The Cato Vernon Freedom Library at Vernon House

Created in partnership with the Newport Restoration Foundation.

Free and open to the public October 3-November 22, 2026.

46 Clarke St, Newport

A kaleidoscopic response to the life of Private Cato Vernon and what it takes to uncover our collective history. Help us discover more about this African heritage Revolutionary War soldier, carpenter and Black Newporter who lived in the Vernon House from 1774-1776(?).

As we work together to tell the story of Cato Vernon we'll also tell the better story of us.

Learn more about the exhibition and special events in the Cato Vernon Freedom Library

The Exhibit
Special Events

Lead Artists

Rebecca is a community arts organizer, deviser, and administrator who lives in Newport. She has created original live community-based performance since 2010, mostly in Rhode Island, but also Juneau, Alaska, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Portland, Maine, and Charlestown, Massachusetts.

In addition to creating original work, Rebecca is the Deputy Director of Art, Culture and Tourism for the City of Providence.

Rebecca is the co-founder and Lead Artist for Center Aquidneck.

Rebecca Noon

Born and raised in Newport, Jed got his BFA in Acting from URI and an MFA in Devised Theater from the London International School of Performing Arts. Today, he is a theater-maker, performance educator and support staff member at Bike Newport. He teaches at Salve Regina and offers private lessons in the Alexander Technique.

Jed is the co-founder and Lead Artist for Center Aquidneck.

Jed Hancock-Brainerd

Jane Carey is a Newport native whose working career was off-island as an Art Director and Book Designer for technology, trade and college textbooks at Artech House, Beacon Press and Harcourt Brace. Her local interests include a revival of the city’s cemetery commission and research contributions of Newport’s historic landscapes to the Smithsonian Archives of American Gardens.

Jane was also the Lead Researcher on Center Aquidneck’s Life After Life.

Jane Carey

Dominique Sindayiganza is a photographer who uses his camera to create and celebrate community. In his long-term personal photo series, entitled “HOMECOMING”, he focuses on photographing strangers at home.

He lives in Providence, RI with his wife and 3 daughters. 

Dominique was also the Production Photographer on Center Aquidneck’s Life After Life.

Dominique Sindayiganza

Contributing Artists, Historians, and Speakers

The Cato Vernon Freedom Library is made possible in part by BankNewport and a grant from the Rhode Island Semiquincentennial Commission (RI250) and through funding support from Rhode Island Humanities, an independent state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. RI Humanities seeds, supports, and strengthens public history, cultural heritage, civic education, and community engagement by and for all Rhode Islanders.