William Arnold (collection namesake)
Son of Nicholas Arnold and Alice Gully Arnold, William Arnold was born June 24, 1587, in Ilchester, Somerset, England. He married Christian Peake in 1610, and they had four children: Elizabeth, Benedict, Joanna, and Stephen. Arnold sailed with his family from Dartmouth, England to America on May 1, 1635. With Roger Williams, Arnold was one of the founding settlers of Rhode Island, and settled in Providence. After several years, he moved and formed the settlement known as Pawtuxet, now a part of Cranston. Arnold died during King Philip’s War sometime between1675-1676.
Frederick Augustus Arnold (collector)
Son of Russell G. Arnold and Sarah P. Arnold, Frederick A. Arnold was born March 21, 1841. He served in the Second Rhode Island Infantry Regiment during the Civil War and later served as Secretary for the Second Regiment Rhode Island Voluntary Infantry Veteran Association. He worked in the water department for the City of Providence, and was a well-known figure among Providence Public Library users of the time. He was also a member of the Rhode Island Historical Society. Arnold died August 8, 1924.
The William Arnold Autograph Collection is part of a larger collection of books and manuscripts dealing with American, especially Rhode Island, history. The entire collection was donated to the Providence Public Library in 1923 by Mr. Frederick Augustus Arnold. In an effort to support collections at other Providence libraries, the following transfers of materials were made: items representing “Americana” before the year 1801 were transferred to the John Carter Brown Library; items relating to American poetry were transferred to the John Hay Library; and publications concerning the Arnold family were transferred to the Rhode Island Historical Society. The remaining materials constitute the William Arnold Autograph Collection. The collection was named for William Arnold, an ancestor of Frederick A. Arnold. The collection consists mainly of legal documents and correspondence, but also includes poems, portraits, business records, and ephemera dating from 1655 to 1922. The collection deals mainly with United States history, particularly that of Rhode Island.
The collection is arranged in alphabetical order by name/document title.
The Providence Public Library owns the property rights to this collection. Researchers are requested to cite the collection name and the Providence Public Library in all bibliographic references.
William Arnold Autograph Collection, MSS 016, Providence Public Library, Special Collections.
This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Providence Public Library Special Collections department.
The entire collection was donated to the Providence Public Library in 1923 by Mr. Frederick Augustus Arnold.
The collection was processed in 2013 by Stephanie Knott.
Providence Public Library Special Collections: Rhode Island MSS 010, 1723-1939.
Providence Public Library Special Collections: Rhode Island Ephemera
In Spanish. Letter to an unknown recipient. Stamped "Presidencia, Republica de Filipinas."
Letter to an unknown recipient. Statement of debt.
Concerns sales of his American biographical and historical dictionary.
Aboard His Majesty's Sloop of War Ring Dove. Letter mentions both Bristol and Newport.
Poem about daughter’s marriage.
Commission of Henry Anthony, Esq. as Rail Road Commissioner in Rhode Island. Signed by Governor Henry B. Anthony, and Secretary Chris B. Robbins. Certified by Charles Hart, Justice of the Peace.
Request for information on the Pawtuxet region.
Order of payment to Daniel Branch for attendance at RI Superior Court.
Receipt for a bond from William Wood to Reuben Sprague.
Letter to daughter visiting Uncle Whipple.
Request to meet to discuss a common ancestor, William Arnold.
Letter concerning Arnold's poor eyesight. Request to leave service?
Draft. Payment ordered to Timothy Phelps. Address listed is that of Gen. Benedict Arnold in London, father of Richard.
Draft. Filled out printed form. Payment ordered to Timothy Phelps. Address listed is that of Benedict Arnold in London, father of Richard.
Draft. Payment ordered to Timothy Phelps. Address listed is that of Benedict Arnold in London, father of Richard.
Bill of sale of a negro man named Harry.
Letter accompanying the application of Edward William Brown for a gunner's warrant. Refers to Captain Stephen Decatur Sr.
Concerns Bancroft's arrival on Monday. Expresses thanks to J.Y. Mason.
Regarding him sending a copy of speech made at dedication of monument in Plymouth to Bates.
In French. Draft on the French Navy. Includes small etching of Count de Barras.
Inquiring about burial place of Susannah (Staples) Arnold, wife of Philip Arnold. Mentions their daughter Hannah (Arnold) Edmunds.
Song about the Battle of Bunker Hill. Signed at end "Mr. Almy Arnold present".
Draft on the Committee of Safety for payment to Miles Wister for two tons of iron.
