State Photographer Alex Tavares photographs, 1957-1994

Aerial of the State House, October 15, 1962

Aerial view of the State House, c. 1970

Barbara Johnson of Texas and the Independent Man, April 18, 1975

Bicentennial (RI76) emblem, 1975

Boat show, April 1964

California Governor Ronald Reagan, Governor John Chafee, Lt. Governor Joseph H. O'Donnell, Jr., and Attorney Herbert F. DeSimone, 1967

Christmas Card mailing, December 3, 1967

Dwight D. Eisenhower in Newport photographs, 1963

Dwight D. Eisenhower with Governor John Chafee, 1963

During the night of November 4, 1966, the levels of the river Arno began to rise swiftly and with little warning. The Arno flows through the very center of the city of Florence and in perilous proximity to many of its most significant monuments. The river was already swollen, and the surrounding area saturated, by heavy rains that autumn. The Uffizi, the Accademia, the national library and state archives, the Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio are among the countless artistic and cultural treasures concentrated within Florence’s historic center, and they all lay within the floodplain. In the hours following the flood, when the full extent of the catastrophe began to emerge, a massive show of solidarity erupted across the world. National and international committees to save the artworks sprang up spontaneously in many countries, and collections of funds and material goods began in many Italian cities. As soon as news of the disaster reached the United States, concerned scholars of Italian art and culture leapt into action to help save the precious artistic heritage of Florence and other cities, especially Venice, ravaged by floods. Following the impulse given by Fred Licht and Bates Lowry, professors of art history at Brown University, and Meg Licht, an art historian, a group of distinguished scholars, curators, and conservators quickly joined forces to create the Committee to Rescue Italian Art (CRIA). The group’s aim was to raise money to support the emergency rescue operations already underway as well as provide effective long-term assistance for the huge task of restoration ahead. In addition to artworks and monuments, the Committee promptly expanded its scope to include damaged books and manuscripts from libraries and archives. Within a week of the flood, CRIA was already functioning nationwide and had secured large pledges for the recovery efforts.

Governor Chafee Christmas decorating, December 1, 1965

Governor Chafee in front of the John F. Kennedy Library billboard, May 20, 1964

Governor Chafee inspects the building of the Newport Bridge, July 1967

Governor Chafee Presents "Italian-American War Veterans" proclamation, May 7, 1965 (Accession: 1995-472, Image #0992).

Governor Chafee presents "Library Week" proclamation, April 3, 1964

Governor Chafee signs "State Rock" Bill, May 26, 1966

Governor Chafee signs Fair Housing Bill, April 21, 1968

Governor Chafee signs Newport Bridge Bill with members, May 9, 1963

Governor Chafee with Earl Nichols, Banking Commissioner and family, April 23, 1965

Governor Chafee with Italian War Veterans, February 16, 1963 (Accession: 1995-472, Image #0119).

Governor Chafee with Italian-American War Veterans, June 28, 1963 (Accession: 1995-472, Image #0351).

Governor Chafee with Native Americans, February 26, 1964

Governor Chafee with Princess Nashaweena, August 15, 1965

Governor Chafee with the Italian Consul, January 22, 1963 (Accession: 1995-472, Image #0077).

Governor Chafee with WWI Veterans (50th Anniversary of WWI), September 1967

Governor Chafee's Inaugural Ball, January 5, 1965

Governor Chafee, "RI Reds Week" (Banner says: "Boost the Reds. Attend Hall Of Fame Night , Oct. 15, RI auditorium, Reds Vs Rochester, 40th Season", October 13, 1965

Governor Christopher DelSesto, August 1, 1959 (Accession: 1995-472).

Governor Garrahy during Italian Culture Week, September 3, 1980 (Accession: 1995-472, Image #4508)

Governor Garrahy with child, March 15, 1978

Governor John A. Notte Jr. with President Kennedy at the Navy Base in Newport, c. 1962 (Accession: 1995-472).

Governor John Chafee and family, undated

Governor John Pastore at Hillsgrove Airport Open House, 1946 (C# 01851).

Governor Licht and General Holland at Veterans Day ceremony and unveiling of plaque commemorating Vietnam Soldiers who died, November 11, 1971

Governor Licht at Bicentennial Celebration (RI76), March 25, 1969

Governor Licht speaks at Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 15, 1970

Governor Licht with "Veterans Day" Proclamation, November 7, 1969

Governor Licht with Jack Benny with "Jack Benny Day" proclamation, August 12, 1969

Governor Noel and children in a covered wagon at Bicentennial event (RI76), September 2, 1975

Governor Noel and WW1 veterans, November 11, 1975

Governor Noel signs Executive Order 39, November 10, 1976

Governor Noel swears-in Indian Affairs Council, November 1976

Governor Theodore F. Green at Funeral of President Calvin Coolidge, January 8, 1933

Independent Man Statue, December 20, 1975