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- Title
- [Artist's study of detail from Second Street north from Market St. wth. Christ Church. Philadelphia.]
- Description
- Artist's study of a street scene showing Second Street north from Market Street with a view of Christ Church. Depicts a man on horseback, his back to the viewer, traveling down the street toward the church. A dog runs past him. To his right, pedestrians, including an African American boy with a basket, stroll near a horse-drawn cart. In the left, men and a boy gather around a man on horseback. Christ Church, a Protestant Episcopal Church, was built between 1727 and 1744 and was founded as part of a provision of the original charter given to Pennsylvania founder William Penn., Title from plate 15 in the first edition of Birch's "Views of Philadelphia.", Bequest of Charles Poulson, 1866., Reproduced in Edwin Wolf's Quarter of a millennium...(Philadelphia: The Library Company of Philadelphia in cooperation with Camino Books, 1981), p. 144., See Snyder 's "William Birch: His Philadelphia views," The Pennsylvania magazine of history and biography 73 (July 1949), p. 271-315., Reproduced in Julius Sachse's Pictures of old Philadelphia from the originals in the collection of the Library Company of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, 1901), vol. 1, plate 42. (LCP Print Room Albums), Originally part of a Poulson scrapbook., Accessioned 1999., 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.
- Creator
- Birch, William Russell, 1755-1834, artist
- Date
- [ca. 1798]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department drawings & watercolors-Birch [P.9667]
- Title
- Arch Street, with the Second Presbyterian Church
- Description
- Street scene showing Arch Street between Third and Fourth Streets including the Second Presbyterian Church. Depicts many well-dressed white men and women pedestrians walking down the sidewalks, a horse-drawn carriage and cart traveling up the cobblestone street, and an African American boy leaning against a lamp post upon which a saddled horse is hitched. The Second Presbyterian church, ministered by New Light Gilbert Tennent, was built between 1750 and 1753 after the split between the Old and New Light Presbyterians. It was demolished around 1838., Title from item., Illustrated in S. Robert Teitelman's Birch's views of Philadelphia. (Philadelphia: The Free Library of Philadelphia, 1982, rev. 2000), pl. 5., LCP copy has a large vertical crease down the center of the print., Accessioned 1979., 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.
- Creator
- W. Birch & Son
- Date
- 1799
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Birch's views [Sn 5/P.2276.9]
- 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
- First old Presbyterian church. East side of Seventh Street. A few doors below Bainbridge formerly Shippen Street
- Description
- Depicts street scene with a view of the African American church built 1810-1811 under the auspices of the Evangelical Society of Philadelphia. Church stands between red brick townhouses containing the businesses of "Cheap John" and a lager beer hall. African American men and women walk the sidewalks and an African American man peddler sells his wares from his horse-drawn cart in the street. A partial view of the "No. 3 Navy Yard" street car is visible. The congregation, organized in 1807 to convert the city's African American residents to Christianity, formed under the leadership of former Tennessee enslaved man, and missionary and preacher John Gloucester., Title from item., Commissioned by Philadelphia antiquarian Ferdinand Dreer., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1975, p. 6-11., See LCP exhibition catalogue: Negro History #178 for variant copy in the collections of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania., Purchased 1975., 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
- Evans, B. R. (Benjamin Ridgway), active 1857-1891, artist
- Date
- 1884
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Evans watercolors [P.2298.137], http://www.brynmawr.edu/iconog/evans/files/plc137.html
- Title
- Brown St. above 4th, north side three doors west of Fourth
- Description
- View of the Zoar Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest African American congregation within the organized structure of United Methodism, founded in 1794. The church, with a for sale sign, stands between a livery stable and C.W. Kramer's light carriage and wagon factory. Pedestrians, including African Americans, stand on the sidewalk. Contains two boxes of text below and above the image inscribed: "Zoar M.E. Church, Founded 1791, Rebuilt 1838" and "This church propt. for sale. Lot 50 x 190. Apply to F. Snyder, N.W. Cor. 5th & Green." The church relocated to Melon Street, near Twelfth Street., Title from item., Commissioned by Philadelphia antiquarian Ferdinand Dreer., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1975, p. 6-11., Purchase 1975., 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
