Dr. Patrick T. Conley, Rhode Island’s first Historian Laureate, retires

Conley Retires as Rhode Island Historian Laureate

Photo: provided by Dr. Conley

Dr. Patrick T. Conley, Rhode Island’s first-ever honorary Historian Laureate, has announced that he will not seek another five-year term, when his current term expires on February 1.

Conley informed the appointing authority, Secretary of State Gregg Amore, of his decision earlier this month. Amore, who is a long-time teacher of history, had Conley as his historical advisor when he was a student at Providence College and when Conley taught him as a professor.

 Conley was first selected for this unique position in July 2012 by Secretary of State Ralph Mollis and reappointed by Nellie Gorbea. The Secretary of State is designated by law to make this appointment because the Secretary of State is Rhode Island’s chief historical officer.

Conley earned this honorary designation after years of leading various state historical observances and creating several active historical organizations.  His brief biological profile of his historical activities shows why he was the natural choice for this position:

Conley holds a B.A. from Providence College, an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame with highest honors, and a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School. 

He published 33 books including 26 on Rhode Island and seven on the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.  These publications include Catholicism in Rhode Island:  The Formative Era (1976), with Matthew J. Smith; Democracy in Decline:  Rhode Island’s Constitutional Development, 1775-1841 (1977); An Album of Rhode Island History, 1636-1986 (1986); The Constitution and the States (1998), The Bill of Rights and the States (1992), both with John Kaminski; Liberty and Justice:  A History of Law and Lawyers in Rhode Island, 1636-1998 (1998); The Rhode Island Constitution:  A Reference Guide (2007), with Justice Robert G. Flanders Jr.; Rhode Island’s Founders, 1636-1790 (2010); Makers of Modern Rhode Island (2013); Leaders of Rhode Island’s Golden Age (2019), as well as 60 scholarly articles on history, law, ethnic studies, religion, real estate development, and political science. 

He has also published five anthologies from 2004 through 2024 containing a total of 228 Rhode Island-themed historical essays.  His book Democracy in Decline has been reviewed as “the finest Rhode Island history book ever written.”

The youngest person ever to attain the rank of full professor at Providence College, Dr. Conley also practices law and manages a real estate development business.  He has served as chairman of the Rhode Island Bicentennial Commission, chairman and founder of the Providence Heritage Commission, chairman and founder of the Rhode Island Publications Society, and general editor of the Rhode Island Ethnic Heritage Pamphlet Series.  In 1977 he founded the Rhode Island Heritage Commission.  Dr. Conley was also chairman of the Rhode Island Bicentennial (of the Constitution) Foundation and chairman of the U.S. Constitution Council from 1987 to 1991.

In 1994 he created the Bristol Statehouse Foundation to restore that historic building and served as its president until 1999.  In 2015, he created and became president of the $3.6 million Heritage Harbor Foundation that has already awarded over a million dollars to various Rhode Island non-profit cultural and heritage organizations.

In May 1995 he was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame – one of a handful of living Rhode Islanders who have been accorded that honor – and he has served as Hall of Fame president from 2003 until 2023.

During his 12 1/2 year tenure Conley delivered numerous public addresses and wrote extensively, most notably a monthly opinion column for the Providence Journal.  Because he will be 87 years old this June, he stated that another five-year term would be excessive.  He felt confident that Secretary Amore, his former history student, would make a worthy selection consistent with the standards set forth in the laureate statute so as not to diminish the prestige of the position or the historical work it represents.

The father of six children, the grandfather of seven and the great grandfather of five, it has been said often, that Dr. Conley is a “Rhode Island treasure.”  Dr. Conley lives in Bristol, Rhode Island with his wife and partner, Gail, on an estate they call Gale Winds.

For Further information call:  401-273-1787 or 401-272-1776; fax:  (401) 273-1792 or e-mail:  [email protected].

 To order one of Dr. Conley’s many books, visit RIPublications.Org, contact us per above, or mail your order to:

The Rhode Island Publications Society
1445 Wampanoag Trail, Suite #203
East Providence, RI 02915

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