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

House

House

Providence Public Library

Image shows a two story house with a gambrel roof and shingle siding. Shrubs grow on the side of the house.

House

House

Providence Public Library

Image shows a house with shingle siding and a saltbox roof.

House

House

Providence Public Library

Image shows a two story house with a gambrel roof and shingle siding. Shrubs grow on the side of the house.

House

House

Providence Public Library

Image shows a two story house with a single story back addition with shingle siding. A small shed is attached to the side of the house.

House

House

Providence Public Library

Image shows a house with a gambrel roof. Smaller buildings are visible behind the house. A picket fence runs in the foreground.

House

House

Providence Public Library

Image shows a large three story house. The house has a large front porch and a smaller side porch. A large yard surrounds the house. A small group of women sit and stand on the front porch.

House

House

Providence Public Library

Image shows a three story house with a saltbox roof. Trees grown in the large yard surround the house.

House

House

Providence Public Library

Image shows a two story house with a large front porch. A picket fence encloses the yard of the house. A gazebo sits in the front yard.

House

House

Providence Public Library

Image shows a three story house with shingle siding. A stone wall runs behind the house.

House

House

Providence Public Library

Image shows a three story house. The house has two side porches with awnings. A large manicured yard surrounds the house.

House

House

Providence Public Library

Image shows a large house in a semi-rural area. The three story Victorian house sits in a large corner lot. A more residential area is visible in the background.

House

House

Providence Public Library

Image shows a two story house. The has a wrap around porch. A staircase leads from the porch to a second floor balcony. Evergreen trees grow behind the house.

House

House

Providence Public Library

Image shows a large three story house. The house has a large front porch and a smaller side porch. A large yard surrounds the house.

Horses on residential street

Horses on residential street

Providence Public Library

Image shows a man riding a horse on a residential street. A second horse follows. A large four story residential building is on the corner. Two women look out on the street from the second floor balcony. The building has balconies that span the length of the building on the top three floors.

Horse with wagon full of hay

Horse with wagon full of hay

Providence Public Library

Image of a horse attached to a wagon loaded with hay, standing in the middle of an open field. Trees and houses are seen around the edges of the field. Original box label read "Diamond H., Fog Mill, Reservoir", believed to be Cumberland, Rhode Island.

Horse pasture

Horse pasture

Providence Public Library

Image of horses grazing in a field, surrounded by a wooden fence. Woodland and other fields are seen in the background. Original box label read "Diamond H., Fog Mill, Reservoir", believed to be Cumberland, Rhode Island.

Horse and snow plow

Horse and snow plow

Providence Public Library

Image shows a horse with attached plow, plowing snow on a iced Pleasure Lake in Roger Williams Park. A man pulls a child on a sled and ice skaters are skating. Original box label reads "R.W. Park, [illeg.] Farm, [illeg.], H.H., Ice pictures, Jan. 1915"

Horse and carriage

Horse and carriage

Providence Public Library

Image shows a man sitting in a carriage pulled by a horse.

Horse and carriage

Horse and carriage

Providence Public Library

Image shows a man sitting in a carriage pulled by two horses. Houses on a residential street are visible in the background.

Home of Mary Ann Angell, Providence

Home of Mary Ann Angell, Providence

Providence Public Library

Image of a small overgrown house at a sharp street intersection. Power lines and street railroad tracks are seen along the street. Note reads "Birthplace of Mary Ann Angell, first wife of Brigham Young, Providence."

Hills

Hills

Providence Public Library

Image shows a view of rolling hills. Trees grow near a stone wall in the foreground of image.

Hester

Hester

Providence Public Library

Image shows a boat, the Hester, tied to a dock. A man stands on the pier next to the boat. A small building with shingle siding is in the foreground.

Hearst Building

Hearst Building

Providence Public Library

Image shows Market Street in San Francisco, CA. Temporary arches for the G.A.R (Grand Army of the Republic) extend over Market Street. The Hearst Building is on the right and is decorated with flags and large portraits.

Headstones

Headstones

Providence Public Library

Image featuring two headstones in a cemetery. The monument on the left is shaped like a cross. Flowers are at its base.

Hayward Park

Hayward Park

Providence Public Library

Image shows children laying in Hayward Park in Providence, RI. The park has a large fountain with decorative cherubs. The park was demolished for the interchange for Interstate 95 and Interstate 195

Harris House, Cranston

Harris House, Cranston

Providence Public Library

Harris House, Cranston. Grandfather lived here 2 years. Out-of-focus image of people with a baby carriage posing outside of a house. A large tree with farming equipment leaning against it is in front of the house.

Harbor

Harbor

Providence Public Library

Image shows an unidentified harbor. Piers and wharves are visible on the waterfront. Steeples from churches and other buildings are visible in the distance.

Harbor

Harbor

Providence Public Library

Image shows an unidentified harbor. Shops are visible on shore and piers extend into the water.

Group portraits

Group portraits

Providence Public Library

Image shows two side by side portraits of a man and woman. One person stands as the other sits and they switch places in the second portrait.

Group portraits

Group portraits

Providence Public Library

Image shows two group portraits side by side. In both portraits a man and woman are seated as a man and woman stand behind them. The women hold bouquets of flowers and wear hats. The men wear hats in the portrait on the right.