Collection of 179 glass and film negatives created by Alfred Hand between 1920 and 1921. They depict historic houses, places of worship, and Revolutionary War sites in Germantown and the Philadelphia region, and are accompanied by negative sleeves with descriptive manuscript notes about each site.

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Cigar Indian chief. S.E. cor. 4th & Race [sic]. Note the feather headdress. Most of the cigar indians were squaws. [graphic].
Depicts a Cigar Indian chief standing outside of the Central Hat Cleaning Company at 1032 West Girard Avenue. Written on the base of the carved figure are the words "Pocket Billiards". Bottled beverages sit nearby in crates outside of the shop. "Central Hal Cleaning Company, Gents Hats Remodeled and Blocked In Any Style," is visible across the front window, along with various hats on display., Inscribed in negative: 3714., Title from negative sleeve., Incorrectly identified as the Cigar Indian chief near the southeast corner of Fourth and Race Streets., Original negative housed in freezer.
Cliveden. [graphic].
Exterior view of west front of the colonial residence built 1763-1767 by master carpenter Jacob Knor for Philadelphia attorney Benjamin Chew at 6401 Germantown Avenue. Shows the facade of the two-story stone building with a pediment over the front door, shuttered windows, and dormers and chimneys on the roof. Chew House, also known as Cliveden, was the site of the turning point in the Battle of Germantown in 1777. The Chew family enslaved people of African descent in the city of Philadelphia and in Germantown during the 18th and 19th centuries. The estate was the Chew family residence until 1972 when it was acquired by the National Trust for Historic Preservation., Inscribed in negative: 2221., Title from negative sleeve., Date inferred from photographic medium., Purchase 1988., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
Cliveden, home of the Chew Family. Built in 1760 on Germantown Ave. Seat of the Battle of Germantown. [graphic].
Exterior view of west front of the colonial residence built 1763-1767 by master carpenter Jacob Knor for Philadelphia attorney Benjamin Chew at 6401 Germantown Avenue. Shows the facade of the two-story stone building with a pediment over the front door and shuttered windows. Chew House, also known as Cliveden, was the site of the turning point in the Battle of Germantown in 1777. The Chew family enslaved people of African descent in the city of Philadelphia and in Germantown during the 18th and 19th centuries. The estate was the Chew family residence until 1972 when it was acquired by the National Trust for Historic Preservation., Inscribed in negative: 2222., Title from negative sleeve., Date inferred from photographic medium., Purchase 1988., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
Commemorative tablet on City Hall, Philadelphia to Swedish settlers. [graphic].
Depicts a commemorative plaque in City Hall, dedicated to Swedish settlements along the Delaware River, 1638-1655. Erected in 1909 by The Society of Colonial Wars in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania., Title from negative sleeve.
Concord School House, built 1775, Germantown Ave. [graphic].
Shows the one-room school house completed in 1775 near the Upper Burying Ground at 6309 Germantown Avenue. View includes a gated brick fence in the foreground. The school, built from subscription funds to educate the citizens of the upper end of Germantown, was altered to include a second floor in 1818 to accommodate town meetings., Inscribed in negative: 2225., Title from negative sleeve.
David Rittenhouse home. [graphic].
An out building and a small stone bridge spanning a stream are visible in the foreground of this image depicting the rear elevation of the house where David Rittenhouse was born in 1732. Built circa 1770 by William Rittenhouse as part of a complex occupied by the first paper making business in the colonies., Inscribed in negative: 3644., Title from negative sleeve., Modern reference print available.
David Rittenhouse home. [graphic].
Oblique view of the side and front elevations of the house where David Rittenhouse was born in 1732. Built circa 1770 by William Rittenhouse as part of a complex occupied by the first paper making business in the colonies., Inscribed in negative: 3646., Title from negative sleeve., Modern reference print available., Original negative housed in freezer.
Dr. Casper Wister house, S.W. cor. 4th & Locust Sts. [graphic].
