Historical Collections
Thanks to a century and a half of collecting, the Library is home to tens of thousands of historic books, manuscripts, photographs, ephemera, maps and other artifacts representing more than 4,000 years of human history and culture from around the world.
You can learn more about our collections in the sections below, but we encourage you to contact us and set up a visit, whether you're researching a topic for a class, publication or personal interest. Some of our materials are also available online. Many of our archival collections are described in finding aids available via RIAMCO (RI Archival and Manuscript Collections Online).
See below for a full alphabetical listing of available collection guides.
Full List of Collections
A
- AIDS Project RI collection
- David L. Aldrich business records
- Scrapbook on Allen Family Balloonists
- John B. Archer Collection
- Arnold Family Papers
- Edwin W. Arnold Correspondence
- James N. Arnold Collection
- James N. Arnold Image Collection
- Thomas Arnold letter book
- William Arnold Autograph Collection
- AS220 Collection
B
- Banigan House Photograph Album
- Robert Bonner scrapbook
- William J. Bradford Family Photograph Album
- John Edwin Brown letter to G. & C. Merriam
- Tristam Burges letter and ephemera
- Alfred June Burgess penmanship practice book
- William H. Burgess and Harriet Dunbar Burgess Collection
C
- John Hutchins Cady map collection
- John Hutchins Cady research scrapbooks
- Calligraphic alphabet writing book
- Mildred Frances Chase Photograph Album
- William E Chappel Scrapbook
- CitiArt Collection
- Committee for the Reception of the President to Providence records
- Benjamin H. Cook commonplace book
- Corset Advertising collection
- Lou Costa Collection on Fox Point
D
- Dailey family correspondence
- D.M. Dalton Architectural Photographs
- William Darrah correspondence
- Arthur W. Davis Yachting scrapbooks
- Kim Deacon collection
- Dresden Foil Textile Labels
E
F
G
H
- Dorothy Hackney Diary
- Harris Collection of Civil War Manuscripts
- Harris Collection of Civil War Ephemera
I
J
K
L
M
- Joseph Ellwood Macomber correspondence
- Harold Mason Photograph Collection
- Monday Morning Music Club records
N
- Florence Nelson Scrapbook
- Nicholson Collection of Whaling Photographs
- Nicholson Whaling Logbook Collection
- Nicholson Whaling Manuscript Collection
O
- Olneyville Free Public Library Associations records
- Collection of Orange Ephemera
- The Outlet Store collection
- Edward J. Ozog Collection
P
- William Padgett Photograph Collection
- Joseph and Elizabeth Pennell correspondence
- John H. Percival Magic Collection
- Eddie Poferl Tattoo Collection
- Portsmouth Grove Hospital Library Association records
- Potter & Williams Collection on Irish Culture, Broadside Ballads
- George W. Potter and Alfred Williams Memorial Manuscript Collection
- Providence Public Library Photograph Collection
Q
R
- David Wallis Reeves' American Band collection
- RI Mills and Mill Villages Photograph Collection
- Rhode Island Advertising Card collection
- Collection of Rhode Island architecture from the National Park Service, Historic American Buildings Survey records
- Rhode Island Development Council Type Block Collection
- Rhode Island Glass Plate Negative Collection
- Rhode Island Postcard collection
- Rhode Island Soldiers and Sailors Society
- Rhode Island Stereocard Collection
- Rhode Island Theatre Collection
- Rogue's Gallery Album
- Collection of Roller Rink Decals
S
- 2nd Rhode Island Infantry, Co. F. photographs
- Frank Sayles Photograph Collection
- Rita Scotti Papers
- Collection of Soapine advertising trade cards
- Collection of Soviet Design Scrapbooks
- Wilfred E. Stone Photograph Collection
- Sullivan House Photograph Album
T
- Tattoo Ephemera Collection
- Tattoo Flash & Artwork Collection
- Tattoo Photograph Collection
- Collection of Tattoo Trade Cards & Business Cards
- Textile Industry Labels & Ephemera
- Laurence E. Tilley Photograph Collection
- Tynietoy Dollhouse Furniture Collection
U
- Daniel Berkeley Updike Autograph Collection
- Daniel Berkeley Updike Correspondence
- Daniel Berkeley Updike History of Printing Ephemera Collection
- Collection of Updike Type Specimen Ephemera
- UPP Arts Collection