Too “right” to re-elect as RI’s Historian Laureate? Dr. Pat Conley says Sect. Amore was apprehensive

During an interview set up for the Matt Allen Show to talk about a Rhode Island historical date, Dr. Patrick Conley commented in a rather revealing way why he chose to step aside as the first Historian Laureate for the State of Rhode Island, allowing someone else to run, when he was up for re-election in 2025.

Noting the RI Secretary of State Gregg Amore (his former student at Providence College) had certain concerns about Conley’s more conservative bent – “he had received a good deal of criticism… I tend to be more conservative.”

Conley mentioned his defense of the Columbus statue, the Blackstone statue, certain sports team names, and his attacks on “wokeness” might have been contributing factors. He was up for reappointment but Amore “was a little apprehensive… because of his writings, columns in the Providence Journal, etc.

Host Matt Allen commented back, “So, Gregg Amore tossed you overboard – for political reasons… ” to which Conley did not directly reply. At that point, Allen proceeded with the interview, and indicated the issue would be brought up at a future time.

On April 22nd, Amore announced Keith Stokes as Rhode Island’s next Historian Laureate, serving a term to conclude in five years, in April of 2030. His appointment followed an open application process through which eight candidates were considered by a review committee, according to reports. Under state law, the Historian Laureate does not receive compensation and the position is honorific.

Listen to Conley and Allen, here: beginning to approx. 3:30 pm.

Dr. Conley had called into the station to remind or inform listeners that it was actually Statehood Day in Rhode Island, when RI became part of the American union under the Constitution, becoming the 13th state, the last to ratify.

Read more about Dr. Patrick T. Conley, HERE – https://drpatricktconley.org/

RI Secretary of State, Gregg Amore response:

We reached out to Amore’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Faith Chybowski, for Amore’s response to Conley’s radio statement – and received this response: “As he stated on the show, Dr. Conley decided not to reapply for the position. Secretary Amore greatly appreciates his service as Historian Laureate.”

RINewsToday announced Dr. Conley’s decision not to run in an article in January:

Dr. Patrick T. Conley, Rhode Island’s first Historian Laureate, retires (January 22, 2025):

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.

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