Subjective Archive: A Selective Look into Early Providence

The following map was created by John Fitch in 1790, the same year he earned his A.B. (now B.A.) from Brown University. While Fitch’s motivations for drafting what is referred to as the earliest known paper map of Providence are unclear, his 1790 map shares notable similarities with its predecessor—a 1777 map carved by Revolutionary War soldier Stephen Avery onto his powder horn, an animal horn commonly used for carrying gunpowder. Specifically, the pictorial depiction of Weybosset and Westminster Streets and their connection over the Weybosset Bridge on both maps are similar in their curvature with the buildings growing from the street in every orientation. Additionally, the inclusion of ships oriented in various angles are common between both maps, indicating the significance and pervasiveness of the maritime industry in Providence at that time.

In our annotated version, we have highlighted specific buildings and roads noted in Fitch's map, particularly those structures that still exist or hold significant historical importance. Our initial information source was the January 18, 1948 edition of the Providence Sunday Journal, which contained annotations on the map. From there, we conducted further research, consulting historical documents and archival databases to cross-reference the information with texts, maps, and images that could either support or question the Journal’s annotations.

Our main critique is Fitch’s glaring omission of the Great Salt Cove, an absence shared by Avery’s carving. While Fitch does not detail every existing building, capturing only a few buildings within several large city blocks, the lack of information regarding the Cove is still striking. Even in 1790, certain areas of the Cove—most notably Muddy Dock—were familiar by locals. The only indications of a water body in Fitch's map are two areas with minimal markings, meant to represent tidal flows from the Providence River. However, these markings seem almost incidental, drawn with the outlined perimeter of the Cove and centered the map’s title over it.

This omission of such a prominent geographic feature raises questions about the purpose of the map. If it were intended for military use, as Avery’s 1777 powder horn carving suggests, then large natural features would have been critical for strategic control and movement. If it were a commercial map, with its focus on civic buildings, prominent family homes, and churches, a key detailing names and streets would likely have been included. Instead, the vague, selective details in Fitch's map hint at the time's elite, educated, and white society that overlooked significant portions of the city, and is further emphasized by the pictorial representation of the map, rather than a traditional aerial or perspective view. The selectivity of this view represents a certain view of Providence by failing to draw certain spaces that permitted the wealth of society at that time, namely the role of slavery in the early development of Providence. A map is a spatial tool that can reveal and omit spatial details of history, dependent on the author and the purpose of its representation. This subjective view has now become part of the historical record, influencing how we perceive Providence’s past.

The map below provides further detail to prominent buildings drawn by Fitch, including information on built status, year built, address, and archival images.