“Black Eyed Susan”, a poem.
Acceptance of invitation to attend reunion of Second RI Volunteers and the Battery A Veterans Association.
Record of account with post office.
Request to borrow RI manuscripts for RI historical exhibit at Jamestown Tercentenary celebration. Mentions John T. Blodgett. Written on yellow paper with letterhead. Four pages.
Inquiring whether Arnold had ever seen a copy of the first Providence edition of Matthew Bunn's Narrative. Includes newspaper clipping.
Includes inquiries regarding the Warren Association Minutes and the Charter of the 1730 Rhode Island Digest. Typed letter.
Bond posted for privateer James Munro, commander of the Ship General Washington. Signed by both Brown and Munro.
Deed of sale of a parcel of land in South Kingston to Walter Watson.
Draft on RI General Treasury to be paid to Edward Bosworth for transporting stone to the court house.
War Office instructions regarding examination of shoes.
Bill of sale. Signed by John Crane.
Proclamation of Thanksgiving Day in Rhode Island as Nov. 28, 1867. Printed text including a red seal with the word Hope.
Warrant for Ebenezer Pitts for selling alcohol without a license to Mary Rowland.
Lease. Signed by John Brown, Mordecai Gist, and Benjamin Rogers. Includes small etching of Gist.
Action for debt. Signed by James Honeyman.
Acceptance of an invitation to a Veteran Association dinner. Written on House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. letterhead.
The Children in the Woods, poem. Based a true story of two orphans, Jon and Jane, who were killed by "ruffians" at the order of their uncle, who hoped to inherit the estate. Signed "Sally Ann Arnold's".
Receipt for a draft.
Certificate of a patent granted to Elisha Miner Pomeroy.
Warrants for expenses owed.
Certificate for payment of the Deputy Pay Master of the Forces, William Salmond. Sent from Spanish Town, Jamaica.
Acknowledging the receipt of vouchers.
Deed for a pew for Theodore B. Talbot. Signed by James Lewis.
Lien against Sylvester Woodman. Signed Josias Lyndon. Includes a card with a portrait of the Prince of Wales on reverse.
Praising his memorial address to A.E. Burnside. Includes portrait of Curtis.
Statement concerning Robert M. Fryers and his process of refining noble metals.
Declining attendance at the annual meeting of the 2nd RI Volunteers.
Certificate stating that his company did not draw any supplies.
In French. Draft on French Navy.
To the Governor of the State of Rhode Island. Petition for appointment to the office of Commissioner.
Regarding inability to attend Republican rally. Mentions Henry Clay. 3 pages, each page with small embossment in upper left hand corner.
In French. Includes portrait of Charles Henri Comte D'Estaing.
Survey of land.
Requisition for the payment of the officers and crew of the ship. Signed Isaac Chauncey.
Appreciation for praise of his Parables.
To his dear friend Nell. Letter accompanying tickets in aid of the Home for Aged Colored Women.
Signature mounted on larger sheet with engraved portrait of George II.
Requesting copies of Proceedings in court martial of Fitz-John Porter.
Asking for date of enlistment of Cyril L. Morse and Jonathan Nichols.
Deed.
Report of petition of Charles Dudley for an appeal. Signed by Henry Ward and Stephen Cottrell.
Account with O.C.W. Arnold.
Regarding military affairs, particularly removal of militia from Sheerness and enlisting soldiers from German prisoners of war.
Family letter inquiring after several relatives.
Appreciation for information received in prior letter.
Regarding proposals for relief of U.S. treasury. Held together by a grommet in upper left hand corner.
Letter stating he will not leave town unless starved out. Religious theme.
Deed.
Bill. Signed by William Greene.
Record of provision return.
Military pass for Charles Muencheur.
Bill of sale.
Draft for payment to Major Ball for restrained rations.
To contracting Commissary at Fort Cumberland. Concerns lack of provisions for troops involved in Whiskey Rebellion.
Accepting invitation to annual meeting of 2nd RI Volunteers.
Accepting invitation to 11th reunion of 2nd RI Volunteers. Written on State of Rhode Island letterhead.
Deed.
Requisition for Parliament at Nancy.
Orders to assemble his detachment ready to march.
Draft on the RI General Treasury for payment to Henry Bull.
Deposition. Signed by Edward Rawson.
Meeting of the purchases, moderated by Daniel Abbot. Signed by Stephen Hopkins.
Action for debt against Stephen Larkin of Westerly, RI. Signed by Daniel Updike.
