Collection of nearly 3,000 stereographs published and distributed in or of Philadelphia. The photographs mainly portray commercial and residential street scenes, particularly Market and Chestnut streets; religious, public, financial, and industrial buildings and institutions; and historic and prominent landmarks as well as a small selection of non-Philadelphia views.

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View in old park
View looking north from the south garden, adorned with trees and benches, at the Fairmount Water Works on the Schuylkill River. In the left, an African American, attired in a bowler hat, a white shirt, a dark-colored waistcoat, and pants, possibly a groundskeeper, stands with a broom. Two park guards stand and converse in front of the Diana statue at the base of the promenade leading to the inclined walkway on Reservoir Hill. Another man walks down the promenade toward the guards. In the foreground, a man, attired in a bowler hat, a white shirt, and dark-colored pants, stands leaning his left arm on a tree with his back to the viewer. The waterworks, originally built between 1812 and 1822 after the designs of Philadelphia engineer Frederick Graff, were altered and expanded until 1872. The south garden was laid out in the 1830s., Attributed to James Cremer., Title from manuscript note on verso., Orange mount with rounded corners., Accessioned 1989., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited., Digitization funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
View in park
View looking north from near the "Diana" statue at the base of Reservoir Hill at the Fairmount Water Works on the Schuylkill River. Shows a promenade, lamppost, and benches in the south garden in the foreground. Also shows the peristyle temple, built on the old mill house between 1868-1872 after the designs of Philadelphia engineer Frederick Graff, Jr., in the background. The waterworks, originally built between 1812 and 1822 after the designs of Philadelphia engineer Frederick Graff, were altered and expanded until 1872., Title from manuscript note on verso., Orange mount with rounded corners., Photographer's and publisher's imprint printed on mount., Digitization funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
View in Rittenhouse Square
Shows a grove of trees in the square., Photographer, title, and date from accompanying label., Buff mount with square corners., 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.
View in Scotland
View showing a man in traditional Scottish attire, including a kilt, standing with two young girls near the entranceway to a manor. Also shows hedges., Attributed to Andrew Coates., Title and name of photographer from manuscript note on mount., Buff paper mount with square corners., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited., Digitization funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of views of different countries.
View in Sweet Brier valley.
View looking along a tree-lined path at a group of men, women and children standing and sitting on a rustic pedestrian bridge on the Sweetbriar estate in West Fairmount Park., Written on negative: 1005, Title from manuscript note on mount., Photographer's imprint mostly obscured by photograph pasted on mount., Stamped on verso: Copyrighted Kiralfy Bros., Philadelphia, 1876., Pink curved mount with rounded corners., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Gift of Ms. Jane Carson James.
View in Sweet Brier valley.
View showing four men and a toddler in a stroller standing on the steps of a rustic pedestrian bridge on the Sweetbriar estate in West Fairmount Park., Written on negative: 1004, Title from manuscript note on mount., Photographer's imprint obscured by photograph pasted on mount., Stamped on verso: Copyrighted Kiralfy Bros., Philadelphia, 1876., Pink curved mount with rounded corners., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Gift of Ms. Jane Carson James.
View in the park.
Landscape view showing the feather-like plumage of a large white pampas grass plant in the center foreground. Includes landscaped garden with shrubs and trees in the background., Title from manuscript note on mount., Photographer's imprint obscured by photograph pasted on mount., Stamped on verso: Copyrighted Kiralfy Bros., Philadelphia, 1876., Pink curved mount with rounded corners., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Gift of Ms. Jane Carson James.
View in the Park. [graphic].
Exterior view of the colonial residence built 1763-1767 by master carpenter Jacob Knor for Philadelphia attorney Benjamin Chew at 6401 Germantown Avenue. A white man, attired in a top hat and suit, stands and looks at the viewer with a dog on the front lawn. A white boy lies in a hammock, and another white boy stands beside him. 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., List of titles printed on verso., Title from verso., Yellow mount with rounded corners., Gift of Raymond Holstein, 2011., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
View in tropical forest.
View showing a small clearing in a tropical forest. View from T.O. Selfridge's 1870-1871 naval expedition of the Isthmus of Darien. Authorized by the U.S. Government, Selfridge explored and surveyed the area as a possible route for a ship canal in Panama. He was accompanied by photographer T.H. O'Sullivan in 1870 and Philadelphia photographer John Moran in 1871., Title printed on mount., Publisher's imprint in red text on mount., Manuscript note on verso: J.H. Lamson, private coll., Yellow curved mount with rounded corners., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
View in upper east park.
