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

Arkwright Mill

Arkwright Mill

Providence Public Library

Image of the Arkwright Mill in Fiskeville, established in 1809 by James DeWolf. The image shows a long building with a weathervane atop a cupola. A ladder is affixed to the exterior of the building and two men are standing outside.

Arkwright Mill

Arkwright Mill

Providence Public Library

Image of the Arkwright Mill in Fiskeville, established in 1809 by James DeWolf. The image shows a long building with a weathervane atop a cupola. A ladder is affixed to the exterior of the building and two men are standing outside.

Arcade, Weybosset St., Providence

Arcade, Weybosset St., Providence

Providence Public Library

The Arcade, seen from the Weybosset Street side. Several people are seen posing outside of the Arcade, and buildings with awnings are seen down the street.

Arcade, Providence

Arcade, Providence

Providence Public Library

Image of the Providence Arcade on Westminster Street. A.E. Alden's photo studio is advertised on the front steps. A woman is standing in between columns, and another figure is sitting on the steps to her left.

Antique vehicle

Antique vehicle

Providence Public Library

View from the sidewalk of two men riding in an antique car along a street lined with bare trees.

Antique cars on display

Antique cars on display

Providence Public Library

People looking at a row of antique cars parked in front of trees on a hill.

Antique Auto Tour

Antique Auto Tour

Providence Public Library

A row of people in period costume outside of a brick building identified as St. Germain's Store, watching and waving at an antique car driving by as part of a tour from Woonsocket to Westerly.

Antique Auto Tour

Antique Auto Tour

Providence Public Library

Image shows a man driving an antique car between signs, in a parking lot. Other antique cars are visible in the background as part of a tour from Woonsocket to Westerly. A crowd of people look on.

Annual Indian Convention

Annual Indian Convention

Providence Public Library

Two Native American men in ornate traditional dress, including feathered headdresses that extend to the ground. One is giving a string of beads to the other, who holds a pipe. A blanket is on the ground between them, and a Native American woman looks on in the background.

Annual Indian Convention

Annual Indian Convention

Providence Public Library

Four Native American men standing in front of the Narragansett Indian Church, a stone building with an American flag hanging from its side. Three are in ornate traditional dress, including headdresses, and one, passing a pipe to another, is wearing more European style dress.

Annual Indian Convention

Annual Indian Convention

Providence Public Library

Two Native American women kneeling on the ground to clean an animal hide, as one man looks on. Two other people talk in the background, in front of several wigwams.

Annual Indian Convention

Annual Indian Convention

Providence Public Library

View from a distance of Native Americans in traditional dress, in front of a longhouse and wigwams. One is seen at a fire, others are seen in a group, with one holding a hide.

Annual Indian Convention

Annual Indian Convention

Providence Public Library

Three Native American men standing together, in front of a large tree. Two are facing one another, with their right hands raised. All three are wearing ornate traditional dress, including feathered headdresses.

Annual Indian Convention

Annual Indian Convention

Providence Public Library

A Native American man with his face and turned upward and arms extended above his head, in front of tree. He is wearing traditional dress, including a headdress with horns and beaded necklaces.

Annual Indian Convention

Annual Indian Convention

Providence Public Library

Interior view of several Native Americans sitting near a fire inside a longhouse. Several features of the building have labels describing what is seen, including a wall of branches and corn drying in the fire. Decorations are seen along one of the walls, including weavings and drawings.

Annual Indian Convention

Annual Indian Convention

Providence Public Library

A group of Narragansett Indians in traditional dress sitting and standing outside of the Narragansett Indian Church, a small stone building, with an American flag hanging on its side. Other people in presumably contemporary, nonnative dress are seen in the background.

Annual Indian Convention

Annual Indian Convention

Providence Public Library

Three Native American men in traditional dress in a dugout canoe, seen from the shore. The photograph appears to be collaged together and then printed.

Annual Indian Convention

Annual Indian Convention

Providence Public Library

A large group of Native Americans posing for a photograph, in both traditional and European style dress. Two small children are seen at the front of the group, and a small fire is lit in the foreground.

Annual Indian Convention

Annual Indian Convention

Providence Public Library

A group of Native Americans, in both traditional and European style dress, standing around a small fire. Several men in feathered headdresses are kneeling around the fire, some with pipes. The Narragansett Indian Church is seen in the background, a stone building with an American flag hanging from its side.

Annual Indian Convention

Annual Indian Convention

Providence Public Library

A Native American man seen in profile, with his face turned upward and arms extended out, in front of a hedge or wall covered in ivy. He is wearing traditional dress, including a feathered headdress that extends to the ground. In the background, others look on, including a child.

Annual Indian Convention

Annual Indian Convention

Providence Public Library

Several Narragansett Indians in traditional dress standing outside of a longhouse, during a convention. A ladder up the side of the long house has a sign that reads "Keep Off."

Annual Indian Convention

Annual Indian Convention

Providence Public Library

Several Native Americans in traditional dress standing outside of the exit to a longhouse.

Annual Indian Convention

Annual Indian Convention

Providence Public Library

View from a distance of Native Americans in traditional dress spread out across a village, with a longhouse and wigwams in the background. One man in the foreground and another man have their right arms extended toward one another.

Annual Indian Convention

Annual Indian Convention

Providence Public Library

Three Native American men in ornate traditional dress. Two wear headdresses decorated with feathers extending to the ground, and one in the center is wrapped in a blanket and wears a headdress with horns. They stand in front of a stone wall with an American flag hanging from it.

Annual Holiday Lighting

Annual Holiday Lighting

Providence Public Library

Image shows the USS Barry (DD-933) decorated for the annual holiday lighting. The ship is decorated with strings of lights, a Christmas tree, and a lighted snowman. A large wreath hangs on the ship's hull.

Annual convention in South County

Annual convention in South County

Providence Public Library

A group of Narragansett Indians in traditional dress posing outside of the Narragansett Indian Church, a small stone building, with an American flag hanging on its side.

Annual convention in South County

Annual convention in South County

Providence Public Library

View down the length of a long dinner table outside, with Native Americans in traditional and European style dress standing and seated around the table.

Annual convention in South County

Annual convention in South County

Providence Public Library

A group of Narragansett Indians in traditional dress posing outside of the Narragansett Indian Church, a small stone building, with an American flag hanging on its side.

Annual convention in South County

Annual convention in South County

Providence Public Library

A group of Narragansett Indians in traditional dress posing outside of the Narragansett Indian Church, a small stone building, with an American flag hanging on its side.

Annual convention in South County

Annual convention in South County

Providence Public Library

A Native American man and woman in ornate traditional dress posing by a thicket of small trees. The man is wrapping a blanket around the woman. Others are seen in the background, including another man in a headdress, holding a pipe.