Gift of David Doret and Linda G. Mitchell, 2018., Textile shot bag. On the front of the bag in red letters: “Standard Drop Shot, T.W. Sparks, Philadelphia. 7.” An eagle in red is in the center. Inside the bag is a newspaper clipping, “A Brief History, Sparks Shot Tower.”, Opened in 1808 by Thomas Sparks and John Bishop, the 142 foot tall brick tower revolutionized the manufacture of ammunition. Gun shot was made by pouring lead from the top of the tower. The lead developed a round shape through falling and solidified in cold water at the bottom. Four generations of Sparks operated the tower until 1903 when it was sold to the United Lead Company. The City of Philadelphia bought the site in 1913.
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.
Philadelphia landmarks in the painting include Spark’s Shot Tower on the left, the steeple of Christ Church in the center, as well as the Old Navy Yard. Anchored in front of the Navy Yard is what is believed to be the U.S.S. Pennsylvania, which is thought to be the largest sailing man-of-war ever built in the United States. At the right is the steamboat Robert Morris, built in 1830., Bequest of Dr. James Rush, 1869., Exhibited in: Philadelphia Maritime Museum's exhibition, Thomas Birch, 1779 - 1851, Paintings and Drawings (1966); American Paintings of Ports and Harbors at the Cummer Gallery of Art, Jacksonville, Florida and the Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences (1969); Library Company's exhibition, Quarter of a Millennium (1981).
The South East Prospect of the City of Philadelphia is the oldest surviving oil painting that depicts a North American city. A key at the bottom numbers and identifies landmarks. The arms of William Penn and the City of Philadelphia appear in the top corners. In the lower left corner the artist has depicted himself sketching the scene., LCP Minutes vol. 7, February 5, 1857, p. 92-93: "Mr. Hutchinson read the following letter from Hon. George M. Dallas (Minister to Great Britain), dated London, January 12, 1857 and laid on the table the painting therein mentioned. `I will send for the Phila Liby an antique daub painted as is believed here in 1720 purporting to be "The South East prospect of the city of Philadelphia by Peter Cooper, painter." It is on torn canvas some 8 feet long by 1 1/2 wide. One of the members of Parliament in looking over the rubbish of a City curiosity shop picked it up and brought it to me. The principal buildings of the City at that day are pointed out & 24 good old Philadelphia Householders are named in the margin. Although worthless on any score but that connection with Auld Lang Syne it presents at half a glance so strong a contrast to the Consolidated City of 1857 that it has its interest for a corner of the Phila Library'. Whereupon the following Resolution was unanimously adopted:`Resolved that the Directors of the Library Company of Phila having received from the Hon. George M. Dallas a picture of Phila. by Peter Cooper do return him their grateful thanks for his attention and kindness in procuring & transmitting to them a most interesting & valuable Record of the appearance of our City as it was upward of a century & quarter ago, with a reference to the public buildings & private residences of many of our earliest and most remarkable citizens.'", Gift of George Mifflin Dallas, 1857., Exhibited in: Great Central Fair in Philadelphia, in the "Wm. Penn Parlor" (1864); Pennsylvania Museum of Art's exhibition, The Sea (1935); Metropolitan Museum of Art's exhibition, Franklin and His Circle (1936); Corcoran Gallery's exhibition, American Processional, 1492-1900, (1950); University of Pennsylvania's exhibition, Benjamin Franklin Winston Churchill (1951); Library Company's exhibition, Quater of a Millennium (1981).
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.
David Doret and Linda G. Mitchell Collection, 2018., Label on the front reads: Old Tun Tavern, Philadelphia, Where the First Grand □ of F. & A.M. was Held in America. Tun Tavern stood at the intersection of King (later Water) Street and Wilcox (later Tun) Alley. It was the location of the first lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the colonies as early as 1732. The June 26, 1732 Pennsylvania Gazette contains an announcement of William Allen being chosen Grand Master. The Tavern is also regarded as the location where the United States Marines held their first recruitment drive in 1775. In 1781, Tun Tavern burned down. A reproduction was built on the grounds of the 1926 Sesquicentennial and demolished after the exposition ended.
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.
Merchant's Exchange, designed by William Strickland and constructed 1832-33, was one of the earliest stock exchanges in the United States., Gift of David Doret, 2002.
Merchant's Exchange, designed by William Strickland and constructed 1832-33, was one of the earliest stock exchanges in the United States., Gift of David Doret, 2002.
Merchant's Exchange, designed by William Strickland and constructed 1832-33, was one of the earliest stock exchanges in the United States., Gift of Michael Zinman, 1996.
The Loganian Library Minutes vol. 1, Nov. 7, 1867, p. 346-347: "We the undersigned desirous of preserving for posterity a faithful and artistic representation of Stenton the residence of the Hon. James Logan hereby agree to contribute the sums set opposite our names respectively to be expended in an oil painting by Edmund Lewis of the said house and grounds of Stenton as they exist at present; the painting to be presented to and preserved by the Loganian Library." The names of the contributors pledging $10 are as follows: J.D. Sergeant, John Lambert, P.S.P. Conner, George W. Amis, John Jay Smith, J. Dickinson Logan, Lloyd P.Smith, Samuel Betton, Wm. Ritch Wister, M.N. Logan, Samuel M. Fox, Thos. Stewardson, Jr., Wm. Wister, N.& P.S. Hilles, Eliz. R. Fisher, John S. Newbold, A.C. Logan. The contributors pledging $5.00 are as follows: Dr. J. Carson, R. Morris Smith, H. Gates Jones, R.W. Ryerss, J.C. Milligan, D.R. King, and John Cooke. The total amount pledged was $215., Commissioned by the contributions of 25 individuals in 1867 for the Loganian Library.
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.
This richly decorated frame has carved and gilded moldings with pendants of leaves, blossoms, and fruit. Lettered around the frame in gilt reads, “Mischianza-1778. / This mirror was in the ballroom of the Wharton House, Philadelphia at the above date & on the occasion of above fête./ General Meredith Read’s André relics.” The Meschianza ended with a ball, which took place in an elaborate canvas tent. The interior of the tent was painted and decorated with mirrors (including this one) and chandeliers, many of them borrowed from neighboring mansions., Gift of Mrs. John Meredith Read, 1900., Exhibited in the Philadelphia Museum of Art's exhibition, Art in Revolutionary Philadelphia (2010-2011).
