This list is by no means exhaustive but is meant to provide a sample of the rich and varied collections housed here at the City Archives. Finding aids are available for some of the records listed below.
Providence was incorporated as a city in 1832. A partial list of pre-incorporation records includes:
- Town Meeting Records and reports, 1642-1832
- List of Freemen of the Town, 1832
- Providence Valuation List, 1778
- Providence Town Rate, 1778-1780
- Overseer of the Poor Records, 1769-1827
- Tax Books, 1828 – 1991
- Owners of lots, 1798
Vital Records
- Indexes to births, marriages, and deaths 1636 to mid-20th century (some restrictions may apply)
- Probate Proceedings, 1798 to present
- Wills and other probate records
- Index to Probate Records, 1646-1995
- Estate Inventories
- Annual Reports of births, marriages, deaths, 1853-1940
- City Census Records, 1835, 1845, 1855, 1865, 1875
- Voter Registration Cards, 1912-1947 (contains naturalization information)*
Records of Interest to House and Building Researchers
- Land Records, 1638 to present
- Intentions to Build, 1873-1928
- More than 2,500 blueprints
- City Atlases for 1857, 1875, 1882, 1895, 1908, 1918, 1926, 1937
- Sanborn Maps, 1921 with updates
- Providence City Directories, from 1824 to 1849 (select years), and 1850 to present
- Providence House Directories, 1895-1935
- Tax Books, 1828 – 1991
- Assessor’s and Plat Maps
- Miscellaneous Plat Maps (5 volumes), 1830-1897
- Street Layouts, 1737 – 1858*
Executive Office
- Mayor’s Correspondence, 1857-1914 (incomplete for other mayors)
- Mayor’s Scrapbooks 1874-1905, 1939-41
- Also collected speeches, budget addresses, and inaugural addresses
City Council
- City Ordinances, 1832 – 1995
- Town Council Meeting Books, 1642 – 1832
- City Council Resolutions, 1870 – 1995
- Board of Aldermen Records, 1832-1940
- Common Council Records, 1832 – 1940
- Journal of Proceedings, 1941 to present
- Minute Books and other Records of Council Committees, 1832 – 2000
- City Documents, bound volumes, 1856-1908.
- Recorded minutes and other material of City Council appointed bodies including committees on (not inclusive):
- Railroads
- Printing
- Streets
- Finance
- Health
- Municipal terminal Development
- Property
- Claims and Pending Suits
- Retirement
- Finance
- Ordinances
- Public Works
- Urban redevelopment, Renewal & Planning
- Board of Contract & Supply
CITY DEPARTMENTS
Assessor’s Office
- Tax Books, 1828 to present
- Assessment Plat (“Field”) Cards, 1939 – 1940, 1960-77
- Assessor’s Collection of Taxes Reports, 1867 to 1991
- Estates Sold for Taxes, 1851-1928
- Plat Books, 1832 – 2004
- Motor Vehicle Tax Books, 1966 – 1991
- Manufacturing and Tangible Tax Books, 1971 – 1991
Board of Canvassers
- Voter Registration Cards, 1912 – 1940s*
- Records of Ballots Cast, 1900-1960
- Voting Lists 1938, 1950 – 1996 (not all years)
Building Inspection
- Correspondence of the Building Inspector, 1894-1944
- Building Board of Review Minutes, 1927 to 2001
- Intention to Build, 1861-1923
- Annual Reports, most years 1954 to 2000
City Engineer
- Calculation Books, 1870 – 1913
- Specifications, 1885-1924
- Engineer’s Reports, 1853 to 2000
Finance Department
- Auditor’s Annual Reports, 1848 to present
- Annual Reports, Commissioner of Sinking Fund, 1890 to present
- Annual Budget, 1940 to present
- Annual Financial Reports, 1945 to present
- Bond Registers, 1866-1959
- Estimates of Receipts and Expenditures, 1867-1908
Fire Department
- Annual Reports, 1857 to present most years
- Board of Fire Commissioners, 1896-1908
- Lists of Fire Companies, 1811-1830s
Health(former city department)
- Superintendent’s Reports, 1854-1908
- Health Records, Bound Volumes, 1821-1861
- Annual Reports, 1884-1964
Licenses
- Licenses, 1834-39, 1860-72
- Peddlers Licenses, 1928-55
- Junk, 1879-99
- Liquor, 1870-92
- Hearing Records, 1954 to 1999
- Day and Log Books, 1866-1957 most years’
Parks
- Committee Reports, 1873 – 1915, most years
Personnel
- Annual Reports, 1952 to 2000
Planning and Development
- City Plan Commission Annual Reports, 1914-42, 1944
- Community Renewal Program, 1964-1971
- Urban Renewal Plans, 1960s-1980s
- Annual Reports, 1950 – 2000
- Neighborhood Studies, 1977-1983
- Redevelopment Agency, Annual Reports and renewal Plans, 1951 to 2000
- Capital Improvement Programs, 1950-1999
Police Department
- Chief of Police Annual Reports, 1866 to present (most years
- Police Orders, 1866-1880
- Criminal and Civil Case Reports, 1857-1875
- City Watch, Captains Journals, 1830s
Public Property/Buildings
- Superintendent’s Reports, 1868-1909, 1912
- Work Orders, 1930s
Public Works
- Reports, 1873 to present (most years)
Registrar
- Reports, 1855 – 1908
School Department
- Providence School Committee Records & Reports, 1843 to 2000
- Providence Reform School Records, 1849-1880*
- Student Registers, 1846-1885
Solicitor
- Reports, 1873 – 1908
- Opinions, 1866 to present
Tax Collector
- Property Tax Bound Volumes, 1834 to 1991
Water Commissioner/Water Supply
- Reports, 1869-1880 (when became part of Office of Public Works)
- Water Works Records, 1853-1910. 10 volumes
- Water Supply Board, Engineer’s Reports, 1902-1916
- Records Regarding Taking of Land, 1916-25
- Annual Reports, 1916 to 2001
- Water Commissioner’s Reports, 1869-1880
- Extensive Collection of Photos ca. 1915
Other:
- City Manuals, 1862 – 1920
- Charter Review Commission Records, 1979-80*
- Dexter Asylum Records, 1828 – 1957*
- Dexter Donation Meeting Records, 1832 to present
- Harbor Commission Reports, most years, 1879 – 1912
- Lights, Superintendent’s Reports, 1864-1900
- Lists of Enrolled Militia, 1860-1880
- North Burial Ground Records (including deeds), 1681-1897
- Overseer of the Poor Records, 1769 – 1909
- Retirement Board, Meeting Minutes, 1924-2001
- Streets Deeded to City, 1750-1940, 10 volumes
Maps & Atlases:
- Atlases for 1857, 1875, 1882, 1895, 1908, 1918, 1926, 1937
- Sanborn Maps of Providence, 1921 with updates
- Chace Map, 1798
- Plat Books & Street Maps, 1803 to present
Blueprints:
- Extensive Collection of Blueprints, concentration on municipal properties
*Finding Aid available.
