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

Mountain

Mountain

Providence Public Library

Image shows a body of water at the foot of a mountain.

Mountain

Mountain

Providence Public Library

Image shows a body of water at the foot of a mountain. A bench sits next to a dirt path.

Mountain

Mountain

Providence Public Library

Image shows a body of water at the foot of a mountain. Trees grow along the water.

Monument to Pomham

Monument to Pomham

Providence Public Library

Image shows the monument to Pomham at the ruins of Pomham's Fort in Warwick, RI.

Military unit in a field

Military unit in a field

Providence Public Library

Image of a group of uniformed men with firearms and a wagon posing in a field scattered with small trees and rocks.

Military unit in a field

Military unit in a field

Providence Public Library

Image of a group of uniformed men with firearms and a wagon posing in a field scattered with small trees and rocks.

Men in a crop field

Men in a crop field

Providence Public Library

Image of well-dressed men spread out across a field, posing for a photograph with farming equipment.

Men in a crop field

Men in a crop field

Providence Public Library

Image of two men seated in a small shed in a field, with corn growing nearby. An American flag is flying from the shed.

Men in a crop field

Men in a crop field

Providence Public Library

Image of two men seated in a small shed in a field, with corn growing nearby. An American flag is flying from the shed.

Men at base of rock

Men at base of rock

Providence Public Library

A group of men sit under a rock formation in a woodland area. Another man can be seen draped over a rock on the far right of the image.

Meeting House, Cranston

Meeting House, Cranston

Providence Public Library

Image of a shingle clapboard sided building with a wagon stored under an addition to the building. Note reads "Old Q Meeting House, Cranston, No.9"

Meadows on a hill

Meadows on a hill

Providence Public Library

Image of a stone wall separating fields on a hill. Trees are seen lining the edge of the fields at the bottom of the hill. Original box label read "Diamond H., Fog Mill, Reservoir", believed to be Cumberland, Rhode Island.

Meadows

Meadows

Providence Public Library

Image of cows grazing in a meadow surrounded by a stone wall. Other fields are also bordered by stone walls, and several trees are scattered throughout.

Meadows

Meadows

Providence Public Library

Image of cows grazing in a meadow surrounded by a stone wall. Other fields are also bordered by stone walls, and several trees are scattered throughout.

Meadow scene

Meadow scene

Providence Public Library

Image of trees, meadows, and farmland seen from on top of a hill. A stone wall runs across the foreground and some buildings are seen in the distance. Original box label read "Dia. Hill-99", believed to be Diamond Hill, Cumberland.

Meadow scene

Meadow scene

Providence Public Library

Image of trees, meadows, and farmland seen from on top of a hill. A stone wall and wooden fence run across the foreground and some buildings and hills are seen in the distance. Original box label reads "Diamond H [label torn off]", possibly Diamond Hill, Cumberland.

Meadow

Meadow

Providence Public Library

Image shows a small meadow in a wooded area. The image is out of focus

Mathurin Ballou grave

Mathurin Ballou grave

Providence Public Library

Image of the grave of Mathrin Ballou in North Burial Ground in Providence, RI.

Massasoit Statue

Massasoit Statue

Providence Public Library

Image shows a statue of Massasoit in Plymouth, MA. The statue depicts Massasoit holding a pipe and standing on a rock.

Mansion

Mansion

Providence Public Library

Image shows three story stone mansion. The house has a large wrap around porch and an expansive yard.

Man with two children

Man with two children

Providence Public Library

Image shows a man standing with two young children on a cobblestone street.

Man with child

Man with child

Providence Public Library

Image shows a man and child sitting on the steps of a house. The child sits on a pillow. The man and child hold a book open in between them.

Man standing in field

Man standing in field

Providence Public Library

Image shows a man standing in a field of plants. The field is lined with tall trees in the background. Original box label read "Gov. P.G.C, 1918-1"

Man sitting on a rock formation

Man sitting on a rock formation

Providence Public Library

Image of a bearded man, possibly James N. Arnold, sitting on a rock formation. He is wearing a long black coat and hat. His feet do not touch the ground. A pair of crutches lean against the rocks to the left of the man.

Man outside of house

Man outside of house

Providence Public Library

Image of a man, believed to be James Newell Arnold, standing outside of a large clapboard sided building along a road.

Man on bridge

Man on bridge

Providence Public Library

Image shows a man leaning against the railing of a footbridge. Melting snow lays in patches on the ground.

Man in garden

Man in garden

Providence Public Library

Image of a man in a suit, standing in a vegetable garden. A field is seen in the background.

Man in front of greenhouse

Man in front of greenhouse

Providence Public Library

Image of a man standing in front of a small greenhouse. The man wears a dark suit and hat. Three gardening beds are in the yard around the greenhouse. Original box label reads "[illeg.] Price Garden C., 1916"

Man in field

Man in field

Providence Public Library

Image shows a man standing in a crop field. An American flag flies from a mill building in the background. Original box label reads "Gov Garden [ill.], 1917" Due to original box label, it's assumed the garden was part of the 1916 Governor Beeckman's Garden Prize for Mill Villages. Three prizes were awarded: best vegetable garden, best flower garden and greatest improvement in general appearance of mill village.

Man in a field

Man in a field

Providence Public Library

Image of a man with crutches, believed to be James Newell Arnold, standing in an open field, with trees and buildings seen in the background.