Details
Title Boell, William
Alternate title Buell, William
Date b. ca. 1832
Description William Boell, born ca. 1832 in France, worked as a lithographer in New York and Philadelphia 1850s-1870s. A practical lithographer, Boell worked in New York between 1854 and ca. 1859 before establishing his own firm in Philadelphia, where he worked until ca. 1882. Boell's work in Philadelphia included book illustrations, advertisements, church views, bird's eye views, and political cartoons. He also issued several Civil War prints, including the noted "Volunteer Refreshment Saloon, Supported Gratuitously by the Citizens of Philadelphia, Pa." (1861) depicting an exterior and series of interior views of the Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon and Hospital.
Boell began his lithographic career in New York in 1854, and produced view prints, including one for "Illustrations of the Japan Expedition" (1855). During this time he also partnered in the firms Boell & Lewis (ca. 1855) and Boell & Michelin (1855-1858). By 1859, Boell relocated to Philadelphia and established a firm at 407 Walnut. The firm relocated a number of times, including 311 Walnut Street (1860-1866), 314/314 1/2 Walnut Street (1866-1875); 327 Walnut Street (1876-1877, with August Steng); and 505 Market Street as William Boell & Co. (1878-ca. 1880).
From 1859 Boell promoted his "machinery in perspective" views and such prints formed a core specialty of his advertisements. During the 1860s Boell advertised he had "been employed in executing the finest Work in the Art, for the principal houses in France, Spain, Germany & the United States," received large orders as evident from billheads in the Warshaw Collection of Business Ephemera and earned enough income to be taxed by the IRS. He also received a good credit rating during the 1870s. Boell remained in the trade until apparently ca. 1880 (43 South Fourth Street) when a number of judgments of notes owed to John Thompson of New York went against his favor.
Following his arrival to Philadelphia, Boell resided in South Philadelphia at 929 Tasker where he lived with his English-born wife Julie (b. ca. 1838), two children, and boarders. By 1870, Boell had relocated to North Philadelphia at 1701 North Ninth Street with his wife and four children and remained at that address as of 1880.
Is part of Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers
References See Steng, August.
Call number Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers
Bibliographic citation Census 1860, 1870, 1880
Groce & Wallace, 59
Last, 167
Library Company of Philadelphia research file
Pennsylvania, Vol. 152, p. 92, R.G. Dun & Co. Collection, microfilm, Hagley Museum & Library
Peters, 98
Philadelphia Business and City Directories, 1860-1880
WWWAA, 362