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- Title
- [Full-length studio portrait of an unidentified African American clergyman]
- Description
- Full-length portrait of an African American clergyman, standing, looking slightly right. He wears slicked back hair and a mustache. He is attired in a clergyman's robe and laced shoes. He holds a small book, possibly a Bible, up to his side with his right hand. He stands next to an armless chair with padded seat and draped in a patterned afghan. Potrait also includes a backdrop depicting a palatial window setting., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from dates of operation of photographer at addressed listed in imprint., Photographer's imprint stamped on mount., William C. Withers operated from 814 Chestnut Street 1896-1900.
- Creator
- Withers, William C., photographer
- Date
- [ca. 1898]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department cabinet card portraits - photographer - Withers [P.2024.68]
- Title
- [Portrait of unidentified African American man in fashionable attire]
- Description
- aFull-length itinerant studio portrait of an African American man, holding a derby hat in one hand, and standing in front of a plain portable back drop. He rests is other hand on a posing stand partially visble behind him. He is attired in a jacket with a pocket handkerchief, shirt with cravat tie, vest with a watch fob in the pocket, straight-leg pants, and round-tipped shoes. In the left of the portrait is a plush ottoman with feet. In the right of the image is a portable plain canvas screen/backdrop attached to a frame., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from photographic medium and attire of the sitter., Purhased with the Davida Tenenbaum Deutsch African American History Fund., RVCDC
- Date
- [ca. 1875]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department tintypes - unid sitter [P.2025.34.2]
- Title
- [Portrait depicting an unidentified African American Oddfellow attired in his Grand United Order of Oddfellows (GUOOF) regalia]
- Description
- aThree-quarter length studio portrait of an African American man attired in his GUOOF regalia, standing, looking forward, and holding his left hand on the top of the back of a chair. He also wears a goatee. His regalia includes a collar containing emblems depicting stars, vinery, and "PNF" (Past Noble Father) and an apron containing imagery composed of female allegorical figures flanking a crest. The collar also includes fringe and tassles. Parts of the collar and apron are tinted gold in image. Man also wears a collarless shirt, jacket, and a ring (tinted gold on image) on his left hand. In 1819, a branch of Oddfellowship, a mutual aid society with the motto "Friendship, Love, and Truth", was introduced into the United States from Europe by Thomas Wildey. In 1843, it became a separate organization under the name Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The same year, Peter Ogden founded the Philomathean Lodge No. 646, Grand United Order of Oddfellows with Black members. By the mid 1860s, the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows (GUOOF), American Jurisdiction included over 60 active lodges and in 1872 dispensation was granted for a Lodge in Memphis, Tennessee. Oddfellows' vows included not only moral and social outreach, but also ones to remain sober, honest, industrious and benevolent, a good husband, a kind father, and a loyal and virtuous citizen. By 1900, the GUOOF in America was the second largest African-American fraternal organization with over 200,000 members and over 2,000 lodges and a headquarters in Philadelphia. Its membership consisted mainly of lawyers, doctors, military officers, ministers, and other professionals., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from photographic medium, attire of the sitter, and the dispensation date of the first Grand United Order of OddfFellows lodge in Memphis, Tennessee., Purchased partially with funds from the Davida Tenenbaum Deutsch African American History Fund and for the Visual Culture Program., RVCDC, Joseph Columbus Pinner (1837-1895), born in Stewart County, Tennessee and trained as a doctor, entered the photography profession about 1865. In 1867, he located to Dyersburg, Tennessee where he continued as a professional photographer. By the late 1880s, he had served as a town alderman, mayor, and magistrate as well as was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
- Creator
- Pinner, Joseph Columbus, II, 1837-1895, photographer
- Date
- 1872
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department tintypes - photographer - Pinner [P.2025.43]
- Title
- Is dese' your chickens miss Compliments of Durant & Oehlmann, druggists, 518 Hampshire St., Quincy, Ills
- Description
- Racist trade card depicting an African American man, portrayed in racist caricature and attired in a torn hat and shirt, on the ground with baby chicks in front of him. In the left, a white woman with a pitchfork leans over a fence to observe the scene and surprises him. Durant & Oehlmann, the partnership between Dr. Joseph F. Durant (b. 1831) and Charles Oehlmann (1849-1921), operated in Quincy, Illinois between 1875 and 1888., Title from item., Date inferred from date of operation of advertised business., Advertising text printed on verso promotes Falke's Sulpholine Cream and Falke's Kah-Kan-Kee Hair Restorative manufactured by J. Falke & Co., 418 Elm St., St. Louis., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Gift of William Helfand., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., 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.
