The tablet is from the archives at Lagash, excavated in the 1880s. It is made of unbaked clay and is a sealed envelope surrounding a similar or identical inner tablet dating from about 2044 B.C. It records the loan of 22 ‘gur’ (small boatloads) of barley from the royal granary at Lagash to two unnamed men, who were probably going to use it for spring planting, hunger having exhausted their supply of seed grain., Gift of Miss Mary McClellan, 1929.
Profile of Franklin holding bifocals in his hand. Back states, “Commemorating the One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of Benjamin Franklin’s Invention of the Bifocal Lens in 1784.”, Gift of Donald Oresman, 2000.
Cardboard suitcase with metal reinforced corners and edges. Missing side on bottom piece and lacking handle. Forms part of the Stevens-Cogdell/Sanders-Venning Collection. Given by the family with Bible inside [*Am 1873 Bible 17281.Q (SCSVC)]. Has labels for CC Hinkson, 329 N. 40th St. Phila. [ie Cordelia Chew Hinkson (1897-1983)]; Miss Bunny Hinkson [ie Mary Hinkson Jackson (1928-2014)] address obscured by Bekins sticker. [Cornelia was Mary’s mother]. Also has several Railway Express labels. Inside the top case, metal snap is labeled “United Carr.”, Gift of descendants Cordelia H. Brown, Lillie V. Dickerson, Mary Hinkson Jackson, and Georgine E. Willis in honor of Phil Lapsansky, 2016.
Inscription reads, “The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company 1827-1927; Peter Cooper’s Tom Thumb.”, A card accompanying the medal reads, “This medal is issued on the one hundredth birthday of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company to commemorate not merely the important milestone in its own history but the rounding out of a century of a definite American Railroad achievement. The Baltimore and Ohio was the first American railroad to operate its line for the public handling of passengers and freight. This was early in 1830. In all the one hundred years of its life it has changed neither its corporate name, its charter nor its fundamental organization. The obverse of the medal depicts one of the most modern trains of the Baltimore and Ohio—The Capital Limited or The National Limited—drawn by one of the largest and most modern passenger locomotives built. The spirit of Transportation guides the locomotive on its onward flight. The reverse shows the Tom Thumb, designed by Alderman Peter Cooper of New York and the first steam locomotive to be built in the United States even though it was never put into practical service. Mr. Hans Schuler, director of the Maryland Institute in Baltimore, is the sculptor who designed the medal and it was reproduced direct from his models by the Medallic Art Company of New York City.”, Gift of Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, 1927.
Medal commemorating Walt Whitman's centenary year made by the Franklin Inn Club., Portrait of Whitman with the inscription, "Walt Whitman 1819-1919, The Franklin Inn Club.”, Gift of Dr. Horace Howard Furness, 1919.
Set of six flags: French, Belgium, Italian, Union Jack, and two 48-star American flags. These flags decorated Mabel Brice’s home at 1320 Locust Street when she hosted the Queen of Belgium for tea. Mabel Brice Wheeler (1873-1965) volunteered in the Emergency Aid of Pennsylvania’s Belgium Relief Committee during the First World War. The Belgian Royal family toured the United States between September 23 and November 1919 to thank the American people for all of their help. King Albert and Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, along with their son Leopold, the Duke of Brabant, traveled to Philadelphia on October 27, 1919. They went to Independence Hall and the headquarters of the Belgian Relief Committee. The Queen had tea at the home of Mabel Brice while the King and Duke explored the shipyard at Hog Island. Ephraim and Mary Brice (Mabel’s parents) purchased the house in 1900, and Mabel lived there the rest of her life. The Library Company bought the residence in 1967., Found in the collection-from the Cassatt House.
Gift of George Allen, 2022., Safety bar pin with metal locking clasp. AEF in the center of a red keystone with a blue background. Written on the recto: Auxiliary. Society of the 28th Div American Expeditionary Forces 1917 1819[sic]. Marked on the verso: B.B. Co. STER. Pat.2066969. The 28th Infantry Division represents the Pennsylvania National Guard and was also called the “Keystone Division.” The Division served in World War I, including at the Battle of Chateau-Thierry.
Commemorates the prisoner-of-war camp for German soldiers on the Isle of Man during World War I., Obverse shows a view of the prison camp with tents and huts, castle and lighthouse in background, within a wreath of barbed wire. Inscription on the reverse reads: Weltkrieg 1914-1916 Erinnerung an die Kriegshaft Douglas Isle of Man.
