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

Darlington Coal Company

Darlington Coal Company

Providence Public Library

A man and a child sitting in a carriage drawn by two horses in front of an open door at Darlington Coal Co.

Damage Control Drill

Damage Control Drill

Providence Public Library

Image shows OCS students performing a damage control drill. Back of photograph reads: "Damage control has often kept a naval vessel afloat through seriously crippled by enemy torpedoes, bombs or gunfire. In a small building, a model (full scale) of the below deck compartments are filled with water at a given signal and the students must battle with the flood to save the ship from sinking by draining the incoming water and replacing damaged walls or bracing them up to prevent the seas from entering. Four of the OCS students remove one of the pumps from a compartment of the stricken USS Buttercup (nickname for the ship model) after successfully saving the ship from sinking. Chief Petty Officer Emmon E. Bayless of National City, California, Supervises the students in their efforts."

Dam

Dam

Providence Public Library

Image shows water cascading over rocks, flowing from a small dam in the background.

Dam

Dam

Providence Public Library

Image shows water cascading over rocks, flowing from a small dam in the background.

Daggett House

Daggett House

Providence Public Library

View from across a pond of the Daggett House in Daggett Park. A boat launch is seen on the shore of the pond.

Custom House

Custom House

Providence Public Library

Street view of the Custom House and surrounding businesses at the future site of the Turks Head Building. Signs for businesses include Clemence Bros & Co., J.R. Day Job Printing, C.S. Durfee Insurance, and R.E. Smith & Co. Coal & Wood.

Custom House

Custom House

Providence Public Library

Custom House seen from opposite corner of the street. People are seen gathered outside, and a commercial building is visible on the left of the frame.

Curry & Richards Building

Curry & Richards Building

Providence Public Library

The Curry & Richards Building seen from the opposite corner of the street. Signs are seen on the building advertising Cabinet Furniture; L. Paris, Tailor; Hunt & Brothers; Cory Brothers; and Piano-Fortes. People are seen gathered outside of the building.

Crown Hotel

Crown Hotel

Providence Public Library

Crown Hotel seen from the opposite side of the street. Pedestrians and different forms of transportations are on the street outside the building.

Crown Carving from Ship Endeavour, Newport

Image shows a wooden carving of a crown that is now attached to a wooden plaque. The plaque states that the crown carving is from the stern of the Ship "Endeavour".

Crowd on Sidewalk

Crowd on Sidewalk

Providence Public Library

Image shows pedestrians walking on sidewalk in front of Shepard's department store. A large clock is on the sidewalk.

Crescent Park

Crescent Park

Providence Public Library

Aerial view of Crescent Park, an amusement park on the waterfront. A roller coaster, carousel, and dock are seen among buildings and trees.

Crescent Park

Crescent Park

Providence Public Library

View of people watching boats going down a water slide at Crescent Park.

Crescent Park

Crescent Park

Providence Public Library

View of people watching boats going down a water slide at Crescent Park.

Crescent Park

Crescent Park

Providence Public Library

Aerial view of Crescent Park, showing numerous buildings and paths, and a pier into the water.

Crescent Park

Crescent Park

Providence Public Library

Aerial view of Crescent Park, showing numerous buildings and paths, a roller coaster, and a pier into the water.

Crawford Street Bridge

Crawford Street Bridge

Providence Public Library

Aerial view of the Crawford Street Bridge over the Providence River, looking toward the Amica Building and other large buildings.

Cranston coal mine

Cranston coal mine

Providence Public Library

View from across a grassy yard of construction at a coal mine. One existing building stands next to the framework for a larger building next to it, and piles of lumber are in the foreground.

Covered Surrey

Covered Surrey

Providence Public Library

Side view of a four-wheeled covered carriage, seen in front of a house and a car in its driveway.

Covered railroad bridge

Covered railroad bridge

Providence Public Library

View along tracks of a covered railroad bridge, destroyed in 1955 by hurricane Diane. Two people are seen walking out of the bridge.

Cove, Providence

Cove, Providence

Providence Public Library

Rooftop view of Providence from City Hall, looking north over railroad tracks and the west end of the railroad station, Providence Cove, and buildings in the distance. The west end of the train station is at far right.

Cove, Newport

Cove, Newport

Providence Public Library

Image shows the rears of houses facing Newport Harbor. Harbor is in foreground. A figure stands behind wooden fence in center left of photo.

Court House

Court House

Providence Public Library

View from a tall building downtown of the Providence County Courthouse. A park and parking lot are in the foreground, and buildings on College Hill are seen in the background. The photograph is mounted on a board with VM013_FIC0465 and VM013_FIC0467.

Couple on Boat

Couple on Boat

Providence Public Library

Image shows a couple on a boat looking at a sailboat in the water. The woman wears her hair pulled back in a scarf and is taking a photograph of the sailboat.

Corsair, J.P. Morgan, Newport

Corsair, J.P. Morgan, Newport

Providence Public Library

Image shows the yacht "Corsair", owned by J.P. Morgan in water near Newport, RI. A smaller boat is in front of the Corsair

Corsair

Corsair

Providence Public Library

Image shows the yacht "Corsair", owned by J.P. Morgan in water near Newport, RI. The yacht leaves a large wake in its trail.