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Title: A Chinese laundry in Philadelphia
Description: Interior view of a Chinese owned and operated laundry in Philadelphia. In the center, shows the owner of the business attired in a top hat, white collared shirt, bowtie, suit jacket, waistcoat, and pants. He sits in a wooden chair with his legs crossed and smoking a cigarette as he supervises the workers. The four Chinese men laundry workers wear queue hairstyles and are attired in tunics, pants, and slip-on, cloth shoes. In the left, two men stand behind the counter and iron, one of whom spits water from his mouth onto the laundry. In the right, the man stands facing the viewer with his hand on top of his head while a man irons from another countertop. Steam rises up from the irons. There is a storage closet with the door partially open revealing shelves with folded laundry. More stacks of folded laundry sit on the countertops. In the right foreground, there are five irons warming on a heater and two baskets of laundry. A clock hangs on the wall., Title from item., Date and publication information from original source., Published in the June 3, 1876 issue of the Graphic, a British weekly illustrated newspaper., Text description of the engraving from the Graphic, p. 542: A Chinese Laundry in Philadelphia. Though not nearly so numerous as in California, where their presence has recently excited extreme hostility among the white working classes, the Chinese are to be found, though few and far between, in the Eastern States. There are several Chinese laundries in Philadelphia, and as they have only been recently introduced from California, they are almost as much objects of interest to Philadelphians as to foreigners. Our artist came across the laundry shown in our engraving unexpectedly. As soon as the Chinamen perceived him sketching it through the window, they rushed out and shouted after him, whereupon he made off, thinking it prudent to avoid a scene. The Celestial in European dress is the "boss," or master, who owns several laundries, and who attends to the customers and business arrangements. The manner of damping the clothes preparatory to ironing is peculiar, the operator fills his mouth with water, and squirts it over the linen., Gift of Linda Kimiko August., RVCDC
Date: June 3, 1876
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Ph Pr - 8x10 - Businesses - Chinese Laundry [P.2023.27.1]

Title: Race Street in Philadelphia's Chinatown
Description: View looking down Race Street in Chinatown. Includes storefronts adorned with buntings, awnings, and flags. Pedestrians, horse-drawn carts and carriages, and cyclists crowd the thoroughfare. Probably taken during Chinese diplomat and statesmen Li Hongzhang's visit to Philadelphia on September 3, 1896., Publisher's imprint printed on mount., Title printed on mount., Curved gray mount with rounded corners., Date inferred from type of mount., Gift of Raymond Holstein.
Creator: Berry, Kelley & Chadwick
Date: [ca. 1896]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Holstein stereo - Streets - Race Street [P.2011.47.1937]

Title: [Construction of the Ridge-8th Street Subway]
Description: Aerial views of the Ridge-8th Street Subway (later known as the Broad-Ridge Spur) under construction. The approach to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge at 5th and Race Streets and the adjacent Franklin Square are visible, as is the area bounded roughly by Callowhill to the north, Market Street to the south, Front Street to the East and 10th Street to the west. The Ridge-8th Street Subway opened in 1932., Title supplied by cataloger., Date from manuscript note on negative sleeve: Eighth st. Subway, Frank. Square; Phila. Pa.; June 13, 1931., Negative numbers: 14407n.
Creator: Aero Service Corporation, photographer
Date: 1931
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Aero Service [P.8990.14407n]

Title: Chinatown, Philadelphia, Pa. [900 block Race Street]
Description: View of Chinatown on the 900 block of Race Street in Philadelphia. In the right, shows the exterior of the Far East Chinese Restaurant at 907-909 Race Street built after the designs of Thomas Ustick Walter in ca. 1827 and later altered with 907 raised one story and 909 raised two stories. There are Chinese architectural details on the balcony and awning which reads, 907 Far East Chinese Cafe. A white man police officer and a white woman stand under the awning and face the viewer. Buildings extend on both sides of the street including another restaurant with a sign that reads, 917 Cafe. Men and women pedestrians walk on the sidewalks. The Far East Chinese Restaurant operated from circa 1906 to 1952., Title from item., Date inferred from medium and content., Divided back., Library Company copy has manuscript message and address written on verso and is postmarked, Philadelphia, Pa. Jul 13, 1911 4:30 P.M., Gift of Linda Kimiko August.
Date: [ca. 1911]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department LCP Postcards - Streets - Race [P.2023.27.2]

