A day-long seminar on the life and works of Roger Williams and the continued relevance of his ideas was held at Smith’s Castle in North Kingston, RI, on September 28, 2019.

(Above) Author, Educator and Director of the Tomaquag Museum in Exeter, RI, Lorén Spears, offers an Indigenous blessing in word and song at the start of the Seminar under the main tent at Cocumascussoc or Smith’s Castle. Click here for a 13-minute video.

(Above) About seventy registrants were greeted at the registration table and welcomed by Public Historian Robert A. Geake who acknowledged the Friends of Smith’s Castle, the North Kingston Arts Council and private donations for supporting the Seminar.

(Above) Lorén Spears leads one of two break-out sessions on the book originally authored by Roger William’s, entitled A New Key into the Language of America. which she had a hand in editing. Click here for a one-hour video of her second presentation.

(Above) Roger Williams Memorial Park Ranger John McNiff is joined by North Kingstown Town Historian Tim Cranston for an interview by Roger Williams University Associate Professor of History Charlotte Carrington-Farmer, Ph.D. Click here for a 50-minute video of this break-out session.

(Above) Keynote Speakers James A. Warren and J. Stanley Lemons addressed “God, War and Providence” (click here for a 48-minute video) and “the Decline and Fall of Roger Williams,” (click here for a 55-minute video) respectively.

(Above) The Seminar concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Bob Geake with each of the presenters commenting on “Reading Roger Williams and His Continued Relevance Today.”