View showing a small recess of the Schuylkill River shaded by trees on the east bank. Includes rocks and an empty barrel floating in the water in the foreground and two men standing and looking out over the river in the background., Title from manuscript note on verso., Photographer's imprint in red text on mount., Manuscript note on verso: Muschamp No. 28, Yellow mount with rounded corners., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Gift of Mr. Saul Koltnow.
View near the falls.
Landscape view from hilltop showing trees and buildings in a valley., Title from manuscript note on verso., Photographer's imprint in red text on mount., Explicative paragraph of text providing brief history of Fairmount Park entitled, "Fairmount Park and Water Works, Philadelphia" printed on verso. Text surmounted by vignette of state seal of Pennsylvania and surrounded by decorative border., Yellow mount with rounded corners., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
[View of a farm in a river valley in the mountains, Schuylkill County, Pa.]
View of a farm in a river valley in the mountains. In the foreground, a man stands with a rake or pitchfork looking toward the camera (left). Two warehouses are visible at the tree-lined river bank in the background., Title supplied by cataloger., Photographer's imprint printed on mount., Yellow mount with square corners., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Gift from the heirs of Paul D.I. and Anna S. Maier: James H. Maier, Anthony M. Maier, Marianna M. Thomas, and Cynthia C. Maier., A.M. Allen, born in Deerfield, Mass., relocated to Pottsville, Pa. ca. 1852 and set up his studio at the southwest corner of West Market and North Centre Streets. He retired from the business in 1894.
View of Fairmount, Phila. PA
View of man standing on roof terrace of mill house at Fairmount Waterworks. Italianate standpipe (built in 1852) and distribution arch (built in 1860) are visible in background. The waterworks, originally built between 1812 and 1822 after the designs of Philadelphia engineer Frederick Graff, were altered and expanded until 1872., Orange mount with rounded corners., Title from label on negative., Gift of Sandra Markham., Digitization funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
View of Kensington, Phila.
View showing several freight cars loaded with coal resting on railroad tracks between fenced plots of land and several piers owned by Philadelphia coal merchants on the Delaware River. Merchants include Van Dusen Bro. & Co.; John C. Scott & Son; and Gordon Repplier & Co. Also shows sloops docked at the piers and a corn crop in the foreground., Yellow mount with rounded corners., Title from manuscript note on verso., Digitization funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
View of Niagara Falls, New York and Ontario.
View of the falls in the distant background. Includes a tent labeled "photographic and stereoscopic views of the falls" sheltering a camera in the left foreground., Photographer's stamp pasted on verso., Yellow mount with square corners., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
View of Philadelphia harbor, Philadelphia, Pa.
Harbor scene showing a steamboat departing from a pier on the Delaware River. Includes a partial view of a docked steamboat., Photographer's imprint stamped on mount., Buff mount with square corners., Title printed on mount., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited., Digitization funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., The Langenheim brothers, William and Frederick, were pioneer photographers and stereograph publishers, who operated a photographic studio in Philadelphia from the 1840s to 1874 and the death of William.
View of Philadelphia harbor, Philadelphia, Pa. [graphic] / Langenheim.
Harbor scene showing a steamboat departing from a pier on the Delaware River. Includes a partial view of a docked steamboat., Photographer's imprint stamped on mount., Buff mount with square corners., Title printed on mount., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited., Digitization funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., The Langenheim brothers, William and Frederick, were pioneer photographers and stereograph publishers, who operated a photographic studio in Philadelphia from the 1840s to 1874 and the death of William.
View of Philadelphia harbor, Philadelphia, Pa.
Harbor scene showing a steamboat departing from a pier on the Delaware River. Includes a partial view of a docked steamboat., Photographer's imprint stamped on mount., Buff mount with square corners., Title printed on mount., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited., Digitization funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., The Langenheim brothers, William and Frederick, were pioneer photographers and stereograph publishers, who operated a photographic studio in Philadelphia from the 1840s to 1874 and the death of William.
[View of road in West Branch Valley, Schuylkill County, Pa.]
View of a winding dirt road in the mountains flanked by boulders, stacked rocks, and trees., Title supplied by cataloger., Photographer's imprint from label pasted on verso., Photographer's imprint printed on mount., Yellow mount with square corners., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Gift from the heirs of Paul D.I. and Anna S. Maier: James H. Maier, Anthony M. Maier, Marianna M. Thomas, and Cynthia C. Maier., A.M. Allen, born in Deerfield, Mass., relocated to Pottsville, Pa. ca. 1852 and set up his studio at the southwest corner of West Market and North Centre Streets. He retired from the business in 1894.
