Beginning during the Massachusetts Ratification Debates, a series of illustrations, usually titled “The Federal Pillars,” were used to illustrate the progress of ratification in the states.  As a state would ratify the Constitution, newspapers would publish reprints often with modifications in the number of pillars. Thus, there was an evolution to this illustration.  In the tradition of the newspaper editors of the period, our frontispiece encapsulates both the chronology of ratification and some subtle editorial opinion. 

Index For Printed Rhode Island Volume (pdf)