In French. Certified copy of draft on French Ministry of War.
Deed of sale of land to John Allyn signed by Matthew Allyn.
Deed of sale of land to Samuel Allyn signed by Matthew Allyn.
Receipts from the founding members of Providence, including genealogical information. Signers include: Valentine Whitman, Richard Waterman, Mercy Waterman, Thomas Walling, Edward Smith, Benjamin Smith, Nicholas Power, James Mathewson, Andrew Harris, Thomas Harris, William Harris, Henry Harris, and Henry Esten. 10 pages.
Request to attend meeting.
Draft on the General Treasury for payment to Daniel Jenckes. Signed by J. Gardner, Tho. Cranston, and Peter Bours.
Draft on the General Treasury for payment to Joseph Wanton. Signed by Henry Ward.
Draft on the General Treasury for payment to William Bradford (Deputy Governor).
Ten certificates of enrollment. All signed by Robert M. Bennett. Names on certificates include: Samuel Dyer, Christopher Tanner, Calleb Rice, George Well, Rice Miller, G. Capron, Henry Capron, J. Tanner, John Capron, and John Smith.
Muster roll of Captain Asa Prince's company. Signed by Andrew Brown.
Sent to the Governor of Maryland. Letter requesting that important mail be sent express.
Concerns Varnum's refusal to sign law regularizing marriages in the Northwest Territory. Mentions S.H. Parsons.
Concerns his appointment to settle accounts of New York State with the US government. Will begin in April unless Robert Morris' resignation alters the system.
Requesting pension and giving a history of his military and public service.
Denying acceptance of appointment as commissioner of accounts for New York State. Mentions Robert Morris.
Certificate supporting claim of three RI regiments to payment by the US government. Sent to Col. Crary?
Receipt for public document.
Certificate of enlistment in the Regiment of Artillery. Signed by Henry Burbeck and John Crane.
Draft for payment to Jonathan Arnold for service to the hospital.
Morning, noon, and night. Poem.
Dimensions of a vessel load of oak wood to be delivered to Tousard in Newport.
Trial (Sloop). Vessel's manifest. Signed by Joseph Crandell, Master of the ship. Certificate for part of cargo signed by Thomas Arnold. Two documents.
Bill for rations.
Signature. Includes portrait of Daniel Turner, MD (Peter's father).
Instructions to captains and commanders of private armed vessels. Eleven numbered instructions. Extract from the minutes of a meeting by Charles Thomson. Signed by Henry Ward and James Munro.
Regarding signals to be observed by commanders in the Continental Navy. Signed by John Browne and John P. Rathburne.
Regarding the fact that Newport cannot entertain the 2nd RI Regiment except on July 4th.
Declining attendance at the meeting of the 2nd RI Volunteers.
Poem. A Second Psalm of Life.
Draft. Mentions Taunton, Bristol, and Little Compton.
Deposition. Signed by John Dexter, Justice of the Peace. Mentions Warwick and Boston. Mentions Gideon Croford.
Orders from the Navy Department.
Stating he will obtain requested autographs as soon as possible. He has been very busy in valley of Virginia with Sheridan.
Regarding an obstruction across a channel. The weather is delaying the repair, as the boats cannot work. Mentions the immediate procurement of a memorandum of materials for five ships.
Congratulations on the capture of the Sloops Henry and Swift and many British Troops. Includes list of prisoners captured from both ships.
Regarding safe return from trip to visit him. Includes family details. Whipple is married to Arnold's sister.
Family letter to his parents.
Poem. The Last Flowers.
Requesting to make changes to a manuscript. Mentions articles about Edgar Allan Poe.
Includes copy of Edgar Allan Poe bibliography, but asks for it returned. Has known of one or two copies of Tamerlane. Includes etching of a bust of Whitman.
Regarding sending a check for a book.
Asking him to allow George G. Wolkins to see his manuscript of Winslow's Hypocrisie Unmasked. Typed letter on The John Carter Brown Library letterhead.
Concerns 1639 Psalter for sale at Libbie's.
List of manuscripts which he will keep for exhibition at John Carter Brown Library.
Letter to unidentified recipient. Giving sources for information on early American imprints.
Regarding joining Century Club if he can find enough money for the fees. Mentions George Arnold. Includes portrait of Winter.
Promissory note promising to pay Samuel Allyn.
Assignment of balance of legacy to brother-in-law Samuel Allyn.
Summons for Jonathan Mit of New Haven.