The McAllister & Brother firm descended from the Scottish émigré´ John McAllister Sr. (1786-1866) who operated a store in Philadelphia from the late eighteenth throughout the nineteenth century. The business, originally a cane and whip manufactory, evolved over the years to become a spectacle shop and later the premier opticians’ shop of the city. The shop sold lenses, cameras, and stereoviewers and served a major role in the development and the promotion of early photography.

The McAllister & Brother Stereograph Collection comprises some of the oldest photographic views of Philadelphia church exteriors and interiors. Issued circa 1860-circa 1863, the photographs provide images of such prominent religious structures as Christ Church, St. Peter’s Church, Gloria Dei, and St. Mark’s Church.

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Saint Stephen's Church, Philadelphia. [graphic].
Interior views of the Protestant Episcopal church built 1822-1823 after the designs of William Strickland at 19 South 10th Street. Shows minister, presumably Rev. Henry William Ducachet, in his clerical robes at the ornate church altar, the communion table, stained-glass windows, plaques adorned with scripture, the baptismal fount sculpture, and partial views of galleries and pews. Also includes views of the ornate tomb of Philadelphia lawyer Edward Shippen Burd designed by architect Frank Wills and the Burd Family Monument designed by Carl Steinhauser in memory of Burd's children. Family monument, composed of figures representing the three deceased Burd children and the Angel of Resurrection near a large cross, was erected in 1853 in the chapel on the north side of the church., Seven of the images originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of views of Philadelphia., Contains six stereographic prints mounted on yellow or white paper mounts with square corners, including three with printed titles, one accompanied by a publisher's label describing the church, one [(4)1322.G.96g], hand-colored, and two accompanied by descriptive labels. Also contain a one-half stereographic print mounted on paper and a carte-de-visite., One of the images [P.9047.102] reproduced in The Print and Photograph Department of the Library Company of Philadelphia's Center City Philadelphia in the 19th century (Portsmouth, N.H.: Arcadia Publishing, 2006), p. 39., Arcadia caption text: St. Stephen’s Church represents another magnificent church structure added to the cityscape of Philadelphia during the 19th century. Built 1822-1823 at 19 South Tenth Street after the designs of Philadelphia architect William Strickland, the Gothic-style Episcopal church houses two monuments bequeathed by devout parishioner and lawyer Edward Shippen Burd. The lower view shows one of the monuments, Burd’s tomb, designed by architect Frank Wills and installed after his death in 1848. The exterior view shows the construction site opposite the church for the Franklin Market, begun in 1859., McAllister & Brother, opticians, a partnership between brothers William Y., John A., and Thomas H. McAllister, was active 1853-1865.
Seventh Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia. [graphic].
Exterior and interior views of the church built 1842 after the designs of Napoleon LeBrun on Broad Street between Penn Square and Chestnut Street. Views show the front facade of the Greek Revival-style church, the altar, and pews as well as a group portrait of the controversial General Assembly of 1861 photographed May 29th, the day before the affirmative vote of the Gardner Springs resolution that required pastors and members of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. to swear political allegiance to the Federal Government. Exterior views also include street lamps and a partial view of an adjacent building., Contains two stereographic prints mounted on pale yellow mounts with square corners and printed titles, including one accompanied by a publisher's label describing the church and the history of the congregation. Also contains two stereographic prints mounted on paper and accompanied by publisher's labels; a one-half stereographic print mounted on paper; and two cartes de visite., One of the images [(4)1322.F.43a] reproduced in Kenneth Finkel's Nineteenth century photography in Philadelphia (New York: Dover Publications, Inc. in cooperation with the Library Company of Philadelphia, 1980), entry #173., Two of the images [(4)1322.F.43a & g] reproduced in The Print and Photograph Department of the Library Company of Philadelphia's Center City Philadelphia in the 19th century (Portsmouth, N.H.: Arcadia Publishing, 2006), p. 43., Arcadia caption text [(4)1322.F.43a]: In May 1861, at the dawn of the Civil War, the General Assembly of the Old School Presbyterian Church gathered at the Seventh Church for its annual meeting. The meeting, a venue to address common concerns, became the last of a united Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. for 122 years. As a result of the passage of the Gardner Springs resolution, which required pastors and church members to swear political allegiance to the Federal Government, the Southern congregations of the Church formed the Presbyterian Church in the Confederate States of America., Arcadia caption text [(4)1322.F.43g]: The Seventh Presbyterian Church, the main site of public meetings in the Presbyterian community, was located on Broad Street above Chestnut Street. Built in 1842 after the designs of Philadelphia architect Napoleon Le Brun, the Classical-style church housed a congregation founded in 1804 by English Independents. In 1884, 23 years after this photo was taken, the congregation, reconstituted as the Tabernacle Church, held its last service at the site before relocating to Thirty-Seventh and Chestnut streets., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of views of Philadelphia., McAllister & Brother, opticians, a partnership between brothers William Y., John A., and Thomas H. McAllister, was active 1853-1865.
