The Rhode Island manuscripts were separated from the Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection.
All manuscripts related to Rhode Island that do not fit into the main collections are added to this collection.
There are no restrictions on access. This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Providence Public Library Special Collections department.
Researchers are requested to cite the collection name and the Providence Public Library in all bibliographic references.
Rhode Island Manuscripts Collection, MSS010, Providence Public Library, Special Collections.
The Rhode Island Manuscript Collection contains papers having to do with, or related to, the state of Rhode Island. This can include documents related to the governance of the state, and personal manuscripts owned or created by residents, businesses and organizations of Rhode Island.
Collections are arranged in alphabetical order.
This collection has been added to by Providence Public Library Special Collections department over time.
Providence Public Library Special Collections, Miscellaneous Manuscripts and Ephemera, MSS015, 1672-1926.
Hope Valley Manufacturing Company of Richmond, Rhode Island. Consists mainly of insurance forms from various insurance companies (including Aetna, Roger Williams Insurance Company and Phoenix Insurance Company) checks, and business-related correspondence. Labeled "Hope Valley Manu, Plainville Mill, material originally found with Mawry letters."
Bound letterbook, copies of letters, handwritten. Thomas Arnold was a resident of Providence, Rhode Island.
Clipped merchant's agreement, signed by prominent Providence businessmen, including John Updike, Elisha Brown, John Brown, Nicholas Brown, and Samuel A. Abarn.
List of Books offered to the trade by Marshall, Brown and Co., No. 19 Market Street, Providence, RI. Flier with manuscript letter from John F. Brown to C. and G. Merriam, Booksellers, in Springfield, MA.
Letter from Tristan Burges to John DeWolf on extension of railroad service and its affect on shipping in Newport, RI and Fall River, MA with related ephemera including share document and shipping notices.
Invoices and checks to and from various companies and people (bulk from Rhode Island or to Rhode Islanders). Originally in folder labelled "Misc. Bills".
"A History of South Kingstown: with particular description of the Hornet’s Nest Company, and Cats Let out of the Bag" Original hand-written manuscript. Removed from the Rhode Island collection, call number RIColl 974.5 C73h 1806.
Commonplace book by Rhode Island resident Benjamin H. Cook. The book contains hand-copied poems, hymns and one recipe.
Signed letter from Calvin Coolidge (as Governor of Massachusetts) to Phi Gamma Delta of Providence, Rhode Island (University of Rhode Island). Gift of Walter Whitney, June 1967.
Correspondence from and to Providence, Rhode Island residents Charlotte Dailey and Albert Dailey. Please see C. Fiske Harris Collection of Civil War Manuscripts (Harris MSS) for Charlotte and Albert Dailey Civil War correspondence and manuscripts.
Letters from William Darrah. Bulk to his brother, Rufus E. Darrah, during William’s time aboard the USS Kearsarge. William Darrah a resident of Rhode Island
Oversized folder. Deed of sale of property within Providence, Rhode Island to Daniell Smith.
Letters to Helen Fitts, resident of Providence, Rhode Island from Arthur Leroy Bolton, Ernest Jamieson, Fred E. Stockwell, H. W. Burton. Material originally found with the Arnold Family Papers. Index of letters to Helen Fitts follows:
Date may be incorrect.
One bound volume. Financial journal of payments made by recipient and subject, includes time while he was governor of Rhode Island.
Letter to "Miss Candace" with sketch. Call number CH798r c. 2 on original folder.
Journal of guests of Moses Brown Ives and Ann A. Ives. Listed as 2nd volume. Water damaged. Located in half-width document case.
Letters (folder 1) and notes (folder 2) associated with President Andrew Jackson's visit to Providence in 1833. See Recent Acquisitions in Special Collections, Providence Public Library, January 2011 for details (included with manuscripts). No content written by Andrew Jackson is in this collection.
Will of Peleg Barker, Rhode Island resident, 1786 October 19. Record of sale of the Sloop Nancy (a confiscated slave ship) to Nicolas Peck, Rhode Island resident, 1803 July 18. [Reason for grouping of items not clear]
Letters to Joseph Ellwood Macomber of Rhode Island, mostly from family.
Correspondence from McSparran to the Town Council of South Kingston, Rhode Island, about a school.
Bound copybook of Isaac Paine (likely a resident of Rhode Island). Notebook with handwritten words repeated, presumably for penmanship. Includes written payment promise. Covers include illustration of the battle of New Orleans.
Letter to P. Whitin and Son.
One bound volume. Account book of Francis B. Read, a wholesale merchant in Providence, Rhode Island. Found in the Rhode Island collection, 2012.
Notes, correspondence, and ephemera including catalogs, business cards and price lists.
Logs of Rhode Island Schooner Little Joe and Sloop "Providence" includes Auction gallery descriptions.
Letter to Benjamin Bourne, US House of Representatives (Rhode Island Representative).
Sketchbook of locations in Rhode Island. Most sketches in pencil (on illustration with water color).
One manuscript. "Manifest of the Cargo on board the Sloop Ranger Wm. Ryon Master, burthen 35 20/90 of a Tons, bound from Providence for New York March 7th- 1794".
Handwritten journal. Chronicles the Dorr Rebellion. Includes clippings from newspapers and a set of labels from the Grinnell and Sons hardware store. Transcript of Dorr Rebellion text available.
One box, two bound volumes. Journals of American soldier John Rogers Vinton (1801-1847), volumes 1 (1839-1841) and 3 (1845-1847). Vinton was born in Providence, Rhode Island. Volume is digitized and available online via Flickr: http://j.mp/vintondiaries. Another journal by Vinton, covering 1827-1828 is at the University of Delaware Special Collections. Subject: Seminole War
True copy" of letter from Richard Ward, labeled "Capt. Powers' Company Copy, No. 5". Note with copy "letter from Governor and Commander in chief Providence Plantations - refers to - Decl of war by Her Majesty on Spain -- 10/19/1739 - deals w privateering.
Will of Bathsebee Woodsman of Little Compton, Rhode Island