Rhode Island Periodicals

Overview
A periodical is a regularly published magazine, newsletter, or journal. Several valuable periodicals concerning Rhode Island genealogical research exist. Many genealogical and historical societies publish magazines and newsletters. The articles in these periodicals often include the following:
 * Family genealogies and pedigrees
 * Helpful articles on research methodology
 * Transcripts or indexes of biographical sketches, censuses, church records, migration lists, military records, obituaries, wills, vital records, and more
 * Historical background
 * Current and historical maps
 * Information about local and national records, archives, and services
 * Interesting articles about social life and customs
 * Book advertisements and book reviews
 * Advertisements of professional researchers
 * Queries or requests for information about specific ancestors that can help you contact other interested researchers

Periodicals
The major periodicals and magazines helpful for Rhode Island research are:


 * The New England Historical and Genealogical Register 1847-. Published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society, 101 Newbury St., Boston, Massachusetts 02116. ; some volumes are on film. Digital version at American Ancestors ($).
 * Rhode Island Genealogical Register 1978-. Published by the Rhode Island Families Association, P.O. Box 585, East Princeton, Massachusetts 01517..
 * Rhode Island History 1942-. Published by the Rhode Island Historical Society, 110 Benevolent Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02906..
 * Rhode Island Roots 1973-. Published by the Rhode Island Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 433, Greenville, Rhode Island 02828. . Also at: American Ancestors ($)
 * Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to N.E. 1620-1633, Vols. I-III. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010), (Originally Published as: New England Historic Genealogical Society. Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols., 1995).
 * Great Migration Newsletter, V.1-25. (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2018.) - Each issue contains a section with detailed coverage of one of the towns settled during the Great Migration, or of a specific critical record, or group of records.
 * Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume I, A-B. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume 1, A-B, by Robert Charles Anderson, George F. Sanborn, Jr., and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1999.
 * Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume II, C-F. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume II, C-F, by Robert Charles Anderson, George F. Sanborn, Jr., and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001.
 * Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume III, G-H. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume III, G-H, by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003.
 * Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume IV, I-L. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume IV, I-L, by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2005.
 * Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume V, M-P. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume V, M-P, by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2007.
 * Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VI, R-S. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VI, R-S, by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009.
 * Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VII, T-Y. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VII, T-Y, by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011.
 * The Narragansett Historical Register. Hamilton, Rhode Island: James. N. Arnold, 1844-1927. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2021.)

Obtaining Periodicals
Copies of periodicals are available from the local societies that publish them. Major archives with genealogical collections will have copies of many periodicals, particularly those representing the area they serve. The Periodical Source Index, or PERSI, is the largest subject index to genealogy and local history periodical articles in the world. PERSI is available online and is especially useful because it refers to countless items published in thousands of family history periodicals worldwide. Search PERSI: Once you locate an article in a periodical, check the FamilySearch Catalog and regional or local libraries for available copies. The Family History Library has collected many periodicals, with some available in digital format and accessible online. Rhode Island periodicals may be found in the FamilySearch Catalog with a Place and Subject search, as found here: Rhode Island-Periodicals. They can also be found by using: Also find Periodical resources available at other libraries via WorldCat. As with the FamilySearch Catalog search, search WorldCat using society names, locality names, and periodical title names. Learn more about how to search WorldCat and the FamilySearch Catalog on our Wiki pages.
 * PERiodical Source Index (PERSI) at Allen County Public Library; index; More information: Periodical Source Index (PERSI)
 * Place Search of the country, state/province, and county
 * Title Search of the periodical
 * Keyword Search for the publishing society name.