St. Clement's Church (Protestant Episcopal), Twentieth and Cherry Streets, Philadelphia. [graphic].
View of south and west facades of Romanesque Revival church along Appletree Street. Children stand and sit near a partially standing wooden fence next to the church. Brick rowhouses visible on 20th and Cherry Streets in background. Church constructed between 1855 and 1859 after the designs of Philadelphia architect John Notman., Text on verso relates history of church and lists ministers and vestry members., Attributed to John Moran., Duplicate of (4)1322.F.81d.
[St. Clement's Protestant Episcopal Church interior view, southwest corner of 20th and Cherry Streets, Philadelphia.] [graphic].
View from back of sanctuary looking up central aisle toward altar. Church is decorated with garlands, including a garland arch. Church constructed between 1855 and 1859 after the designs of Philadelphia architect John Notman., Unmounted half of stereograph., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of views of Philadelphia..
[St. Malachy's Church, 1429 North 11th Street, Philadelphia] [graphic].
Interior views showing the altar during Christmas of the Roman Catholic church built 1851 after the designs of Joseph D. Koecker in North Philadelphia. Includes a large painting of the crucifixion behind the altar; other religious paintings; a garland decorated pulpit; pews; small altars adorned with several candles; and a man standing in the aisle of the church. One view also shows a service in progress., Title supplied by cataloguer., Attributed to McAllister & Brother., Contains stereographic prints mounted on yellow paper mounts with square corners, including one with a manuscript title and one accompanied by a label inscribed: St. Malachi Church, 11th above Master, Christmas Day 1860. Also contains one-half stereographic print mounted on paper., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of views of Philadelphia., McAllister & Brother, opticians, a partnership between brothers William Y., John A., and Thomas H. McAllister, was active 1853-1865.
St. Philip's Church. (Protestant Episcopal.) Vine Street, north side, above Eighth Street. Philadelphia. [graphic].
Duplicate interior views showing the altar of the Protestant Episcopal church built 1840-1842 after the designs of William L. Johnston on the 700 block of Vine Street. Recess of altar decorated with garland and a wreath adorned with lettering reading "God With Us" and a star inscribed "IHS." Also includes two clergymen in clerical robes at the altar near potted trees and a partial view of pews., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of views of Philadelphia., Contains a stereographic print mounted on a white paper mount with square corners and accompanied by a publisher's label describing the church building and the history of the congregation. Also contains a one-half stereographic print mounted on paper., McAllister & Brother, opticians, a partnership between brothers William Y., John A., and Thomas H. McAllister, was active 1853-1865.
Tabernacle Baptist Church, Philadelphia. [graphic].
