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

Landscape of hills

Landscape of hills

Providence Public Library

Underexposed image showing hills covered in trees and meadows. Original box label reads "Diamond H [label torn off]", possibly Diamond Hill, Cumberland.

Landscape of hills

Landscape of hills

Providence Public Library

Image of trees and meadows seen from a tall wooden structure. Original box label read "Diamond H., Fog Mill, Reservoir", believed to be Cumberland, Rhode Island.

Landscape

Landscape

Providence Public Library

A landscape featuring an open field with a stone wall and fence around the perimeter. In the mid-ground are several houses.

John Alden House

John Alden House

Providence Public Library

Image shows a rear view of the John Alden House. The house has shingle siding and a rear addition. A sign reading "John Alden House" hangs over a doorway.

John Alden House

John Alden House

Providence Public Library

Image shows the front of the John Alden House in Duxbury, MA. Vines grow on the exterior of the house.

John Alden House

John Alden House

Providence Public Library

Image shows a side view of the John Alden House in Duxbury, MA. A large flowering tree grows next to the house.

John Alden House

John Alden House

Providence Public Library

Image shows a rear view of the John Alden House. The house has shingle siding and a rear addition. A sign reading "John Alden House" hangs over a doorway. A bicycle and bench are near the two doorways.

John Alden House

John Alden House

Providence Public Library

Image shows a rear view of the John Alden House. The house has shingle siding and a rear addition. A sign reading "John Alden House" hangs over a doorway.

Jencks House, Limerock, Smithfield.

Jencks House, Limerock, Smithfield.

Providence Public Library

A house, or similar structure, that has collapsed. The structure is comprised of two sections joined. The structure on the right has a fully collapsed roof. The structure to the left appears to also be compromised, but a tree is obscuring a good portion of it.

James N. Arnold

James N. Arnold

Providence Public Library

Image shows James N. Arnold standing with the assistance of a crutch in front of a large house. A man sits in an car on the street in front of the house.

James N. Arnold

James N. Arnold

Providence Public Library

Image shows James N. Arnold standing with a crutch near two trees. What appears to be a rock formation is behind him. The image is out of focus and partially blurred.

Island House

Island House

Providence Public Library

Image shows people sitting on the crowded front porch of the Island House hotel in Oak Bluffs, MA. A horse and carriage travel on a dirt road in the foreground.

Indian Rock, Johnston

Indian Rock, Johnston

Providence Public Library

Indian Rock, Johnston. Image of tall boulders surrounded by trees at the edge of a field, behind a wire fence.

Ice skating

Ice skating

Providence Public Library

Image shows ice skaters skating on an iced Pleasure Lake in Roger Williams Park. A stone bridge is visible in the distance. Original box label reads "R.W. Park, [illeg.] Farm, [illeg.], H.H., Ice pictures, Jan. 1915"

Ice skating

Ice skating

Providence Public Library

Image shows ice skaters skating on an iced Pleasure Lake in Roger Williams Park. The Roger Williams Park Boathouse is in background. Original box label reads "R.W. Park, [illeg.] Farm, [illeg.], H.H., Ice pictures, Jan. 1915"

Ice skating

Ice skating

Providence Public Library

Image shows ice skaters skating on an iced Pleasure Lake in Roger Williams Park. The Roger Williams Park Boathouse is in background. Original box label reads "R.W. Park, [illeg.] Farm, [illeg.], H.H., Ice pictures, Jan. 1915"

Ice skating

Ice skating

Providence Public Library

Image shows ice skaters skating on an iced Pleasure Lake in Roger Williams Park. The Carousel is visible in background. Original box label reads "R.W. Park, [illeg.] Farm, [illeg.], H.H., Ice pictures, Jan. 1915"

Ice skating

Ice skating

Providence Public Library

Image shows ice skaters skating on an iced Pleasure Lake in Roger Williams Park. Original box label reads "R.W. Park, [illeg.] Farm, [illeg.], H.H., Ice pictures, Jan. 1915"

Ice skating

Ice skating

Providence Public Library

Image shows ice skaters skating on an iced Pleasure Lake in Roger Williams Park. The Roger Williams Park Boathouse is in background. Original box label reads "R.W. Park, [illeg.] Farm, [illeg.], H.H., Ice pictures, Jan. 1915"

Ice skating

Ice skating

Providence Public Library

Image shows ice skaters skating on an iced Pleasure Lake in Roger Williams Park. The Roger Williams Park Boathouse is in background. Original box label reads "R.W. Park, [illeg.] Farm, [illeg.], H.H., Ice pictures, Jan. 1915"

Ice skating

Ice skating

Providence Public Library

Image shows ice skaters skating on an iced Pleasure Lake in Roger Williams Park. The Roger Williams Park Boathouse is in background. Original box label reads "R.W. Park, [illeg.] Farm, [illeg.], H.H., Ice pictures, Jan. 1915"

Ice skating

Ice skating

Providence Public Library

Image shows a man a children ice skating on an iced pond. The children hold hockey sticks.

Ice on trees

Ice on trees

Providence Public Library

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

Ice on trees

Ice on trees

Providence Public Library

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

Ice on trees

Ice on trees

Providence Public Library

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

Ice on trees

Ice on trees

Providence Public Library

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

Ice on trees

Ice on trees

Providence Public Library

Image of trees bent over with ice on the branches. Original box label reads "Snow & Ice, '01"

Ice on trees

Ice on trees

Providence Public Library

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