- Evans, B. R. (Benjamin Ridgway), 1834-1891, artist
- Date
- 1884
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Evans watercolors [P.2298.138], http://www.brynmawr.edu/iconog/evans/files/plc138.html
- Title
- Views of Philadelphia
- Description
- Collection of prints from the various editions and restrikes of Birch's "Views of Philadelphia," originally published in 1800 as The City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania North America; as it appeared in the year 1800. Four editions of the views, purchased through subscription and totaling 44 unique plates including a map of the city and title page with vignette, were published by William Birch in Philadelphia from 1800 until 1828. First and largest edition contained 29 plates, the pictorial views drawn by Thomas Birch and engraved by Samuel Seymour between 1798 and 1800; with the map and title page executed by script engraver William Barker. Bookseller Robert Campbell is listed as a seller on many of these plates, but appears to have been disassociated with the project before publication of the bound volume. Second edition of 22 plates was published in 1804. Third edition of 14 plates was published in 1809. Fourth edition of 12 plates was published between 1827 and 1828. The first and second edition were printed by Philadelphia printer, Richard Folwell. The later editions, predominately completed by William Birch alone, contained reissues of selected plates from the first edition as well as new engravings of prominent city structures erected after 1800. In the 1840s restrikes of five plates were produced by bookseller Robert Desilver, and in the 1860s, twelve by the antiquarian John McAllister, Jr; many of the restrikes originally published in the fourth edition. Collection also contains the second edition copper plate of the Bank of Pennsylvania, and the fourth edition copper plate of The Late Theatre in Chestnut Street., Series of late 18th and early 19th-century views of principal sections of the city of Philadelphia including primary streets, government buildings, local landmarks, and financial, religious, educational, and benevolent institutions. The series, the first of its kind in the United States, was created to attract new citizens and to illustrate to an international audience the vitality of the nation's premiere city. The views focus on structures, but also contain lively depictions of daily street life in Philadelphia. Plates depict Philadelphia's Delaware River port with the Penn Treaty Tree; several street views including Arch Street, High (Market) Street, and Third Street; city markets; city banks, such as the Bank of the U.S.; the State House (Independence Hall); Congress Hall; prominent churches, such as Christ Church; Pennsylvania Hospital; Library and Surgeon's Hall; Chestnut Street Theatre; the Alms House; Walnut Street Jail; the Water-Works; and the Schuylkill Bridge., See S. Robert Teitelman's Birch's views of Philadelphia. (Philadelphia: The Free Library of Philadelphia, 1982, rev. 2000)., Snyder, "William Birch: His Philadelphia views," The Pennsylvania magazine of history and biography 73 (July, 1949), p. 271-315., Snyder, "Birch's Philadelphia views: New discoveries," The Pennsylvania magazine of history and biography 88 (April, 1964), p. 164-173., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., William Birch, trained in England, was a Philadelphia engraver, miniaturist, and enamel painter. He also engraved and published in 1804 "The Country Seats of the United States of North America."
- Creator
- Birch, William Russell, 1755-1834
- Date
- 1800-1860, bulk 1800
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Birch's views [Sn 1 - Sn 43]
- Title
- Second Street north from Market St. wth. Christ Church. Philadelphia
- Description
- Street scene showing Second Street north from Market Street in Philadelphia, including Christ Church and the Old Courthouse and market. Depicts the busy street corner with people riding horses, driving and loading carts, conducting business, and walking and performing errands. In front of the Courthouse, vendors sit and sell their goods while nearby a constable on horseback is flanked by citizens. An African American boy carrying a basket strolls across Second Street. He walks toward two men and a child convened together and a man on horseback traveling toward the church (his back to the viewer). A dog runs in front of the horse. Christ Church, a Protestant Episcopal Church, was built between 1727 and 1744 and was founded as part of a provision of the original charter given to Pennsylvania founder William Penn. The Old Courthouse, completed in 1710 was the town hall, seat of the Legislature, market house, and the Pennsylvania statehouse until Independence Hall was opened in 1748. The Courthouse was demolished in 1837., Title from item., Illustrated in S. Robert Teitelman's Birch's views of Philadelphia (Philadelphia: The Free Library of Philadelphia, 1982), pl. 15., Accessioned 1982., 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.