Exterior view of north and west elevations of dwelling from Locust Street, looking east toward 4th Street. Built circa 1765. Residence of William Shippen circa 1765-1797 and Caspar Wistar 1798-1809., Inscribed in negative: 2192., Title from negative sleeve., Also known as the Shippen-Wistar House.
[Dunkard Meeting House, 6613 Germantown Avenue.] [graphic].
Exterior view of west front of stone church, showing roundel window above the entrance door, flanked by a shallow portico. Known as the Church of the Brethren, founded by Alexander Mack in 1708 near Crefeldt in North Prussia. Persecution drove the congregation to Philadelphia in 1719 and in 1723 the first Dunkard, or German Baptist Brethren Church, was organized in Germantown. The congregation originally worshipped in a building erected by Christopher Sauer (4653 Main Street) and then in a house secured by Peter Pettikoffer, who begged for the money to erect the building. Called Beggar's Town or Bettel Hausen., Inscribed in negative: 3178., Title from negative sleeve., Incorrectly identified as the Mennonite Meeting House at 6119 Germantown Avenue in manuscript note on negative sleeve.
E. side of Barn House, 40 [sic] W. Walnut Lane, built 1796 (J. Fredk. Thomas). [graphic].
Exterior view of east and north facades of dwelling, once the Wyck barn, built in 1796 by J. Frederick Thomas. Architect Mantle Fielding converted the old barn into a residence circa 1891., Inscribed in negative: 2439., Title from negative sleeve., Later known as the Franklin Courtney Residence.
Edgar Allen Poe house where he is supposed to have written the Raven. #530 N. 7th St. at cor. Brandywine. [graphic].
Depicts the south front and rear of the Edgar Allan Poe House, dwarfed by neighboring properties and partially obscured by a wooden fence. Laundry hangs from a line in the rear of the yard and a woman stands in the doorway of the house looking toward the camera. Occupied by the famous writer from 1842 to 1844., Inscribed in negative: 3200., Title from negative sleeve.
Farland [sic] Farm, old Wetherill Estate at Audubon, Pa. [graphic].
Depicts the large portico of the Wetherill mansion, also known as Vaux Hill and later, Fatlands Farm. Original portion of house built in 1843., Inscribed in negative: 2745., Title from negative sleeve.
Farland [sic] Farm, old Wetherill Estate at Audubon, Pa. [graphic].
Depicts the large portico of the Wetherill mansion, also known as Vaux Hill and later, Fatlands Farm. Original portion of house built in 1843., Inscribed in transparency: 2745., Title from transparency sleeve., Original negative housed in freezer.
Front of Wm. Wynn Wister House, 5140 Germantown Ave. [graphic].
Distant view of front porch of house set back from the street and surrounded by trees. The flank of another house is visible in the foreground. Occupied by Philadelphia painter Gilbert Stuart from 1795-96. Barn in the rear of the property used as his studio., Inscribed in negative: 3367., Title from negative sleeve., Original negative housed in freezer.
Genl. Wayne Tavern, Montgomery Pike. [graphic].
View of the front facade of the two and a half story inn, showing porches running the width of the inn on both levels. Furniture is scattered across the first level porch. The inn was built circa 1704 by Robert Jones on land purchased by Edward Rees. Anthony Tunis purchased the tavern in 1747 after the death of Jones and operated a popular tavern for stagecoaches traveling west. The inn passed into the ownership of Anthony Streeper in 1776. General Anthony Wayne stayed at Streeper's Inn on September 13th, 1777, after the Battle of Brandywine. George Washington was a guest at the inn the following night. The British occupied the inn shortly after. The tavern was named in honor of General Wayne after his return visit in 1795., Inscribed in negative: 2931., Title from negative sleeve., Also known as the General Anthony Wayne Inn, The Wayside Inn, The Tunis Ordinary and Streeper's Inn., Original negative housed in freezer.
Germantown Academy, bronze tablet. [graphic].
