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

Dining room

Dining room

Providence Public Library

Image shows an interior view of a dining room. A potted plant sits on a round dining table in the center of the room. A china cabinet is filled with table ware on the left side of the room. Decorative plates are hung around the room and above the mantel of a fireplace. Lace curtains hang in the windows.

Digging potatoes

Digging potatoes

Providence Public Library

Image of a group of people, possibly a family including young children, digging potatoes up from the field. Baskets full of potatoes are seen on the ground.

Diamond Hill Reservoir Gatehouse

Diamond Hill Reservoir Gatehouse

Providence Public Library

Image of a woman standing on a road outside of the Diamond Hill Reservoir gatehouse. The gatehouse is a small granite building with a prominent chimney and tower which operated as part of the Pawtucket Water Works. Original box label read "Dia. Hill-99".

Dexter Farm house, North Providence

Dexter Farm house, North Providence

Providence Public Library

Image of a house with clapboard siding identified as the Dexter Farm House in North Providence in which James Newell Arnold lived. A person in a white gown is seen looking out of one of the windows.

Demonstration on athletic field

Demonstration on athletic field

Providence Public Library

Image taken from the bleachers of a large group of girls in uniform in rows and columns on an athletic field. Original box label read "B.U. Pageant, 1914"

Demonstration on athletic field

Demonstration on athletic field

Providence Public Library

Image taken from the bleachers of a large group of girls in uniform in a large ring around an athletic field. Original box label read "B.U. Pageant, 1914"

Demonstration on athletic field

Demonstration on athletic field

Providence Public Library

Image taken from the bleachers of a large group of girls in uniform in a large ring around an athletic field. Original box label read "B.U. Pageant, 1914"

Demonstration on athletic field

Demonstration on athletic field

Providence Public Library

Image taken from the bleachers of a large group of girls in uniform in a large ring around an athletic field. Original box label read "B.U. Pageant, 1914"

Demonstration on athletic field

Demonstration on athletic field

Providence Public Library

Image taken from the bleachers of a large group of girls in uniform in a large ring around an athletic field. Original box label read "B.U. Pageant, 1914"

Daniel Congdon house, Cranston

Daniel Congdon house, Cranston

Providence Public Library

Image of the Daniel Congdon house in Cranston showing a small clapboard sided building with small trees in the front lawn. Note reads "Daniel Congdon house in State Inst. Grounds."

Daniel Congdon house in Cranston

Daniel Congdon house in Cranston

Providence Public Library

Image of the Daniel Congdon house in Cranston. Plants and trees grown in the small yard surrounding the house. The image is out of focus.

Dam

Dam

Providence Public Library

Image taken from over the water of a small, wide dam. A man is standing in the water, near a stone structure. Trees line both sides of the water.

Dairy cows

Dairy cows

Providence Public Library

Image shows a group of dairy cows.

Dairy cows

Dairy cows

Providence Public Library

Image shows a group of dairy cows.

Crops

Crops

Providence Public Library

Image shows crops growing in rows. Houses and trees are in the background.

Crops

Crops

Providence Public Library

Image shows crops growing in a garden or farm. A fence encloses the land. Original box label read "G.P.S.C., 1918"

Croplands

Croplands

Providence Public Library

Image shows a vast stretch of croplands. A variety of crops are planted in rows and sectioned, and span into the distance. A residential area is visible behind trees that line the cropland. Original box label read "G.P.S.C., 1918"

Croplands

Croplands

Providence Public Library

Image shows two people standing in a field of crops. Original box label read "Gov. P.G.C, 1918-1"

Croplands

Croplands

Providence Public Library

Image shows crops growing in rows in a field. The crops in the center of the photograph are sparse. The crops to the left and right are more dense. Original box label read "G.P.S.C., 1918"

Croplands

Croplands

Providence Public Library

Image shows crops growing in rows in a large field. Original box label read "G.P.S.C., 1918"

Croplands

Croplands

Providence Public Library

Image shows a vast stretch of croplands. A street with houses are visible in the background right of the photograph.

Croplands

Croplands

Providence Public Library

Image shows people and children standing in a large field of crops. Houses are visible in the background.

Croplands

Croplands

Providence Public Library

Image shows crops growing in rows on a vast stretch of farmland. Houses are visible behind trees on the opposite side of the fields.

Croplands

Croplands

Providence Public Library

Image shows women and children standing among crops in a large field. Laborers and a horse are visible working in the field in the distance.

Croplands

Croplands

Providence Public Library

Image shows people and children standing in a large field of crops. White tents are visible in a field in the background.

Croplands

Croplands

Providence Public Library

Image shows people and children standing in a large field of crops. White tents are visible in a field in the background.

Croplands

Croplands

Providence Public Library

Image shows a dirt patch with young crops planted in rows. Original box label read "Gov. P.G.C, 1918-1"

Croplands

Croplands

Providence Public Library

Image shows crops growing in rows on a vast stretch of farmland. Laborers work in the fields. A street with houses run behind the farmland.

Croplands

Croplands

Providence Public Library

Image shows a variety of crops growing in a large field. Original box label read "Gov. P.G.C, 1918-1"

Croplands

Croplands

Providence Public Library

Image shows crops growing in rows on a vast stretch of farmland. Houses are visible behind trees on the opposite side of the fields.