- Date
- [ca. 1880]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Helfand Patent Medicine Trade Card Collection - Pharmacists - D [P.9828.5810]
- Title
- Brother Gardner addresses the Lime Kiln Club on the virtues of Dixon's Stove Polish
- Description
- Racist, satiric trade card promoting Joseph Dixon Crucible Company's stove polish and depicting a caricature of an African American man presenting Dixon’s Stove Polish to the African American men members of the Lime Kiln Club. Shows Brother Gardner, the white-haired, African American man, in the left with spectacles on his forehead and attired in a white collared shirt with a red bowtie, an orange jacket with a sunflower on the lapel, red and white checked pants, and black shoes. He stands holding a blue box of Dixon’s in his left hand and a gavel in his right hand. In the left is a wooden table with a blue pitcher and a top hat on top of it and a sign that reads, “Dixon’s Carburet of Iron Stove Polish.” Brother Gardner addresses the men in the vernacular, who are identified by number with the key of their names on the verso of the card. In the right, the man, attired in a striped white collared shirt, a red tie, a white and blue striped jacket, yellow and red striped pants, and black shoes, sits on a wooden chair and examines a blue box of Dixon’s in his hands. Beside him another man, balding with tufts of white hair on the sides of his head and a white beard and attired in a red jacket and blue striped pants, kneels down and carries a brush in his right hand. Behind them two men sit on chairs and an additional nine men stand and listen to Brother Gardner. In the background, the wall reads, “Lime Kiln Club, Paradise Hall.” A horseshoe and framed prints that read “Beautify your homes” and “Rules of the Lime Kiln Club” hang on the wall. In the center is a large, black stove., The African American "Lime Kiln Club" caricatures originally were devised by Charles Bertrand Lewis (i.e., M. Quad) in the Detroit Free Press. The Joseph Dixon Crucible Company, established by Joseph Dixon in Salem, Mass. in 1827, produced graphite pencils, crucibles and stove polish, and relocated to Jersey City, N.J. in 1847. In 1868, the firm name changed from Joseph Dixon & Co. to the Jos. Dixon Crucible Co. In 1870 the firm won a trademark case against a Philadelphia competitor selling J.C. Dixon Stove Polish., Title from item., Date from copyright statement: Copyright 1886., Advertising text printed on verso: The Lime Kiln Club, Brother Gardner in the Chair. “Dis Club hab ebery reason to be proud of de Stove Committee. We has tried all de other stove polishes. We has been stunk out wid so-called peperahuns and seen de piping rust to pieces, till de stove-pipe wus a tumbled down disgrace to de good name of de Lime Kiln Club. De honah of dis occashun belongs to Brudder Shindig, who has made a name for hisself, by introducing Dixon’s Big cake of Stove Polish, and has covered hisself wid shine. Stand up, Brudder Shindig, and let us gaze upon your countenance. Now, my frens, let us draw a lesson from dis: Seek and find out for yerselves, and when you’s got a good ting stick to it, so dat, like DIXON’S STOVE POLISH, you may not only be a use to de community in which yer libes, but a shining example for de rest of mankind. “De club owes a vote of thanks to de Stove Committee, an’ to Brudder Shindig in particular, an’ extend de heartfelt thanks of de Lime Kiln Club to DIXONS for de valuable addition to de comfits of dis life through their CARBURET OF IRON STOVE POLISH. Wid one drawback, Brudder Shindig—you orer haf found dis outen befo’ for de DIXON’S STOVE POLISH has bin in de market SINCE 1827,--58 YEARS.” (Signed) No. 1. Bro. Gardner, 2. Old Man Jenkins, 3. Bro. Shindig, 4. Give-A-Dam Jones, 6. Sundown Davis, No. 7. Accordingly Davis, 8. Stepoff Johnson, 9. Trustee Pullback, 10. Sickles Smith, 11. Sir Isaac Walpole, 12. Layback Jones, Committee., Advertising text printed on verso: Fifty-eight years in market! The oldest, the best, the neatest, the quickest. Ask your dealer for Dixon's Stove Polish. Jos. Dixon Crucible Co., Jersey City, N.J. Illustration showing a box of "Dixon's Prepared Carburet of Iron (Trademark) For Polishing Stoves, Grates, Ranges, and Every Kind of Cast and Sheet Iron work.", Purchased with funds from the Walter J. Miller Trust for the Visual Culture Program., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., 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.
