Search results

Title: Library Company of Philadelphia scrapbook
Description: Scrapbook containing newspaper clippings, photographs, ephemera and prints predominantly issued between the 1930s and 1970s documenting exhibitions, loans, collections, events and the history of the Library Company. Clippings include newspaper articles about a loan of American political cartoons to the Toledo Museum (1936); exhibitions commemorating the centenary of librettist W.S. Gilbert (1936); the tercentenary of Swedish Settlement (1938); and the library's Afro-Americana collection (1971). Columns also describe the presentation of the Christopher Sower library (1909); the return in 1876 of a book 99 years overdue since the American Revolution (1938); the demolition of the Library's Juniper and Locust streets building for a parking lot (1939); and the vandalism of the former Ridgway Building at 901-933 Broad Street (1969). Photographs predominantly depict the exteriors and reading rooms of the library buildings at Fifth and Library Streets, Juniper and Locust Streets, and Broad Street (Ridgway Building). Other photographs include a series of views from the 1939 unveiling ceremony of the James Logan memorial (to be erected in Fairmount Park) on the steps of the Ridgway Branch. Ephemera includes invitations (several from The Women's Committee), brochures, catalogs, announcements and placards related to library events; bulletins and pamphlets describing collections; dues notices and book plates; the variant 1884 and 1906 "Rules of the Library Company"; an off-print of the 1882 Louise Stockton entry in "A Sylvan City..." about "The Old Philadelphia Library"; and a 1961 citation from the city recognizing the library as a "Philadelphia first.", Title supplied by cataloger., Cut outs of the seal and motto of Library Company from bookplate pasted on title page., Some contents annotated with dates and typewritten descriptions., Several loose photographs removed and rehoused as "Library Company of Philadelphia Scrapbook Photographs Collection" [P.2010.17]. Contains a ca. 1865 portrait of library donor John A. McAllister misidentified as librarian Lloyd P. Smith, a ca. 1935 portrait of librarian George Abbot, and interior and exterior views of the library buildings, including artifacts, at Fifth and Library Streets, Juniper and Locust Streets, and Broad Street (Ridgway Building)., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Typewritten index inserted in volume., The Library Company of Philadelphia, America’s first successful lending library and oldest cultural institution, was founded in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin as a subscription library supported by its shareholders. Until the 1850s it was the largest public library in America. It was transformed into a research library in the 1950s.
Creator: Library Company of Philadelphia
Date: [ca. 1865-ca. 1971, bulk ca. 1936-ca. 1945]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *albums (flat) [P.2010.17], Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Library Company of Philadelphia Scrapbook Photographs Collection [P.2010.17]

Title: Library Company of Philadelphia scrapbook
Description: Scrapbook predominantly containing photographs of the interiors and exteriors of the buildings of the Library Company of Philadelphia at Fifth and Library streets (1792-1878) and Juniper and Locust streets (1880-1940). Interior views show the main reading room, the women's reading room, and the Henry C. Lea Annex (member's reading room) at the Juniper Street building. The images include shelves of books; reading tables and chairs; magazine racks; card catalogs; and paintings, photographs, manuscripts and busts and object d'arts on display. Also contains photographs and photomechanical reproductions of portraiture of early noted figures and donors to the Library Company and art and artifacts held by or associated with the repository. Additional content includes reference correspondence (1920 and 1924) between librarian George Abbot and overseas researchers studying Peter Collinson and an April 8, 1834 newspaper clipping reporting the Library Company's receipt of the book collection of the late James Cox "Artist and Bibliomaniac" accompanied by his autograph (John McAllister label pasted on verso)., Portraits depict Rev. Samuel Preston (1756-1834); optician Joseph Fisher (d. 1864); library director Dr. Thomas Parke (1749-1835); "library director 1825-1840" Benjamin R. Morgan (1765-1840); and Library Company purchasing agent Peter Collinson (1694-1768). Artifacts include the "Lion's Mouth" tin suggestion box (ca. 1850); the candle lantern from the entrance of the original library building (pre-1791); "old playing cards used as washers for Franklin's electrical machine" (1740s); William Penn's secretary desk (ca. 1680); John Penn's air pump case for electrical instruments (1738-1739); and the anti-slavery painting "Liberty Displaying the Arts and Sciences" given to the library by its artist Samuel Jennings in 1792., Title supplied by cataloger., Bookplate of the Library Company dated October 9, 1934 pasted on inside front cover., Some contents identified from manuscript notes on rectos and versos of scrapbook pages., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Housed in phase box., Select link above to access the website "Art & Artifacts. Discover the Library Company’s Art and Artifact Collection.", The Library Company of Philadelphia, America’s first successful lending library and oldest cultural institution, was founded in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin as a subscription library supported by its shareholders. Until the 1850s it was the largest public library in America. It was transformed into a research library in the 1950s.
Creator: Library Company of Philadelphia
Date: 1818-ca. 1934, bulk 1920-1930
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department albums - Library [Uy8 7065.Q], http://www.librarycompany.org/artifacts/

