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007. Harris Collection on the Civil War & Slavery

 Collecting Area
Identifier: 007
The Caleb Fiske Harris Collection on the Civil War and Slavery was the first collection acquired by Providence Public Library. It was purchased for $2,000 in 1884, not long after the Library was founded, from the estate of Mr. Harris, a Providence book collector. A large portion of the money used to purchase the collection was received through a fund originally set up to purchase books for soldiers at the Portsmouth Grove Hospital, which was closed before the money could be used. Sidney S. Rider, a Providence publisher and bookseller, handled the sale of the collection. Several important gifts of books on the Civil War were later added to the collection, and today it is one of the Library’s largest special collections. It contains more than 10,000 books, pamphlets, manuscripts, ephemera and newspapers. There are hundreds of 18th century pamphlets relating to slavery worldwide and a large collection of editions and translations of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, together with other books by and about her. The collection also contains a number of letters written home by Rhode Island soldiers who served in the Civil War. Books can be searched via the special collections online catalog (researchprovlib.aspendiscovery.org), but many items have not yet been cataloged. Contact us (special_collections@provlib.org) for more information.

Found in 6 Collections and/or Records:

Documents of the American Slave Trade

 Collection — Box Harris multi-collection oversize box: [Barcode: 31116021979163]
Identifier: 007-02-03

C. Fiske Harris Collection on the Civil War and Slavery Manuscripts

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 007-02-01
Scope and Contents This collection contains original manuscript writings of relating to the experience of Rhode Islanders serving in the Civil War. The bulk of the collection includes correspondence between Rhode Island soldiers and loved ones at home. Also included is correspondence of Charlotte F. Dailey who inspected Union convalescent hospitals and reported on the experience of Rhode Island troops. Also included is a field diary for the year 1862 written by Private James Albert Barber of...
Dates: 1852-1865

Portsmouth Grove Hospital Library Association records

 File — Box 1: [Barcode: 31116021978157]
Identifier: 019-02
Scope and Contents

The collection includes administrative records related to the Portsmouth Grove Hospital Library Association.

Dates: 1862 - 1884

Rhode Island Soldiers and Sailors Historical Society Collection

 Collection
Identifier: 022-02
Scope and Contents

This collection consists primarily of manuscripts and papers from the society, as well as published material including newspapers and flyers. Some paperwork, such as muster rolls and blank applications, are included, as well as some correspondence appearing to be from members of the society. A ledger volume documents the titles that were in the library collection. The collection also includes the collar worn by Major Sullivan Ballou.

Dates: 1858 - 1887

Henry A. Walke naval ledger and list of contrabands received on board the USS Lafayette

 Item — Box Harris multi collection box: [Barcode: 31116021976458]
Identifier: 007-02-02
Scope and Contents This volume includes three sections including cash notations by Captain Walke from 1859-1869 related to various naval expenses, a list of contrabands received on board U.S. Gunboat Layfayette under Captain Henry Walke from May 3, 1863-June 29, 1863, and several diary entries by Francis Edward Walke from August 25, 1875-Oct 5 [1875]. The bulk of the volume, and the most historically significant portion of the ledger, documents almost 900 enslaved people from Louisiana and...
Dates: 1859 - 1875; Majority of material found within 1836-05-03 - 1863-06-29