- Date
- 1886
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *trade card - J [P.2012.54.2]
- Title
- Adams Tampico Chewing gum. Each wrapper has a different Picture and joke, from "The Judge."
- Description
- Gum wrapper for Adams & Co. depicting a cartoon originally published in the satiric magazine "The Judge" and showing two African American men (Mister Johnson and Brother Snow) portrayed in racist caricature conversing in the vernacular on a dirt path after church services. The man in the left has a beard and is attired in a long overcoat, pants, and a top hat. He holds a "prayer" book and umbrella under his left arm and gestures to the other gentleman with his right arm. The gentleman in the right has a beard, wears glasses, and is attired in an over coat, striped pants, and top hat. He holds an umbrella as a walking stick in his left hand and carries a book under his right arm. He looks toward the gesturing man. Part of a wooden fence and skyscape are also visible. The Brooklyn gum manufacturer Adams & Co. operated circa 1871-1899. In 1899 Adams merged with six other chewing gum companies to form American Chicle Company., Title from item., Date inferred from content reproduced from The Judge., Caption: A Miracle. "What wuz de tex' dis mornin', Mister Johnson? I wuz too late."/"It wuz about de meracles, Brother Snow. Whar de Lor' fed seven people on five t'ousand baskets of fish."/ "I don't see any meracle about dat."/"Oh, de meracle am, dey all didn't bust.", Purchased with the Davida T. Deutsch African American History Fund., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [ca. 1885]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *ephemera - Packaging - A [113538.D]
- Title
- Marriage certificate. This certifies that [Washington C. Young/of Philadelphia/state of Pennsylvania] [Amanda L. West/of Goshen/state of New Jersey] were by me united in marriage according to the ordinance of God and the laws of the state of [Pennsylvania] at [Philadelphia] on the 24 day of [May] 188[3]. [Philip L. Sanborn?]/ [Sarah A. Ross]/ [Rev. W.H. Ross officiating minister]
- Description
- Marriage certificate with gold touches and containing the bust-length, carte-de-visite studio portrait photographs of Washington C. Young and Amanda L. West, who are African American, surrounded by text, pictorial details, and an ornate border. Young's portrait depicts the young man, looking to the left, and attired in a jacket with a notch lapel, a dark-colored tie, and white, straight shirt collar. He also has a mustache and wears his hair short and with a side part. West's portrait depicts the young woman, looking to the right, and attired in a garment with small puffs at the shoulder and a high-collar neckline adorned with a fabric flower. She wears her wavy hair pulled back, parted in the middle and with side bangs. She also wears earrings. Between the portraits are ornaments with text reading, "It Is Not Good That Man Should Be Alone, Gen 2.18" and "I Will Make Him An Help Meet For Him Gen 2.18." The certificate also contains pictorial details of flowers and vinery, a bell, doves, and a banner. The border is composed of scrollwork, floral shapes, and cornice ornaments. At the time of their marriage, Washington C. Young was a clerk. He would continue in this profession throughout his life. Amanda (West) Young worked as a dressmaker by 1910 and was later listed as a housekeeper in census records. The couple had four children, including a daughter who worked as a dressmaker., Title from item., Date of printing inferred from printed and manuscript date., Completed in manuscript to Washington C. Young and Amanda L. West on May 24, 1883. Signed Philip L. [Sanborn?], Sarah A. Ross, and Rev. W.H. Ross, Officiating Minister., RVCDC
- Date
- [completed 1883, printed ca. 1880]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Philadelphia Certificates - Marriage [P.2023.59]
- Title
- Marriage certificate. We are one forever. This certifies that [Green Allen] and [Mary E. Foster] were united in holy matrimony by me according to the ordinance of God, laws of the state of [Mich] at [Decatur] on the [30] day of October. In the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and [79] [Isaac Moss Minister of the Gospel. Witnesses [Sarah A. Foster] [David Moss]
- Description
