© Copyright 2020 - The Library Company of Philadelphia, 1314 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107. TEL (215) 546-3181 FAX (215) 546-5167
For inquiries, please contact our IT Department
- Title
- [Portrait of an unidentified woman]
- Description
- Bust-length, forward facing portrait of an African American woman. Sitter has long, dark hair, parted in the middle, and looped behind the ears. She is attired in hoop earrings, a white collared chemisette, a dress with polka dots, and a dark-colored shawl. Sitter is probably a member or acquaintance of the Dickerson Family of Philadelphia., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from sitter's attire., Pad: Dark purple velvet. No design., Mat: Oval., Case: Leather. Surrounded by scrolls, a spray of lillies is in the center. Geometric design on verso., Gift of Mary P. Dunn, 1993., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1993, p. 17-24., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [ca. 1850]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Cased photos - Dickerson Family Collection [P.9427.4]
- Title
- [Portrait of an unidentified woman]
- Description
- Three-quarter length, forward facing portrait of an African American woman. Sitter has long, dark hair, parted in the middle, crimped, and looped behind the ears. She is attired in a striped, long-sleeved dress with a wide lace collar, a brooch, black laced fingerless gloves, and a ribbon around her neck attached to a pair of spectacles. She rests her left arm on a table covered with a patterned tablecloth on which a book sits. Her right hand rests at her side below her waist. Sitter is probably a member or acquaintance of the Dickerson Family of Philadelphia., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from sitter's attire., Pad: Faded golden colored velvet. Geometric design in center surrounded by swirls., Mat: Double elliptical., Case: Leather. Geometric design: striated lines in the center within interlocking circles. Shell-like designs at the four corners. Same design on verso., Gift of Mary P. Dunn, 1993., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1993, p. 17-24., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [Philadelphia]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Cased photos - Dickerson Family Collection [P.9427.5]
- Title
- [Portrait of an unidentified African American woman]
- Description
- Bust-length, forward facing portrait of a seated, African American woman whose eyes look to the right. Sitter has long, dark hair, parted in the middle, crimped, and looped behind her ears. She wears hoop earrings and a dark-colored, long-sleeved, silk dress with a white collar and cravat. A small, decorative button or brooch is pinned in the center of the collar. Sitter is probably a member or acquaintance of the Dickerson Family of Philadelphia., Title supplied by cataloger., Pad: Faded red velvet with a single swirled feather design., Mat: Oval., Leather. Geometric design with a crosshatched oval surrounded by ovals, each of which has a flower in the center. Same design on verso., Gift of Mary P. Dunn, 1993., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1993, p. 17-24., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [ca. 1855-ca. 1860]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Cased photos - Dickerson Family Collection [P.9427.8]
- Title
- [Portrait of an unidentified African American woman]
- Description
- Half-length, forward facing portrait of an African American woman seated on a chair. Sitter has long, dark hair, parted in the middle, and tied behind her head. She is attired in a dark-colored, diagonally striped, long-sleeved dress with a lace collar, a brooch, and a long necklace. She rests her left arm on a table covered with a patterned tablecloth, and her right hand rests on her lap. Sitter is probably a member or acquaintance of the Dickerson Family of Philadelphia., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from sitter's attire., Pad: Cinnamon colored velvet with one large leaf., Mat: Octogonal., Case: Leather. Design is curved octagon within scroll and is Plate 219 in Floyd and Marion Rinhart's American miniature case art (Cranbury, NJ: A. S. Barnes and Co., Inc., 1969). Case made by William Shew who was active in Boston in the 1840s. Same design on verso., Gift of Mary P. Dunn, 1993., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1993 p. 17-24., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [Philadelphia]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Cased photos - Dickerson Family Collection [P.9427.10]
- Title
- [Portrait of an unidentified African American woman]
- Description
- Three-quarter length, forward facing portrait of a seated, African American woman. Sitter has dark hair that is parted in the middle and combed close to and tied back behind her head. She is attired in a long-sleeved, button down, plaid dress with ruffles at the cuffs and wears a matching, round, brooch necklace and earrings. She rests her right forearm on a table and her hands, forming slight fists, rest in her lap. Her cheeks and lips are tinted pink. Sitter is probably a member or acquaintance of the Dickerson Family of Philadelphia., Title supplied by cataloger., Pad: Faded red velvet. Fleur de lis in center surrounded by scrolls., Mat: Nonpareil., Case: Leather. Geometric design featuring a six-pointed star within a shield flanked by banners. Same design on verso., Gift of Mary P. Dunn, 1993., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1993, p. 17-24., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [ca. 1855-ca. 1860]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Cased photos - Dickerson Family Collection [P.9427.7]
- Title
- [Portrait of an unidentified woman]
- Description
- Half-length, forward facing portrait of an African American woman. Sitter has long, dark hair, parted in the middle with ringlet curls on either side of her face, and tied behind her head. She is attired in a long-sleeved dress with a lace collar, a brooch, and a ring. She rests her right arm on a table covered with a patterned tablecloth, and she clutches a purse in her right hand. Her left hand rests on her lap. Sitter is probably a member or acquaintance of the Dickerson Family of Philadelphia., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred by sitter's attire., Pad: Faded red silk., Mat: Nonpareil., Case: Leather. Geometric design: A striated circle in the center within a striated oval. Nonpareil border. Same design on verso., Gift of Mary P. Dunn, 1993., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1993, p. 17-24., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [ca. 1850]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Cased photos - Dickerson Family Collection [P.9427.6]
- Title
- [Portrait of an unidentified African American woman]
- Description
- Three-quarter length, forward facing portrait of a seated, African American woman. Sitter has long, dark hair, parted in the middle, and looped behind her ears. She is attired in a dark-colored, long-sleeved, silk dress with a white lace collar, and black lace, fingerless gloves. A broach adorns her collar. She rests her left forearm on a table covered in a patterned cloth. A book lies on the table. The sitter’s left hand rests on her lap. Her lips are tinted pink. Sitter is probably a member or acquaintance of the Dickerson Family of Philadelphia., Title supplied by cataloger., Pad: Dark purple velvet with a scroll design in the center., Mat: Oval., Case: Square thermoplastic. On recto is a leaf design surrounded by scrolls. This design is #3-128 reproduced in Paul K. Berg's nineteenth century photographic cases and wall frames (Huntington Beach, Ca. 92647: Huntington Valley Press, 1995.) The design on the verso is a bunch of grapes, #2-25 in Berg's book., Gift of Mary P. Dunn, 1993., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1993, p. 17-24.
