Later 19th-century watercolors, many commissioned by antiquarian and jeweler Ferdinand J. Dreer (1812-1902), from a collection of over 150 views of Philadelphia streetscapes by architect and artist Benjamin R. Evans. Some of the images are based on earlier prints, drawing, and photographs of the depicted site.

Blue Bell Tavern, Paschalville, Darby Road, kept for many years by Charlie Lloyd, May 1880. [graphic] / B. R. Evans.
Depicts the Blue Bell Tavern at 7303 Woodland Avenue, built in 1766 and operated by Charlie Lloyd at the time this image was painted. Also includes a "To Suffolk Park, Russell" sign on the building, a horsecar in the foreground, two parked carriages outside of the tavern and a partial view of an adjoining building., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, with corrections., LCP AR (Annual Report) 1975, p. 6-11.
Brown St. above 4th, north side three doors west of Fourth.
View of the Zoar Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest African American congregation within the organized structure of United Methodism, founded in 1794. The church, with a for sale sign, stands between a livery stable and C.W. Kramer's light carriage and wagon factory. Pedestrians, including African Americans, stand on the sidewalk. Contains two boxes of text below and above the image inscribed: "Zoar M.E. Church, Founded 1791, Rebuilt 1838" and "This church propt. for sale. Lot 50 x 190. Apply to F. Snyder, N.W. Cor. 5th & Green." The church relocated to Melon Street, near Twelfth Street., Title from item., Commissioned by Philadelphia antiquarian Ferdinand Dreer., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1975, p. 6-11., Purchase 1975., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
Buttonwood Hotel at Darby, torn down and rebuilt, 1876. [graphic] / B.R. Evans.
Exterior view of hotel operated by Thomas H. Boyd. Also includes adjoining private residence, a horsecar, several pedestrians and a sign advertising Boyd's celebrated ice cream., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, with corrections., LCP AR (Annual Report) 1975, p. 6-11.
East side of Thirteenth above Callowhill. Occupied in 1844 by Colored Orphan Asylum.
View depicting the commercial Philadelphia street with the four-story building of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company Office. Building formerly housed "Brotherly Love Hall," the African American orphanage founded by the Society of Friends in 1822. Businesses lining the street include Sullivan & Sweeney, rag and feed store; J. Hunsinker, merchant; J. Neil & Sons, coal dealers; Barber & Son, Edward and Frank, painters; and Haines & Scarlet. Pedestrians walk along the sidewalk., Title from item., Commissioned by Philadelphia antiquarian Ferdinand Dreer., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1975, p. 6-11., Purchase 1975., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
First old Presbyterian church. East side of Seventh Street. A few doors below Bainbridge formerly Shippen Street.
Depicts street scene with a view of the African American church built 1810-1811 under the auspices of the Evangelical Society of Philadelphia. Church stands between red brick townhouses containing the businesses of "Cheap John" and a lager beer hall. African American men and women walk the sidewalks and an African American man peddler sells his wares from his horse-drawn cart in the street. A partial view of the "No. 3 Navy Yard" street car is visible. The congregation, organized in 1807 to convert the city's African American residents to Christianity, formed under the leadership of former Tennessee enslaved man, and missionary and preacher John Gloucester., Title from item., Commissioned by Philadelphia antiquarian Ferdinand Dreer., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1975, p. 6-11., See LCP exhibition catalogue: Negro History #178 for variant copy in the collections of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania., Purchased 1975., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
From Willings Alley to Spruce Street, east side of Fourth Street. [graphic] / B.R. Evans.
Depicts private residences on the east side of South Fourth Street, ranging from 223-281, between Willings Alley and Spruce Street. They are almost uniform in construction, all with the same roof level, green shutters, 3 1/2 storeys with white marble steps and wrought iron railings. Three of them are separated by large side yards. View also includes pedestrians., Location: East side of Fourth Street., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, with corrections., LCP AR (Annual Report) 1975, p. 6-11.
Horace Binney, 241 - 245 South 4th St. [graphic] / B. R. Evans del.
