US-RP-MSS032 Guide to the Olneyville Free Library Association Records1888-1968 Finding aid prepared by Crystal Johnson, 2015. Providence Public Library 2015 December 07
150 Empire StreetProvidence, RI 02903Tel: 401-455-8021Fax: 401-455-8065email: ricoll@provlib.org
Finding aid encoded by Stacie M. Parillo, 2015 December 07. English Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) English Providence Public Library Special Collections, Rhode Island Collection
150 Empire StreetProvidence, RI 02903Tel: 401-455-8021Fax: 401-455-8065email: ricoll@provlib.org
 Olneyville Free Library Association Olneyville Free Library Association Records 1888-1968 Olneyville Free Library Association Records 2 boxes (1.4 linear feet) The Olneyville Free Library Association Records include correspondence, financial ledgers, membership and board meeting minutes, mortgage bonds, receipts, wills and legal papers. MSS032 Historical note

The Olneyville Free Library was formed in 1875 and was originally located in the mill at 12 Hartford Avenue. This library was later annexed to the Town of Johnston in 1898. In 1899 a new location was built in Olneyville Square on land willed to the library by Miss Sarah Waterman in 1890. The will of Miss Sarah Waterman stipulated that the library should be constructed within five years of her death, and should bear the Waterman name. The Olneyville Free Library opened this new location of the Waterman Building in 1900. The library was located on the second and third floors, with the first floor serving as rented storefronts. The library became a branch of the Providence Public library in 1946. The Waterman building was remodeled in 1955 with the removal of the top two floors. The Olneyville branch closed in 1981. A new branch location was opened by the Providence Public Library located at 1 Olneyville Square in 1989. In 2009, the Olneyville branch library became part of the Providence Community Libraries. The Waterman building was bought in 2000 by the Olneyville Arts Collaborative, LLC.

 Collection information

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.

[item number], [item title], Olneyville Free Library Association Records, MSS 032. Rhode Island Collection, Providence Public Library.

The Olneyville Free Library Association Records include correspondence, financial ledgers, membership and board meeting minutes, mortgage bonds, receipts, wills and legal papers. The materials span from the creation of the Olneyville Free Library Association to after the merger with the Providence Public Library.

The Olneyville Free Library Association Records are organized into 5 series. Series 1 - Legal Papers Series 2 - Correspondence from 1904-1964 Series 3 - Treasury and Financial Reports Series 4 - Administrative and Membership Records Series 5 - Miscellaneous

Administrative information

Materials were acquired when Providence Public Library took over administration of the Olneyville branch library in 1946.

Names

Subjects Libraries -- Rhode Island Libraries -- Rhode Island -- Providence -- History Olneyville (Providence, R.I.)

RIAMCO Browsing Terms Rhode Island/Local Interest Titles

Types of materials correspondence journals (accounts) ledgers (account books)

Occupations

Functions

Additional information

VM 010 - Providence Public Library Photograph Collection

Series 1 Legal papers1886-1946 1 1 Papers concerning the will of Sarah Waterman and property deeds1886-1933 1 2 Transfer to Providence Public Library papers1946 Series 2 Correspondence1904-1964 1 3 Correspondence1904-1946 1 4 Correspondence1944-1964 Series 3 Ledgers and Financial Papers1875-1968, undated 1 5 Biennial Reports1911-1968 1 6 Treasurer’s ledger1875-1888 1 7 Treasurer’s ledger1901-1908 1 8 Treasurer’s ledger1909-1919 1 9 Treasurer’s ledger1924-1936 1 10 Treasurer’s ledger1936-1946 1 11 Receipts1917-1920 1 12 Receipts1921 1 13 Receipts1922 1 14 Receipts1923-1924 1 15 Receipts1957-1964 1 16 Blank receipt booksundated 1 17 Mortgage bonds1919-1926 Series 4 Administrative and Membership Records1875-1942 2 18 Meeting minutes and membership journal1875-1888 2 19 Meeting minutes and membership journal1888-1903 2 20 Meeting minutes and membership journal1905-1940 2 21 Meeting minutes and membership journal1911 2 22 Meeting minutes and membership journal1948 2 23 Loose meeting minutes and clippings1930-1942 2 24 By-Laws1906 Series 5 Miscellaneous1940, undated 2 25 History of Olneyville, typescriptundated 2 26 Masonic certificate and hand drawn map of library grounds1882, 1940