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

Pilgrim Monument

Pilgrim Monument

Providence Public Library

Image shows the Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown. Sand dunes are in the foreground of image, MA.

Pilgrim Monument

Pilgrim Monument

Providence Public Library

Image shows the Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown, MA.

Picnic

Picnic

Providence Public Library

Image shows two men and two women picnicking under a tree.

Person standing outside of house

Person standing outside of house

Providence Public Library

Image of a wooden house seen from the bottom of a steep bank. A person stands at a railing by the house. Original box label read "Exeter, 1914".

People working on farm

People working on farm

Providence Public Library

Image of people spread out across fields, harvesting crops. Power lines run through the field, and trees are seen in the background.

People walking in the snow

People walking in the snow

Providence Public Library

Photograph of two people walking in a path through the snow. Their backs are to the camera. A church steeple and a windmill are seen in the background.

People outside of house

People outside of house

Providence Public Library

Image of a group of people outside of a house. One woman is on a bicycle, a man stands in the background, two others sit on a log, and a man standing with crutches is believed to be James Newell Arnold.

People on the shore

People on the shore

Providence Public Library

Image of a woman and child standing and sitting by a rowboat on the rocky shore. Another group of people are seen in the background, near a high stone wall.

People on the shore

People on the shore

Providence Public Library

Image of a nun and two men on a rocky part of the coastline, with water breaking over the rocks.

People on hammocks

People on hammocks

Providence Public Library

Image of several people reclining on hammocks attached to a large tree, and sitting a small wooden bridge. Original box label read "Dia. Hill-99", believed to be Diamond Hill, Cumberland.

People near a pond

People near a pond

Providence Public Library

Image of a group of people standing on and near a rocky outcropping by a pond. The pond is surrounded by an area wooded with small trees.

People in garden

People in garden

Providence Public Library

Image shows people standing in a large vegetable garden. Young plants grow in rows in the garden. The garden grown next to a large brick building. Original box label reads "[illeg.] Price Garden C., 1916"

People in a crop field

People in a crop field

Providence Public Library

Image of a well-dressed man and woman standing near a mostly bare crop field. A house is seen in the background.

People at small white building

People at small white building

Providence Public Library

Image of a group of people standing outside of a small white building with two doors on the front. The building is in a clearing on top of a hill, and the people's car is parked nearby. Original box label read "Exeter, 1914".

People at play

People at play

Providence Public Library

Image of a large group of people outside, surrounding a net strung up for a sport. Other people are seen on bicycles.

Peak

Peak

Providence Public Library

Image shows the peak of a large hill or mountain. The side of the hill or mountain is dense with trees.

Path in winter

Path in winter

Providence Public Library

Image of a path through trees in a park, with frost on the ground. The iced tree branches are bent downward. Original box label reads "Snow & Ice, '01"

Path along a body of water

Path along a body of water

Providence Public Library

Image of a path with a handrail alongside a body of water. The lake is surrounded by trees. A few islands appear in the water.

Parlor

Parlor

Providence Public Library

Image shows an interior view of a sitting room. Chairs are placed around the room. A decorative clock sit on a mantle above a fireplace on the back wall. Large windows are on the left side of room. Columns are in the center of the room. Paintings hang on the walls. Image is a copy of a photograph.

Parking garage

Parking garage

Providence Public Library

Image shows cars parked inside a parking garage. A no smoking sign hands from the ceiling.

Parking garage

Parking garage

Providence Public Library

Image shows cars parked inside a parking garage. A no smoking sign hands from the ceiling.

Park

Park

Providence Public Library

Image shows a view of a park. A park bench sits under a tall tree.

Park

Park

Providence Public Library

Image shows an empty park in a residential area.

Parading children

Parading children

Providence Public Library

Image shows children parading by on a residential street in Providence, RI. A drummer leads the group of children who hold American flags and signs reading "We want playgrounds".

Parading children

Parading children

Providence Public Library

Image shows children marching in a parade on Exchange Street in Providence, RI. A drummer leads the group of children who hold American flags and signs reading "We want playgrounds". Parade watchers stand on the sidewalk and on the steps of the federal courthouse.

Parading children

Parading children

Providence Public Library

Image shows children participating in a parade. A drummer leads the group of children who hold American flags and signs reading "We want playgrounds".

Parading children

Parading children

Providence Public Library

Image shows children parading by the Central First Station on Washington Street in Providence, RI. A child holds a sign reading "We want playgrounds".

Parading children

Parading children

Providence Public Library

Image shows children dressed in military uniforms marching in a parade on Exchange Street in Providence, RI. Parade watchers stand on the sidewalk and in the doorways of the federal courthouse.

Painting

Painting

Providence Public Library

Image shows a painting of two men in a room surrounded by books. The seated man writes with a quill with one hand and points to a passage in a book with his left hand. The painting has cracks.

Pageant in Davis Park

Pageant in Davis Park

Providence Public Library

Image shows children performing a pageant in what is believed to be Davis Park. A child dressed as a nurse kneels next to a baby doll in a basket. Children costumed as a queen, king and a several fairies stand around them. Original box label reads "Fary's - Davis Park". Believed to be Davis Park, Providence.