DePetrillo, a retired state employee who will turn 83 in December, has spent decades amassing what he believes is the largest private collection of Rhode Island-related books in existence.

If you are looking for a fascinating look at the history of Rhode Island, then this is a must-read. Instead of your usual look at history, this book dives into the women who helped shape the state.

Everyone's favorite judge joined GMA’s Eva Pilgrim and DeMarco Morgan to talk about the book and why sharing his message of ...

like book clubs, concerts and readings. This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rhode Island's first ...