The Special and Archival Digital Projects group is a collaborative venture of the Digital Services Lab and the Special and Archival Collections Department of Phillips Memorial Library. Our mission is to bring to light various "hidden" collections contained within the Special and Archival Collections Department that tell the story of Providence College and the history of Rhode Island.
Current collections online
The Providence College Cowl
Providence College's student newspaper, The Cowl, began publication on November 16th, 1935. It has been published continously during each academic year since then, with the exception of the years 1944 and 1945 during the Second World War II. Issues from the paper's inaugural year of 1935-1936 were digitized first, followed by issues from the late 1960's. Work will continue until all archived issues of the Cowl are available for online viewing.
In the meantime, relive the glory days of the late 1960's here on the Providence College campus through our latest digital collection of the Cowl.
Providence College Basketball, 1921-1941
Providence College started its basketball legacy on the very first day classes began in September of 1919 with an impromptu game. However, it wasn't until the college's first varsity team began competition in the 1926-1927 season, led by Coach Archie Golembeski, that the legacy began in earnest for the College.
View team and player portraits, and season schedules from 1925 to 1940. Many players were 3-sport athletes and some never had there photograph taken in uniform, but all are remembered here through our All-Time Player Roster by Richard Coren.
Providence College Football, 1921-1941
Providence College's entry into football at the collegiate level began in 1921 and lasted until America's entry into World War II in December of 1941. During those years many great Providence College athletes, such as Hank Soar '37', Mal Brown '33', Dexter Davis '34', and Heck Allen '29', graced not just the academic halls of Providence College, but also the gridiron fields of the college's many rivals.
Relive the days of football glory for Providence College through our digital collection of team portraits, play action shots, scorecards, and game programs.
The Frank Lanning Cartoon Collection
Frank B. Lanning Jr. (1906-1987) is best known for his long career (1937-1982) as a sports cartoonist for the Providence Journal Company newspapers. The primary focus of his thousands of newspaper drawings and freelance illustrations was Rhode Island athletic teams and personalities.
This online collection consists of the approximately seventy (70) prints that Mr. Lanning presented to members of the P.C. community over the years.
The John O. Pastore Photograph Album
In 1976, after a distinguished career of 42 years in politics, at the state and national level, Rhode Island Senator John O. Pastore retired from politics and donated his political papers to Providence College. Included among his papers was a photograph album of late 19th and early 20th century images. These images depict scenes of Rhode Island life and in particular buildings and street scenes of the City of Providence.
Many of the locations and buildings depicted in these images are now unrecognizable as the growing urbanization of the past century has changed the physical landscape of Rhode Island. Buildings have been torn down, roads and streets have been relocated, and of course Providence's famed "Cove" has long been filled in. These few images, however, will provide the viewer with a nostalgic look of the "good ole days" of Rhode Island's past.
Providence College 1944 Veritas
During World War II in a patriotic spirit to contribute to the war effort, the class of 1944 choose to hand produce their Veritas in scrapbook form. The resulting effort was a unique artifact that contributed to the war effort by not using valuable strategic materials, yet preserved the memories of the graduating class.
The Office of Special and Archival Collections
is located on the lower level of the Library in Room LL08.
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Telephone: 401-865-2377 (or 2578)
Fax: 401-865-1578
For more research assistance by e-mail
Ask Special and Archival Collections
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