Title: Chinatown by moonlight Philadelphia, Pa. [900 block Race Street]
Description: View of Chinatown on the 900 block of Race Street in Philadelphia. In the right, shows the exterior of the Far East Chinese Restaurant at 907-909 Race Street built after the designs of Thomas Ustick Walter in ca. 1827 and later altered with 907 raised one story and 909 raised two stories. There are Chinese architectural details on the balcony and awning which reads, 907 Far East Chinese Cafe. A white man police officer and a white woman stand under the awning and face the viewer. Buildings extend on both sides of the street including another restaurant with a sign that reads, 917 Cafe. Light emanates through windows and from the signs on the buildings, and the moon shines from above. Men and women pedestrians walk on the sidewalks. The Far East Chinese Restaurant operated from circa 1906 to 1952., Title from item., Date inferred from medium and content., Divided back., Library Company copy has manuscript message and address written on verso and is postmarked, Philadelphia, Pa. Jul 17, 1915 1[0] A.M., Gift of Linda Kimiko August.
Date: [ca. 1915]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department LCP Postcards - Streets - Race [P.2023.27.3]

Title: South China Restaurant
Description: Clipping from a serial advertising the South China Restaurant located at 913 Race Street, Philadelphia and containing typography and pictorial elements. Includes Chinese characters and text promoting lunch and dinner at the restaurant. A black border surrounds the text., Title from item., Date inferred from content., Text printed on recto: Authentic Delicious Oriental Dishes, Luncheon 35¢ Dinner 50¢, Facilities for Parties; Modern and Pleasant. Phone--Mar. 9140., Gift of Linda Kimiko August.
Date: [ca. 1939]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department ephemera - advertisements - South [P.2023.27.5]

Title: “T he Far East” Chinese Restaurant, Yuen Doon Low, 907 Race St. Phila, Pa. A refined first class restaurant
Description: Menu depicting an exterior view of the Far East Chinese Restaurant at 907-909 Race Street, Philadelphia built after the designs of Thomas Ustick Walter in ca. 1827 and later altered with 907 raised one story and 909 raised two stories. There are Chinese architectural details on the balcony and awning which reads, 907 Far East Chinese Cafe. The balconies are decorated with lanterns and plants. Two American flags and a Chinese Republic National Flag are on flagpoles on the restaurant. The cover has a border of bamboo plants. The menu is in English and organized with numbered dishes from 1 to 106 and “to avoid mistakes patrons are requested to order by number.” Categories are: “Soups”; “Chicken Specialties”; “Chop Suey”; “Boiled Soft Noodles”; “Beef Specialties”; “Pork Specialties”; “Chow Main”; “Omelettes and Eggs”; “Fried Rice”; “Sandwiches”; “Miscellaneous”; “Preserves, Cakes and Candies”; “Teas”; “Special Dishes”; and a prix fixe “Table d’Hote” with five different options and prices from 85 cents to $3 dollars per person. Menu notes that dining on the third floor incurs “an additional charge of five cents.” The menu also includes the hours of service and telephone number. The Far East Chinese Restaurant operated from circa 1906 to 1952., Title from item., Date inferred from content and active dates of the publisher., Gift of Linda Kimiko August.
Date: [ca. 1920]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *ephemera - Menus - F [P.2023.27.4]

Title: A scene in the Golden Dragon, 1526 Market Street, Philadelphia's most beautiful restaurant
Description: Interior view of the Golden Dragon restaurant located at 1526 Market Street, Philadelphia and depicting the dining room crowded with patrons. Shows the large room filled with diners sitting at white table-clothed tables and standing in a row. The men and women, finely attired in suits, dresses, hats, and jewelry, look at the viewer. Plates of food and cups and glasses are visible on the tables. In the left, a Chinese man waiter, attired in a tuxedo, stands with probably menus under his arm. In the background, musicians, attired in tuxedos, are seated with musical instruments in front of a backdrop of peacock feathers. The dining room ceiling is decorated with multiple-colored fabrics. Charlie Kerr (1890-1976) was a jazz drummer and orchestra leader in the 1920s to the late 1940s., Title from item., Date inferred from medium and content., Text printed on verso: Philadelphia, Pa., 19[blank], Dear [blank], Greetings from the beautiful Golden Dragon, where I dined today. "Charlie" Kerr's Orchestra is great., Series no. on verso: 2690 N., See related: Brightbill postcards [Hotels and Restaurants - Bingham through Green's - 112] - sheet number 112B04., Sheet number: 112A05., Divided backs.
Creator: Brightbill, George M., collector
Date: [ca. 1925]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Brightbill postcards [Hotels and Restaurants - Bingham through Green's - 112]