- Date
- [ca. 1850-ca. 1860]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Cased photos -Dickerson Family Collection [P.9427.16]
- Title
- [Portrait of an unidentified African American woman]
- Description
- Three-quarter length, front facing portrait of a seated African American woman. Sitter has dark hair, parted in the middle, crimped, and looped behind her ears. She is attired in a dark-colored, silk dress with long, bell-shaped sleeves with trim details and ruching below the shoulder. She also wears a lace collar and cuffs. A pin adorns the front of her collar. She rests her left forearm on a book which sits atop a table covered in a patterned cloth in the right of the image. A ribbon adorns her left wrist and she wears a ring on her left forefinger. Her right hand rests in her lap. Her lips and upper cheeks are tinted pink. Sitter is probably a member or acquaintance of the Dickerson Family of Philadelphia., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from sitter's attire., Tinting on sitter's lips and upper cheeks., Pad: Deep purple velvet without a design., Mat: Oval., Case: Leather. Case design showing small vase of flowers in the center surrounded by ornate decorations is called "Flower Vase Motif" and is Plate 146 in Floyd and Marion Rinhart's American miniature case art (Cranbury, New Jersey: A. S. Barnes and Co., Inc., 1969.) Geometric design on verso., Die-engraver's name on case design reads A[nthony] C. Paquet., Gift of Mary P. Dunn, 1993., Library Company. Annual Report, 1993, p. 17-24., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [ca. 1850]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Cased photos - Dickerson Family Collection [P.9427.15]
- Title
- [Portrait of an unidentified African American woman]
- Description
- Three-quarter length, forward facing portrait of an African American woman seated on a chair with an ornate, wooden back. Sitter has long, dark hair, parted in the middle, crimped, and looped behind her ears. She wears hoop earrings and a dark-colored, long-sleeve button-down, silk dress with a lace collar and cuffs. A broach adorns her collar. She also rests her right forearm and hand on a book which sits atop a table covered in a patterned cloth in the left of the image. She wears a ring on her right hand and her left hand, in a slight fist, rests in her lap. Her cheeks are tinted pink. Sitter is probably a member or acquaintance of the Dickerson Family of Philadelphia., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from photographic format and attire of sitter., Tinting on cheeks., Pad: Dark red velvet with a scroll design., Mat: Oval., Case: Leather. A large floral spray with a lily and leaves, surrounded by an ornate scrolled border. Same design on verso., Gift of Mary P. Dunn, 1993., Library Company. Annual Report, 1993, p. 17-24., Reproduced on cover and on page 45 of Julie Winch's The Elite of our people (University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2000)
- Date
- [ca. 1850]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Cased photos - Dickerson Family Collection [P.9427.12]
- Title
- [Portrait of an unidentified woman]
- Description
- Three-quarter length, forward facing portrait of a seated, African American woman. Sitter has long, dark hair, parted in the middle, and looped behind her ears. She is attired in a dark-colored, long-sleeved, silk dress with a white lace collar, and black lace fingerless gloves. A broach adorns her collar. She rests her left forearm on a table covered in a patterned cloth. A book lies on the table. The sitter’s left hand rests on her lap. Her lips are tinted pink. Sitter is probably a member or acquaintance of the Dickerson Family of Philadelphia., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred by sitter's attire., Pink tinting on lips., Pad: Deep purple velvet without a design., Mat: Oval., Case: Leather. Small vase of flowers in the center surrounded by ornate decorations. The"Flower Vase" design is reproduced as Plate 146 in Floyd and Marion Rinhart's American miniature case art (Cranbury, New Jersey: A. S. Barnes and Co., Inc., 1969.) Geometric design on verso., The die-engraver's name is below the design in reverse, and properly reads A[nthony] C. Paquet., Gift of Mary P. Dunn, 1993., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1993, p. 17-24., Reproduced on page 45 of Julie Winch's The Elite of our people (University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2000), Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [ca. 1850]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Cased photos - Dickerson Family Collection [P.9427.11]
- Title
- [Portrait of an unidentified woman]
- Description
- Half-length, forward facing portrait of an African American woman seated on a chair. Sitter has long, dark hair, parted in the middle, and looped behind her ears. She is attired in a dark-colored, long-sleeved dress with a white chemisette with a collar and under sleeves, a brooch, and a ring. She rests her left arm on a table covered with a patterned tablecloth, and her right hand rests on her lap. Sitter is probably a member or acquaintance of the Dickerson Family of Philadelphia., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from sitter's attire., Pad: Faded red velvet with small floral spray in center surrounded by scrolls., Mat: Nonpareil., Case: Leather. Case design of a bouquet of flowers in an urn within a nonpareil border is called "The Romanesque Urn" and is Plate 141 in Floyd and Marion Rinhart's American miniature case art (Cranbury, New Jersey: A. S. Barnes and Co., Inc., 1969.) Same design on verso., Gift of Mary P. Dunn, 1993., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1993 p. 17-24., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [ca. 1850]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Cased photos - Dickerson Family Collection [P.9427.14]
- Title
- [Chestnut Street looking east from below Fifteenth Street, Philadelphia]
- Description
- Shows several businesses on the 1200-1500 blocks of Chestnut Street. Businesses include Commonwealth Trust Company building built 1901 after the designs of James Windrim & Son (1201-1205 Chestnut); the Crozier Building and American Baptist Publication Society built between 1896-1899 after the designs of Frank Miles Day & Bro. (1420-1422 Chestnut); Child's Restaurant built circa 1906 (1425-1427 Chestnut); Colonnade Hotel built in 1868 and razed in 1925 (1500-1506 Chestnut); the Pennsylvania Building built circa 1903 after the designs of McClure & Sphar (1501-1515 Chestnut); and Showell, Fryer & Co., grocers (1517 Chestnut). Electric signs adorn several of the buildings, including signage for Cafe L'Aiglon adorning the Pennsylvania Building. Also shows several pedestrians, including two African American women, walking on the sidewalks and cars parked in the street., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from attire of the people and dates of operation of the businesses depicted., Purchase 2002., 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 Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
- Date
- [ca. 1915]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department photo -unidentified - Streets [P.2002.17.3]
- Title
- Mrs. Lena Mason's Chautauqua meetings, Aug. 1st - Sept. Phila, Pa
- Description
- Postcard showing an African American Chautauqua meeting. Depicts African American men, women, and children gathered near several tents. In the foreground, an African American woman and man, possibly Mrs. and Mr. Mason, stand and look at the viewer next to a wooden chair with a hat on top of it. Chautauqua meetings, developed from the Lyceum Movement, were traveling tent shows providing education and entertainment to early 20th-century audiences., Title and date from item., Photographic paper company's imprint on verso: Mermont Photo Paper Co., New York., Purchase 2001., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Digitized with funding from a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
- Date
- 1908
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department LCP postcards - Events [P.9933.9]
- Title
- The election a medley, humbly inscribed, to Squire Lilliput Professor of Scurrillity
- Description
- A pro-Franklin cartoon depicting a crowd gathered to vote at the Philadelphia courthouse during the Pennsylvania Assembly election of October 1764. The print advocates Franklin's appointment as provincial agent to Britain despite his election loss which was a result of his double-sided politics in dealing with the "Paxton Boys," white frontiersmen who murdered peaceful Native Americans. Contains thirty-three verses attributed to Rev. Isaac Hunt to be sung to various tunes. Created as an attack on satirist James Dove, referred to in this title as "Squire Lilliput Professor of Scurrillity," in response to his anti-Franklin print, "The Paxton Expedition." The courthouse crowd includes caricatures of James Dove and five African Americans, including a woman stating in the vernacular, "Mase Lidiput you puchuss a me," a reference to a character pursued sexually by Dove in an earlier anti-Dove cartoon, "A Conference between the Devil and Mr. Dove" (1764)., Place and date of publication provided by Snyder and Murrell., Possibly after the work of Henry Dawkins., Manuscript note: Published for the Election of the 1st of 8th 1764 of Philadelphia., 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., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [1764]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Political Cartoons - [1764] Ele [959.F.74]
- Title
- The election a medley, humbly inscribed, to Squire Lilliput Professor of Scurrillity
- Description
- A pro-Franklin cartoon depicting a crowd gathered to vote at the Philadelphia courthouse during the Pennsylvania Assembly Election of October 1764. The print advocates Franklin's appointment as provincial agent to Britain despite his election loss which was a result of his double-sided politics in dealing with the "Paxton Boys," white frontiersmen who murdered peaceful Native Americans. Contains thirty-three verses attributed to Rev. Isaac Hunt to be sung to various tunes. Created as an attack on satirist James Dove, referred to in this title as "Squire Lilliput Professor of Scurrillity," in response to his anti-Franklin print, "The Paxton Expedition." The courthouse crowd includes caricatures of James Dove and five African Americans, including a woman stating in the vernacular, "Mase Lidiput you puchuss a me," a reference to a character pursued sexually by Dove in an earlier anti-Dove cartoon, "A Conference between the Devil and Mr. Dove" (1764)., Place and date of publication provided by Snyder and Murrell., Possibly after the work of Henry Dawkins., Manuscript note on recto in Watson's hand: Wrote by the Revd. Isaac Hunt at or before 1764 - when Franklin was made agent to London for this "Medley" says "Franklin will be agent." [and] Property of John F. Watson., Manuscript note on verso: Purchased from John F. Watson, Esq. June 14 1860. C.P. [Charles Poulson]., LCP copy lacking fragments along center vertical fold. Backed with laid paper., 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
- [1764]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Political Cartoons - [1764] Ele [1885.F.32]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "How you find yourself dis hot weader Miss Chloe?"
- Description
- Racist caricature mocking the ambitions of free Blacks depicting, "Mr. Cesar," an African American dandy asking an African American belle how she finds herself in "dis hot weader?" "Miss Chloe," responds that she is doing well, but "aspires too much!" In the left, the man stands and faces the woman, in the right, and whose back is to the viewer. The man is attired in a blue waistcoat with a black collar, a white vest, pink cravat, white pants, gloves, and black slipper shoes. He holds a walking stick perpendicular to the ground in his right hand. The woman is attired in a yellow, puff-sleeved, ankle-length dress and with a pink neckerchief, wide-brimmed yellow hat with a long veil and adorned with several pink flowers and blue ribbon, gloves, and white slipper shoes. She also wears a necklace and earrings. She holds a purse and fan in her left hand and a parasol in her right hand. The man and woman stand on a grassy knoll. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. Their skin tone is depicted with black hand coloring., Title from item., Date inferred from content., Inscribed: P. 4., After the work of Edward W. Clay., Probably published by Anthony Imbert., Contains three lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: “How you find yourself dis hot weader Miss Chloe?” “Pretty well I tank you Mr. Cesar only I aspire too much!”, RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Acquired in 1968.
- Date
- [ca. 1830]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (New York Set) [7770.F.1]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "Shall I hab de honour to dance de next quadrille...?"
- Description
- Racist caricature ridiculing the etiquette of attendees of an African American dance ball. Depicts, in the right and in profile, "Mr. Cato," an African American man dressed in a blue coat with tails and a black collar, white pantaloons and stockings, ruffled white shirt, yellow gloves, a gold neck fob, and black slipper shoes bowing with his hat in his hand to invite "Miss Minta" to dance. In the left, "Miss Minta," a curvaceous African American woman, forward facing, her head turned to the right, and dressed in a pink, cap-sleeved gown with an apron detail, a large pink headpiece, white opera gloves, and several pieces of jewelry, including a neck fob, bracelets, armlets, and earrings, declines his invitation because she is already "engaged for de nine next set." She also slightly holds up the lower right corner of her apron with her right hand. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. Their skin tone is depicted with black hand coloring. Scene also includes background imagery depicting other African American men and women ball attendees., Title from item., Date inferred from content., Inscribed: No. 6., Plate 5 of the original series published in Philadelphia., Probably published by Anthony Imbert of New York., Shane White and Graham White's Stylin': African American Expressive Culture... (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1998), p. 98. (LCP Ii4, A2880.O)., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [ca. 1830]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (New York Set) [7770.F.3]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings...?"