Seven pins: 1. Red Cross 1919. 2. Red Cross 1920. 3. Red Cross. 4. Fourth Liberty Loan with flag. 5. Liberty Loan with V. 6. Third Liberty Loan with Liberty Bell. 7. I Helped War Chest with chest filled with gold and American flag crest. 1, 2, 5 -Made by The Whitehead Hoag & Co. Buttons, Badges, Novelties, and Signs Newark, NJ. 3, 6, 7- Made by American Art Works Conshocton, Ohio. 4-Made by American Art Sign(?) New York
Inscribed “1825-Henry Charles Lea-1909” on front of base; “May 1910 / CHARLES GRAFLY” on right verso; and “ROMAN BRONZE WORKS N-Y-” on verso along center of lower edge., Henry Charles Lea was a Library Company board member, 1870-1879, 1887-1902., LCP Annual Report for 1911, p. 1: “A bronze portrait bust of Mr. Henry Charles Lea, a benefactor and for many years a member of the Board, has been presented by the family through Mr. Arthur H. Lea. The work is by Mr. Charles Grafly and is considered an excellent likeness as well as a work of art. The base upon which the bust rests is of Negalla marble and is a very beautiful specimen of stone.”, Gift of Arthur H. Lea, 1911.
Medal of William Penn with "1683-1908, Founders Week." Attached to a blue and yellow ribbon which reads, "City Council." Engraved, George Morris Abbott on the reverse.
Nine badges with silk and metallic trim and a photo portrait on each. M. A. Bruder New Years Association, Comic Club. These badges were worn as identification badges by club members in the parade. Some were marked President, Treasurer, etc. Some were dated and worn only once. As much work went into making the badges as costumes. Mostly Comics and Fancies wore badges. Many of the Comic and Fancy clubs marched for a few years and then died out or combined with other clubs.
Inscription on the front reads, “Benjamin Franklin Printer Philosopher Scientist Statesman Diplomat.” The back reads, “Struck by an Act of Congress of the United States History Literature Science Philosophy To Commemorate Two Hundredth Anniversary of the Birth of Benjamin Franklin MCMVI.” A profile of Franklin’s head appears on the medal with the dates, “1706-1790.”, Gift of the American Philosophical Society.
Pin for the Poor Richard Club, which was a private club in Philadelphia founded in 1906, whose members were mostly in the advertising industry. Reads on the front, “Poor Richard Club, Philadelphia,” with a left facing profile of Benjamin Franklin. Name in ink filled in on the front “E.H. Peterson.” Marked on the Back “W&H Co.” and “The Whitehead & Hoag Co. Newark, NJ”, Gift of Chris Neopolitan, 2017.
On the back of the frame: "Albert Rosenthal, 1903.", Staake was a lawyer who became Judge of the Court of Common Pleas No. 5 for the County of Philadelphia in 1906.
Sign advertising Paul Jones & Co., which made bourbon. At the bottom left, "The F. Tuchfarber Co., man'f'r's Cin. O. 1901." On the back, "Do Not Hang Near Stove. Wash With Cold Water.", Depicts an African American woman with a slice of watermelon and an African American man holding a jug. On the bottom right is a crate labeled Paul Jones & Co., Gift of Robert Petrilla, 1994.
Depicts the “Electricity Building” from the Pan-American Expo that was in Buffalo, NY in 1901. Green and Wicks of Buffalo were the architects of the building. It was used for exhibits in electrical science and manufactures of electrical apparatus. Power from Niagara Falls was harnessed to distribute electricity throughout the Expo., Gift of Michael Zinman, 2008. (Part of the Michael Zinman World’s Fair Collection.)
Made to promote the National Export Exposition, which took place in Philadelphia from Sept. 14- Dec. 2, 1899 and attracted over a million visitors., Reads, "National Export Exposition, 1899, Philadelphia." At the bottom, "Made by Sauquoit Silk Mfg. Co.," "Bethlehem, Philadelphia, Scranton," and "J.J. Jordan, designer.", Depicts William Penn, Benjamin Franklin, and William McKinley framing a bird's eye view of the Commerical Museum., Gift of Helen Beitler, 2002.
Blue transferware plate titled “Souvenir of Philadelphia.” The center shows City Hall and along the border are illustrated New United States Mint; Library Ridgeway (sic) Branch; River Drive Fairmount Park; Post Office; Girard College; University of Pennsylvania. The back is stamped: R&M Co., The Rowland & Marsellus Co., Staffordshire, England. R&M Co. operated between c. 1893-1938., Gift of George E. Thomas, 2019.
Label on the back reads: "This supposed portrait of Christopher Sower first was modeled by Rupert Schmid a celebrated German Artist and sculptor from likeness and description of Christopher Sower's descendants, in Nov. 1886. Ch. G. Sower.", Bequest of Charles G. Sower, 1904.