Title: Chinatown. Looking north on Hutchinson Street which dead ends into Race Street
Description: View from Hutchinson Street towards the 900 block of Race Street, Philadelphia. Shows in the foreground a partial view of a car and the buildings flanking Hutchinson Street. In the center, depicts an exterior view of the four-story building at 919-921 and the three-story building at 923 Race Street. Part of the sign for the Shanghai Garden Restaurant at 919 is visible. The neighboring business has a storefront glass window which reads, "Hong Tai & [Co.] 921 Chinese Good[s]" with a display of merchandise. The adjacent building reads, "Fook Lee Co. 923" on the storefront glass window, and a seated man is visible inside., Title and date from label on verso., Photographer's imprint stamped on verso: Photo by Phila. Inquirer, Oct. 2, 1955., Gift of Linda Kimiko August.
Creator: Irving, William, photographer
Date: Oct. 2, 1955
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department photo - Irving (Phila Inquirer) [P.2023.27.6]

Title: A scene in the Golden Dragon, 1526 Market Street, Philadelphia's most beautiful restaurant
Description: Interior view of the Golden Dragon restaurant located at 1526 Market Street, Philadelphia and depicting the dining room crowded with patrons. Shows the large room filled with diners sitting at white table-clothed tables and standing in a row. The men and women, finely attired in suits, dresses, hats, and jewelry, look at the viewer. Plates of food and cups and glasses are visible on the tables. In the left, a Chinese man waiter, attired in a tuxedo, stands with probably menus under his arm. In the background, musicians, attired in tuxedos, are seated with musical instruments in front of a backdrop of peacock feathers. The dining room ceiling is decorated with fabrics. Charlie Kerr (1890-1976) was a jazz drummer and orchestra leader in the 1920s to the late 1940s., Title from item., Date inferred from medium and content., Text printed on verso: Philadelphia, Pa., 19[blank], Dear [blank], Greetings from the beautiful Golden Dragon, where I dined today. "Charlie" Kerr's Orchestra is great., See related: Brightbill postcards [Hotels and Restaurants - Bingham through Green's - 112] - sheet number 112A05., Sheet number: 112B04., Divided backs.
Creator: Brightbill, George M., collector
Date: [ca. 1925]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Brightbill postcards [Hotels and Restaurants - Bingham through Green's - 112]

Title: Cathay Restaurant, 1221-23 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa Music, dancing, broadcasting
Description: Interior view of the Cathay Restaurant located at 1221-1223 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Shows the view from the second-floor staircase, looking down at the main dining room on the first level and the balcony sections that flank the main stairway. Depicts on the first floor, a line of red tray holders for waitstaff in the left and rows of white table-clothed dining tables and chairs. On the balconies are additional rows of white table-clothed dining tables and chairs. The edges of the balcony are lined with different-colored figurine lamps with fringed shades. Colored paper lanterns and a chandelier hang from the ceiling. The Cathay restaurant, also called the Cathay Tea Garden, was a Chinese restaurant that had a large dance floor where musicians and bands played. They also broadcasted a live radio show. The restaurant closed in 1973., Title from item., Date inferred from medium and content., Numbered 95415 on verso., Sheet number: 112A03., Divided back.
Creator: Brightbill, George M., collector
Date: [ca. 1920]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Brightbill postcards [Hotels and Restaurants - Bingham through Green's - 112]

