Vehicle Registration History Center
Simply put, the Vehicle Registration History Center (VRHC) aspires to be the most complete, accurate source of historical information about all facets of motor vehicle registration systems used by state, provincial, and other government agencies in the U.S. and Canada.
Operationally, from donors the VRHC accepts materials such as books, magazines, DMV publications, photographs, correspondence, electronic resources, and artifacts (such as license plates, validation stickers, and plate stamping dies) that it can organize and preserve for the benefit of its users. Plate collectors who are downsizing may have no trouble finding new homes for their plates, but what will become of all of their paperwork, including personal research files and libraries they have built over the years? Who will maintain websites with valuable information when their creators are no longer able to do so? This is what we do.
To users such as plate hobbyists, members of the media, and DMV representatives, the VRHC provides access to its collections of materials and artifacts in order to support their increased understanding of the subject. Need to know which provinces and states issued porcelain plates? We have the definitive list. Want to understand exactly how each jurisdiction’s plate issuance agency dealt with limitations on the use of steel for non-military applications during World War II? We've got that covered, too, for every U.S. and Canadian jurisdiction.
The VRHC was formed at the beginning of 2024 by a small group of long-time license plate collectors, each of whom has a particular interest in researching and documenting various aspects of state laws and local regulations that have governed the use and official marking of vehicles for more than 125 years. Although many early plates have been preserved, information about systems under which they were issued has heretofore not been formally gathered, organized, and made widely available. That’s where the VRHC comes in.
Our mission is to advance knowledge of vehicle registration history, in support of researchers and hobbyists, by preserving, interpreting, and sharing information and artifacts. We are currently designing and implementing programs within our research library and archives that, when fully functional, will ensure that relevant information, registration data, and artifacts that previously were buried deep within government archives and private collections are carefully preserved and made available to all license plate aficionados, researchers, members of the media, and registration agency officials. Everyone associated with the VRHC, all of whom are volunteers, strives to provide accurate, concise, and useful information and data that allow the organization’s patrons to attain a deeper, more relevant understanding of their registration history topics of interest.
The VRHC is not a plate-focused hobby organization. We do not have memberships, meetings, or a publication. Everyone involved in this project is a member and enthusiastic supporter of the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association (ALPCA), and the VRHC’s leaders do not intend for this organization to duplicate in any meaningful way programs of ALPCA and similar organizations. The VRHC is committed to collaborating with ALPCA, not competing with it, for the collective benefit of those both within and outside of the plate hobbyist community.
Because the VRHC is an Exempt Organization under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), contributions that you make to us are tax deductible. Please click here to read about ways that you can support us.
The VRHC’s library is one of two foundational operating segments of the organization. Its geographical scope is unlimited. The composition of its collection, outlined here, will eventually be available online through a searchable catalog. The library includes
Because so much of registration history is reflected in physical objects generated by governmental and ancillary systems, a separate, critical aspect of our operations is the preservation of artifacts for the benefit of future generations. Historical artifacts that contain relevant information or data (such as original copies of early registration listing books and motor vehicle codes) are preserved in the archives and accessible through the library. With rare exceptions, the geographical scope of the archives is limited to the United States and Canada, including their territories. The VRHC is committed to carefully and professionally preserving materials and artifacts such as
Your support is critical to the success of the VRHC, especially in this early stage of our development.
Operations of the VRHC are funded entirely through contributions received from individuals. Each donor will be provided with a letter in which their support is documented and that may be used to support an income tax deduction, because the VRHC is an Exempt Organization under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). Please mail your donation, payable to Vehicle Registration History Center, to the organization’s address given below or provide it to any of the volunteers listed. Acknowledgment letters will be mailed from the organization’s business office.
We are actively building our collections and therefore welcome and encourage contributions of any items listed in the Research Library and Archives sections above. Please ask one of the volunteers any questions that you have about making contributions of archival materials and artifacts. Donors will be asked to sign a Deed of Gift, prepared and provided by the VRHC, in order to formally document the transfer of ownership.
Join us in our mission to preserve to this important but mostly overlooked area of our collective modern history! Individuals with an interest in helping us design and execute our program operations are encouraged to inquire about joining our growing list of program volunteers. Please indicate your interest by emailing us.
Vehicle Registration History Center, Inc.
Mail: P.O. Box 8974, Warwick, RI 02888
Email: info@registrationhistory.org