- Description
- Racist caricature of an African American woman shopping for a pair of "flesh coloured silk stockings" in a hosiery store with a white male sales clerk speaking with a French dialect. Depicts, in the center right, the woman standing at the blue and white counter in front of the clerk who holds up a pair of brown-colored stockings from out of a rectangular box. She is attired in a pink floral patterned dress, as well as tall, wide-brimmed pink hat adorned with several flowers, greenery, and a veil and long yellow ribbon, white gloves, earrings, and tan button-up boots. She rests her white, flower-patterned purse on the counter and holds up a monocle from the end of her neck fob to inspect the stockings that the clerk declares are of "de first qualite!" Her green parasol rests against the counter. Rows of stockings, including in the color of blue and pink, hang on the wall behind the clerk. The clerk is attired in a tan waistcoat with tails, a white vest, purple cravat, and purple pants. In the right, an African American woman attired in a blue polka dot dress and tall, wide brimmed hat adorned with ribbons is seen in the doorway of the shop in which purple and white curtains hang and are pushed to the side. The wheel of a carriage is seen behind the woman. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. The women’s skin tone is depicted with black hand coloring. The man is depicted with dark brown, curled hair., Title from item., Date inferred from content., Plate 11 of the original series published in Philadelphia., After the work of Edward W. Clay., Possibly by New York lithographer Curtis Burr Graham (1814-1890)., Contains five lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect above the image: Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings, young man? Oui Madame! here is von pair of de first qualité!, RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [ca. 1830]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (New York Set) [P.9701.10]
- Title
- Leadbeater's renowned stove polish
- Description
- Racist advertisement for Leadbeater & Co.’s stove polish depicting a white woman and an African American woman polishing stoves. In the left, the brown-haired white woman, attired in a blue ruffled dress, white gloves, a necklace, and bracelets, stands holding a bottle of Leadbeater’s stove polish in her left hand, which she brushes onto a heating stove. In the right, an African American woman domestic, attired in a yellow head kerchief, gold hoop earrings, a red collared shirt with the sleeves rolled to her elbows, and a green skirt with black stripes, kneels as she brushes polish on the cooking stove. She turns her head to see her reflection on the stove in the left. Also visible in the image are a framed portrait, landscape, and still life, and a green sideboard with white plates and a cup. Leadbeater & Company, was a one year partnership between Philadelphia stove polish merchants, F.C. Leadbeater and D.L. Wells, at 920 Market Street., Title and date from manuscript note written on recto: Leadbeater's Renowned Stove Polish; Feb. 1861., Not in Wainwright, Philadelphia on Stone, POSP 134, Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of engravings relating to Philadelphia. McAllister Collection, gift, 1886., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [February 1861]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department BW - Advertisements [(7)1322.F.441a]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings...?"
- Description
- Racist caricature of an African American woman shopping for a pair of "flesh coloured silk stockings" in a hosiery store with a white male sales clerk speaking with a French dialect. Depicts, in the center left, the woman standing at the green counter in front of the clerk who holds up a pair of black-colored stockings from out of a rectangular box. She is attired in a pink floral patterned dress, as well as yellow tall, wide-brimmed floral-patterned hat adorned with purple flowers, greenery, and a veil and long yellow floral-patterned ribbon, yellow gloves, earrings, and green and red button-up boots. She rests her white, polka-dot-patterned purse on the counter and holds up a monocle from the end of her neck fob to inspect the stockings that the clerk declares are of "de first qualite!" Her yellow parasol rests against the counter. Rows of brown, white, pink, black, and tan stockings and fashion accessories hang on the wall behind the clerk. The clerk is attired in a green waistcoat with tails, a blue vest, white cravat, and white pants. In the left, an African American woman attired in a blue polka dot dress with pink neckerchief and tall, wide brimmed hat adorned with a veil and yellow ribbons is seen in the doorway of the shop in which multi-color curtains hang and are pushed to the side. A shelf lined with bolts of textiles hangs above the doorway. The wheel of a carriage is seen behind the woman. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. The woman’s skin tone is depicted with black hand coloring. The man is depicted with rosy cheeks and brown, curled hair., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., After the work of Edward W. Clay., Plate 11 of the original series of Life in Philadelphia., Contains five lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect above the image: Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings, young man? Oui Madame! here is von pair of de first qualité!, Inscribed: No. 9., Charles Hunt was a respected London engraver who was most known for his aquatints of sporting subjects., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [ca. 1833]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (London) [P.9710.9]
- Title
- [Life in Philadelphia miniatures]
- Description
- Five cartes-de-visite size racist and sexist social caricatures derived from the series "Life in Philadelphia," including figures in brightly colored and ornately patterned fashion. Lines of dialogue are included below the images. Depicts a scene of a white man sexually harassing a white woman, their fashion caricatured (P.9717.1); a thwarted celebration of the election of Andrew Jackson centered on an African American man and boy portrayed in caricature (P.9717.2); a discussion of hot weather between an African American man and woman portrayed in caricature (P.9717.3); a dance ball centered on an African American man and woman portrayed in caricature ((P.9717.4); and the purchase of silk stockings by an African American woman portrayed in caricature (P.9717.5). The prints are captioned respectively: "Good Evening Miss..."; "Why for you hurrah for General Jackson?"; "How you find yourself dis hot weder Miss Chloe?"; "Shall I hab de honor to dance de next quadrille...?"; and "Have you any flesh colored silk stockings...?" The scenes also contain detailed backgrounds that include cityscape, pedestrian traffic, figures at celebration, bucolic scenery, the interior of a ballroom with white attendees, and the interior of a clothing store attended by a white man clerk speaking with a French dialect. The African American figures are portrayed with exaggerated features and stances. The white woman figure is portrayed with an exaggerated silhouette because of her fashion comprised of a bell-shaped overcoat and dress., Title supplied by cataloguer., Date inferred from content., P.9717.1 contains lines of dialogue below the image: Good evening Miss, shall I have the pleasure of walking with you._ Me Sir!! for whom do you take me, Sir?_ Come that’s a good one!-for whom do I take you? Why for myself to be sure., P.9717.2 contains lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: Hurrah! Hurrah for General Jackson. Why for you hurrah for General Jackson – you black Nigger – I’ll larn you better – I’m a ministration man., P.9717.3 contains lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: How you find yourself dis hot weder Miss Chloe? Pretty well I tank you Mr. Cesar, only I aspire too much., P.9717.4 contains lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: Shall I habe de honour to dance next Quadrille wid you Miss Minta. Tank you Mr. Cato wid much pleasure only I’, engaged for de next nine Set!”, P.9717.5 contains lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: Have you any Flesh color’d Silk Stockings young Man? Oui Madame! Her is von pair of de first quality., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [ca. 1833]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (London) [P.9717.1-.5]
- Title
- [Life in Philadelphia miniatures]
- Description
- Five cartes-de-visite size racist and sexist social caricatures derived from the series "Life in Philadelphia," including figures in brightly colored and ornately patterned fashion. Lines of dialogue are included below the images. Depicts a scene of a white man sexually harassing a white woman, their fashion caricatured (P.9717.1); a thwarted celebration of the election of Andrew Jackson centered on an African American man and boy portrayed in caricature (P.9717.2); a discussion of hot weather between an African American man and woman portrayed in caricature (P.9717.3); a dance ball centered on an African American man and woman portrayed in caricature ((P.9717.4); and the purchase of silk stockings by an African American woman portrayed in caricature (P.9717.5). The prints are captioned respectively: "Good Evening Miss..."; "Why for you hurrah for General Jackson?"; "How you find yourself dis hot weder Miss Chloe?"; "Shall I hab de honor to dance de next quadrille...?"; and "Have you any flesh colored silk stockings...?" The scenes also contain detailed backgrounds that include cityscape, pedestrian traffic, figures at celebration, bucolic scenery, the interior of a ballroom with white attendees, and the interior of a clothing store attended by a white man clerk speaking with a French dialect. The African American figures are portrayed with exaggerated features and stances. The white woman figure is portrayed with an exaggerated silhouette because of her fashion comprised of a bell-shaped overcoat and dress., Title supplied by cataloguer., Date inferred from content., P.9717.1 contains lines of dialogue below the image: Good evening Miss, shall I have the pleasure of walking with you._ Me Sir!! for whom do you take me, Sir?_ Come that’s a good one!-for whom do I take you? Why for myself to be sure., P.9717.2 contains lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: Hurrah! Hurrah for General Jackson. Why for you hurrah for General Jackson – you black Nigger – I’ll larn you better – I’m a ministration man., P.9717.3 contains lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: How you find yourself dis hot weder Miss Chloe? Pretty well I tank you Mr. Cesar, only I aspire too much., P.9717.4 contains lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: Shall I habe de honour to dance next Quadrille wid you Miss Minta. Tank you Mr. Cato wid much pleasure only I’, engaged for de next nine Set!”, P.9717.5 contains lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: Have you any Flesh color’d Silk Stockings young Man? Oui Madame! Her is von pair of de first quality., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [ca. 1833]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (London) [P.9717.1-.5]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. The cut direct. or getting up in the world
- Description
- Racist caricature portraying nouveau riche African Americans as prejudiced against lower class African Americans. Depicts an African American bootblack greeting an elegantly dressed African American couple who feign ignorance of the man's acquaintance after their return from New York. The raggedly dressed bootblack, while holding his rod of boots in one hand, uses his other hand to grab the hand of "Casar." "Casar" dressed in a hat and overcoat looks suspiciously at their joined hands. He states that the bootblack has mistaken his identity as his wife, dressed in a large bonnet with feathers and a veil and a dark overcoat, confirms the mistake and adds, "we are Guinea People, you Imperdent Nigger.", Charles Ingrey was one of the premier London lithographic printers of the 1830s., Nancy Reynolds Davison's E.W. Clay: American Political Caricaturist of Jacksonian America (PhD. diss., The University of Michigan, 1980), p. 80-81. (LCP Print Room Uz, A423.O).
