Rhode Island photograph collection

The Rhode Island Photograph Collection is a collection of photographs that document the landscape and life of Rhode Islanders across the state from the mid 19th century through the 20th century. The collection grew over time as the Providence Public Library had photographs donated to them from a variety of donors. There are an estimated 6,000 plus images in this collection.
This collection is part of Providence Public Library Digital Collections, hosted by Providence Public Library.

Items in this collection

Snow Covered Woods

Snow Covered Woods

Providence Public Library

Image shows a wooded area covered in snow. A house is visible in the background.

Snow Covered Woods

Snow Covered Woods

Providence Public Library

Image shows a stream running through snow-covered woods. Houses are visible in the background of photograph.

Snow Covered Woods

Snow Covered Woods

Providence Public Library

Image shows a stream running through snow-covered woods. The stream runs into a body of water in the foreground of photograph.

Snow Covered Woods

Snow Covered Woods

Providence Public Library

Image shows a stream running through snow-covered woods. Houses are visible in the background of photograph.

Snow Covered Woods

Snow Covered Woods

Providence Public Library

Image shows a stream winding through snow-covered woods.

Snow Covered Pier

Snow Covered Pier

Providence Public Library

Image shows snow covered piers extending into a body of water. Houses are visible across the body of water. Ducks are swimming in the water.

Snow Covered Dam

Snow Covered Dam

Providence Public Library

Image shows a dam covered in snow. The water running down the dam is partially frozen. Snow lays on the ground in foreground and is visible on roof tops of houses in the background.

Snow Bird - Plow

Snow Bird - Plow

Providence Public Library

Image shows a snow bird plow followed by a trolley, plowing snow in the streets of Newport. Three men with shovels stand next to plow.

Smith Street

Smith Street

Providence Public Library

Rooftop view of houses and industrial buildings across the canal. Carriages and pedestrians are seen along the streets, and signs for businesses include Providence Belting Company, Uneeda Biscuit, and Donovan Bros.

Smith Street

Smith Street

Providence Public Library

Rooftop view of houses and industrial buildings across the canal. Carriages and pedestrians are seen along the streets, and signs for businesses include Providence Belting Company, Uneeda Biscuit, and Donovan Bros.

Slocum's, Bellevue Ave

Slocum's, Bellevue Ave

Providence Public Library

Image shows the Harold Brown Villa. The house is partially hidden by large trees.

Slater Park Band Stand

Slater Park Band Stand

Providence Public Library

View from the shore of crowds of people ice skating on a frozen pond. A small band stand, a covered structure supported by columns, is in the middle of the pond.

Slater Mill

Slater Mill

Providence Public Library

A man and a boy standing on the opposite shore of the Blackstone River from Slater Mill. The boy is looking through a video camera at the dam on the river.

Slater Mill

Slater Mill

Providence Public Library

View from the Blackstone River of Slater Mill on the bank of the river.

Slater Mill

Slater Mill

Providence Public Library

Image shows Slater Mill on Blackstone River. The mill building has a cupola on the roof above the front entrance and the river runs next to it.

Skiff, Newport

Skiff, Newport

Providence Public Library

Image shows a small flat bottomed boat (a skiff).

Sitting Room

Sitting Room

Providence Public Library

Interior view of a sitting room. Chairs are placed around the room. A decorative clock sit on a mantle above a fireplace on the back wall. Large windows are on the left side of room. Columns are in the center of the room. Paintings hang on the walls. Image is a copy of a photograph.

Sitting Room

Sitting Room

Providence Public Library

Interior view of a sitting room. Chairs are placed around the room. Two vases and a decorative clock sit on a mantle above a fireplace. Paintings hang on the walls. Image is a copy of a photograph.

Site of the Great Swamp Fight

Site of the Great Swamp Fight

Providence Public Library

An obelisk marks the location of the Great Swamp Fight which took place on December 19, 1675, during King Philip's War and resulted in the near annihilation of the Narragansett Indian tribe.

Site of Army & Navy YMCA, Newport

Site of Army & Navy YMCA, Newport

Providence Public Library

Image shows figures standing outside a cigar shop. A wooden cigar store indian statue stands outside shop on sidewalk.

Sisson (Henry Tillinghast) House

Sisson (Henry Tillinghast) House

Providence Public Library

Front and side view of people standing on the first floor porch of a stone mansion. The house has first and second story wrap-around porches and a large cupola.

Silver Spring Pump Station

Silver Spring Pump Station

Providence Public Library

View looking west across a pond showing the Silver Spring Pump Station, a small building on the shore. The rest of the pond is surrounded by trees.

Silver service set by Gorham Mfg. Co.

Silver service set by Gorham Mfg. Co.

Providence Public Library

Image of a black coffee silver service presented to the Battleship by the people of Rhode Island. Each piece of the set - the pot, sugar bowl and creamer - feature the state seal. The coffee pot also has a turkey neck spout. It's assumed that the ship presented was the U.S.S. Rhode Island.

Silver service set by Gorham Mfg. Co.

Silver service set by Gorham Mfg. Co.

Providence Public Library

Image of a silver coffee service set made by Gorham manufacturing presented to the U.S.S. Rhode Island. The set in the photo consists of twenty pieces: 5 trays, 8 serving stands, a punch bowl with ladle, 2 candelabras, and a coffee pot with creamer and sugar bowl.

Silver service by Gorham Mfg. Co.

Silver service by Gorham Mfg. Co.

Providence Public Library

Image of a silver tray presented to the U.S.S. Rhode Island made by Gorham Manufacturing Co. In the center of the service tray is an image if the Old Stone Mill in Newport, Rhode Island. The state seal appears on rococo style handles.