[View of rocky hillside near railroad in Mill Creek Valley, Schuylkill County]
View of the rocky terrain adjacent to a railroad, most likely the Mill Creek Railroad, which extended from Port Carbon, Pa. up the valley of Mill Creek to the mines. A man stands near the tracks in the righthand edge of the image., Title supplied by cataloger., Photographer's imprint from label pasted on verso., Photographer's imprint printed on mount., Yellow mount with square corners., A.M. Allen, born in Deerfield, Mass., relocated to Pottsville, Pa. ca. 1852 and set up his studio at the southwest corner of West Market and North Centre Streets. He retired from the business in 1894., Cataloging of copy no. P.9844.20 funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Gift from the heirs of Paul D.I. and Anna S. Maier: James H. Maier, Anthony M. Maier, Marianna M. Thomas, and Cynthia C. Maier.
View of side of basin at Fairmount.
View showing the "Nymph with Bittern" statue at the east side of the forebay at the Fairmount Water Works on the Schuylkill River. The statue, sculpted in wood in 1809 by William Rush for the Centre Square Water Works, was installed at the basin in 1827. It was removed in 1872 when cast in bronze and relocated to the south garden at the waterworks. Also shows the standpipe on Reservoir Hill in the upper left corner of the image. The waterworks, originally constructed between 1812 and 1822, were altered and expanded until 1872., Publisher's imprint printed on mount., Title printed on mount., Orange mount with rounded corners., American scenery was a popular series of copy stereographs issued between 1874 and 1877., Digitization funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
View of the high banks & bed of Genesee River
Landscape view showing a gorge through which the river flows., Title from label on negative., Unmounted half stereograph., Inscribed in negative: 135., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of views of New York., Digitization funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
View of West Phila. from Fairmount.
Winter view looking from the Fairmount Waterworks toward West Philadelphia. Shows a building on the west bank of the Schuylkill River at the southern end of the Fairmount Locks. A covered canal lock is visible in the foreground, flanked on the east side by rocky terrain. In the background, dwellings and trees line the landscape. Building possibly the hotel inhabited and operated by Jeremiah King., Title and date from manuscript note on verso., Yellow mount with square corners., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
View of wheel house, Fairmount.
View looking northeast from the west bank of the Schuylkill River showing the Fairmount Water Works. Shows the old engine house; old mill house; new mill house (completed 1862); and the observatory tower arch (built 1860) and stand pipe (built 1852) on Reservoir Hill. The waterworks, orginally built between 1812 and 1822 after the designs of Philadelphia engineer Frederick Graff, were altered and expanded after the designs of Philadelphia engineers, Henry P.M. Birkinbine and Frederick Graff, Jr., Title from manuscript note on verso., Attributed to Robert Newell., Yellow mount with rounded corners., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Gift of David Doret.
View on Schuylkill
View looking south from Lemon Hill in East Fairmount Park. Shows the Fairmount Water Works on the Schuylkill River, including the old engine house; the old mill house; and the observatory arch, standpipe and pavilion on Reservoir Hill. View also includes a group of girls standing near a tree on the estate in the foreground. The waterworks, originally constructed between 1812 and 1822 after the designs of Philadelphia engineer Frederick Graff, were altered and expanded after the designs of Philadelphia engineers, Henry P.M. Birkinbine and Frederick Graff, Jr., until 1872., Title from manuscript note on verso., Yellow mount with rounded corners., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited, Digitization funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
View on the Brandywine, near Wilmington, Del.
Faded view showing a bridge spanning the shallow creek. Includes large rocks in the foreground., Attributed to John Moran., Title from label pasted on mount., Distributor's label pasted on verso: McAllister & Brother, 728 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia., Buff mount with rounded corners., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
View on the Delaware, Philadelphia harbor.
Shows ships docked at piers with warehouse sheds near loading docks cluttered with crates and barrels., Photographer's imprint stamped on mount., Buff paper mount with square corners., Title printed on mount., 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., The Langenheim brothers, William and Frederick, were pioneer photographers and stereograph publishers, who operated a photographic studio in Philadelphia from the 1840s to 1874 and the death of William.
View on the Delaware, Philadelphia harbor. [graphic] / Langenheim.
Shows ships docked at piers with warehouse sheds near loading docks cluttered with crates and barrels., Photographer's imprint stamped on mount., Buff paper mount with square corners., Title printed on mount., 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., The Langenheim brothers, William and Frederick, were pioneer photographers and stereograph publishers, who operated a photographic studio in Philadelphia from the 1840s to 1874 and the death of William.
