Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and one of the oldest cities in the United States. It was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He named the area in honour of "God's merciful Providence," which he believed was responsible for revealing such a haven for him and his followers. The city is situated at the mouth of the Providence River at the head of Narragansett Bay.

###### The Providence City Archives:

A formal archival program for the City of Providence was
established in 1978 as part of a year-long centennial observance marking the
dedication of City Hall. The archives, located on the 5th floor of City Hall,
houses extensive collections of manuscripts, printed material, maps,
blueprints, and photographic images that span the period from the colony’s
founding in 1636 to the present. The nearly 40,000 cubic feet of records detail
all aspects of the development and operation of municipal government. These collections
offer researchers a unique opportunity to trace the history of the
state’s capital city.

The archives staff is ready to assist you with your research
needs. Please see the **[Policies and Procedures page](https://www.providenceri.gov/archives/policies-procedures/)** for details on using our collections.

City of Providence

Privacy Policy

**View the [City of Providence Privacy Policy](https://www.providenceri.gov/privacy-policy/)**

xip.top_level_so

04a15860-ed8a-412e-954f-a9b9ed5dee1f

5ab854d4-ffcb-48b7-bfc9-f87b0b665f97

7b40252d-a31e-4a47-ac0b-5e13c08cb9f4

8387c86f-f660-453f-8795-aac3e5b29c71

85e45fa6-3f07-4abe-a682-1a9e178889e7

8a3e594d-0bb3-4720-97ec-196a9dc5614c

b9511154-f795-4ffc-be0c-1564f1d0b6fa

c23be79b-29bd-49cd-91ae-26314601a0ef

d65e5d0c-bbcd-4a6d-aabe-355c56b8b596

d760739f-71e9-4675-9775-45d3218c8a16

de8ce3aa-413f-4b30-a343-3785f71d9be6

df8f2701-ebd9-4dc2-84d2-f948bd6bb106

xip.created