- Date
- [ca. 1832]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (London Set) [7893.F.2]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. The cut direct. or getting up in the world
- Description
- Racist caricature portraying nouveau riche African Americans as prejudiced against lower class African Americans. Depicts an African American bootblack greeting an elegantly dressed African American couple who feign ignorance of the man's acquaintance after their return from New York. The raggedly dressed bootblack, while holding his rod of boots in one hand, uses his other hand to grab the hand of "Casar." "Casar" dressed in a hat and overcoat looks suspiciously at their joined hands. He states that the bootblack has mistaken his identity as his wife, dressed in a large bonnet with feathers and a veil and a dark overcoat, confirms the mistake and adds, "we are Guinea People, you Imperdent Nigger.", Charles Ingrey was one of the premier London lithographic printers of the 1830s., Nancy Reynolds Davison's E.W. Clay: American Political Caricaturist of Jacksonian America (PhD. diss., The University of Michigan, 1980), p. 80-81. (LCP Print Room Uz, A423.O)
- Date
- [ca. 1832]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (London Set) (P.9718a)
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. The cut direct. or how to get up in the world
- Description
- Racist caricature portraying nouveau riche African Americans as prejudiced against lower class African Americans. Depicts an African American bootblack greeting an elegantly dressed African American couple who feign ignorance of the man's acquaintance after their return from New York. The raggedly dressed bootblack, while holding his rod of boots in one hand, uses his free hand to grab the hand of "Casar." "Casar" dressed in a hat and overcoat looks suspiciously at their joined hands. He states that the bootblack has mistaken his identity as his wife, dressed in a large bonnet with feathers and a veil and a dark overcoat, confirms the mistake and adds, "we are Guinea People, you Imperdent Nigger.", Charles Ingrey was one of the premier London lithographic printers of the 1830s., Nancy Davison's E.W. Clay: American Political Caricaturist of Jacksonian America (PhD. diss., The University of Michigan, 1980), p. 80-81. (LCP Uz, A423.O).
- Date
- [ca. 1833]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (London Set) [P.9718b]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings...?"
- Description
- Racist caricature of an African American woman shopping for a pair of "flesh coloured silk stockings" in a hosiery store with a white male sales clerk speaking with a French dialect. Depicts, in the center left, the woman standing at the blue counter in front of the clerk who holds up a pair of black-colored stockings from out of a rectangular box. She is attired in a yellow floral patterned dress, as well as tall, wide-brimmed floral-patterned hat adorned with yellow flowers, greenery, and a veil and long floral-patterned ribbon, white gloves, earrings, and white button-up boots. She rests her pink, polka-dot-patterned purse on the counter and holds up a monocle from the end of her neck fob to inspect the stockings that the clerk declares are of "de first qualite!" Her brown parasol rests against the counter. Rows of red, blue, brown, black, and yellow stockings and fashion accessories hang on the wall behind the clerk. The clerk is attired in a green waistcoat with tails, a blue vest, white cravat, and white pants. In the left, an African American woman attired in a pink polka dot dress and tall, wide brimmed hat adorned with a veil and green ribbons is seen in the doorway of the shop in which curtains hang and are pushed to the side. A shelf lined with bolts of textiles hangs above the doorway. The wheel of a carriage is seen behind the woman. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. The central woman figure’s skin tone is depicted with black hand coloring and the woman figure in the doorway’s skin tone is depicted with brown hand coloring. The man is depicted with rosy cheeks and brown, curled hair., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., After the work of Edward W. Clay., Plate 11 of the original series of Life in Philadelphia., Contains five lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect above the image: Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings, young man? Oui Madame! here is von pair of de first qualité!, Charles Hunt was a respected London engraver who was most known for his aquatints of sporting subjects., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [ca. 1831]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (London) [P.9707.3]
- Title
- [Life in Philadelphia scraps]
- Description
- Series of trimmed, captioned scraps containing racist African American imagery based on the “Life in Philadelphia” series after the designs of Edward W. Clay first published 1828-1830. The series of primarily racist social caricatures lampooned the etiquette and conventions of early 19th-century, middle-class Philadelphians, particularly the growing community of free African American persons. Caricatures depict scenes of courtship, society balls, fashion, freemasonry, and the election of Andrew Jackson, as well as sexism, sexual harassment, and sexual innuendo. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features and often in the fashion of dandies and belles. Scenes include an African American man leaving his card for “Clotilda” at her basement apartment door within the dishcloth of her African American woman house servant before him (P.2021.28.1a); an African American man-woman couple stopped during their walk in a park to watch a man watching them (P.2021.28.1b); an African American ball at which an African American man attendee asks an African American woman attendee for a dance in front of other African American attendees in the background (P.2021.28.2a); an African American man sexually harassing an African American woman on a city street (P.2021.28.2b); an African American woman and man in conversation on a Sunday (“day of our lord”)(P.2021.28.3a);, African American couple “Mr. Lorenzo” and “Miss Chloe,” seated on a couch, by a window, in a parlor in conversation (P.2021.28.3b); an African American ball at which an African American woman attendee asks an African American man attendee if he likes the waltz in front of other African American attendees in the background (P.2021.28.4a); an African American woman in a dry goods store asking a white man sales clerk, who speaks with a French dialect, about stockings (P.2021.28.4b); an African American military volunteer chastising an African American boy drummer at a military encampment (P.2021.28.5a); an African American man-woman musical couple where she plays the guitar and he sings “Coal Black Rose”(P.2021.28.5b); two African American masons in conversation about “Gen’l Jackson” in front of an altar at a masonic hall (P.2021.28.6a); an African American woman, “Dinah,” being asked by an African American man, “Mr. Durang,” about his new checkered “fashion trousers” (P.2021.28.6b). Women figures are attired in wide-brimmed, and/or ornately adorned, wide-brimmed hats or headpieces, puff-sleeved dresses or a hooded cape in ornate patterns, as well as gloves, slipper shoes, jewelry, and monocles. Men figures are attired in top or wide-brimmed hats, waistcoats, vests, large bowties, trousers or pantaloons, military uniform, masonic regalia, gloves, and slipper shoes or boots. Accessories held by the figures include purses, umbrellas, fans, walking sticks., Scenes also include detailed backgrounds and interior and exterior settings including residential facades; dogs; a white man seated on a bench in a park; ballrooms with attendees and a band playing in a balcony; a section of a city street with a guardhouse; parlors; a counter at a dry goods store; a volunteer military encampment; a masonic hall; as well as pieces of furniture, such as chairs, mantles, and side tables., Title supplied by cataloguer., Date inferred from content., P.2021.28.1a contains three lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: Is Miss Clotilda at home? No sir she’s particularly ingaged in washing de dishes – Ah! give her my card!, P.2021.28.1b contains two lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: Vol is you looking at my dear? Vy I’m looking at dat imperent fellow vat’s laughing at us?, P.2021.28.2a contains three lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: Will you hona me wid your hand for de next codrille Miss Manda? Tank you sa’ but I’m ingaged for de nest ten set!, P.2021.28.2b contains two lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: What do you take me for? you black nigger? Why I take you for myself to be sure., P.2021.28.3a contains two lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: Bery hot dis day of our lord Mr. Cesa! Berry hot indeed Miss Juliet – de terometa is 96 degree above joho., P.2021.28.3b contains two lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: Mr. Lorenzo dat’s a nice dog you’ve got” Lord! Miss Chloe., P.2021.28.4a contains two lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: do you walse Mr. Wellington? No, my dear creta_ It’s to common. I go nothin but de Manourkey!, P.2021.28.4b contains two lines of dialogue in the vernacular and French dialect below the image: Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings, Sir? Oui Mamselle here is von pair of de last Parisian touch-, P.2021.28.5a contains two lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: You say I belong to de milishy you black varmont. I’ll let you know I’m a wolunteer., P.2021.28.5b contains two lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: How will your voice harmonize wid de sentiment. Mr. Cato you quite equal to Horn!, P.2021.28.6a contains three lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: Well brudder Jones what you tink of Genl Jackson now? Day say he’s gwang to be Anti Masonic! I don’t know, I tink dat depend on de new cabinet., P.2021.28.6b contains three lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: How you like de new fashion trousers Dinah. Oh quite lubly! You look like Mr. Durang when he play harlequin in de masqarade., Printed in upper left corner of P.2021.28.1a: [E?]dition., Printed in upper right corner of P.2021.28.2a and trimmed: 2nd E?[dition?], RVCDC
- Date
- [ca. 1838-ca. 1855]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (Miscellaneous) [P.2021.28.1a-6b]
- Title
- Testimonial banquet to Ms. Eugenia M. Neal. Daughter Ruler Keystone Temple, No. 448 I.B.P.O.E.W., Dec. 8, 1930. O. V. Catto Elks Home, Philadelphia
- Description
- Panoramic group portrait photograph depicting over one hundred African American men and women, of all ages, at a testimonial banquet of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World for Eugenia Neal (1873-1949). The attendees, attired in evening wear, sit at rows of tables and a few booths in the right of the room. Attendees wear suits, tuxedos, and evening and cocktail dresses. Most of the sitters do not smile and face the camera. Some are turned away or eating. Some of the men wear their I.B.P.O.E.W. fezzes. In the right background, one woman has an arch of flowers over her. The tables are covered in white tablecloths and lined with plates of food, serving platters, and silver pitchers. In the background, at the back of the room, a small band of men musicians is seated next to a woman at a piano. Streamers and a paper bell adorn the ceiling. The O.V. Catto Elks Lodge began in 1903 as a chapter of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World established in 1897 with a mission to "practice charity by providing and performing charitable services in our communities throughout the world and by promoting harmony, friendship, and unity among our esteemed members." By 1926, the Lodge had over 3000 members, and in 1929, it relocated to a new building that included a boxing ring, basketball court, and rooftop garden, at 16th and Fitzwater. Eugenia Neal, born Eugenia Brisby in Virginia, worked as a typesetter in Philadelphia by 1920. Married to Moses Neal in 1896, the couple resided in Atlantic City before relocating to Philadelphia by 1910. As a Daughter Ruler, Neal lead the Keystone Temple with her male counterpart, Exalted Ruler, and "under their leadership, all Elks shall show[ed] truth in activities and live[d] to help others, while promoting Brotherly and Sisterly Love to all.", Title and date from item.
