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3. Provenance 5. Inventory 6. Subjects |
Samuel G. and Louisa G. Arnold Papers Family of Middletown, RI Papers, 1840-1893 Size: 3 linear feet Catalog number: MSS 1054 Processed by: Lori Salotto, November 2000 ©Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts Division |
Historical note:
Samuel Greene Arnold, Jr.(1821-1880) was born to Samuel Greene Arnold (1778-1826) and Frances (Rogers) Arnold (1786-1865). He had one sister, Cornelia Elizabeth Arnold (1814-1897). He married his first cousin, Louisa Gindrat Arnold (1828-1905), the daughter of his father's uncle, Richard J. Arnold (1796-1873). They resided in Middletown, R.I., and had three children: Louisa G. (Arnold) Appleton (1849-1895), Frances R. Arnold (1854-1948), and Mary Cornelia "Nina" (Arnold) Rogers (1859-1932).
Arnold's early education took place in Providence schools and St. Paul's College in Long Island. He then continued his education in 1836 at Brown University. During his studies he took some time off due to illness and traveled in Europe. When he came back to the United States he finished at Brown, graduating in 1841. From there he began working in the counting rooms of James T. Rhodes and went as a merchantman to St. Petersburg, Russia. Upon returning from Russia he continued his education at Harvard Law School, graduating in 1845. He was then admitted to the Rhode Island Bar.
Arnold traveled extensively throughout Europe, the Middle East, and South America. Due to his wealth he was able to pursue his passion for history and writing. Between 1859-1860 he wrote two volumes entitled the History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. He also wrote histories of Providence and Middletown, gave public addresses, and wrote several memorial papers for prominent Rhode Islanders.
He was a stockholder in several mining companies and in the Arnold Estate Company and president of the Navassa Phosphate Company. This company was based at Navassa Island off the coast of Haiti. The company was one of several in the business of harvesting guano. Of the men on the island, approximately fifteen were white officers and supervisors, and the rest were workers of African descent. The company's ownership of Navassa Island was challenged by the Haitian government in 1874. Haiti lobbied the U.S. government, arguing that they were entitled to compensation for the island due to their geography (see correspondence dated 1874).
Arnold was also active in local and national politics. He was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1852 and elected again in 1861 and 1862. Also, in 1861 he was a delegate to the Peace Convention which hoped to stave off the Civil War. From 1862 to1863 he served as a Senator in the United States Congress and in 1876 he was chosen as a Republican presidential elector. He served as a Colonel in charge of the Providence Marine Corps of Artillery during the Civil War and gave money to refurbish the armory in 1862.
He was very much involved with his alma mater and with his local community. In 1848 he became a trustee at Brown, was a member of the Committee of Examination, and in 1878 was awarded a Doctor of Laws degree. He also became the president of the Rhode Island Historical Society in 1868 and served in that position until his death in 1880. He also served as president of the Charitable Baptist Society, was a member of the Providence school committee, and served as a trustee at Butler Hospital.
Samuel G. Arnold died in Providence on February 13, 1880 from chronic catarrhal pneumonia. He is buried at the Swan Point Cemetery. Louisa G. Arnold died in Pennsylvania on October 11, 1905 of Bright's disease.
Bibliography:
Bibliographical Cyclopedia of Representative Men of Rhode Island, 450-451. Providence: National Biographical Publishing, 1881.
"Navassa Phosphate Company." Flier in collection, published by the Journal of Commerce, Baltimore, December 1871.
Rhode Island Cemetery Database
Scope and content:
This collection, ranging from1840-1893, consists of correspondence and financial papers of Samuel G. and Louisa G. Arnold, as well as company records for the Navassa Phosphate Company. Series one, Samuel G. Arnold, is broken down into three subseries. Subseries one consists of his correspondence from 1840 to1880. Almost all of these letters are financial in nature. Subseries two consists of his financial papers from 1843 to1879. Subseries three consist of miscellaneous items such as genealogical information, the dedication of the Roger Williams Monument, the dedication of Providence City Hall, newspaper clippings, real estate and stock belonging to the heirs of Samuel G. Arnold, and a pamphlet on the Sonoran (Mexico) railroad written in Spanish.
Series two, Louisa G. Arnold, is also broken down into three subseries. Subseries one consists of her correspondence from 1879 to 1894. Almost all of these are financial in nature except for the many condolence letters in 1880 and an occasional letter from her daughter and granddaughter. One such letter sent in 1880, from her granddaughter, is written in reference to her grandfather's illness. She writes, "I would like to be with Grandpa very much to brush his hair and I wish you would give him a kiss for me. Subseries two consists of her financial papers from 1865 to 1893. Subseries three consists of miscellaneous items such as financial papers relating to a boarder at the Bingham School, one letter each addressed to her daughters Fanny and Nina, material from the Missionary Society of the Amity Baptist Church, and some poems.
Series three consists of the financial papers of Richard J. Arnold, Jr., Louisa's brother. Series four consists of the company records for the Navasssa Phosphate Company. The records date from 1869 to 1879 with many gaps. The records provide information on provision returns, consolidated ration returns, division of labor, overall summary of activity, and a cost analysis of working the island.
Provenance:
These records were donated in 2000 by Arthur Rogers.
