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

Group portrait with mops

Group portrait with mops

Providence Public Library

Image of a group of children, each holding a mop, posing on a stone wall. Original box label read "Exeter, 1914".

Group portrait on front steps

Group portrait on front steps

Providence Public Library

Three boys and two women sitting on the front porch and steps of an unidentified house. The front porch is covered in a leafy climbing plant.

Group portrait on farm

Group portrait on farm

Providence Public Library

Image of a group of people, mostly adult men but some women and children, standing in a field with farming equipment, posing for a photograph. Potatoes that have been dug up lie in the foreground.

Group portrait of children

Group portrait of children

Providence Public Library

Image of a group of children, possibly a school class, seated on the doorstep of a building, with a woman holding a baby.

Group portrait in woods

Group portrait in woods

Providence Public Library

Image of a large group of people posing for a photograph in a wooded area. The group consists mainly of women and children in the front, dressed in white, and several men in the back. Large boulders are seen in the background.

Group portrait

Group portrait

Providence Public Library

Image of a group of well-dressed men, women, and children posing on the grass outside of a stone church. Original box label read "Exeter, 1914".

Group portrait

Group portrait

Providence Public Library

Image of a group of well-dressed men, women, and children posing on the grass outside of a stone church.

Group portrait

Group portrait

Providence Public Library

Image shows a group of teenage boys. Four boys stand around a seated boy in a yard. The boys are dressed in winter coats.

Group portrait

Group portrait

Providence Public Library

Image shows a group of men, women and children standing behind a fence posing for the photograph. A man tips his hat toward the camera. Houses are visible in the background.

Group portrait

Group portrait

Providence Public Library

Image shows a group of teenage boys. Four boys stand around a seated boy in a yard. The boys are dressed in winter coats.

Group portrait

Group portrait

Providence Public Library

Image shows a group of teenage boys. Four boys stand around a seated boy in a yard. The boys are dressed in winter coats.

Group portrait

Group portrait

Providence Public Library

Image shows two side by side portraits of two women. One woman stands as the other sits. They switch places on the right.

Group portrait

Group portrait

Providence Public Library

Image shows a family sitting on the front steps of a Gingerbread style cottage in Oak Bluffs, MA. The cottages are built close to one another, almost touching.

Grocery store

Grocery store

Providence Public Library

Image shows a two story building with a sign above the door reading "Groceries". A for sale sign is posted on the building. The building is built into a hill and stone walls extend from either side of the building.

Grinding stone

Grinding stone

Providence Public Library

Image of a possible grinding wheel alongside a river. A stone structure, possibly ruins are visible at the right edge of the image. A different view of the same location as seen in VM014_G0040.

Greenhouse

Greenhouse

Providence Public Library

Image shows a large greenhouse built onto the rear of a two story house. The front door is open on the clapboard sided house. A man and dog stand in the front yard. Potted plants are placed next to the house. Original box label reads "R.W. Park, [illeg.] Farm, [illeg.], H.H., Ice pictures, Jan. 1915"

Green house on rear of house

Green house on rear of house

Providence Public Library

Image of a greenhouse attached to the rear of a residential building. Widows of the greenhouse are open and plants are growing inside. A shovel and crates lean against the exterior of the greenhouse. Original box label reads "[illeg.] Price Garden C., 1916"

Gravestone

Gravestone

Providence Public Library

Image of the gravestone of James Thomas in North Burial Ground. A high wooden fence lined with bushes is seen along the side of the cemetery.

Gravesite of John Greene

Gravesite of John Greene

Providence Public Library

Image shows the gravesite of John Greene, an early settler of Rhode Island. The big stone on the right is identified on the back of the glass plate as belonging to John Greene.

Grave of William Warner Hoppin

Grave of William Warner Hoppin

Providence Public Library

Image shows headstones lined, including the grave of RI Governor William Warner Hoppin in Swan Point Cemetery. Original box label reads "Sweet"

Grave of Thomas Axton Richards

Grave of Thomas Axton Richards

Providence Public Library

Image shows the Grave of Thomas Axton Richards. Small floral arrangements and an American flag decorate the ground around the headstone. Original box label reads "Sweet"

Grave of Seth Padelford

Grave of Seth Padelford

Providence Public Library

Image shows the grave of RI Governor Seth Padelford in Swan Point Cemetery. The governor's large headstone dwarfs the neighboring headstones; Original box label reads "Sweet"

Grave of Royal C. Taft

Grave of Royal C. Taft

Providence Public Library

Image shows the grave of RI Governor Royal C. Taft in Swan Point Cemetery. Original box label reads "Sweet"

Grave of Nicholas Cooke

Grave of Nicholas Cooke

Providence Public Library

Image shows the grave of RI Governor Nicholas Cooke in North Burial Ground. James Arnold and another man attempt to hid from the camera behind a shrub next to Cook's grave. Original box label reads "Sweet"

Grave of Mayor Bridgham

Grave of Mayor Bridgham

Providence Public Library

Image shows the large headstone of Mayor Samuel W. Bridgham. An iron fence separates the plot from the rest of the cemetery.

Grave of James Y. Smith

Grave of James Y. Smith

Providence Public Library

Image shows the grave of RI Governor James Y. Smith in Swan Point Cemetery.; Original box label reads "Sweet"

Grave of James Thomas

Grave of James Thomas

Providence Public Library

Image of the back side of the gravestone of James Thomas in North Burial Ground, Providence.

Grave of James Thomas

Grave of James Thomas

Providence Public Library

Image of the gravestone of James Thomas in North Burial Ground, Providence.

Grave of Henry Bowen Anthony

Grave of Henry Bowen Anthony

Providence Public Library

Image shows the grave of RI governor Henry Bowen Anthony. The headstone is a large rock with plaque. Vines grown around the headstone. Original box label reads "Sweet"