Title: Ruins of museum building. Ninth below Chestnut Street
Description: Photograph depicting the fire ruins of the Philadelphia Museum known as the Chinese Museum built circa 1836-1838 after the designs of Isaac Holden at Ninth and Sansom Streets. Shows partial fragments of the brick walls left standing. Bricks and debris are visible on the ground. The Museum served as an exhibition space, including the display of Nathan Dunn's Chinese artifact collection, and as a concert, public meeting, and lecture space until razed by fire on July 5, 1854., Title from Poulson inscription., Date inferred from content., Attributed to Richards & Betts., Originally part of a series of eleven scrapbooks compiled by Philadelphia antiquarian Charles A. Poulson in the late 1850s entitled "Illustrations of Philadelphia" unidentified volume, page 13b. The scrapbooks contained approximately 120 photographs by Philadelphia painter and pioneer photographer Richards of 18th-century public, commercial, and residential buildings in the city of Philadelphia commissioned by Poulson to document the vanishing architectural landscape, Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited., Reproduced in Kenneth Finkel's Nineteenth century photography in Philadelphia (New York: Dover Publications, Inc. in cooperation with the Library Company of Philadelphia, 1980), entry #158., 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. 14., Arcadia caption text: The Chinese Museum, built 1836-1838 after the designs of English architect Isaac Holden, was a veritable multi-use venue. The two-story marble building exhibited Nathan Dunn’s impressive collection of wax figures dressed in authentic Chinese clothing set amidst Chinese furniture, decorations, and rooms along with the Philadelphia Museum Company’s holdings of artist Charles Willson Peale’s collection of paintings, bones, stuffed animals, and curiosities. Between 1842 and 1844 both museums left the building due to decreased attendance and profits, but the space at the northeast corner of Ninth and Sansom streets capable of holding 8,000 people continued to host balls, political conventions, plays, lectures, public meetings, and exhibitions, such as the Exhibition of American Manufactures sponsored by the Franklin Institute, pictured above in October 1844. The smoldered remains of the building are shown below, after a devastating fire destroyed it on July 5, 1854., Richards & Betts was a partnership between Frederick DeBourg Richards and John Betts circa 1854-1857.
Creator: Richards & Betts, photographer
Date: July 1854
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department photo - Richards - Fires [(5)2526.F.13b]

Title: The Inasmuch Mission
Description: Reproduction of a drawing of a busy street scene with the four-story "Inasmuch Mission Men's Hotel and Restaurant" at 1019 Locust Street, Philadelphia. Completed in 1913, the mission house, the exterior resembling a warehouse, rehabilitated "fallen" men through religious and social services. Scene includes views of the nearby markets adorned with awnings under which men and women shoppers peruse displays, converse, and stand idle. The African American man, attired in a bowler hat, a shirt, a jacket, pants, and shoes, stands leaning against the awning pole with his hands in his pockets. In the right, the Chinese man, wearing a queue and attired in a tunic, pants, and slip-on, cloth shoes, stands against a wall and looks down the street away from the viewer. A horse-drawn wagon and pedestrians traverse the street. In the left, a man organ grinder with a monkey entertains children standing on the sidewalk., Copyrighted., Drawn by artist in 1914., See accompanying pamphlet containing the artist's descriptions of the views, "Ever-Changing Philadelphia" (Philadelphia: Frank H. Taylor), p. 6., Accessioned circa 1916., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
Creator: Taylor, Frank H. (Frank Hamilton), 1846-1927, artist
Date: [drawn 1914, printed 1915]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Taylor - Case 11-6 [2717.F]

Title: Ruins of the National Theatre, s.e. cor. of Chestnut and Ninth St
Description: Watercolor showing a view of the ruins of the National Theatre built in 1837 at 824-836 Chestnut Street, which was razed by fire on July 5, 1854. Shows partial fragments of the brick walls left standing. A broadside or poster is pasted on a fragment of the brick wall in the center. Bricks and debris are visible on the ground. Partial view of unburnt adjacent building in the left and in the background. The fire also destroyed the neighboring Philadelphia Museum known as the Chinese Museum built circa 1836-1838 after the designs of Isaac Holden at Ninth and Sansom Streets. The museum served as an exhibition space including the display of Nathan Dunn's Chinese artifact collection, and as a concert, public meeting, and lecture space., Title and date from manuscript note on accompanying mount., Manuscript on the note reads "R.H. Wells" but is likely mistaken and probably should read "C.H. Wells" who created many sketches for Charles A. Poulson., Originally part of Poulson scrapbook of illustrations of Philadelphia.
Creator: Wells, C.H., (Charles H.), approximately 1832-1884, artist
Date: March 1857
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *drawings & watercolors - Wells [P.8756.11]

Title: Catha y Tea Garden, 1221-23-25 Chestnut St., Philadelphia
Description: Menu for the Cathay Tea Garden located at 1221-1225 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. The green and gold menu cover depicts a Chinese woman, attired in a dress and high-heeled shoes, raising her left hand to her chin as she faces the viewer. She stands on a balcony or bridge overlooking a landscape of trees and mountains under a moonlit sky. The menu is in English and organized by number in sections for “Wines and Liquors” (#1-167); “Chinese Menu” (#1-179); and “American Menu” (#181-383). The Chinese menu includes categories for chop suey, chow mein, Chinese omelettes, and a prix fixe “Table d’Hote” with three different options and prices from $1.25 to $2.50. The American menu includes categories for sea food, steaks, salads, and sandwiches. The restaurant advertises music, broadcasting, and dancing from 12 to 2:00 P.M., 6 to 8 P.M., and 10 to 1 A.M. with a note that “our patrons are requested to dance only with their escorts. This rule is for the protection of both you and us.” A one sheet insertion, decorated with a red border of bamboo, promotes three Table D’Hote dinners for Tuesday, August 17th for 85 cents, $1.10, and $1.35. The Cathay Tea Garden, also called the Cathay Restaurant, was a Chinese restaurant that had a large dance floor where musicians and bands played. They also broadcasted a live radio show. The restaurant closed in 1973., Title from item., Date inferred from content and active dates of business., Gift of Linda Kimiko August.
Date: [ca. 1930]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *ephemera - Menus - C [P.2023.43.7]