- Date
- [1930]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department framed graphics [P.2023.5]
- Title
- Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Philada Founded in 1794 by the Revd. Richard Allen, Bishop of the first African Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States. Rebuilt in 1805
- Description
- Exterior view of the rough cast second edifice of the African American church at 125 South 6th Street. Pedestrians and church attendees, predominately women, stroll the sidewalk and enter the house of worship adorned with a simple stone tablet inscribed, "Bethel Church." Known as "Mother Bethel," the church was formed from African American congregants discriminated against by the Methodist Episcopal Church. The 1805 building, the site of the first convention of the Unified African Methodist Episcopal Church, stood until 1841 when a third building was erected on the site., Title from item., Kennedy and Lucas, operated by David Kennedy and William B. Lucas, printed the city's first commercial lithographs, a series of church subjects drawn by W.L. Breton, probably including "Mother Bethel.", Philadelphia on Stone, POS 39, Wainwright retrospective conversion project, edited., Description revised 2021., Accessioned 1965., Access points revised 2021.
- Creator
- Breton, William L., artist
- Date
- July 1829
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department W26 [7500.F]
- Title
- London Coffee House
- Description
- Exterior view of the coffee house and merchants' exchange at the southwest corner of Front and Market streets in Philadelphia during the colonial era. An auction of enslaved African American people occurs outside the coffee house and pedestrians traverse the sidewalks and street, including an African American woman carrying a basket on her head. Views of the adjacent printing house and book store of "Pennsylvania Journal" publisher, William Bradford, are visible. Erected in 1702 and established as a coffee house in 1754 by Bradford, the site was a public center for social and economic activities during the later 18th century, including auctions of enslaved people. Razed in 1883., Title from item., Plate published in John F. Watson's Annals of Philadelphia...(Philadelphia: E.L. Carey & A. Hart, 1830), opp. p. 339., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 442, Gift of James Rush., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Creator
- Breton, William L., lithographer
- Date
- [1830]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department BW - Hotels, Inns, Taverns [9245.Q.20], http://www.lcpimages.org/afro-americana/F-London.htm
- Title
- [Portrait of an unidentified African American woman]
- Description
- Half-length, forward facing portrait of a seated African American woman posed behind a prop window frame. Sitter rests her left elbow and right hand on the bottom edge of the frame. Her left hand rests on her shoulder, near the side of her face. She has dark, crimped hair, parted in the middle and that is pulled back into a braided crown at the back of her head. She is attired in a dark-colored, satiny dress with a plunging V-neck and that is adorned with a frilled ribbon and long sleeves with ruching below the shoulder. She also wears a white V-neck collar adorned with a broach, frilled white cuffs, hoop earrings, and a ring on her right hand. Her cheeks and lips are tinted pink. Image also includes a creeping grape vine in the right of the image. Sitter probably from or related to the Dickerson Family of Philadelphia., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from photographic format and attire of sitter., Sitter's cheeks tinted pink., Name of daguerreotypist inferred from studio prop (window and trailing vine) visible in image., Pad: Bright red velvet with a scroll design., Mat: Oval., Case: Leather. A large floral spray with a lily and leaves, surrounded by an ornate scrolled border. Geometric design on verso., Gift of Mary P. Dunn, 1993., Library Company. Annual Report, 1993, p. 17-24., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Creator
- Broadbent, Samuel, 1810-1880, photographer
- Date
- [ca. 1850]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department cased photos [P.9427.13]
- Title
- Sketches of character. Plate 2. At home. Plate 3. Abroad
- Description
- Racist caricature contrasting two scenes of the same African American couple "At Home" and "Abroad." The "At Home" scene depicts the couple in their kitchen with a wood floor washing dishes together. In the right, the woman, attired in a kerchief, short sleeves, apron, skirt, and slip on shoes, is bent over and washes the dishes in a tub on a stool. In the left, the man, barefoot and attired in a shirt with the sleeves rolled up, vest, bow tie, and pants, sits on the edge of a butcherblock table on top of which a pile of dishes rests, and dries one. The man and woman look at each other. In the background, on the wall, cooking utensils, pots and pans, and a slab of bacon hang from hooks underneath a shelf lined with cook and dishware near a large woven basket, a cupboard, and a small shelf with two bottles. The "Abroad" scene depicts the pair well attired and about to promenade down a city street, possibly Philadelphia and from near Independence Hall. The woman wears a large plumed bonnet with a veil and a ribbon tied under her chin, a blue cape over a dress giving her the appearance of a bell, and gaiter-like shoes. Her husband wears spectacles, a top hat, white shirt, yellow vest, black waist coat, grey pants, and yellow gloves. He holds a walking cane down toward the ground in his left hand and his other arm out to his companion. A guardhouse is seen in the right and the edge of a building (possibly Independence Hall) in the left. Cityscape is visible in the distant background. Figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features and their skin tone is depicted in brown hand coloring., Title and date from item., Copy right secured., Lib. Company. Annual Report, 2013, p. 51., Purchased with the Davida T. Deutsch African American History Fund., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
- Creator
- Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857
- Date
- January 12, 1830
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [P.2013.74]
- Title
- Sketches of character. Plate 2. At home. Plate 3. Abroad
- Description
- Racist caricature contrasting two scenes of the same African American couple "At Home" and "Abroad." The "At Home" scene depicts the couple in their kitchen with a wood floor washing dishes together. In the right, the woman, attired in a kerchief, short sleeves, apron, skirt, and slip on shoes, is bent over and washes the dishes in a tub on a stool. In the left, the man, barefoot and attired in a shirt with the sleeves rolled up, vest, bow tie, and pants, sits on the edge of a butcherblock table on top of which a pile of dishes rests, and dries one. The man and woman look at each other. In the background, on the wall, cooking utensils, pots and pans, and a slab of bacon hang from hooks underneath a shelf lined with cook and dishware near a large woven basket, a cupboard, and a small shelf with two bottles. The "Abroad" scene depicts the pair well attired and about to promenade down a city street, possibly Philadelphia and from near Independence Hall. The woman wears a large plumed bonnet with a veil and a ribbon tied under her chin, a blue cape over a dress giving her the appearance of a bell, and gaiter-like shoes. Her husband wears spectacles, a top hat, white shirt, yellow vest, black waist coat, grey pants, and yellow gloves. He holds a walking cane down toward the ground in his left hand and his other arm out to his companion. A guardhouse is seen in the right and the edge of a building (possibly Independence Hall) in the left. Cityscape is visible in the distant background. Figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features and their skin tone is depicted in brown hand coloring., Title and date from item., Copy right secured., Lib. Company. Annual Report, 2013, p. 51., Purchased with the Davida T. Deutsch African American History Fund., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
- Creator
- Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857
- Date
- January 12, 1830
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [P.2013.74]
- Title
- Back to back
- Description
- Racist caricature ridiculing attendees of an African American dance ball. Depicts an African American man woman couple with their backs together as they learn a dance step of which the man has "cocht de figure now!" In the left, the woman looks to the left, holds a fan and handkerchief to her left side, and stands on her toes. She is attired in a headpiece consisting of feathers, ribbons, and pearls, and an off-the-shoulder, ankle-length ball gown with puff sleeves and a pleated skirt, as well as patterned stockings, slipper shoes, and jewelry, including earrings, necklace, and a bracelet. In the right, the man holds his arms to his sides, and his hands open, as he stands on his toes. He wears a mustache and is attired in a coat with a wide collar and tails, a patterned vest and shirt with turned up collar, pantaloons, patterned stockings, and black slipper shoes adorned with buckles. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of artist., Due to the similar content of this caraciature to the prints in the original "Life in Philadelphia" series, Murrell classifies this lithograph as a part of the series., Contains one line of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect above the image: I reckon I’ve cotch de figure now!, Imagery similar to earlier work by artist "African Fancy Ball" in Lessons in dancing, : exemplified by sketches from real life in the city of Philadelphia (Philadelphia: Published by R.H. Hobson, Chesnut Street, 1828). Copy in the holdings of the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, MA and Rosenbach Library and Museum, Philadelphia, PA., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Acquired in 1968.