- Creator
- Birch, William Russell, 1755-1834
- Date
- [1828]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Birch's views [Sn 15c/P.8718]
- Title
- Second Street north from Market St. wth. Christ Church. Philadelphia
- Description
- Street scene showing Second Street north from Market Street in Philadelphia including Christ Church and the Old Courthouse and market. Depicts the busy street corner with people riding horses, driving and loading carts, conducting business, and walking and performing errands. In front of the Courthouse, vendors sit and sell their goods while nearby a constable on horseback is flanked by citizens. An African American boy carrying a basket strolls across Second Street. He walks toward two men and a child convened together and a man on horseback traveling toward the church (his back to the viewer). A dog runs in front of the horse. Christ Church, a Protestant Episcopal Church, was built between 1727 and 1744 and was founded as part of a provision of the original charter given to Pennsylvania founder William Penn. The Old Courthouse, completed in 1710 was the town hall, seat of the Legislature, market house, and the Pennsylvania statehouse until Independence Hall was opened in 1748. The Courthouse was demolished in 1837., Manuscript note on recto: John A McAllister with compl[imen]ts of Jacob Broome., Illustrated in S. Robert Teitelman's Birch's views of Philadelphia (Philadelphia: The Free Library of Philadelphia, 1982), pl. 15., Broome was a Philadelphia lawyer and Pennsylvania legislator., Accessioned 1979., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Creator
- W. Birch & Son
- Date
- [ca. 1860]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Birch's views [Sn 15a facs./P.2276.34]
- Title
- [Thomas H. Wilkinson watercolor views of Philadelphia]
- Description
- Series of watercolors by British-born, Canadian artist Thomas H. Wilkinson showing views of historic and prominent landmarks, sites, and residences in Philadelphia, including the Roxborough and Germantown neighborhoods. Many of the sites are historically significant in relation to the American Revolution. Includes “Arnold Mansion,” i.e., Mount Pleasant (built 1761) in East Fairmount Park where British General James Agnew died after being wounded in the Battle of Germantown (P.2017.8.2); Cannon Ball House (built ca. 1715) also known as Blakely House on Mud Island through which a cannonball went during the largest British bombardment of the Revolution in 1777; Dunkards Church (built 1770) also known as Church of the Brethren, 6613 Germantown Avenue; Gloria Dei (built 1698-1700) also known as Old Swedes Church, 929 South Water Street; Haines House, i.e., Wyck (originally built ca. 1690), the ancestral family home of the Wister-Haines families, 6026 Germantown Avenue; Johnson House (built 1765-8 and used as a stop on the Underground Railroad), 6306 Germantown Avenue (P.2017.8.7); The Jolly Post (built ca. 1680), a colonial inn on Main Street, Frankford where the American Army rested on its march to capture Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781; Market House at Second and Pine Streets, i.e the Newmarket or Head House Square Market (originally built 1745) from the Northwest; Mennonite Church, Germantown (built 1770), 6119 Germantown Avenue and used as a hospital during the American Revolution;, "Morris House" also known as the Deshler-Morris House (built 1772) and used as the summer residence of President George Washington 1793 and 1794; "Old Fort Mifflin" (built ca. 1772-98) on Mud Island; Penrose Ferry Hotel near the Penrose Ferry Bridge in Kingsessing; St. Peter’s Church at Third and Pine Streets (built 1758-61); Smith Mansion on Queen Lane, Germantown also known as Carlton built ca. 1780 and owned by Cornelius S. Smith ca. 1840-ca. 1880s; Wagner House also known as Mechlin-Wagner House (built 1747), 4840 Germantown Avenue and used as a hospital during the American Revolution; and "Wister House, Germantown" (built 1744) also known as Grumplethorpe, 5267 Germantown Avenue. Most of the views include the surrounding property and/or adjacent buildings and residences. Some of the views also show street and pedestrian traffic, including persons in conversation, market visitors, and a street car. Some of the church views show the church’s graveyard