Depicts the plaque describing the history of Germantown Academy, erected by the Trustees of the Academy and the Site and Relic Society of Germantown in 1918. Germantown Academy is visible in the background. Built in 1760 by Jacob Knor on land purchased from John and George Bringhurst. Known as the Union School House when it opened in 1761. Instruction was in both English and German. The building was used as a hospital after the Battle of Germantown in 1777 and again in 1798 during the Yellow Fever epidemic., Inscribed in negative: 3837., Title from negative sleeve., Original negative housed in freezer.
Germantown Academy cor. School Lane & Greene St., built 1760. [graphic].
Exterior view of Germantown Academy, built in 1760 by Jacob Knor on land purchased from John and George Bringhurst. Known as the Union School House when it opened in 1761. Instruction was in both English and German. The building was used as a hospital after the Battle of Germantown in 1777 and again in 1798 during the Yellow Fever epidemic., Inscribed in negative: 3836., Title from negative sleeve., Modern reference print available., Original negative housed in freezer.
Girard Bank. [graphic].
View looking northwest from Dock Street showing the bank originally built 1795-1797 after the designs of Samuel Blodgett. The bank, operated by Stephen Girard as Girard's Bank from 1812-1831, was chartered by the state in 1832 as Girard National Bank. View includes adjacent building tenanted by E. Roger, wood engraver, and the Saturday Evening Post newspaper office (132 South Third Street); the top floors of the Mariner & Merchant Building (300 Chestnut Street) and two commercial buildings on the north side of Dock Street near Third (129 South Third Street and 241 Dock Street)., Inscribed in negative: 3295., Title from negative sleeve., Modern reference print available.
[Gloria Dei Church, 929 S. Water Street, Philadelphia.] [graphic].
Exterior view, showing headstones in the cemetery of the oldest church in Pennsylvania, built 1698-1700 after designs by John I. Harrison and Reverend Andrew Rudman. The wings were added 1703-1705 and the tower circa 1733., Title from negative sleeve., Also known as Old Swedes' Church. Stands on the site of the first Swedish Lutheran Church in Philadelphia.
Graeme Park, Horsham, Montgomery Co., Pa. [graphic].
Depicts the northwest front of Graeme Park, also known as the Keith House, built in 1722 for Pennsylvania Governor, William Keith. Keith named it Fountain Low because of the abundance of natural springs in the area, but Dr. Thomas Graeme purchased the property in 1739 and renamed it Graeme Park. Graeme remodeled the interior in 1755 with fine marble and Delft tiles and entertained lavish parties in the house. The property was given to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1958 by the Strawbridge family., Inscribed in negative: 3162., Title from negative sleeve.
Graeme Park, Horsham, Montgomery Co., Penna. [graphic].
Distant, oblique view of the northwest front and southwest flank of Graeme Park, also known as the Keith House, built in 1722 for Pennsylvania Governor, William Keith. Keith named it Fountain Low because of the abundance of natural springs in the area, but Dr. Thomas Graeme purchased the property in 1739 and renamed it Graeme Park. Graeme remodeled the interior in 1755 with fine marble and Delft tiles and entertained lavish parties in the house. The property was given to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1958 by the Strawbridge family., Inscribed in negative: 3165., Title from negative sleeve.
Interior views of carpenter shop in the rear of Grumblethorpe, showing hand tools, work benches, ladders, a pot of brushes and various other scattered objects., Inscribed in negative: 3852., Title from negative sleeve., Grumblethorpe built in 1744 by Philadelphia wine merchant John Wister. His house was the first in Germantown built solely for summer residency and greatly exceeded the dimensions of the homes around it, giving it the nickname "Wister's Big House."
Grumblethorpe. A peep into the ancient carpenter shop in back of house. [graphic].
Interior views of carpenter shop in the rear of Grumblethorpe, showing hand tools, work benches, ladders, a pot of brushes and various other scattered objects., Inscribed in negative: 3852., Title from negative sleeve., Grumblethorpe built in 1744 by Philadelphia wine merchant John Wister. His house was the first in Germantown built solely for summer residency and greatly exceeded the dimensions of the homes around it, giving it the nickname "Wister's Big House."
Grumblethorpe. A peep into the ancient carpenter shop in back of house. [graphic].