Title: [View of the Centennial Machinery Hall with people from all nations]
Description: Block-printed wallpaper depicting an exterior view of Machinery Hall designed by Henry Pettit and Joseph M. Wilson for the Centennial Exhibition of 1876, which celebrated the centennial of the United States through an international exhibition of industry, agriculture, and art in West Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. Horse-drawn carriages bring visitors to and from the Hall. A large crowd of spectators walk on the grounds. In the foreground, people from various nationalities and ethnicities are represented including Native Americans attired in feather headdresses; two men, including a Black man, attired in fez hats; two Chinese men, one carrying a fan, attired in conical hats and robes; two Arab men in white headdresses and robes; and a Scottish man attired in a kilt. Other spectators include a man attired in a sailor’s uniform, men and women couples, and young boys., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from content., Gift of David Doret., RVCDC
Date: [ca. 1876]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department ***Doret and Mitchell Collection – Prints [P.2022.62.3.49]

Title: Porcelain ware, Japanese Court
Description: View showing porcelain ware, mostly vases, in a stall in the Japanese Court within the Main Building designed by Henry Pettit and Joseph M. Wilson at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. Vases, bowls, and jars of various sizes are displayed on tiered tables and on the carpeted floor. Framed artwork hangs on the walls. A small decorative table is in the left. The Centennial Exhibition celebrated the centennial of the United States through an international exhibition of industry, agriculture, and art., Title on negative., Date from item., Photographer's imprint printed on mount and on verso. Imprint on verso contains initials "CPC" in decorative border surmounted by date range 1776-1876., Advertisements printed on verso for twelve businesses including Centennial Photographic Company, Gilbert & Bacon, Partridge's Dining Rooms, The Crosscup & West Wood and Photo-Engraving Co., Starkey & Palen, Amos Hillborn & Co., A. & G. Taylor, Hale & Kilburn Mfg. Co., Wm. J. Dornan, I.H. Wisler, Eichmann & Meier, and R. Levick, Son & Co., White curved mount with rounded corners., Gift of Mr. Saul Koltnow., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
Creator: Centennial Photographic Co.
Date: 1876
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department stereo - Centennial Photographic Co. [P.9022.5]

Title: Japanese Com. Dwelling
Description: Exterior view of the front elevation of the Japanese Commissioner's Dwelling designed by Matsuo-Ehe for the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. Shows the front entrance and porch, wooden lattice-work on the first floor, and wooden panels on the second floor. Also shows an ornate folding screen in the front doorway. The dwelling was used to house Japanese workers. The Centennial Exhibition celebrated the centennial of the United States through an international exhibition of industry, agriculture, and art., Title on negative., Date from item., Photographer's imprint printed on mount and on verso. Imprint on verso contains initials "CPC" in decorative border surmounted by date range 1776-1876., Series number on negative illegible., White curved mount with rounded corners., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
Creator: Centennial Photographic Co.
Date: 1876
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department stereo - Centennial Photographic Co. [P.9600.5]

Title: Japanese Com.'s Dwelling
Description: Oblique, exterior view of the front and side elevations of the Japanese Commissioner's Dwelling designed by Matsuo-Ehe for the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. Two men sit on the ground in front of the building. The walkway leading to the building is visible in the foreground. The dwelling was used to house Japanese workers. The Centennial Exhibition celebrated the centennial of the United States through an international exhibition of industry, agriculture, and art., Title on negative., Date from item., Photographer's imprint printed on mount and on verso. Imprint on verso contains initials "CPC" in decorative border surmounted by date range 1776-1876., Series number on negative illegible., White curved mount with rounded corners., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
Creator: Centennial Photographic Co.
Date: 1876
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department stereo - Centennial Photographic Co. [P.9600.6]

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