Samuel Slater was unknown when he arrived in Rhode Island in January of 1790. At that time, he was a young machinist, and few would have guessed that he was primed for success in the new United States. Yet, by the end of his life in 1835, Slater was obscenely wealthy, and his name was inextricably linked to the origins of American industry. This was due, in part, to his association with the Brown family of Providence.
On Thursday, January 29th at 5:30pm, at the John Brown House Museum in Providence, a Rhode Island Historical Society museum, National Park Service Ranger Allison Horrocks will explore the connections between John Brown, William Almy, and Samuel Slater, the early partners who provided ideas, financing, and just some of the labor that launched the American Industrial Revolution. Connecting College Hill and Pawtucket, this talk will show how family connections were not just convenient, but essential to the first generation of industrialists.
Allison Horrocks is a public historian specializing in labor history from Lincoln, RI, who currently works as a Park Ranger at Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park in Pawtucket, RI. Previously, Allison worked at Lowell National Historical Park and several other historic sites in New England. She earned her Ph.D. in History at the University of Connecticut and is the co-author of Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl.
Doors open at 4:30pm for a complimentary reception, along with the opportunity to explore the JBHM's new exhibits. Admission costs $10 per person, and $5 for RIHS members.
The Rhode Island Historical Society, the state's oldest and only statewide historical organization, is dedicated to honoring, interpreting and sharing Rhode Island's past to enrich the present and inspire the future. Founded in 1822, the RIHS is an advocate for history as a means to develop empathy and 21st -century skills, using its historical materials and knowledge to explore topics of timeless relevance and public interest. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, it is dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible public programming and educational opportunities for all Rhode Islanders through its four sites: the John Brown House Museum, the Museum of Work & Culture, the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center and the Aldrich House.
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