The Rhode Island QSL Archive was established in 2021 to celebrate the visual culture of Ocean State amateur radio enthusiasts from decades past. In 2022, a grant from RI Humanities helped the project grow, leading to an exhibit with Cardboard America at Paper Nautilus Books.
In 2023 the RIQSLA was shown at AS220, after which point it was acquired by the Providence Public Library. Later that year, selections were on view at DesignxRI’s 10 Year Exhibition at Machines with Magnets. Special thanks to the New England Wireless and Steam Museum and Ken Carr.
RIQSLA Map
This map marks all the original station locations, which were pulled from the cards themselves. Cards that have a PO Box are grouped together by city or town. All the red ‘radio icon’ locations have images attached; the blue pin locations don’t have their scans attached yet. Someday I’ll get to ‘em!
This project is made possible through major funding support from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, an independent state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Council seeds, supports, and strengthens public history, cultural heritage, civic education, and community engagement by and for all Rhode Islanders. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this project do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.