Out of The Box
This exhibit is no longer on display.
It was on view in Phillips Memorial Library from September 2025 to December 2025. While the physical exhibit has concluded, you can still explore its highlights and legacy on this page.
Out of The Box: Selections from the Providence College Archives and Special Collections gives viewers a fresh look at five of our collections and invites researchers to visit the archives to explore more!
Reverend Joseph J. Sullivan, O.P.: Artist and former PC faculty
This exhibition showcases the art collection of Reverend Joseph J. Sullivan, O.P., a distinguished artist and educator whose career spanned decades. The works on display represent the breadth of his artistic journey. Capturing his formative years as a student at the Pratt Institute to his later role as a professor at Providence College, each piece belongs to a distinct series within the Fr. Sullivan collection, highlighting the diverse formats and mediums he mastered.
John Greenleaf Whittier: Quaker, Abolitionist, Poet
John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892) was an American Quaker poet and advocate for the abolition of slavery in the United States. Devoted to social causes and reform, Whittier worked passionately for a series of abolitionist newspapers and magazines. The John Greenleaf Whittier collection was compiled by Providence College professor, Dr. Bruce E. Graver who later donated it to the Phillips Memorial Library. For more about the collection, follow this link. Portions of the Whittier collection are also available online.
Aime J. Forand: Rhode Island Representative and tireless health and welfare advocate
Aime J. Forand (1895-1972) served in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat and member from the 1st Congressional District of Rhode Island from 1937 to 1939 and again from 1941 to 1961. Throughout his career, he was an important advocate for senior citizens, disabled persons, and veterans. For the complete description of this collection, visit the finding aid.
The Veridames:
Formed in March 1942, the Veridames organization was a women’s community group active from 1942-2000 whose purpose was to philanthropically support the college while providing a social and religious outlet for the female relatives of students and faculty members. The collection consists of ephemera from the Veridames’ events and information regarding the group’s service, governance, and finances.
War Memorial Grotto: A beloved fixture in our campus history
In celebration of St. Dominic Chapel’s 25th anniversary, this exhibit honors what once occupied the same location on campus. In the mid 1940s, Providence College officials began planning for a larger place of worship on campus along with a memorial to commemorate the alumni who served and perished in World War II. On May 9, 1948, the War Memorial Grotto of Our Lady of the Rosary dedication was witnessed by thousands of attendees. The grotto served not only as a place of worship but also many College events and general gatherings of students. The space was used as an outdoor classroom, and commencement was held at the Grotto through 1975. The Grotto was demolished in 1999, and construction began on the new chapel.
Curatorial Team: Liam Back ‘24, Graduate Assistant; Michelle Chiles, Head of Archives & Special Collections; Caroline Cooper, Media Support & Outreach Coordinator; Rebecca Docter, Reference Archivist
For questions about the Providence College Archives and Special Collections, our exhibits, or to make an appointment, contact us at pcarchives@providence.edu or 401-865-2578.
