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

Lincoln Woods State Park

Lincoln Woods State Park

Providence Public Library

Image shows a pond in Lincoln Woods State Park. Trees grow on a hill in the background. A small stone cottage sits next to the pond.

Lincoln Woods State Park

Lincoln Woods State Park

Providence Public Library

Image shows large rocks at a narrow point in a stream. Original box label reads "[ill.] Sweet Negs. Lincoln Woods, July 1, 1920"

Lincoln Woods State Park

Lincoln Woods State Park

Providence Public Library

Image shows a view of Lincoln Woods State Park in Lincoln, RI. Trees grow around a large rock formation. Fallen leaves cover the ground. A reproduction (VM013_FIC0067) of the image is in the Rhode Island Photograph Collection.

Lincoln Woods State Park

Lincoln Woods State Park

Providence Public Library

Image shows a view of Lincoln Woods State Park in Lincoln, RI. Trees grow around a large rock formation. Fallen leaves cover the ground.

Lincoln Woods State Park

Lincoln Woods State Park

Providence Public Library

Image shows a large rock in a field. Two buildings are visible in the distance. Original box label reads "[ill.] Sweet Negs. Lincoln Woods, July 1, 1920"

Lincoln Woods State Park

Lincoln Woods State Park

Providence Public Library

Image shows a view of Olney Pond in Lincoln Woods State Park from the side of a hill. A large rock is visible emerging from the pond.

Lincoln Woods State Park

Lincoln Woods State Park

Providence Public Library

Image shows two children with a dog in Lincoln Woods State Park. The children stand near a large rock formation. Original box label reads "[ill.] Sweet Negs. Lincoln Woods, July 1, 1920"

Lincoln Woods State Park

Lincoln Woods State Park

Providence Public Library

Image shows large rocks in Lincoln Woods State Park. Fallen leaves cover the ground.

Lincoln Woods State Park

Lincoln Woods State Park

Providence Public Library

Image shows a view of Lincoln Woods State Park in Lincoln, RI. Trees grow around large rocks. Fallen leaves cover the ground.

Lincoln Woods State Park

Lincoln Woods State Park

Providence Public Library

Image shows a body of water in Lincoln Woods State Park. Leaves and tree branches cover the surface of the water in the foreground. A large rock emerges from the water in the background. Original box label reads "[ill.] Sweet Negs. Lincoln Woods, July 1, 1920"

Lincoln Woods State Park

Lincoln Woods State Park

Providence Public Library

Image shows Olney Pond in Lincoln Woods State Park. A large rock is visible emerging from the pond.

Lighthouse

Lighthouse

Providence Public Library

Image shows waves crashing against large rocks. A lighthouse is visible on the cliffs in the background.

Lighthouse

Lighthouse

Providence Public Library

Image shows waves crashing against large rocks. A lighthouse is visible on the cliffs in the background.

Librarian at desk

Librarian at desk

Providence Public Library

Image of a woman, likely a librarian, seated at a desk. Bookcases appear behind her. A stamp, ink well, and calendar featuring a cat are on her desk. She is looking into the camera, wearing a light colored blouse with a necktie that meets with a broach on her chest.

Lawn with corners of three buildings

Lawn with corners of three buildings

Providence Public Library

Image of an empty lot or yard with possibly a sign planted in it. The corners of three buildings come together in the center of the image. One building has striped awnings, and another is ivy-covered.

Lawn and gardens

Lawn and gardens

Providence Public Library

Image of a lawn and garden along the side of a building, including a trimmed hedge. Another building with laundry hanging outside is seen in the background.

Large tree

Large tree

Providence Public Library

Image of a large tree in a yard with several buildings near or underneath it.

Large shrub

Large shrub

Providence Public Library

Image shows a large shrub on a mowed lawn. There is damage to the glass plate resulting in partial loss of the image.

Large rock in woods

Large rock in woods

Providence Public Library

Image shows a large rock visible through trees in a wooded area.

Large House

Large House

Providence Public Library

Image shows a house with a grand front porch. A wet street runs in the foreground of the image. Houses are visible on a residential street in the background.

Large house

Large house

Providence Public Library

Image shows a large two and a half story house. The left side of the house has a long porch supporting a second story balcony. A car is parked in the yard. People sit at the foot of a large tree in the front yard. Original box label read "Gov. P.G.C, 1918-1"

Large house

Large house

Providence Public Library

Image of a large two story unpainted wooden early colonial style house on top of a cleared hill. The house's windows are shuttered or boarded up. Original box label read "Dia. Hill-99", believed to be Diamond Hill, Cumberland.

Large house

Large house

Providence Public Library

Image shows three men next to the road in front of a large house. A picket fence encases the large surrounding yard of the house. Large trees with bare leaves and a few with trimmed branches grow in the yard.

Large hill or mountain

Large hill or mountain

Providence Public Library

Image shows a view of a large hill or mountain in the distance. A stone wall and crop field are in the foreground.

Large boulder

Large boulder

Providence Public Library

Image of a boulder in an open area, with some tall grass and small trees nearby.

Large boulder

Large boulder

Providence Public Library

Image of a large boulder in a thickly wooded area.

Landscape with stream

Landscape with stream

Providence Public Library

Image of a stream and the surrounding grassy and wooded areas. Original box label read "Diamond H., Fog Mill, Reservoir", believed to be Cumberland, Rhode Island.

Landscape with stream

Landscape with stream

Providence Public Library

Image of a stream and the surrounding grassy and wooded areas. A bicycle is seen lying in the grass in the foreground. Original box label read "Diamond H., Fog Mill, Reservoir", believed to be Cumberland, Rhode Island.

Landscape of hills

Landscape of hills

Providence Public Library

Image of trees and meadows seen from a tall wooden structure. Original box label read "Dia.Hill", believed to be Diamond Hill, Cumberland.