- Creator
- Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857, artist
- Date
- [ca. 1829]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [7688.F]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings...?"
- Description
- Racist caricature of an African American woman shopping for a pair of "flesh coloured silk stockings" in a hosiery store with a white male sales clerk speaking with a French dialect. Depicts, in the center right, the woman standing at the counter in front of the clerk who holds up a pair of gray-colored stockings from out of a rectangular box. She is attired in a pink floral patterned dress, as well as tall, wide-brimmed pink hat adorned with several flowers, greenery, and a veil and long yellow ribbon, and yellow gloves, earrings, and blue button-up boots. She rests her yellow, flower-patterned purse on the counter and holds up a monocle from the end of her neck fob to inspect the stockings that the clerk declares are of "de first qualite!" Her red parasol rests against the counter. Rows of red, blue, and yellow stockings hang on the wall behind the clerk. The clerk is attired in a blue waistcoat with tails, a yellow vest, red cravat, and white pants. In the right, an African American woman attired in a yellow polka dot dress and tall, wide brimmed yellow hat adorned with ribbons is seen in the doorway of the shop in which multi-colored curtains hang and are pushed to the side. The wheel of a carriage is seen behind the woman. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. The women’s skin tone is depicted with brown hand coloring. The man is depicted with rosy cheeks and brown, curled hair., Title from print., Date from print., Inscribed: Plate XI., Inscribed: Copy Right Secured., Contains five lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect above the image: Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings, young man? Oui Madame! here is von pair of de first qualité!, RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Creator
- Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857, etcher
- Date
- May 1829
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [P.2004.39.1]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "Dat is bery fine, Mr. Mortimer..."
- Description
- Racist caricature of an African American couple singing and playing guitar in a parlor. In the right, "Mr Mortimer," stands with his right hand over his heart and with his other holding a sheet of music. He wears mutton chops and is attired in a green coat with tails, red collar, blue bow tie, yellow pants, stockings, black slipper shoes, and yellow gloves. His eyes look up and his mouth is open. He sings a love song while the woman seated in the left plays a guitar decorated with pink ribbons. Her head is turned toward the man and she sits on a bench with a pink cushion. She wears a large yellow bonnet adorned with bows and with ribbons tied into a bow under her chin. She is also attired in a blue dress with long puff sleeves, trim, and a laced bodice, ankle-tied slipper shoes, as well as rings on her fingers. She comments that he sings "con a moor as de Italians say!!" The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. Their skin tone is depicted with black hand coloring. Setting also includes a carpet with a decorative pattern., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., Contains eight lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect above the image: Dat is bery fine, Mr. Mortimer, _ you sing quite con a moor, as de Italians say!! “Take away, take away dos rosy lips, “Rich, rich in balmy treasure!_”Turn away, turn away dose eyes o blub, “Less I die wid pleasure!!!”, Inscribed: Plate 12., Inscribed: Copy right secured., Sarah Hart was a Jewish Philadelphia stationer who with her son, Abraham Hart, a future eminent Philadelphia publisher, assumed the publishing of the "Life in Philadelphia" series in 1829. She, alone, reprinted the entire series of 14 prints in 1830., First edition of print described in Daily Chronicle, December 10, 1829, p. 2., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Creator
- Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857, etcher
- Date
- [1830]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [P.9701.4]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "What you tink of my new poke bonnet...?"
- Description
- Racist caricature depicting an African American woman trying on a bonnet in the company of her African American companion, "Frederick Augustus." Depicts the woman in profile, in front of a standing mirror tilted toward her, trying on a yellow Dunstable bonnet so large that the side of her face is obscured. Her hand rests on the side of the hat adorned with a pink ribbon. Her reflection is not visible in the mirror. She wears a yellow calico dress with a white collar that covers her shoulders, black gloves, patterned stockings, and blue slipper shoes. She asks "Frederick Augustus" what he thinks. He stands behind her with his arms crossed and looks toward the mirror. He holds a walking stick under his left upper arm. A dog with a muzzle sits behind him. He responds that he does not like the style. He wears a beard and is attired in a top hat, long green overcoat with collar, red-striped pants, white gloves, and black slipper shoes. A white woman sales clerk, wearing a large top-knot hairstyle, watches the woman from behind a counter on which another Dunstable bonnet is displayed. Pink bunting is visible above the clerk’s head. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. Their skin tone is depicted with black hand coloring., Title from item., Date from item., Inscribed: Plate 14., Inscribed: Copy right secured., Contains seven lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect above the image: What you tink of my new poke bonnet Frederick Augustus? I don’t like him no how, case dey hide you lubly face, so you can’t tell one she nigger from anoder., Sarah Hart was a Jewish Philadelphia stationer who with her son, Abraham Hart, a future eminent Philadelphia publisher, assumed the publishing of the "Life in Philadelphia" series in 1829. She, alone, reprinted the entire series of 14 prints in 1830., Described in Pennsylvania Inquirer, 17 June 1830, p. 2 and ‘Life in Philadelphia, No. 14. The Dunstable Bonnet’, Pennsylvania Inquirer, 17 June 1830, p. 3., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Creator
- Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857, etcher
- Date
- 1830
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [P.9701.5]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "How you like de new fashion shirt...?"
- Description
- Racist caricature ridiculing the 1829 male fashion fad of striped shirts depicting an African American man-woman couple discussing the "new fashion shirt" that he is wearing. In the right, the man stands slightly turned and hands on hips. He is attired in a green waistcoat with tails, a red vest, a blue-striped shirt, black cravat, blue pants, yellow gloves, black shoes, and a neck fob. He holds a black top hat in his left hand. In the left, "Miss Florinda," stands, forward facing, and holding a fan near the right side of her face. She wears a red and green headpiece over her hair that is in a top knot. She is attired in a yellow calf-length, cap sleeved dress with floral details, red trim, and décolleté neckline; white opera gloves; ankle-laced slippers; and jewelry, including earrings, necklace, and bracelets. She holds a handkerchief in her left hand and states that she finds the fashion elegant and how his wearing it within the "Abolition siety" will make him look like "Pluto de God of War!" They stand on a patch of dirt. In classical mythology, Pluto is also the god of the underworld and wealth. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. Their skin tone is depicted with black hand coloring., Title from item., Date inferred from content., Plate 9 of the series., The symbol of a key is used in place of the name Clay., Name of the artist, faint lower right corner., Contains seven lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect above the image: How you like de new fashion shirt, Miss Florinda? I tink dey mighty elegum_ I see you on New year day when you carry de colour in de Abolition ‘siety -You look just like Pluto de God of War!, LCP exhibit catalogue: Made in America p. 29., Nancy Reynolds Davison's E.W. Clay: American Political Caricaturist in Jacksonian America (PhD. diss., The University of Michigan, 1980), p. 88-89. (LCP Print Room Uz, A423.O)., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Creator
- Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857, etcher
- Date
- [ca. 1830]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [P.9701.8]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings...?"