Depicts private residences along the east side of Fourth Street south of Willings Alley including the private residences of Joseph R. Ingersoll, which later housed the Pennsylvania Railroad Company Office building (231 South Fourth Street); Horace Binney, lawyer and politician (241-245 South Fourth Street); Commander D. Conner United States Navy (247-249 South Fourth Street) and John Sergeant (251-253 South Fourth Street). Also includes pedestrians., Location: 241-245 South 4th Street., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, with corrections., LCP AR (Annual Report) 1975, p. 6-11.
House where Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, s.w. cor 7th & Market St. 1776
Exterior view showing the three-and-a-half story brick residence of bricklayer Jacob Graff, Jr. during the year 1776. Jefferson resided as a boarder on the second floor. Men and women pedestrians stroll the sidewalk including an African American peddler. Residence, later converted to a warehouse and then demolished in 1883 for the erection of the Penn National Bank, was reconstructed in 1968 in anticipation of the Bicentennial., Title from item., Possibly commissioned by Philadelphia antiquarian Ferdinand Dreer., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1975, p. 6-11., Purchase 1975., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
Interior of Phila; Library, Fifth and Library Streets, 1878. [graphic] / B. R. Evans.
Depicts the reading room in the Library and Surgeon's Hall on Fifth Street south of Chestnut Street, the first building constructed by William Thornton from 1789 to 1790 to house the Library Company of Philadelphia. The building was demolished in 1887 and the American Philosophical Society erected a building on the same site. Includes a view of the main check-out desk (right) and visitors browsing the book shelves on the balcony and the main floor., Location: Fifth and Library Streets., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, with corrections., LCP AR (Annual Report) 1975, p. 6-11.
Lemon Hill, now in the park, 1857. [graphic] / Evans.
Depicts the south facade of Lemon Hill mansion facing the Schuylkill River in east Fairmount Park as it appeared in 1857. Henry Pratt built the house in 1800 and in 1844, several years after Pratt's death, Lemon Hill became the first mansion aqcuired by the city of Philadelphia to create a public park. Also included are visitors picnicking on the grounds., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, with corrections., LCP AR (Annual Report) 1975, p. 6-11.
Merchants Hotel, north Fourth St. Philada, 1840. J. M. Sanderson & Son. [graphic] / B.R. Evans del.
Built 1837 based on designs by William Strickland. Burned 1966., Depicts businesses along the west side of north Fourth Street looking south toward Market Street including the Merchants' Hotel (40-50 North Fourth Street); J. W. Gibbs & Co., merchant (32 North Fourth Street); Hogan & Thompson, booksellers and stationers (30 North Fourth Street); Trotter Co., dry goods store (28 North Fourth Street) and H. During, unidentified business (22 North Fourth Street). Also includes busy pedestrian traffic with horse drawn carriages., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, with corrections., LCP AR (Annual Report) 1975, p. 6-11.
No. 2 to 3 Market St. Bridge, Oct. 1879. [graphic] / B.R. Evans.
Depicts the Pennsylvania Railroad Market Street Bridge over the Schuylkill River from the water level looking up at the girders of the red metal bridge and the stone piers to the opposite bank where a coal yard is located. When the Market Street permanent bridge was destroyed by a fire in 1875 the Pennsylvania Railroad built a temporary bridge in nine days. Also includes Sherman & Co., marble (Market Street wharf), a coal yard and a coal barge on the river., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, with corrections., LCP AR (Annual Report) 1975, p. 6-11.
North side of Chestnut St., extending from Sixth to Seventh St., 1851. [graphic] / B.R. Evans del.