Title: Phila[delphia] Library [Company], Locust & Juniper Sts
Description: Oblique, exterior view of the Frank Furness-designed Library Company building at the northwest corner of Juniper and Locust streets. A two pronged staircase leads to the entryway and a statue of Benjamin Franklin sits in a niche above the entrance. Opened on February 24, 1880, this building operated as the in-town branch which stocked more modern books for circulation. The Ridgway Building in South Philadelphia served as the Library Company's main branch beginning in 1878. The building was demolished in 1940., Time: 12:45, Light: Good, strong sun., Reproduced in The Print and Photograph Department of the Library Company of Philadelphia's Center City Philadelphia in the 19th century (Portsmouth, N.H.: Arcadia Publishing, 2006), p. 10., Arcadia caption text: This crisp 1884 image of the Library Company’s Juniper and Locust Street branch reveals that architect Frank Furness was inspired by the original Fifth Street building’s designs. Furness, known for his eccentric sensibilities, recalled William Thornton’s curved double steps, pediment, and arched niche. Its location near Broad Street addressed the westward development of Philadelphia; a committee had earlier determined that 86% of the Library Company’s city-residing members lived west of Tenth Street. To further accommodate this group, the new building featured “well-warmed and ventilated” reading rooms, a ladies’ sitting room, evening hours, and telephone communications to other libraries. The building was demolished in 1940., Edited., Digitization and cataloging edits have been made possible through the generosity of David Marriott Morris, Eleanor Rhoads Morris Cox, and William Perot Morris in memory of Marriott Canby Morris and his children: Elliston Perot Morris, Marriott Canby Morris Jr., and Janet Morris and in acknowledgment of his grandchildren: William Perot Morris, Eleanor Rhoads Morris Cox, Jonathan White Morris, and David Marriott Morris.
Creator: Morris, Marriott Canby, 1863-1948, photographer
Date: March 5, 1884
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Marriott C. Morris [P.9895.512]

Title: [Procession of Poor Richard Club members down Locust Street, Philadelphia]
Description: Procession of the advertising and publishing club established in 1906 in honor of Benjamin Franklin past the Poor Richard Club and the nightclub, "Club Madrid," on the 1300 block of Locust Street. Depicts the members being led by a Franklin impersonator and a man, wearing makeup and a curly, white wig and attired in an embellished long-sleeved shirt with a cap, shorts, and white stockings, on horseback. They are followed by costumed and uncostumed members. All the costumed "young Franklins," except for a few who hold flags and a club banner, carry loaves of bread simulating Franklin's arrival to Philadelphia. Spectators watch from the sidewalk and the street, including an African American chauffeur leaning on a parked car. Parade may commemorate the relocation of the club to 1319 Locust Street from 239 Camac Street on November 30, 1925., Title supplied by cataloger., Photographer's blind stamp on recto., Gift of Joseph Kelly, 1982., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2023., 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.
Creator: Photo Illustrators (Firm), photographer
Date: [ca. 1925]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Photo-Illustrators-11x14 [P.8876.3]

Title: Tree. 13th and Locust Sts
Description: View of tree growing out of sidewalk next to brick building with bay windows., Title from photographer's manuscript note on verso., Photographer's manuscript note on verso: Said to have been planted by Alexander Hamilton. (Get in touch with Mr. Jackson about this. Tell story about old negro.), Gift of Margaret Odewalt Sweeney., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited.
Creator: Wilson, G. Mark (George Mark), 1879-1925, photographer
Date: ca. 1923
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Wilson 135 [P.8513.135], http://www.lcpimages.org/wilson/wilson135.htm

Main menu