View on the Delaware, Philadelphia harbor.
Shows ships docked at piers with warehouse sheds near loading docks cluttered with crates and barrels., Photographer's imprint stamped on mount., Buff paper mount with square corners., Title printed on mount., 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., The Langenheim brothers, William and Frederick, were pioneer photographers and stereograph publishers, who operated a photographic studio in Philadelphia from the 1840s to 1874 and the death of William.
View on the Delaware, Philadelphia harbor.
Shows ships docked at piers with warehouse sheds holding lumber. Also shows men in rowboats in the distance., Photographer's imprint stamped on mount., Title printed on mount., Buff paper mount with square corners., 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., The Langenheim brothers, William and Frederick, were pioneer photographers and stereograph publishers, who operated a photographic studio in Philadelphia from the 1840s to 1874 and the death of William.
View on the Delaware, Philadelphia harbor. [graphic] / Langenheim.
Shows ships docked at piers with warehouse sheds holding lumber. Also shows men in rowboats in the distance., Photographer's imprint stamped on mount., Title printed on mount., Buff paper mount with square corners., 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., The Langenheim brothers, William and Frederick, were pioneer photographers and stereograph publishers, who operated a photographic studio in Philadelphia from the 1840s to 1874 and the death of William.
View on the Delaware, Philadelphia harbor.
Shows ships docked at piers with warehouse sheds holding lumber. Also shows men in rowboats in the distance., Photographer's imprint stamped on mount., Title printed on mount., Buff paper mount with square corners., 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., The Langenheim brothers, William and Frederick, were pioneer photographers and stereograph publishers, who operated a photographic studio in Philadelphia from the 1840s to 1874 and the death of William.
View on the line of the Pennsylvania Rail Road, Spruce Creek Tunnel.
View of a double set of tracks running along the Spruce Creek in Huntingdon County in Central Pennsylvania. The tracks run through a tunnel cut into a mountain in the background., Publisher's imprint on verso: Published by S.M. Morse, bookseller and stationer, dealer in pictures and picture frames, stereoscopes and views, 75 Main Street, Nashau, N.H., Label on verso printed by Miller & Best, 67 High St., Boston., Digitization funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
View on the Schuylkill.
View looking north showing a steamboat near the steamboat landing on the Schuylkill River immediately north of the Fairmount Water Works. Also shows two steamboats on the river near the landing and George Popps' floating Park Boat House in the background near Boathouse Row., Title from manuscript note on mount., Photographer's imprint printed on mount., Stamped on verso: Copyrighted by Kiralfy Bros., Philadelphia, 1876., Pink mount with rounded corners., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Gift of Ms. Jane Carson James.
View on the Wissahickon.
Landscape view showing a calm, tree-lined creek., Title printed on mount., Publisher's imprint printed on mount., Yellow mount with rounded corners., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
View on the Wissahickon.
Shows a man standing near a toll house at the bend of a road near the Wissahickon Creek., Title printed on mount., Date from manuscript note on mount., Yellow paper mount with square corners., Paper backing pasted on verso., 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.
View on the Wissahickon above toll house. [graphic] / Bartlett & Smith, photographers.
View showing a stretch of Lincoln Drive including Maple Spring Hotel, the roadhouse and picnic resort established around 1865. The hotel was known for proprietor Joseph Smith's prominently displayed hand-carved curios created from laurel root that he gathered along the Wissahickon Creek. The hotel fell into ruin following the loss of its liquor privileges and was razed in the late 19th century. A horse-drawn carriage travels down the wooded road., Title from accompanying label., Photographer's imprint embossed on accompanying label., Trimmed orange mount with square corners., Paper backing pasted on verso., 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.
View on the Wissahickon near Philadelphia.
Landscape view of calm, tree-lined creek., Title from manuscript note on verso., Attributed to Robert Newell., Yellow mount with square corners., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
View on the Wissahickon near Philadelphia, Pa.
Landscape view depicts the calm waters of Wissahickon Creek flanked by trees and the dirt drive looking north toward Wissahickon Hall erected circa 1849 by Harry Lippen at Wissahickon Drive (i.e., Lincoln Drive) below Gypsy Lane. Shows stables facing the creek., Title from manuscript note on verso., Attributed to Robert Newell., Yellow mount with square corners., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
View on the Wissahickon, Philada.
Landscape view showing a man standing on a wide, tree-lined dirt road running parallel to the Wissahickon Creek., Title from manuscript note on label pasted on verso., Publisher's imprint printed on label pasted on verso., Yellow mount with rounded corners., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Gift of F.J. Dallet.

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