Details
Creator Morris, Marriott Canby, 1863-1948, photographer.
Contributor Morris, Samuel Buckley, 1868-1886.
Lafferty, James V., Jr., 1856-1898, architect.
Title Elephant House, Atlantic City. Taken by Sam[uel Buckley Morris] [graphic].
Publisher PA. Philadelphia. 1884
Date April 1884
Physical Description 1 photograph: glass negative; 4 x 5 in.
Description Glass negative showing Lucy the Elephant, a large elephant-shaped novelty structure with a small pavilion on its back designed by James V. Lafferty, Jr. (1856-1898). The structure is seen from a distance across a field and is surrounded by smaller wooden structures including a freestanding rounded entryway. Lafferty received a patent in 1881 for animal shaped buildings, and hired architect William Free to design an elephant-shaped building for South Atlantic City, now Margate. The building was sold in 1887 to Anton Gertzen, renamed Lucy in 1902, and remained a popular tourist site. The building housed variously a restaurant, office, cottage, and tavern. The structure was moved in the 1970’s and refurbished and is still a tourist destination today.
Notes Digitization and cataloging has been made possible through the generosity of David Marriott Morris, Eleanor Rhoads Morris Cox, and William Perot Morris in memory of Marriott Canby Morris and his children: Elliston Perot Morris, Marriott Canby Morris Jr., and Janet Morris and in acknowledgment of his grandchildren: William Perot Morris, Eleanor Rhoads Morris Cox, Jonathan White Morris, and David Marriott Morris.
Edited.
Subject Novelties.
Philadelphia artists.
Geographic subject Margate City (N.J.)
Genre Glass negatives.
Associated name Lafferty, James V., Jr., 1856-1898, architect.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| Marriott C. Morris Collection [P.9895.15.2]
Accession number P.9895.15.2