The Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals cemetery project was commenced in 2002. Its purpose was to restore and maintain state-owned burial sites and preserve the diginity of persons who died in and were buried by the State Institutions. The records document surveys done to identify state-owned and private cemeteries on state property in Cranston and Exeter. Also documented are the efforts to re-inter the remains of inmates buried in the State Farm Cemetery that had been disturbed by erosion near the Route 37 right-of-way near Sockanosset Cross Road in Cranston due to nearby development. The department worked with several government agencies including but not limited to the Department of Transportation, the Department of Health, and the City of Cranston. Private agency involvement included the Public Archaeology Lab, Inc.of Pawtucket, and the Rhode Island Genealogical Society. The project was completed in 2009.
No special restrictions unless otherwise specified.
Copyright is in the public domain unless otherwise specified. We reserve the right to restrict reproduction of materials due to preservation concerns.
Guide to the Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals cemetery project records, 2009-31, Rhode Island State Archives.
The records are primarily photocopies of records accumulated by Mr. Browning during his work on the project. Includes correspondence, maps, color and black and white photographs, site alteration plans, media releases, cemetery indexes describing the cemeteries and lists of persons buried including information on age, date of death and lot number as well as a final report.
The Guide to the Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals cemetery project records are arranged into the following series:
Transferred from Chester A. Browning on September 3, 2009.
Accruals are not anticipated.
These are the records of Chester A. Browning, Project Director and Information Specialist of the Public Information Division of the Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals.
Guide to the State Prison and Providence County Jail records C#490 Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals records
Primarily copies of correspondence from state and local agencies such as the Department of Transportation, DOA Statewide Planning, DOH Office of the Medical Examiner, RI Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission, the City of Cranston, and the Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals as well as the Public Archaeology Lab (PAL). The correspondence concerns the removal, examination and re-interment of remains uncovered at the Route 37 right-of-way near Sockanosset Cross Road in Cranston, Rhode Island. Also includes copies of correspondence concerning the discovery and transfer/relocation of human remains discovered at the Howard Industrial Park in Cranston in 1974. Includes copies of clippings and labeled as "Cemetery 3."
Copy of Site alteration plan of the State Farm Cemetery located at the Route 37 right-of-way near Sockanosset Cross Road in Cranston, Rhode Island. This is a request for permit to remove human remains prepared in accordance with ordinance No. 2000-42 presented by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to the Cranston City Council August 28, 2006. Includes portion of technical memorandum/report of the Public Archaeology Lab (PAL) regarding the recovery of human remains. Includes copies of maps, plans and photographs.
18 Color and black and white photographs of the Howard Reservation in Cranston as well as of Cranston historical cemetery #51. Also includes images of human remains recovered and aerial views. Color photographs are 4x6 prints. Black and white images are 8 ¾ x 9 and 8x10 as well. Other images are photocopies of photographs.
Photocopies of maps of the State Farm cemeteries in Cranston (1885 and 1935) and the Howard Industrial Park Complex (1975). Includes a map of the state institutions in Cranston (RIGIS 1990) and a list of prisoners buried in the State Prison Cemetery (1880-1914)
Photocopies of media releases, informational materials and clippings regarding efforts to document the re-burial of human remains unearthed at the Route 37 right-of-way near Sockanosset Cross Road in Cranston, Rhode Island.
Booklet of the dedication and re-interment of Civil War Veteran Pvt. Michael McElroy of the 2nd Regiment Rhode Island Infantry Company D, May 31, 2008 whose remains were uncovered at the Route 37 right-of-way near Sockanosset Cross Road in Cranston, Rhode Island.
Final report of the State Potters Field Cemeteries Project by Chester Browning, Project Director. Report includes 37 - 4x6 color photographs of the following: Potters Field Cemetery #1C, Potters Field Cemetery #2, Exeter/Ladd School Cemetery #4, Aime Forand Private Cemetery #48, Pontiac Avenue Private Cemetery #50, Williams Lot Private Cemetery #26, Sockanossett Private Cemetery #51, West Street Private Cemetery #58,
Indexes and lists of persons buried at state-owned and private cemeteries on state land in Cranston and Exeter. Arranged alphabetically by name and numerically by lot number. Indexes in hardcopy and MS Access.