Processing note:
Related collections can be found in Mss 32, Richard J. Arnold Papers and in Mss 862, Frances Rogers Arnold Family Papers. Richard was Louisa G. Arnold's father and Frances was Samuel's mother.
The financial papers of Richard J. Arnold, Jr. may contain receipts relating to his father, Richard J. Arnold.
Inventory:
Sub series 1: Correspondence
Box , folder . 1840
Box , folder . 1847
Box , folder . 1848
Box , folder . 1849
Box , folder . 1850
Box , folder . 1857
Box , folder . 1858
Box , folder . 1859
Box , folder . 1860
Box , folder . 1861
Box , folder . 1862
Box , folder . 1863
Box , folder . 1864
Box , folder . 1865
Box , folder . 1866
Box , folder . 1867
Box , folder . 1868
Box , folder . 1879
Box , folder . 1870
Box , folder . 1871
Box , folder . 1872
Box , folder . 1873
Box , folder . 1874
Box , folder . 1875
Box , folder . 1876
Box , folder . 1877
Box , folder . 1878
Box , folder . 1879
Box , folder . 1880
Sub series 2: Financial papers
Box , folder . 1843
Box , folder . 1844
Box , folder . 1845
Box , folder . 1846
Box , folder . 1847
Box , folder . 1848
Box , folder . 1849
Box , folder . 1853
Box , folder . 1855
Box , folder . 1856
Box , folder . 1858
Box , folder . 1859
Box , folder . 1860
Box , folder . 1861
Box , folder . 1862
Box , folder . 1863
Box , folder . 1864
Box , folder . 1865
Box , folder . 1865
Box , folder . 1866
Box , folder . 1867
Box , folder . 1868
Box , folder . 1869
Box , folder . 1870
Box , folder . 1871
Box , folder . 1872
Box , folder . 1873
Box , folder . 1874
Box , folder . 1875
Box , folder . 1876
Box , folder . 1877
Box , folder . 1878
Box , folder . 1879
Sub series 3: Miscellaneous
Box , folder . Genealogical information, undated
Box , folder . Memoranda, 1877-1878
Dedication of the Roger Williams Monument, 1877
Dedication of Providence City Hall, 1878
Box , folder . Newspaper clippings, 1864 and undated
Box , folder . Real estate and stock belonging to heirs of Samuel G. Arnold, 1842
Box , folder . Sonoran railroad (Mexico) , 1874-1876
Series 2: Louisa G. Arnold
Sub series 1: Correspondence
Box , folder . 1879
Box , folder . 1880
Box , folder . 1881
Box , folder . 1882
Box , folder . 1883
Box , folder . 1886
Box , folder . 1887
Box , folder . 1889
Box , folder . 1890
Box , folder . 1891
Box , folder . 1892
Box , folder . 1894
Box , folder . undated
Sub series 2: Financial papers
Box , folder . 1865
Box , folder . 1867
Box , folder . 1869
Box , folder . 1872
Box , folder . 1873
Box , folder . 1874
Box , folder . 1877
Box , folder . 1878
Box , folder . 1879
Box , folder . 1880
Box , folder . 1881
Box , folder . 1882
Box , folder . 1883
Box , folder . 1887
Box , folder . 1888
Box , folder . 1889
Box , folder . 1890
Box , folder . 1891
Box , folder . 1892
Box , folder . 1892
Box , folder . 1893
Sub series 3: Miscellaneous
Box , folder . Bingham school, 1892-1893
Box , folder . Correspondence: Fanny, 1879
Box , folder . Correspondence: Nina, 1890
Box , folder . Missionary Society of the Amity Baptist Church, 1893
Box , folder . Poems, found in an envelope postmarked May 1890
Series 3: R.J. Arnold, Jr.
Financial papers
Box , folder . 1867
Box , folder . 1868
Box , folder . 1869
Box , folder . 1870
Series 4: Navassa Phosphate Company Records
Box , folder . January-April 1868
Box , folder . May-August 1868
Box , folder . September-December 1868
Box , folder . January-April 1870
Box , folder . May-August 1870
Box , folder . September-December 1870
Box , folder . January-April 1871
Box , folder . May-August 1871
Box , folder . September-December 1871
Box , folder . January-April 1874
Box , folder . May-August 1874
Box , folder . September-December 1874
Box , folder . January-April 1877
Box , folder . May-August 1877
Box , folder . September-December 1877
Box , folder . January-April 1878
Box , folder . May-August 1878
Box , folder . September-December 1878
Box , folder . January-February 1879
Subjects:
D. Appleton and Company
Appleton, George Lyman
Appleton, Louisa (Arnold) (1849-1895)
Appleton, Mary
Arnold, Fanny (b. 1854)
Arnold, Mary Cornelia (b.1859)
Arnold, Richard J., Jr.
Bingham School
Chapin, Charles V. (1856-1941)
Fertilizer industry - Haiti
Green, Arnold (1838-1903)
Green, Cornelia E. (1814-1897)
Greene, William Brenton
Guano industry - Haiti
Haiti - Commerce
Hoppin, William, Jr.
Indians of North America
Lippit, Henry (1818-1891)
Mexico - Politics and Government, 1867-1910
Navassa Phosphate Company
Putnam, David
Rhode Island - History
Rogers, Horatio
Talbot, William
United States - History - Civil War, 1861-1865
Ward, Samuel IV (1814-1884)
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RIHS1822