Shows parishioners posed among the pews of the church built 1853 after the designs of William Boyington on the 1800 block of Chestnut Street. Includes the minister, presumably Rev. William T. Brantly, at his pulpit in the background and three women standing in the center aisle in the foreground., Stereograph on yellow paper mount with square corners., Title printed on mount of stereograph., Accompanied by publisher's label describing the church and history of the congregation., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of views of Philadelphia., See clipping describing church in Poulson's scrapbook, vol. 7, p. 75., One of the images [1322.F.5g] reproduced in The Print and Photograph Department of the Library Company of Philadelphia's Center City Philadelphia in the 19th century (Portsmouth, N.H.: Arcadia Publishing, 2006), p. 40., Arcadia caption text: From the early 18th century, Philadelphia served as a religious center for the American Baptist Church. This 1861 view shows the congregation of the Tabernacle Baptist Church that was constituted in 1848. The posed parishioners were just a few of the 1000 persons able to worship at the church, built in 1853 after the designs of New England architect William Boyington. Also visible is the Reverend William T. Brantly, standing at his pulpit in the background. When built, the church, located on the 1800 block of Chestnut Street, was the only Baptist church situated west of Broad Street., McAllister & Brother, opticians, a partnership between brothers William Y., John A., and Thomas H. McAllister, was active 1853-1865.
Third Reformed Dutch Church, n.e. corner of Tenth and Filbert streets, Philadelphia. [graphic].
Exterior view showing the Doric-style church built 1835-1840 after the designs of Thomas Ustick Walter on the 900 block of Filbert Street. View also includes a horse-drawn dray., Stereograph on pale yellow paper mount with square corners. Paper backing pasted on verso., Title from accompanying publisher's label describing the church and listing the pastors., Manuscript note on mount: 3rd Reformed Dutch Church., Possibly by Philadelphia photographer John Moran., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of views of Philadelphia., Digitization funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., McAllister & Brother, opticians, a partnership between brothers William Y., John A., and Thomas H. McAllister, was active 1853-1865.
Trinity Church. (Protestant Episcopal.) Catherine Street, between Second and Third streets. Philadelphia. [graphic].
Interior views showing the altar and the organ gallery of the church built 1821-1822 on the 200 block of Catharine Street. Views include the minister, presumably the Rev. Thomas M. Martin, in his clerical robes; garland and wreath decorations adorning the galleries and recess of the altar; the church organist; and parishioners seated in the pews and posed near the organ. Also shows lettering above the altar reading "Glory To God In The Highest." Church exterior and interior remodeled in the 1840s after the designs of Thomas Ustick Walter., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of views of Philadelphia., Contains four stereographic images on white or yellow paper mounts with square corners, including three with manuscript titles, and one [1322.F.22b], hand-colored and accompanied by a publisher's label describing the history of the congregation and the church. Also contains two one-half stereographic prints mounted on paper., McAllister & Brother, opticians, a partnership between brothers William Y., John A., and Thomas H. McAllister, was active 1853-1865.
West Arch Street Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia. [graphic].
Interior views of the church also known as Arch Street Presbyterian Church built by Joseph DeNegre in 1855 after the designs of Joseph C. Hoxie at 1726-1732 Arch Street. Shows the Corinthian tetrastyle portico chancel, the organ gallery on the north wall, the stained glass window on the east wall, and pews. Also includes views of lit gas lights near the altar., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of views of Philadelphia., Contains seven stereographic prints mounted on yellow or white paper mounts with square corners, including two with printed titles, one [(4)1322.F.44b] hand-colored, and one accompanied by a publisher's label listing the church officials and describing the church and history of the congregation. Also contains a stereographic print mounted on paper with a publisher's label pasted on the verso; one-half stereographic print; and one carte-de-visite., McAllister & Brother, opticians, a partnership between brothers William Y., John A., and Thomas H. McAllister, was active 1853-1865.
West Spruce Street Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia. [graphic].
Interior views of the altar of the church, also known as the Tenth Presbyterian Church, built 1855-1857 after the designs of John McArthur, Jr. at 1700-1708 Spruce Street. Views include, the minister presumably Rev. William P. Breed, at the pulpit; the ornate arched ceiling; and pews. Congregation organized in 1856., Attributed to McAllister & Brother., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of views of Philadelphia., Contains two stereographic prints mounted on white paper mounts with square corners and manuscript titles. Also contains two one-half stereographic prints mounted on paper and one carte-de-visite., McAllister & Brother, opticians, a partnership between brothers William Y., John A., and Thomas H. McAllister, was active 1853-1865.

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