Rhode Island Department of State
Gregg M. Amore

About the Historian Laureate

Rhode Island General Law 42-100.1 establishes the position of Historian Laureate, who is appointed for a five-year term by the Secretary of State. The position of Historian Laureate was established in General Law in 2012.

The qualification and duties of the Historian Laureate are set by State law.

Qualifications (RIGL 42-100.1-4)

The Historian Laureate must have:

• Earned recognition and distinction as the author of authoritative books or essays about the history of Rhode Island; OR
• Served in a leadership position in staging commemorative public observances pertaining to various aspects of the history of Rhode Island; OR
• Taught and lectured about the history of Rhode Island to the general public.

Duties (RIGL 42.100-1-5)

The duties of the Historian Laureate are to:

• Deliver historical lectures about pertinent aspects of Rhode Island history at important state historical ceremonies and observances at the request of the Governor, the Speaker of the House, the President of the Senate, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or the Secretary of State;
• Furnish historical information or advice to the above-named officers upon request;
• Read and edit state-sponsored historical publications for accuracy upon request; and
• Complete such other duties pertaining to the dissemination of information about Rhode Island history and heritage as the above-mentioned officers may from time-to-time require.

Under State law, the Historian Laureate does not receive compensation and the position is honorific only. The holding of the position does not confer official status upon any historical writings, lectures, or pronouncements of the Laureate.

How to Apply

To be considered, interested applicants must submit the following via email to [email protected] by 4:30 p.m. on February 21, 2025:

• A letter of intent detailing the nominee’s qualifications, with specific examples of the qualifications outlined in RIGL 42-100.1-4, not to exceed two single-spaced pages
• A CV or resume
• No more than three letters of recommendation, each not to exceed one single-spaced page, with preference given to letters written by Rhode Island residents
• A response to the following essay prompt, not to exceed two single-spaced pages:
  
  In addition to the qualifications and duties outlined in law, the Department of State seeks to appoint an Historian Laureate with a strong commitment to using Rhode Island’s history to promote civil civic engagement. As a former history and government teacher, Secretary Amore is committed to highlighting Rhode Island’s diverse history and amplifying the civic education function of the RI Department of State.
  
  Sec. Amore continues his efforts to establishing a modern, state of the art, permanent home for the State Archives with the construction of an Archives and History Center. Both the State Archives and the State Library host programming – including lectures, panels, and exhibits – that are focused on civic engagement. Finally, he built out a Civic Education and Engagement Division, which coordinates his high school classroom visits; established the Rhode Island Civic Leadership Program and the Civic Leadership Summit; honors educators with the Civic Education Teacher of the Year Award; and enables experiential learning opportunities for students and the public through mock elections, State House tours, and field trips.
  
  If appointed as Historian Laureate, how would you plan to highlight Rhode Island’s history and amplify civic education?

Partial or incomplete submissions will not be accepted. Applicants are discouraged from including additional materials, as they will not be considered by the review committee in making their recommendation to the Secretary of State. Applicants should be aware that their application materials will be considered public record and may be provided in response to a public records request if one is made.