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

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.

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. Children costumed as a queen, bridge, prince, two cooks, and a nurse stand next to a group of fairies. Original box label reads "Fary's - Davis Park". Believed to be Davis Park, Providence.

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.

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. Children costumed as a queen, bridge, prince, two cooks, and a nurse stand between kneeling children dressed as fairies. The fairies hold their wands up towards the center of the semicircle. Original box label reads "Fary's - Davis Park". Believed to be Davis Park, Providence.

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. Children costumed as a queen, bridge, prince, two cooks, and a nurse stand between kneeling children dressed as fairies. The fairies hold their wands up towards the center of the semicircle. Original box label reads "Fary's - Davis Park". Believed to be Davis Park, Providence.

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. Two children dressed a bride and prince kneel on one knee towards each other. They each place a hand on the hand of the king who stand with a queen behind them. Original box label reads "Fary's - Davis Park". Believed to be Davis Park, Providence.

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 bride lays on a covered bench. The prince kneels by her side, holding her hand. Original box label reads "Fary's - Davis Park". Believed to be Davis Park, Providence.

Overgrown path

Overgrown path

Providence Public Library

Image shows a slightly overgrown path that runs beside a road. A fence encloses a meadow on the right. A large house is in the background. Original box label reads "R.W. Park, [illeg.] Farm, [illeg.], H.H., Ice pictures, Jan. 1915"

Overgrown field

Overgrown field

Providence Public Library

Image shows a large field with overgrown grass and plants. Buildings are visible in the distance.

Outhouses in backyard

Outhouses in backyard

Providence Public Library

Image shows two outhouses in the open backyards of residential buildings. A wooden box overflows with trash in the center of the yard. Other outhouses and houses are in the background. Original box label reads "[illeg.] Price Garden C., 1916"

Outdoor seating

Outdoor seating

Providence Public Library

Image of long benches and tables assembled outside of a church. People are seen seated and standing around the tables.

Outdoor dining

Outdoor dining

Providence Public Library

Image of a table made of boards and sawhorses with food and tableware on top. Long, empty wooden benches are on either side of the table. The setup is in the grass, underneath trees. Original box label read "Exeter, 1914".

Orchard

Orchard

Providence Public Library

Image of trees in an orchard, with a pile of stones underneath one of the trees.

Orchard

Orchard

Providence Public Library

Image of rows of trees in an orchard. Several buckets and barrels are seen under one tree. Original box label read "Diamond H., Fog Mill, Reservoir", believed to be Cumberland, Rhode Island.

Open field

Open field

Providence Public Library

Image of a field of short grass, with trees and hills seen on the opposite side. Original box label read "Dia. Hill-99", believed to be Diamond Hill, Cumberland.

Oliver Arnold tomb

Oliver Arnold tomb

Providence Public Library

Image of the tomb of Oliver Arnold in Providence, RI. A floral wreath hangs from the door of the tomb.

Old wagon and stonework

Old wagon and stonework

Providence Public Library

Image of the remains of a wooden wagon in an overgrown area. A large stone structure with doors or windows built into it is in the background, also overgrown.

Old cottage

Old cottage

Providence Public Library

Image of an old wooden cottage in a state of disrepair, seen in front of pine trees with a field in the foreground. Original box label read "Exeter, 1914".

Old bank and Masonic Hall, Lime Rock

Old bank and Masonic Hall, Lime Rock

Providence Public Library

Old bank and Masonic Hall, Lime Rock. Image of a brick building along a road. Stables are seen behind the building. A sign on the building points to nearby towns, indicating a location near Cumberland, Rhode Island. It reads "Manville 3 Miles, Albion 2 [1/2], Woonsocket 6 [1/4]."

Ochee Spring House

Ochee Spring House

Providence Public Library

Image shows an octagon house built on a slight hill located on the former Ochee Spring Quarry in Johnston, RI. The second floor of the house and roof are octagon shaped. Power lines run next to the house and large rocks sit in yard. The house was demolished when the RT 195 ramp was built nearby. VM013_FIC0090 is reproduction in the Rhode Island Photograph Collection.

Oak Bluffs cottages

Oak Bluffs cottages

Providence Public Library

Image shows gingerbread style cottages in Oaks Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard. A large American flag hangs vertically on the front porch of the center cottage.

Oak Bluffs cottages

Oak Bluffs cottages

Providence Public Library

Image shows a row of gingerbread style cottages in Oaks Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard.

Nun and men on rocks

Nun and men on rocks

Providence Public Library

Image of a nun and two men reclining on large rocks near the water.

Note from Jerome Taft

Note from Jerome Taft

Providence Public Library

Image shows a note or possibly deed written by Jerome Taft on April 12, 1904. The note is written on Taft Machine Company letterhead.

North Burial Ground

North Burial Ground

Providence Public Library

Image shows two women and a man standing at a grave with an American flag in North Burial Ground. Original box label reads "Sweet"

North Burial Ground

North Burial Ground

Providence Public Library

Oldest marked grave at North Burial Ground. Image of a row of small gravestones in an unidentified cemetery. A path and other gravestones are seen in the background.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls

Providence Public Library

Image shows waterfalls at Niagara Falls. The image is taken at the top of the fall. A second waterfall is visible in the background.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls

Providence Public Library

Image shows Horseshoe Falls, part of Niagara Falls. The image is taken from the top of the falls.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls

Providence Public Library

Image shows waterfalls at Niagara Falls. The image is taken at the top of the fall. Two figures are visible on a look out point at the top of the falls.