Wood carving of David Sower with an elaborately carved oak frame with plaster., Bequest of Charles G. Sower, 1904., Front inscription reads: David Sower 1st, Printer and Publisher, Founder of the Norristown Herald 1799, Born 1764 Died 1835. Grandson of Christopher Sower 1st., Manuscript note on back reads: Designed and executed by Prof. Rupert Schmid Sculptor from Munich Germany 1886. Pronounced to be a perfect likeness by Edward Stroud before knowing who it was intended for, who lived in the same house with David Sower 1 and was 28 years old when the latter died.
On the back of the canvas: "Painted by T[] Henry Smith 1886 from the original painted from life by John Neagle 1825.", LCP Annual Report 1886, p. 2: "The Company is indebted also to Mr. Henry C. Baird for the gift of a fine portrait of his grandfather, the late Matthew Carey, Esq...suitably acknowledged by the Board of Directors.", Gift of Henry Carey Baird, 1886.
Four books assembled by Daisy Lowengrund: 1. "Sewing Book" in brown paper with front and back pockets. Pockets contain drawings on trace paper and small sewn blocks, some dated 1902-1905. Book contains embroidered pictures in various colors. 2. Half-bound volume of "Mat Weaving" containing weaved paper designs in various colors. 3-4. Two accordion-folded portfolios of colored paper cut-outs. Exhibited in Library Company of Philadelphia's exhibition, The Living Book: New Perspectives on Form and Function (2017-2018)., Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Robert Bendiner, 1998.
LCP Minutes vol. 8, April 30, 1885, p. 557a: “A portrait in oil of James Coxe, artist whose library of 5000 vols was purchased in 1832 by the Co., was presented by Philip F. Snyder Esq. and the Sec’y was instructed to return the thanks of the Board.” Note by George Maurice Abbot, Dec. 4, 1890: The painting of “Mercy Interceding for the Vanquished” said to be by Etty, was given to the library by Philip F. Snyder who also painted for the library from a pencil sketch, a portrait of James Cox, from whom the library at one time bought a large number of books.”, Gift of Philip F. Snyder, 1885., Exhibited in the Library Company's exhibition, In Living Color: Collecting Color Plate Books (2007).
Reads: “Commercial Lithography, Established 1851, Theo. Leonhardt & Son, S.E. Cor. 5th & Library Sts., Opposite Drexel Building Philadelphia.” Reads down the left side, “Bonds, Certificates of Stock, Checks, Diplomas, Cards, Letterheads, Labels.”, Copperplate of an advertisement for the firm used in the 1894-1897 editions of Gopsills Philadelphia City Directory. Contains a view looking southeast of the multi-storied lithographic establishment and vignettes of the front and back of the "Silver Medal" awarded to the business by the Maryland Institute for "Lithographic Work" in 1878. View includes street traffic. Leonhardt & Son was a partnership established circa 1874 between Theodore Leonhardt and his son Arno. The firm operated from 123-125 South Fifth Street, i.e., s.e. cor. 5th and Library streets, beginning in 1890.
Three badges for the Bi-Centennial Parade, 1683-1883. 1. Deutsch Amerikanischer Verein (blue and gold). 2. German American Bi-Centennial Executive Committee (red and gold). 3. German American Bi-Centennial Parade (blue and gold)., Gift of Don Yoder and William Woys Weaver, (Roughwood Collection), 2000., Exhibited in Good Bye Bayern- Grüb Gott America at the Center for Bavarian History, Augsburg Museum “Alte Schranne” in Nördlingen (Bavaria) (2004).
Colored tiles which were placed around the fireplace in the Librarian’s room. Depicts the Logan coat of arms with the inscription, “Haec Majorum Virtus,” the Penn coat of arms, and the Library Company's coat of arms., Purchased by the Library Company, 1882.
Signed and dated on the lower right corner, S.B. Waugh 1881., Henry Wharton was a Library Company Board member for 18 years., Purchased by the Library Company's Board in 1881.
Gift of David M. Doret and Linda G. Mitchell in memory of Robert Lindsley and Eric de Hoogh, 2019., Made for the Library Company’s Juniper and Locust Street Library branch, which was designed by Frank Furness and opened on February 24, 1880. Carved Library step stool with two steps and stabilizing arm topped with a carved finial.
Signed on the bottom left corner, “GB Wood, 1880.”, The painting depicts the interior of the Library Company's building on 5th Street. Lloyd P. Smith, the Librarian, is standing behind the charge desk. There is a woman and her dog standing in front of the desk with her back to the viewer. It is possible the woman is supposed to be Anne Hampton Brewster who owned a dog and was a close friend of Lloyd P. Smith., Represented in the painting (behind the Librarian's Desk) are the following objects: Bust of Clytie (OBJ #536), Bust of Apollo (OBJ #538), Painting of Stenton by Lewis (OBJ #142), and Portrait of James Logan by Sully (OBJ#255), Gift of Dr. William Pepper, 1893.
