Ocean State Libraries

The John H. Percival Magic Collection contains books, periodicals, ephemera, manuscript materials, newspaper clippings, autographs, magicians' promotional materials, typescripts, and photographs spanning the years 1888-2009, with the bulk of materials from 1940-1970. The largest portion of the collection consists of Percival's book collection, which features over 1,200 volumes on magic tricks, ventriloquism, spiritualism, stage entertainment, and...

This record group contains pamphlets located in the Sargent Special Collections Room cabinet.

This collection consists of material compiled and written by James N. Arnold, between 1860-1927 and of typescripts by volunteers continuing his work until 1935. This collection contains numerous research topics and writings related to the history of Rhode Island. It includes personal records of James N. Arnold such as Arnold family genealogy records and correspondence, James Arnold's personal writings, weather journals and photographs. Business records...

The collection consists of 4 boxes containing 182 photographs, and 4 cardboard prints created by D.M. Dalton in 1978. The photographs in the collection showcase historic Providence buildings built between the late 1700s and 1920s. Many different architecture styles are represented including buildings designed by Rhode Island architects Frederick E. Field and William R. Walker & Son. The black-and-white photographs of buildings include close-ups...

This collection includes materials about William Eaton Foster as well as the history of the Providence Public Library. The bulk of the collection contains his personal and professional papers during his tenure as Librarian at the Providence Public Library. Included as manuscripts of speeches and addresses, books and articles as well as published work. Also included is personal and professional correspondence with Foster's peers and professional associates...

This record group contains materials relating to the history of Newport, such as newspapers, photographs, scrapbooks, city government documents, and local periodicals.

This collection contains four items related to figure roller skating: a short pamphlet showing positions for figure skating, a sheet of paper with handwritten diagrams showing two dances, and two large folded sheets with photographs and diagrams documenting dances. The published materials were all produced by Skating Review Magazine.

The collection consists of 53 black and white aerial photographs of Rhode Island, primarily focusing on Providence. All photographs are mounted unless noted. The collection is organized alphabetically by city and then title. Original order is unknown.

The collection includes 32 pieces of dollhouse furniture attributed to either Tynietoy Company or George LeClerc. Also included is one photograph album of LeClerc dollhouse room displays and a newspaper clipping. Attribution of the creator was assigned using additional research materials including furniture design sketches and sales catalogs available in the Tynietoy Collection at RISD Archives. The collection is organized into a three series: materials...

The collection include advertising material for corsets and related items during the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Items include advertising trade cards, magazine advertisements, novelty items, and business cards. Arranged in four series and alphabetically by product brand within each series. Series I. Magazine Advertisements (one folder) Series II. Trade Cards (one folder) Series III. Novelty Items (four folders) Series IV. Business Cards (one...