- Marriage certificate containing the bust-length, carte-de-visite studio portrait photographs of Green T. Allen, Jr. and Mary E. Foster surrounded by text, pictorial details, and a geometrically-shaped border. Allen and Foster identified as multiracial in census records. Allen's portrait depicts the young man, looking to the right, and attired in a jacket with a notch lapel, a multi-colored tie, and white shirt with lapel collar. He also has a mustache and wears his hair short and greased flat. Foster's portrait (hand-colored) depicts the young woman, looking to the right, and attired in a garment with ruffle details at the shoulder and a neckerchief with fringe. She wears her long, wavy hair pulled back in the front and loose in the back. She also wears earrings. Between and around the portraits are pictorial details depicting flowers, grapes, vinery, doves (in nests), and scrollwork. Allen, son of Cass County, Michigan farmer Green Allen, Sr. was also a farmer, and a Justice of Township later in life. Allen, Jr. and Mary E. (Foster) Allen, daughter of a Decatur, Michigan farmer, had two children, son Charles F. Allen (1880-1971) and daughter Ethel May Allen Goens (1886-1942). Green T. Allen Jr.'s father was a founder of the prominent Black community of Southwest Michigan that settled in the area via the Underground Railroad., Title from item., Date of printing inferred from manuscript date., Completed in manuscript to Green Allen and Mary E. Foster on October 30, 1879. Signed Isaac Moss, Sarah A. Foster, and David Moss. Sarah A. Foster, later Cannon, was the sister of Mary E. Foster. Isaac Moss was a farmer and reverend. David Moss, son of Isaac Moss, was a farmer., Contains newspaper clipping from a ca. 1918 March edition of "The Cassopolis (Mich.) Vigilant" on verso. Clipping is backing for portrait photographs., RVCDC, W.P. Cooper was a teacher by the 1870s and had previously attended law school.
- Creator
- Cooper, W.P, 1822-1888, designer
- Date
- [completed 1879, printed ca. 1872]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *GC - Certificates - Marriage [P.2024.46.1]
- Title
- American Methodism. 1872
- Description
- Premium print for subscribers of the "The Methodist," the journal published by the Methodist Episcopal Church beginning about 1859. Contains five titled scenes and views bordered by twenty-nine bust-length portraits of leaders within the Methodist Episcopal Church, including Francis Burns, African American deacon and missionary bishop to Liberia. Scenes and views include "Wesley Rescued from the Burning Building" (upper left) after the 1840 Henry Peele Parker painting and depicting church founder John Wesley as a child being rescued from the window of the rectory in which his family lived while men, women, and children gather water, support a platform, pray, and huddle together; "John Wesley Preaching on the Tombstone of his Father" (upper right) after the Alfred Hunt painting and depicting Wesley preaching to a mass of people from the grave of his father, Rector Samuel Wesley (St. Andrew's Church, Epworth, England) following his being forbidden to preach in the Anglican church; "Old John Street Church, New York" (lower left) showing a colonial street view with pedestrian traffic in front of the church of the oldest Methodist congregation in the United States; "Pioneer Preacher" (center) showing Wesley on horseback, two persons at his side, and arriving at a cabin in the woods where a number of people have gathered in front; and "Tremont St. Methodist Church, Boston" (lower right) showing an exterior view of the church built in 1862 from a design by architect Hammatt Billings and was the site of the founding of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society (WFMS) of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Portraits include: John Wesley; Thomas S. Coke; Francis Asbury; Richard Whatcoat; Leonidas L. Hamline; John Emory; Robert R. Roberts; William McKendree; Enoch George; Elijah Hedding; Beverly Walch; Francis Burns; Edmund S. Janes; Matthew Simpson; Osmon C. Barker; Levi Scott; Thomas Bowman; William. L. Harris; Edward R. Ames; Edward Thomson; Thomas A. Morris; Calvin Kingsley; Davis W. Clark; Stephen M. Merrill; Edward G. Andrews; Randolph S. Foster; Isaac W. Wiley; Thomas A. Morris; Gilbert Haven; and Jesse T. Peck., Title from item., Date from copyright statement: Entered according to Act of Congress A.D. 1872 by B.B. Russell in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington., RVCDC
- Creator
- Buttre, John Chester, 1821-1893, engraver
- Date
- 1872
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *group portrait prints - American [P.2024.44]

