listed in this 1905 Newport Social Index to the left, were a prominent presence in Newport during the late 19th and early 20th century boom. Their property, now known as the Breakers, is one of Rhode Islands biggest tourist attractions today.
Ingenuity in Manufacturing: Luxury Goods
As Rhode Island’s economy grew and everyday goods became more affordable, businesses producing and selling luxury goods emerged, expanding the middle and upper class markets in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Trademarks, such as for Yankee Motor Oil, were filed with the Secretary of State’s office and served as one of the many ways that Rhode Island businesses advertised their products and new and inventive ways of manufacturing them.
With this growth, the Jewelry District in Providence thrived and stores selling specialty goods opened throughout the downtown area.
This led to the construction of the Shepherd Building and The Outlet in Providence, which became iconic Rhode Island landmarks, as well as the Arcade which opened in 1828 and is the nation's oldest indoor shopping mall still active in downtown Providence today.
Cities and Towns Economic Inventory (1953) by Rhode Island. Development CouncilRhode Island State Archives
Cities and Towns Economic Inventory, 1953
This inventory captured the diverse industries across cities and towns in Rhode Island.
Rising to the Occasion
This photo is one of many that the Works Progress Administration (WPA) took to document the damage done by the Hurricane of 1938 after it hit Rhode Island shores.
The WPA and other organizations worked together to clean up after the hurricane hit and left many Rhode Islanders struggling to respond to the aftermath.
Businesses, community organizations, and citizens carried forward this spirit from decade to decade as new disasters and emergencies faced Rhode Island.
Defense Production Facilities (c. 1940-1950) by Rhode Island. Development CouncilRhode Island State Archives
Defense Production Facilities, c. 1940-1950
Adapting and responding to challenges continued to be a core tenant of being a Rhode Islander, as seen here during the second World War.
The Rhode Island story is full of the pursuit of innovation, despite any circumstance, to celebrate bold ideas and new industry.
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