- Description
- Racist caricature of an African American woman shopping for a pair of "flesh coloured silk stockings" in a hosiery store with a white male sales clerk speaking with a French dialect. Depicts, in the center right, the woman standing at the blue and pink counter in front of the clerk who holds up a pair of gray-colored stockings from out of a rectangular box. She is attired in a pink floral patterned dress, as well as tall, wide-brimmed blue hat adorned with several flowers, greenery, and a veil and long yellow ribbon, yellow gloves, earrings, and blue button-up boots. She rests her blue, flower-patterned purse on the counter and holds up a monocle from the end of her neck fob to inspect the stockings that the clerk declares are of "de first qualite!" Her brown parasol rests against the counter. Rows of stockings, including in the color of blue, hang on the wall behind the clerk. The clerk is attired in a green waistcoat with tails, a yellow vest, red cravat, and white pants. In the right, an African American woman attired in a yellow polka dot dress and tall, wide brimmed hat adorned with blue ribbons is seen in the doorway of the shop in which blue curtains hang and are pushed to the side. The wheel of a carriage is seen behind the woman. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. The women’s skin tone is depicted with black hand coloring. The man is depicted with rosy cheeks and brown, curled hair., Title from print., Date inferred from content., Inscribed: Plate XI., Inscribed: Copy Right Secured., Probably published by Sarah Hart of Philadelphia., Contains five lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect above the image: Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings, young man? Oui Madame! here is von pair of de first qualité!, RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Creator
- Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857, etcher
- Date
- [ca. 1830]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [P.9701.9]
- Title
- A dead cut
- Description
- Racist caricature portraying a middle-class African American man-woman couple as snobs who slight a working-class African American man shoeshiner and former acquaintance. Depicts the African American shoeshiner greeting the African American couple who feign ignorance of the man's acquaintance after their return from "de Springs." The laborer, attired in a rumpled top hat, torn overcoat with tails, and patched pants holds his rod of boots in his left hand, and uses his right one to grab the hand of "Cesa." "Cesa," dressed in a flat-top cap, and heavy, long overcoat with handkerchief in the pocket, and plaid pants, looks suspiciously at their joined hands. He holds a walking stick and his companion's parasol in his other hand. He states that the shoeshiner has mistaken his identity (You must be mistaking in de person black man!). His companion, her hand around his elbow, and dressed in a Dunstable bonnet, dark-colored overcoat, and button-down shirtwaist with a collar, agrees. With her hand placed on her hip and holding a purse, she declares, "What does the imperdent nigger mean?" Figures are depicted with oversize and exaggerated features., Title from item., Publication information from duplicate in collection and advertisement in the Philadelphia Inquirer, December 30, 1829, p. 3. Advertised as entitled "A Dead Cut, or an attempt to slight old Acquaintance.", Nancy Reynolds Davison's E.W. Clay: American political caricaturist of the Jacksonian Era (PhD. diss., The University of Michigan, 1980), p. 80-81. (LCP Print Room Uz, A423.O)., Sarah Hart was a Jewish Philadelphia fancy goods store owner and printseller who with her son future Philadelphia publisher Abraham Hart, assumed publication of the "Life in Philadelphia" series in 1829. Sarah Hart solely reprinted the entire series of 14 prints in 1830. She also published complementary in subject lithographs after the work of Clay during the same period., Described in the Daily Chronicle, December 26, 1829, p. 2., Accessioned 1893., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Creator
- Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857, etcher
- Date
- [1829]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | PRINT. Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [5656.F.39]
- Title
- A dead cut
- Description
- Racist caricature portraying a middle-class African American man-woman couple as snobs who slight a working-class African American man shoeshiner and former acquaintance. Depicts the African American shoeshiner greeting the African American couple who feign ignorance of the man's acquaintance after their return from "de Springs." The laborer, attired in a rumpled top hat, torn overcoat with tails, and patched pants holds his rod of boots in his left hand, and uses his right one to grab the hand of "Cesa." "Cesa," dressed in a flat-top cap, and heavy, long overcoat with handkerchief in the pocket, and plaid pants, looks suspiciously at their joined hands. He holds a walking stick and his companion's parasol in his other hand. He states that the shoeshiner has mistaken his identity (You must be mistaking in de person black man!). His companion, her hand around his elbow, and dressed in a Dunstable bonnet, dark-colored overcoat, and button-down shirtwaist with a collar, agrees. With her hand placed on her hip and holding a purse, she declares, "What does the imperdent nigger mean?" Figures are depicted with oversize and exaggerated features., Title from item., Publication information from duplicate in collection and advertisement in the Philadelphia Inquirer, December 30, 1829, p. 3. Advertised as entitled "A Dead Cut, or an attempt to slight old Acquaintance.", Nancy Reynolds Davison's E.W. Clay: American political caricaturist of the Jacksonian Era (PhD. diss., The University of Michigan, 1980), p. 80-81. (LCP Print Room Uz, A423.O)., Sarah Hart was a Jewish Philadelphia fancy goods store owner and printseller who with her son future Philadelphia publisher Abraham Hart, assumed publication of the "Life in Philadelphia" series in 1829. Sarah Hart solely reprinted the entire series of 14 prints in 1830. She also published complementary in subject lithographs after the work of Clay during the same period., Described in the Daily Chronicle, December 26, 1829, p. 2., Accessioned 1893., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Creator
- Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857, etcher
- Date
- [1829]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | PRINT. Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [5656.F.39]
- Title
- A dead cut
- Description
- Racist caricature portraying a middle-class African American man-woman couple as snobs who slight a working-class African American man shoeshiner and former acquaintance. Depicts the African American shoeshiner greeting the African American couple who feign ignorance of the man's acquaintance after their return from "de Springs." The laborer, attired in a rumpled top hat, torn overcoat with tails, and patched pants holds his rod of boots in his left hand, and uses his right one to grab the hand of "Cesa." "Cesa," dressed in a flat-top cap, and heavy, long overcoat with handkerchief in the pocket, and plaid pants, looks suspiciously at their joined hands. He holds a walking stick and his companion's parasol in his other hand. He states that the shoeshiner has mistaken his identity (You must be mistaking in de person black man!). His companion, her hand around his elbow, and dressed in a Dunstable bonnet, dark-colored overcoat, and button-down shirtwaist with a collar, agrees. With her hand placed on her hip and holding a purse, she declares, "What does the imperdent nigger mean?" Figures are depicted with oversize and exaggerated features., Sarah Hart was a Jewish Philadelphia stationer who assumed printing of the "Life in Philadelphia" series in 1829. She reprinted the entire original series of 14 prints in 1830., Pendelton, Kearny, & Childs, in operation from 1829 until 1830, was the first successful lithographic firm in Philadelphia. The firm's partners were John Pendleton, Frances Kearny, and Cephas G. Childs., Nancy Reynolds Davison's E.W. Clay: American Political Caricaturist of Jacksonian America (PhD. diss., The University of Michigan, 1980), p. 80-81. (LCP Print Room Uz, A423.O)., Described in Daily Chronicle, December 26, 1829, 2 and “The Dead Cut,” Philadelphia Inquirer, December 31, 1829, 2., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Acquired in 1970.
- Creator
- Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857, etcher
- Date
- 1829
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [7893.F.1]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "Dat is bery fine, Mr. Mortimer..."
- Description
- Racist caricature of an African American couple singing and playing guitar in a parlor. In the right, "Mr Mortimer," stands with his right hand over his heart and with his other holding a sheet of music. He wears mutton chops and is attired in a brown coat with tails, a white bow tie, black pants, black stockings, black slipper shoes, and white gloves. His eyes look up and his mouth is open. He sings a love song while the woman seated in the left plays a guitar decorated with blue ribbons. Her head is turned toward the man and she sits on a bench with a blue cushion. She wears a large white bonnet adorned with red and blue bows and with ribbons tied into a bow under her chin. She is also attired in a maroon dress with long puff sleeves, black trim, and a laced bodice, black ankle-tied slipper shoes, as well as rings on her fingers. She comments that he sings "con a moor as de Italians say!!" The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. Their skin tone is depicted with brown hand coloring. Setting also includes a carpet with a decorative pattern., Title from item., Date supplied by article about print in Daily Chronicle, December 10, 1829, p. 2., Contains eight lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect above the image: Dat is bery fine, Mr. Mortimer, _ you sing quite con a moor, as de Italians say!! “Take away, take away dos rosy lips, “Rich, rich in balmy treasure!_”Turn away, turn away dose eyes o blub, “Less I die wid pleasure!!!”, Inscribed: Plate 12., Inscribed: Copy right secured., S. Hart & Son was a partnership between Sarah and Abraham Hart, Jewish owners of a Philadelphia stationery store who assumed the publishing of the "Life in Philadelphia" series in 1829. She reprinted the entire series of 14 prints in 1830., Described in Daily Chronicle, December 10, 1829, p. 2., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Creator
- Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857, etcher
- Date
- 1829
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [P.9694]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "How you like de Waltz, Mr. Lorenzo?"
- Description
- Racist caricature ridiculing the social pretentions of attendees of an African American dance ball depicting "Mr. Lorenzo" and his woman dance partner hand in hand as they waltz. In the left, Mr. Lorenzo’s woman partner wears a pink, large, oval-shaped headpiece with several feathers, an ankle-length blue and yellow dress with pink trim, puff sleeves and a pink rope belt with tasseled ends, white gloves, white ankle-tied slipper shoes, and jewelry, including earrings and a necklace. She looks toward her dance partner and points her left foot and has her right perpendicular to it. She asks how he likes the waltz. "Mr. Lorenzo," looks down toward her and responds that he believes the waltz is "for de common people." He is attired in white pantaloons, a green coat with tails, white vest, white shirt with turned up collar, white bow tie, white gloves, white stockings, and black slipper shoes. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. Their skin tone is depicted with brown hand coloring., Title from item., Date from item., Inscribed: Plate 13., Copy right secured., Contains five lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect above the image: How you like de waltz, Mr. Lorenzo? ‘Pon de honour ob a gentleman I tink it vastly indelicate, _ Only fit for de common people!!, S. Hart and Son was a partnership between Sarah and Abraham Hart, Jewish owners of a Philadelphia stationery store who assumed the publishing of the "Life in Philadelphia" series in 1829. She alone reprinted the entire series of 14 prints in 1830., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Creator
- Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857, etcher
- Date
- [1829]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [P.9697]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "How you find yourself dis hot weader Miss Chloe?"
