James N. Arnold image collection

This collection contains over 1100 glass plate negatives and 201 print photographs created by and/or collected by James N. Arnold. Arnold's professional work as a historian and writer began in earnest in the 1880s. Arnold traveled throughout Rhode Island collecting and transcribing local church records, pension rolls, burial records and town papers. The images in the collection depict scenes across Rhode Island including beaches, farms and landscapes as well as activities and community events such as ice skating, parades, football games and community gardens.
This collection is part of Providence Public Library Digital Collections, hosted by Providence Public Library.

Items in this collection

Residential street

Residential street

Providence Public Library

Image shows the fork of two residential streets. Trees grown in a small corner lot.

Residential dirt road

Residential dirt road

Providence Public Library

Image shows houses along a wide dirt road in a residential area. A man stands on the side of a house on the right near a wooden cart.

Residential dirt road

Residential dirt road

Providence Public Library

Image shows houses along a wide tree lined dirt road in a residential area.

Residential building

Residential building

Providence Public Library

Image shows a two story house. The house has an attached first floor addition with a second entrance. Columns support a pediment over the front door of the house. Trolley tracks run in the street.

Rear side of house

Rear side of house

Providence Public Library

Image shows the rear side of a two story house. The house has a saltbox style roof and is built on a hill.

Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls

Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls

Providence Public Library

Image shows the Rainbow Bridge crossing Niagara Falls. The American Falls are visible in the foreground.

Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls

Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls

Providence Public Library

Image shows the Rainbow Bridge crossing Niagara Falls. The American Falls are visible in the foreground.

Railroad tracks

Railroad tracks

Providence Public Library

Image of railroad tracks running along an open field in the foreground, and a wooded hill in the background. Original box label read "Diamond H., Fog Mill, Reservoir", believed to be Cumberland, Rhode Island.

Quarry

Quarry

Providence Public Library

Image shows ropes above a quarry. Industrial buildings are visible in the background above the quarry.

Quarry

Quarry

Providence Public Library

Image of an unidentified stone quarry, taken from one edge of the pit. Cables are strung across the open, rocky pit and buildings are visible in the background.

Providence City Hall

Providence City Hall

Providence Public Library

Image shows a crowd gathered in front of the Providence City Hall. City Hall is decorated with patriotic flags. A horse pulled ice cream cart is stopped behind the crowd.

Possible quarry ruins

Possible quarry ruins

Providence Public Library

Image of a possible quarry ruin. A grinding wheel is visible in the lower left hand corner. A large nut and bolt is installed in a rock that is in a small body of water. A stone wall structure is on the left hand side.

Portraits

Portraits

Providence Public Library

Image shows two side by side portraits of a man and woman. In the left portrait the woman sits with her feet crossed as the man stands next to her with his arm around her shoulders. In the right portrait both stand. The man slightly smiles as he stands slightly behind the woman with his hands on her shoulders.

Portraits

Portraits

Providence Public Library

Image shows two side by side portraits of a woman. The woman wears a beret and coat over a dress. She is shown standing in the left portrait and seated in the right portrait.

Portraits

Portraits

Providence Public Library

Image shows two side by side portraits of an older woman. The lower half of the image is damaged and only the woman's head is visible.

Portraits

Portraits

Providence Public Library

Image shows two side by side portraits of a woman and child. A young girl sitting on a woman's lap on the porch of a house.

Portrait of two choirboys

Portrait of two choirboys

Providence Public Library

Image shows two side by side portraits of two boys dressed in choir robes. They hold small bibles in their hands.

Portrait of infant

Portrait of infant

Providence Public Library

Image shows two side by side portraits of an infant seated in a chair.

Portrait of infant

Portrait of infant

Providence Public Library

Image shows two side by side portraits of an infant. The infant wears a white dress and sits on a draped chair.

Portrait of infant

Portrait of infant

Providence Public Library

Image shows two side by side portraits of an infant. The baby wears a white gown and sits on a drape covered chair.

Portrait of children

Portrait of children

Providence Public Library

Image shows a two side by side portraits of two children. The boy sits in a wooden chair and the girls stands at his side.

Portrait of child

Portrait of child

Providence Public Library

Image shows two side by side portraits of a young girl standing on a chair.

Portrait of an infant

Portrait of an infant

Providence Public Library

Image shows two side by side portraits of an infant. The infant wears a white dress and sits on a draped chair.

Portrait of a child

Portrait of a child

Providence Public Library

Image shows two portraits of an infant. The infant wears a white dress and sits on a draped chair.

Portrait

Portrait

Providence Public Library

Image shows two side by side portraits of a woman. She wears a dark dress with a light lace collar and a necklace and a striped scarf.

Portrait

Portrait

Providence Public Library

Image shows two portraits of a seated woman.

Portrait

Portrait

Providence Public Library

Image shows two side by side portraits of a seated woman. She wears a dark dress with a large broach.