The Lambdin portrait is a copy of an original painted by David Martin in 1766., Purchased by the Library Company, 1880., LCP Minutes vol. 8, April 1, 1880, p. 311: "A letter was recd from JR Lambdin offering for sale a portrait of Dr. Franklin, which was declined, the price being $200." Vol. 8, November 11, 1880, p. 343: "On motion it was decided to purchase from Mr. J.R. Lambdin a portrait of Dr. Franklin, provided it could be obtained for $150.00." Vol. 8, December 3, 1880, p. 352: "The following orders were drawn upon the Treasurer... No. 527, JR. Lambdin. Portrait of Dr. Franklin 150.00."
John Jay Smith was the Library Company's Librarian from 1829-Feb. 1851 and Treasurer from 1840-1857., Painting is signed on the lower right., Receipt for portrait, frame, and tablet for name, dated April 13, 83, in vol. 3 of John Jay Smith's Recollections-manuscript copy [8442.F]., LCP Minutes vol. 8, May 3, 1883, p. 474: "Mr. L.P. Smith, having in behalf of himself and his brothers Mssrs. Robert P. Smith and Horace J. Smith, presented the Library Company with a portrait of the late John Jay Smith; the Secretary was directed to thank the donors, for the very acceptable gift of the portrait of one who had so long and faithfully served the Library Company.", Gift of Lloyd Pearsall Smith on behalf of himself and his brothers, Robert P. and Horace J. Smith, 1883., Exhibited in the Library Company's exhibition, Building a City of the Dead: The Creation and Expansion of Philadelphia’s Laurel Hill Cemetery (2010-2011).
“A Present from the International Exhibition, Philadelphia, 1877.” Decorated with blue, yellow, green, and red with flowers and a blue tassel at the bottom. Ribbon mounted on a paper backing which reads: at the top corners, “Highest Premium Awarded” “Centennial Exposition 1876.” “B.B. Tilt & Son. 477 Broom St. N.Y. Works. Phoenix Man’F’G Co. Paterson, N.J.” Decorated with an eagle and inscribed “Trade mark.”, Purchase of the Library Company of Philadelphia, 2013.
Small medal from the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. Obverse inscribed, "Memorial medal, 1776" with image of Independence Hall; reverse inscribed, "Struck Within the International Exhibition 1876.", Gift of Raymond Holstein, 2011.
Inscription reads, “In Commemoration of the Hundredth Anniversary of American Independence Act of Congress 1874.”, The obverse depicts the "Genius of American Independence" with a sword in her right hand while her left hand is raised to thirteen stars representing the orginal thirteen colonies. On the reverse is the "Genius of Liberty" bestowing laurel wreaths to the “arts” and “sciences.”, Gift of F. Lynwood Garrison, Esq.
A framed cotton Centennial handkerchief or bandanna printed with views of buildings from Philadelphia’s International Exhibition, including the Main Building, the Art Gallery, and the Horticultural Building, portraits of George Washington and Ulysses Grant, and patriotic seals. Printed with black on a white ground with a geometric border. Label of the framer, Ursula Hobson, on the back., Gift of James T. Carson, 2008.
Depicts City Hall with "Philadelphia Public Buildings 1876" underneath. On the back is stamped, "F.R. Pratt and Co., Fenton, Staffordshire" and a retailer's stamp, "R. J. Allen, Son & Co., 309/311 Market St. Philadelphia.", Gift of Walter Brenner, 1984.
Printed in sepia with dark blue border/background. Reads, "Centennial International" at the top and "Exhibition, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, 1776-1876" at the bottom. Depicts scenes of the exhibition buildings with "Memorial Hall, Art Gallery" in the center, "Main Exhibition Building" and "the Machinery Hall" at the top, and "The Agricultural Hall" and "The Horticultural Hall" at the bottom. At the top center there is an eagle with a shield and an "E-Pluribus Unum" banner., Gift of Michael Zinman, 2008. (Part of the Michael Zinman World's Fair Collection.)
Calligraphed Declaration of Independence displayed during the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. The artist recorded the entire text of the Declaration, the coats of arms of the thirteen original states, the names of the Signers on the border columns, a portrait of George Washington, and various vignettes., The artist's name is listed as W.V. Peacon in the Centennial catalog., Gift of Michael Zinman, 1991.
Gift of David Doret and Linda G. Mitchell, 2021., Landscape of a field showing green grass, bushes, and trees with a wooden fence running along the center. Dated, 1871, in red in the lower left corner. Title from manuscript label on the reverse of the frame (now photographed and pasted on the back). Montgomery Avenue and 27th Street are east of the Schuylkill River and Fairmount Park in Philadelphia.
