Collection: Rhode Island: Three Centuries of Democracy

For many years prominent in the medical profession in Providence, Rhode Island, where he was noted for his achievements both in his private practice and his public work, Dr. Edward F. Walker was one of the leading physicians and surgeons of his city and State. His life was a long one, having extended over man’s allotted three-score years and ten, and his career was useful in the highest degree. Not only was he active in hospital affairs, but he was one of the foremost figures in building up this branch of the medical profession’s activities in Rhode Island. An individual … Read more

It was in the jewelry trade that Henry A. Kirby performed his life’s work, accomplishing a great deal for the betterment of his industry and taking a lively interest at all times in the affairs of Providence. A man of kindly and generous spirit, eager to help others and to do what he could for the advancement of conditions among his fellowmen, he came to be esteemed and loved in his city and State, where he acquired a host of friends. His passing took from this region of New England one of its outstanding citizens, a man who contributed much … Read more

The years from 1830 to 1902, in which Charles H. Perkins lived, were years of mechanical improvement and advancement; and in the growth of industry Mr. Perkins himself took an extensive part. The manufacture of horse shoes and sheet iron constituted a part of his work, but only a part; for his activities extended into many and varied fields. It perhaps does not seem possible to the casual observer that a horse shoe should be sufficiently complicated to permit of the invention of thirty mechanical devices pertaining to it; but such was the number of inventions designed by Mr. Perkins … Read more

To the profession of the law, to national, State and municipal service, Harvey Almy Baker, widely known member of the bar, has made noteworthy contributions. As a citizen of Providence, he stands with the leaders of those movements which have the civic advance of the city at heart, while his standing in the legal fraternity leaves nothing to be desired. Born in Warwick, Rhode Island, April 24, 1881, Harvey Almy Baker is the son of Benjamin and Lucy Anna (Sisson) Baker. He is a graduate of Brown University, class of 1903, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Having early … Read more

Pioneer in the business of department public markets, Oscar Swanson, of Providence, president of the Providence Public Market Company, with branches in other cities of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, has long been one of the leading citizens of the Commonwealth, his enterprises of much importance to the community. Markets are ordinarily nothing but places where certain definite commodities may be purchased, but markets to Mr. Swanson convey an entirely different conception of what the public wants. To meet that demand he long since brought to bear an unusual ability for organization, the result being that many thousands of persons are … Read more