Interior views of carpenter shop in the rear of Grumblethorpe, showing hand tools, work benches, ladders, a pot of brushes and various other scattered objects., Inscribed in negative: 3852., Title from negative sleeve., Grumblethorpe built in 1744 by Philadelphia wine merchant John Wister. His house was the first in Germantown built solely for summer residency and greatly exceeded the dimensions of the homes around it, giving it the nickname "Wister's Big House."
Grumblethorpe. Alexander Wister at the old pump. [graphic].
Depicts Alexander Wister holding the handle of a large pump on the property., Inscribed in negative: 4219., Title from negative sleeve., Grumblethorpe was built in 1744 by Philadelphia wine merchant John Wister. His house was the first in Germantown built solely for summer residency and greatly exceeded the dimensions of the homes around it, giving it the nickname "Wister's Big House." It was here that General James Agnew died, after being badly wounded in the Battle of Germantown., Original negative housed in freezer.
Grumblethorpe, back part of. [graphic].
Rear view of Grumblethorpe, showing the rear of the main house and ell extension. Built in 1744 by Philadelphia wine merchant John Wister. His house was the first in Germantown built solely for summer residency and greatly exceeded the dimensions of the homes around it, giving it the nickname "Wister's Big House.", Inscribed in negative: 3841., Title from negative sleeve.
Grumblethorpe, back part of. [graphic].
Detailied rear view of Grumblethorpe, showing a water pump and the large arbor attached to the rear ell extension to support a grape vine. Built in 1744 by Philadelphia wine merchant John Wister. His house was the first in Germantown built solely for summer residency and greatly exceeded the dimensions of the homes around it, giving it the nickname "Wister's Big House.", Inscribed in negative: 3842., Title from negative sleeve., Original negative housed in freezer.
Grumblethorpe, exterior of carpenter's shop. [graphic].
View of a wooden frame attached to an earlier stone structure on the Grumblethorpe property., Inscribed in negative: 4206., Title from negative sleeve., Grumblethorpe was built in 1744 by Philadelphia wine merchant John Wister. His house was the first in Germantown built solely for summer residency and greatly exceeded the dimensions of the homes around it, giving it the nickname "Wister's Big House." It was here that General James Agnew died, after being badly wounded in the Battle of Germantown., Original negative housed in freezer.
Grumblethorpe, Grenadier painted by Major Andre, kept in hall. [graphic].
Depicts a life-sized painted image of a soldier in a hallway, standing in front of a closed door, next to a hat and coat stand and two side chairs. On both sides of the door are two instruments affixed to the wall, probably to register the temperature and humidity. Purportedly created by Major Andre, who lodged in Benjamin Franklin's house during the 1777-78 British occupation of Philadelphia., Inscribed in negative: 3843., Title from negative sleeve., Dwelling built in 1744 by Philadelphia wine merchant John Wister. His house was the first in Germantown built solely for summer residency and greatly exceeded the dimensions of the homes around it, giving it the nickname "Wister's Big House."
Grumblethorpe in 1744 from Mr. Wister's history. [graphic].
Copy of book illustration depicting Grumblethorpe, taken from the beginning of Chapter IX in "Mr. Wister's history". Grumblethorpe was constructed in 1744 by Philadelphia wine merchant John Wister. His house was the first in Germantown built solely for summer residency and greatly exceeded the dimensions of the homes around it, giving it the nickname "Wister's Big House.", Inscribed in negative: 4004., Title from negative sleeve.
Grumblethorpe, observatory. [graphic].
View of a wooden round edifice with a conical roof atop a square smokehouse in an overgrown garden area behind Grumblethorpe. Erected on top of the smokehouse in 1834 by Charles Jones Wister, an amateur scientist and clockmaker who built the observatory to obtain the correct time. He furnished the observatory with a transit instrument and an astronomical clock made with the help of Isaiah Lukens., Inscribed in negative: 3839., Title from negative sleeve., Grumblethorpe was built in 1744 by Philadelphia wine merchant John Wister. His house was the first in Germantown built solely for summer residency and greatly exceeded the dimensions of the homes around it, giving it the nickname "Wister's Big House.", Original negative housed in freezer.
