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

Girl on beach

Girl on beach

Providence Public Library

Image shows a girl sitting on a wooden structure on a beach. Sailboats sail in the background.

German History float in parade

German History float in parade

Providence Public Library

Image shows a German history float passing by the Central Fire Station during a Fourth of July parade in Providence RI. Costumed men guide horses pulling the parade float.

Gazebo

Gazebo

Providence Public Library

Image of a gazebo surrounded by plants and flowers in a park. Light snow covers the ground, and branches on trees are bent downward from ice. Original box label reads "Snow & Ice, '01"

Gathering under tent

Gathering under tent

Providence Public Library

Image of a group of people gathered under a tent in a playground. People are also seen away from the tent, on play equipment.

Gate

Gate

Providence Public Library

Image shows an wide driveway with an open gate. Vines grow on the stone wall on either side of the wooden gate.

Garden with greenhouses

Garden with greenhouses

Providence Public Library

Image shows crops growing in rows in a large garden. Two greenhouses are built in on the land. Original box label read "G.P.S.C., 1918"

Garden in front of house

Garden in front of house

Providence Public Library

Image of flower beds in the front yard of a two story house. Original box label reads "[illeg.] Price Garden C., 1916"

Garden

Garden

Providence Public Library

Image shows a large garden. A large house and barn are in the background. 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.

Garden

Garden

Providence Public Library

Image of a garden enclosed by a wooden fence made of tree branches. Flowers and crops grow in rows inside the garden and around the wooden fence. 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.

Garden

Garden

Providence Public Library

Image shows plants, shrubs and trees growing in a large mowed lawn. 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.

Garden

Garden

Providence Public Library

Image shows a plants growing in garden beds placed in the yard of a building partially visible on the right of image. 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.

Garden

Garden

Providence Public Library

Image shows a large garden in a residential area. Rows of young crops grow behind a house. Neighboring houses are in the background. Original box label read "G.P.S.C., 1918"

Garden

Garden

Providence Public Library

Image of plants growing in a garden plot. Buildings and trees are seen in the background. Original box label reads "[illeg.] Price Garden C., 1916"

Garden

Garden

Providence Public Library

Image shows the side yard of an unidentified building. The small manicured yard has flower beds and is enclosed by a picket fence and stone wall. 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.

Garden

Garden

Providence Public Library

Image shows a large garden. A house and barn are visible 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.

Garden

Garden

Providence Public Library

Image shows a plants growing in garden beds placed in the yard of a building partially visible on the right of image. 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.

Garden

Garden

Providence Public Library

Image shows a small garden. Crops grow in rows near a large tree. The garden grows next to a large field. Original box label read "Gov. P.G.C, 1918-1"

Garden

Garden

Providence Public Library

Image shows a variety of crops growing in a garden. Original box label read "G.P.S.C., 1918"

Garden

Garden

Providence Public Library

Image shows crops planted in rows in garden. Large trees grow near the garden, and a residential street is in the background. Original box label read "G.P.S.C., 1918"

Garden

Garden

Providence Public Library

Image of a garden enclosed by a wooden fence made of tree branches. Three trash bins stand at the foot of a tree inside the garden. Flowers grow in rows inside the garden and also grow around the wooden fence. Original box label reads "[illeg.] Price Garden C., 1916"

Garden

Garden

Providence Public Library

Image shows an aerial view of a small garden. Crops are planted in rows. Original box label reads "C. T[ill.] Garden, 1917"

Garden

Garden

Providence Public Library

Image shows plants, shrubs and trees growing in a large mowed lawn. 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.

Garden

Garden

Providence Public Library

Image shows a garden dense with a variety of plants. Original box label reads "C. T[ill.] Garden, 1917"

Garden

Garden

Providence Public Library

Image of a garden enclosed by a wooden fence made of tree branches. Flowers and crops grow in rows inside the garden and around the wooden fence. 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.

Garden

Garden

Providence Public Library

Image shows a garden dense with a variety of plants. Original box label reads "C. T[ill.] Garden, 1917"

Frozen fountain

Frozen fountain

Providence Public Library

Image shows a frozen fountain in the form of a small child holding an umbrella. The water cascading from the fountain is frozen. The pool of the fountain is frozen and the snow covers the ground. Snow covered large stones and trees are in the background. Original box label reads "R.W. Park, [illeg.] Farm, [illeg.], H.H., Ice pictures, Jan. 1915"

Front of house

Front of house

Providence Public Library

Image of a front of a house. The house is two-toned, with a darker color on the second level exterior. Three steps lead up to a porch, on which is a tall pole and possibly a plant.

Frigate Warren

Frigate Warren

Providence Public Library

Image shows a clipping with an illustration of the Frigate "Warren".

French Monument

French Monument

Providence Public Library

Image of the French Monument reading "La gratitude de Rhode Island" at North Burial Ground.