- Description
- Racist caricature mocking the ambitions of free Blacks depicting, "Mr. Cesar," an African American dandy asking an African American belle how she finds herself in "dis hot weader?" "Miss Chloe," responds that she is doing well, but "aspires too much!" In the left, the man stands and faces the woman, in the right, and whose back is to the viewer. The man is attired in a blue waistcoat with a yellow collar, a white vest, red cravat, red pants, gloves, and black slipper shoes. He holds a walking stick perpendicular to the ground in his right hand and a hat in his left hand. The woman is attired in a yellow, puff-sleeved, ankle-length dress, wide-brimmed green hat with a long veil and adorned with several yellow flowers and red ribbon, gloves, and red slipper shoes. She also wears a hair adornment, earrings, and necklace. She holds a purse and fan in her left hand and a parasol in her right hand. The man and woman stand on a grassy knoll. Clouds are visible in the background. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. Their skin tone is depicted with black hand coloring., Title from item., Date inferred from name of publisher., Inscribed: Plate 4., Contains three lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: “How you find yourself dis hot weader Miss Chloe?” “Pretty well I tank you Mr. Cesar only I aspire too much!”, Sarah Hart was a Jewish Philadelphia stationer who with her son, future eminent Philadelphia publisher, Abraham Hart assumed publication of the "Life in Philadelphia" series in 1829. She, alone, reprinted the entire series of 14 prints in 1830., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Creator
- Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857, etcher
- Date
- [1830]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [P.9698]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "Shall I hab de honour to dance de next quadrille...?"
- Description
- Racist caricature ridiculing the etiquette of attendees of an African American dance ball. Depicts, in the right and in profile, "Mr. Cato," an African American man dressed in a blue coat with tails, white pantaloons and stockings, ruffled white shirt, white gloves, a neck fob, and black slipper shoes bowing with his hat in his hand to invite "Miss Minta" to dance. In the left, "Miss Minta," a curvaceous African American woman, forward facing, her head turned to the right, and dressed in a red, cap-sleeved gown with an apron detail, a large white headpiece, white opera gloves, and several pieces of jewelry, including a neck fob, bracelets, armlets, and earrings, declines his invitation because she is already "engaged for de nine next set." She also slightly holds up the lower right corner of her apron with her right hand. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. Their skin tone is depicted with black hand coloring. Scene also includes background imagery hand-colored yellow and depicting other African American men and women ball attendees., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., Contains four lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: “Shall I hab de honour to dance de next quadrille wid you, Miss Minta?” “Tank you Mr. Cato, _ wid much pleasure, _ only I am engaged for de nine next set!_”, Inscribed: Plate 5., The symbol of a key is used in place of the name Clay., Sarah Hart was a Jewish Philadelphia stationer who with her son, Abraham Hart, a future eminent Philadelphia publisher, assumed publishing of the "Life in Philadelphia" series in 1829. She reprinted the entire series of 14 prints in 1830., Shane White and Graham White's Stylin': African American Expressive Culture (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1998), p. 98. (LCP Ii 4,A2880.O)., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Creator
- Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857, etcher
- Date
- [1830]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [P.9699]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "How you like de new fashion shirt...?"
- Description
- Racist caricature ridiculing the 1829 male fashion fad of striped shirts depicting an African American man-woman couple discussing the "new fashion shirt" that he is wearing. In the right, the man stands slightly turned and hands on hips. He is attired in a green waistcoat with tails, a red vest, a blue-striped shirt, black cravat, blue pants, yellow gloves, black shoes, and a neck fob. He holds a black top hat in his left hand. In the left, "Miss Florinda," stands, forward facing, and holding a fan near the right side of her face. She wears a red and green headpiece over her hair that is in a top knot. She is attired in a yellow calf-length, cap sleeved dress with floral details, red trim, and décolleté neckline; white opera gloves; ankle-laced slippers; and jewelry, including earrings, necklace, and bracelets. She holds a handkerchief in her left hand and states that she finds the fashion elegant and how his wearing it within the "Abolition siety" will make him look like "Pluto de God of War!" They stand on a patch of dirt. In classical mythology, Pluto is also the god of the underworld and wealth. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. Their skin tone is depicted with black hand coloring., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., Plate 9 of the series., The symbol of a key is used in place of the name Clay., Contains seven lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect above the image: How you like de new fashion shirt, Miss Florinda? I tink dey mighty elegum_ I see you on New year day when you carry de colour in de Abolition ‘siety -You look just like Pluto de God of War!, Sarah Hart was a Jewish Philadelphia stationer who with her son, Abraham Hart, a future eminent Philadelphia publisher, assumed publication of the "Life in Philadelphia" series in 1829. She alone reprinted the entire series of 14 prints in 1830., LCP exhibit catalogue: Made in America p. 29., Nancy Reynolds Davison's E.W. Clay: American Political Caricaturist in Jacksonian America (PhD. diss., The University of Michigan, 1980), p. 88-89. (LCP Print Room UZ, A423.O)., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Creator
- Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857, etcher
- Date
- [1830]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [P.9701.3]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "Shall I hab de honour to dance de next quadrille...?"
- Description
- Racist caricature ridiculing the etiquette of attendees of an African American dance ball. Depicts, in the right and in profile, "Mr. Cato," an African American man dressed in a blue coat with tails and a black collar, white pantaloons and stockings, ruffled white shirt, yellow gloves, a gold neck fob, and black slipper shoes bowing with his hat in his hand to invite "Miss Minta" to dance. In the left, "Miss Minta," a curvaceous African American woman, forward facing, her head turned to the right, and dressed in a pink, cap-sleeved gown with an apron detail, a large pink headpiece, white opera gloves, and several pieces of jewelry, including a neck fob, bracelets, armlets, and earrings, declines his invitation because she is already "engaged for de nine next set." She also slightly holds up the lower right corner of her apron with her right hand. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. Their skin tone is depicted with brown hand coloring. Scene also includes background imagery depicting other African American men and women ball attendees., Title from item., Date printed on item., Inscribed: Plate 5., The symbol of a key is used in place of the name Clay., Contains four lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: “Shall I hab de honour to dance de next quadrille wid you, Miss Minta?” “Tank you Mr. Cato, _ wid much pleasure, _ only I am engaged for de nine next set!_”, William Simpson was a Philadelphia "fancy store" proprietor who published the first 11 prints of the "Life in Philadelphia" series. He also marketed the series as part of his "Artists' Repository.", Shane White and Graham White's Stylin': African American Expressive Culture (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1998), p. 98. (LCP Ii 4, A2880.O)., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Creator
- Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857, etcher
- Date
- 1828
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [P.8471.1]
- Title
- Cornwallis is taken! The watchman's cry - Philadelphia 1781
- Description
- Print commemorating the surrender in 1781 of British General Cornwallis at Yorktown depicting the watchman's purported moonlit announcement of the event on October 22nd at the Philadelphia residence of Thomas McKean, the president of Congress. Near the "Geo. Washington" tavern, the white watchman, one hand raised, a lantern in the other, his mouth open and with a few teeth missing, cries the news to the crowd of men, women, and children surrounding him and McKean. McKean, wearing a silken robe, chin in hand listens. His face portrayed with a look of contemplation. The crowd, many in nightclothes hold candlesticks, pray, cheer, and listen solemnly. Included in the crowd are a white man veteran with a prosthetic wooden peg leg, an African American boy, an African American woman caregiver holding presumably McKean's baby in the doorway, a white man and woman couple facing each other and holding hands, white women in shawls and elegant robes, a seated Native American woman attired in moccasins, and a white man portrayed with a frowned expression near behind the watchman., Title from item., Date inferred from duplicate with variant imprint in the collections of the American Antiquarian Society.., Gift of Mrs. Francis P. Garvan, 1978., 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 Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
- Creator
- Doney, Thomas, engraver
- Date
- [ca. 1856]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department **GC-American Revolution [8384.F.23]
- Title
- [Stevens-Cogdell/Sanders-Venning unidentified woman family member portrait]
- Description
- Half-length portrait. Shows the woman, her hair parted in the middle, and pulled back and attired in a long-sleeved dark dress adorned with a white collar and buttons down the bodice. Sitter also wears drop earrings., Title supplied by cataloger., Date from manuscript note on detached label., Accompanied by detached photographer's label., Removed to Print Department from Stevens-Cogdell/Sanders-Venning Object Collection., See Lib. Company Annual Report, 1991, p. 26-31., Gift of descendants Cordelia H. Brown, Lillie V. Dickerson, Mary Hinkson Jackson, and Georgine E. Willis in honor of Phil Lapsansky., See LCP exhibit catalogue: African American Miscellany p. 45., Genealogical charts available at repository., 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 Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points reviewed 2022.
- Creator
- Fenton, J., photographer
- Date
- Summer 1869
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Stevens-Cogdell/Sanders-Venning Portrait Collection [P.2012.37.4]