Street view depicting businesses along the north side of Chestnut Street between Sixth and Seventh Streets. Most of the buildings include signage. Includes, right to left, the four-story brick building with Blood’s Dispatch and Dr. J.H. Schenck & Co. "Schenck's Pulmonic Syrup" (601 Chestnut Street); the second building of the Chestnut Street Theatre (603-609 Chestnut Street, built 1820-1822 after the designs of William Strickland); the three-and one-half story hotel Bolivar House (611-613 Chestnut Street); Dr. Jayne's Philada Arcade & Dr. Davidson's Arcade Baths (615-619 Chestnut Street); Columbia House hotel operated by Ferguson & Bro. and tenanted by tailor E. G. Dorsey (625-631 Chestnut Street); and the three-story red brick building tenanted by L. Benkert's Boot Store (633 Chestnut Street), "Philadelphia Fashions" publisher Francis Mahan(635 Chestnut Street), and druggist A. Smith (637-639 Chestnut Street). Also includes heavy street and pedestrian traffic, including horse drawn carriages and carts and an omnibus, strolling couples, couples in conversations, and a newspaper boy at work., Title from item., Date inferred from commission date of other drawings in collection., Inscribed in lower left corner: 1851., Retrospective conversion record: original entry., Library Company. Annual Report, 1975, p. 6-11., Watercolor commissioned by Philadelphia antiquarian Ferdinand Dreer circa 1880 and probably based on Julio H. Rae's Philadelphia Pictorial Directory & Panoramic Advertiser (Philadelphia: Julio H. Rae, 1851) plate 9, north side and plate 10, north side.
Northwest corner of Eleventh and Pine Streets. Demolished 1889. Present site of the Gladstone. [graphic] / B.R. Evans.
View depicting the commercial Philadelphia street corner with the grey wood shack of Michael Traynor, licensed tavern and oyster house, for sale. Storefronts include a stove and heater manufactory; a store selling birds; Schriber, tin and sheet iron worker; a "segar" store; and a lager beer hall. Street trolleys are partially visible to the far right and left. Several pedestrians, predominately African Americans, walk the sidewalks. Individuals board and depart the trolleys. The Gladstone, erected between 1889 to 1890, was the city's first apartment hotel. In the nineteenth century, the neighborhood, known as Washington Square West, contained one of the city's largest populations of African Americans., Title from item., Commissioned by Philadelphia antiquarian Ferdinand Dreer., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1975, p. 6-11., Purchase 1975., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
Northwest corner of Eleventh and Pine Streets. Demolished 1889. Present site of the Gladstone.
View depicting the commercial Philadelphia street corner with the grey wood shack of Michael Traynor, licensed tavern and oyster house, for sale. Storefronts include a stove and heater manufactory; a store selling birds; Schriber, tin and sheet iron worker; a "segar" store; and a lager beer hall. Street trolleys are partially visible to the far right and left. Several pedestrians, predominately African Americans, walk the sidewalks. Individuals board and depart the trolleys. The Gladstone, erected between 1889 to 1890, was the city's first apartment hotel. In the nineteenth century, the neighborhood, known as Washington Square West, contained one of the city's largest populations of African Americans., Title from item., Commissioned by Philadelphia antiquarian Ferdinand Dreer., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1975, p. 6-11., Purchase 1975., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
N.W. cor. 12th & Springgarden Street [sic], 1884. [graphic] / B.R. Evans.
Depicts businesses and the Church of the Assumption (1131-1133 Spring Garden) near the northwest corner of North Twelfth and Spring Garden streets. Includes a street market shed, and pedestrian and street traffic, with three horsecars., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, with corrections., LCP AR (Annual Report) 1975, p. 6-11.
The old academy, erected 1749, west side of Fourth St. below Arch, "The College of Philada" 1753, "The University" 1779. [graphic] / B. R. Evans del.
Depicts the Old Academy building on the west side of Fourth Street below Arch Street built in 1749. The school underwent several name changes from the Old Academy in 1749, the College of Philadelphia in 1753 and the University in 1779. When the University of Pennsylvania outgrew the building at Fourth and Arch Streets, the main campus moved to Ninth and Chestnut Streets. Also includes an unidentified red brick building (right), pedestrians and a horse and carriage., "The College of Philada." 1753., "The University" 1779., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, with corrections., LCP AR (Annual Report) 1975, p. 6-11.
S.E. Cor. Franklin St. & Girard Avenue, 1884. [graphic] / B. R. Evans.
Depicts businesses at the southeast corner of Franklin Street and Girard Avenue including A. L. Flue, Excelsior Range, heaters and ranges (710 Girard Avenue); A. W. Paulsworth Flour (712 Girard Avenue); Goodenough & Seeley, horseshoer and Thomas Miller, horseshoer (714 Girard Avenue) and Robert Lehman's oyster house (716 Girard Avenue). Also includes a market shed in the middle of Girard Avenue and pedestrian and street traffic including two trolleys and a horsecar., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, with corrections., LCP AR (Annual Report) 1975, p. 6-11.
