SSHSA Archivist Astrid Drew Presents

Ida Lewis: Lighthouse Keeper at the Barrington Public Library

Free and Open to the Public

Astrid Drew from SSHSA will be giving an informative presentation on Ida Lewis, one of five female lighthouse keepers in Rhode Island on Tuesday, November 17th at 6:30 pm at the Barrington Public Library.

Synopsis on Ida Lewis

Ida Lewis became famous for her daring rescues from Lime Rock Light, near Newport, Rhode Island, where she was lighthouse keeper from 1879 to 1911. For centuries lighthouses were key to shipping and safety at sea, and were also among the few places where women in the Victorian era could earn a wage. She wasn’t the only woman lighthouse keeper in Rhode Island, but she nonetheless stood apart, becoming the highest paid lighthouse keeper in the US.

About Astrid Drew

Astrid M. Drew is the Director of Archives and Collections at the Steamship Historical Society of America (SSHSA), where she manages and organizes historical material, and assists researchers and the public in learning more about the heritage of engine-powered vessels. She holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Rhode Island, and earned her Masters of Library and Information Science, focusing in archives and preservation, from Simmons College. Astrid has given many talks on subjects of maritime history, archival description, and virtual education for organizations and at conferences such as the Rhode Island Library Association and Council of American Maritime Museums. She’s interested in digital archives, rare books, and finding creative ways to tell the stories of our past.

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