Portuguese-American Vasco da Gama Holy Ghost (Newport, RI) Society records

Originally known as Newport County Vasco da Gama Society, the oldest Portuguese benefit society in Rhode Island, was founded in 1897. This organization’s mission was to render assistance to its members when ill and to assist their loved ones on the passing of the head of the household. They took as their patron the Portuguese explorer of the 15th century, thus the full name of this organization: “Associação Portuguesa Beneficente Vasco da Gama - Portuguese Beneficent Association Vasco da Gama (APBVG). In 1951, they merged with the Holy Ghost Society, another benefit group serving people of Portuguese ancestry, healing a breach which had separated the two units since 1914. At this point both societies were renamed. The main reason for the merger was the overlapping functions of the two groups in a relatively small community.

Vasco da Gama Holy Ghost Society of Newport R.I. helped to preserve the culture and heritage of the Portuguese-American community. Nowadays, their home, the Fenner Hall Club, serves several of their functions, as well as those of other groups within the community, such as Banquet Hall, Dance Venue, Dinner Club. They also host wedding banquets and other celebrations, and a calendar of events by Swanhurst Chorus, East Bay Ballroom, and Community Contra Dance.