South side Chestnut St. from 3rd to Hudsons Alley, 1809.
View showing the block from 96 to 110 Chestnut Street during the year 1809. Depicts a row of five three-and-a-half story red brick townhouses attached to a row of three red brick storefronts. A horse-drawn carriage and wagon travel down the streets. Pedestrians, including an African American man in an apron pushing a hand cart, walk and converse on the sidewalks., Title from item., Inscribed on recto: Copy., Commissioned by Philadelphia antiquarian Ferdinand Dreer., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1975, p. 6-11., Purchase 1975., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of the Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
Southside Chestnut St. from Carpenters Court to 4th St., 1809
View showing the block of four wooden buildings, including a stable, near the back of Carpenter's Hall during the year 1809. A horse-drawn carriage travels down the street. Several men and women pedestrians, including an African American man, attired in an apron and carrying two bundles, walk the sidewalks., Title from item., Inscribed on recto: Copy., Commissioned by Philadelphia antiquarian Ferdinand Dreer., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1975, p. 6-11., Purchase 1975., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
S.W. corner 8th & Chestnut Street, 1851. [graphic] / B.R. Evans.
Depicts businesses on the south side of Chestnut Street between 7th and 8th Streets including H. Hooker & Co., stationer and bookseller (200 Chestnut, pre-consolidation); Murphy & Billmyers, house furnishings and hardware (202 Chestnut); W. J. Horstman, trimmings (204 Chestnut); Cornelius Everest, jeweler (206 Chestnut) and Le Boutillier Brothers, fancy dry goods (208 Chestnut). Also includes street and pedestrain traffic including coaches and an omnibus., Watercolor created for Philadelphia antiquarian Ferdinand Dreer circa 1880 probably based on Julio H. Rae's Philadelphia Pictorial Directory & Panoramic Advertiser (Philadelphia: Julio H. Rae, 1851) plate 13, south side., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, with corrections., LCP AR (Annual Report) 1975, p. 6-11.
Sweet Brier, Fillmyre's Beer Garden, remodeled 1870, 1867. [graphic] / B. R. Evans.
Depicts Sweet Briar mansion in Fairmount Park built in 1797 for Philadelphia merchant and politician Samuel Breck in West Fairmount Park. Location of Fillmyre's Beer Garden in 1866 before it was incorporated into the park in 1869 and remodeled in 1870 for use as a children's restaurant., Remodeled 1870.
Town Hall and Market sheds intersection of Second and Coats Sts., Northern Liberties, 1806. [graphic] / B. R. Evans.
Depicts Patterson's Church facing Second Street, which is divided by a brick market shed at the intersection of Second Street and Fairmount Avenue (formerly Coates Street). Also includes pedestrians and a horse drawn cart., Retrospective conversion record: original entry., LCP AR (Annual Report) 1975, p. 6-11.
United States Laboratory 1800, Arsenal Grays Ferry Road, 1882. [graphic] / B. R. Evans.
Depicts the Schuylkill Arsenal at 2620 Grays Ferry Avenue. The arsenal was constructed in 1799 to manufacture various military supplies for the United States government. After the War of 1812, the arsenal stopped supplying ammunition and specialized in the manufacture and storage of clothing and textiles. Also includes pedestrian and street traffic including a partial view of a horsecar and a train engine., Location: Arsenal Grays Ferry Road., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, with corrections., LCP AR (Annual Report) 1975, p. 6-11.
Valley Green. Wissahickon above Red Bridge, 1869. [graphic] / B. R. Evans.
Depicts the I. D. Casselberry Valley Green Hotel, probably the last surviving Wissahickon roadhouse, surrounded by trees in Wissahickon Park above Red Bridge built in 1851. Also includes Wissahickon Creek (right), a passenger coach and two people standing on the porch of the hotel., After a photograph by Robert Newell., Location: Wissahickon above Red Bridge., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, with corrections., LCP AR (Annual Report) 1975, p. 6-11.