Grumblethorpe, old barns, 1744. [graphic].
Copy of drawing depicting barns in the rear of Grumblethorpe, with cows in the foreground. "Old Barns, C.M. 1864," is inscribed below the image., Inscribed in negative: 4006., Title from negative sleeve., Grumblethorpe was constructed in 1744 by Philadelphia wine merchant John Wister. His house was the first in Germantown built solely for summer residency and greatly exceeded the dimensions of the homes around it, giving it the nickname "Wister's Big House." It was here that General James Agnew died, after being badly wounded in the Battle of Germantown.
Grumblethorpe, the John Wister House, 5261 Germantown Ave., built 1744. During the Battle of Germantown, the British Gen. Agnew was brought here wounded & died in the parlor. [graphic].
Exterior view of west front and north side of Grumblethorpe, house built in 1744 by Philadelphia wine merchant John Wister. His house was the first in Germantown built solely for summer residency and greatly exceeded the dimensions of the homes around it, giving it the nickname "Wister's Big House.", Inscribed in negative: 2212., Title from negative sleeve.
Grumblethorpe, Wister property. [graphic].
Copy of drawing depicting the west front and south side of Grumblethorpe, built in 1744 by Philadelphia wine merchant John Wister. His house was the first in Germantown built solely for summer residency and greatly exceeded the dimensions of the homes around it, giving it the nickname "Wister's Big House.", Inscribed in negative: 3997., Title from negative sleeve.
Harriton, built in 1704 by Rowland Ellis. [graphic].
Oblique view of the Harriton stone residence, showing the front facade and side elevation with the datestone. Carved into the datestone are the initials R.E., for Rowland Ellis, who constructed the residence in 1704. Richard Harrison owned the property after Ellis and named it Harriton. His daugher married Charles Thomson, a member of the General Assembly and the Secretary of Congress in 1774, and moved into Harriton after they were married., Inscribed in negative: 3139., Title from negative sleeve.
Harriton, showing old pump. [graphic].
View of the Harriton stone residence, showing an old pump in the foreground. The datestone is visible in the gable. The initials R.E. stand for Rowland Ellis, who constructed the residence in 1704. Richard Harrison owned the property after Ellis and named it Harriton. His daugher married Charles Thomson, a member of the General Assembly and the Secretary of Congress in 1774, and moved into Harriton after they were married., Inscribed in negative: 3136., Title from negative sleeve.
Haverford Meeting. [graphic].
Exterior view of meeting house constructed in 1834 on Buck Lane. Meetings were held for several years at Samuel Garrigues' farm beginning in 1827, but the space became insufficient, especially after the opening of Haverford College in 1833. The current meeting house was enlarged in 1894 and a school wing was added in 1904., Inscribed in negative: 3707., Title from negative sleeve., Original negative housed in freezer.
Haverford Meeting. [graphic].
Oblique view of pediment over the entrance to the meeting house constructed in 1834 on Buck Lane. Meetings were held for several years at Samuel Garrigues' farm beginning in 1827, but the space became insufficient, especially after the opening of Haverford College in 1833. The current meeting house was enlarged in 1894 and a school wing was added in 1904., Inscribed in negative: 3709., Title from negative sleeve., Original negative housed in freezer.
House at foot of Neglee Hill just north of Loudoun. [graphic].
Rear view of a brick house with a porch. A wooden fence and shrubs surround the property in the foreground. Located north of Loudoun at the foot of Neglee's Hill., Inscribed in negative: 3333., Title from negative sleeve., Original negative housed in freezer.
House at N.E. corner Germantown Ave. & Upsal St., in front of which Washington stood during the Battle of Germantown, Oct. 4, 1777. [graphic].
Exterior view of north flank and front elevation of house built in 1727 as one house for the Deshler family. In 1788 German printer, Michael Billmyer, bought the property and continued his printing trade from the dwelling., Inscribed in negative: 2264., Title from negative sleeve.

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