as well. Penrose Ferry Hotel view includes chickens in the side yard., Mount Pleasant Mansion was built 1761-1765 for Captain John Macpherson after the designs of Thomas Nevil in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pa. Macpherson, a privateer during the Seven Years’ War, purchased the estate with profits from these operations. Free white and Black laborers, indentured servants, and at least four enslaved people of African descent, whose names are unknown, worked on the plantation. In 1779, General Benedict Arnold purchased Mount Pleasant for his wife Peggy Shippen, but they never occupied the house. In 1792, General Jonathan Williams purchased the mansion. The City of Philadelphia purchased the property from the Williams family in 1869. On behalf of the city, the Philadelphia Museum of Art restored the house in 1926., The Johnson House was built 1765-1768 by master builder Jacob Knor at 6306 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. John Johnson resided in the house during the Battle of Germantown. The dwelling sustained damage including a hole in the parlor door caused by a cannon ball and a chipped corner. It served as a station on the Underground Railroad. The Johnson family owned the house until 1908. The Woman's Club of Germantown purchased the house in 1917, and in 1980, gifted the house and its contents to the Germantown Mennonite Historic Trust to operate as a house museum. In 2002, the deed of ownership was transferred to the Johnson House Historic Site, Inc., Title supplied by cataloger., Watercolors signed by the artist in lower left or right corner: T.H. Wilkinson., Small number of the drawings include a title in the lower left corner., Accompanied by label: The Historical Collection of the late Samuel Castner, Jr. of Philadelphia., Gift of David Doret and Linda G. Mitchell., LCP also holds glass plate negatives in the Marriott C. Morris Collection showing a variant ca. 1893 watercolor view of the Morris-Deshler house by Thomas H. Wilkinson [*P.9895.6.3 and *P.9895.11.18]., New items acquired for and housed with collection after 2017., See Lib. Company. Annual report, 2017, p. 62-64., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Thomas H. Wilkinson (1847-1929) was a British-born artist who specialized in landscape views. Although he settled in Canada in the later 19th century, he traveled the United States through the 20th century to execute his art works. During the 1890s, he created several watercolor views of Philadelphia. He died while a well-known local artist and resident of Hamilton, Ontario.
- Creator
- Wilkinson, Thomas H., 1847-1929, artist
- Date
- [ca. 1890-ca. 1895]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Doret and Mitchell Collection - Watercolors and Drawings - Wilkinson [P.2017.8.2-18]
- Title
- [Thomas H. Wilkinson watercolor views of Philadelphia]
- Description
- Series of watercolors by British-born, Canadian artist Thomas H. Wilkinson showing views of historic and prominent landmarks, sites, and residences in Philadelphia, including the Roxborough and Germantown neighborhoods. Many of the sites are historically significant in relation to the American Revolution. Includes “Arnold Mansion,” i.e., Mount Pleasant (built 1761) in East Fairmount Park where British General James Agnew died after being wounded in the Battle of Germantown (P.2017.8.2); Cannon Ball House (built ca. 1715) also known as Blakely House on Mud Island through which a cannonball went during the largest British bombardment of the Revolution in 1777; Dunkards Church (built 1770) also known as Church of the Brethren, 6613 Germantown Avenue; Gloria Dei (built 1698-1700) also known as Old Swedes Church, 929 South Water Street; Haines House, i.e., Wyck (originally built ca. 1690), the ancestral family home of the Wister-Haines families, 6026 Germantown Avenue; Johnson House (built 1765-8 and used as a stop on the Underground Railroad), 6306 Germantown Avenue (P.2017.8.7); The Jolly Post (built ca. 1680), a colonial inn on Main Street, Frankford where the American Army rested on its march to capture Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781; Market House at Second and Pine Streets, i.e the Newmarket or Head House Square Market (originally built 1745) from the Northwest; Mennonite Church, Germantown (built 1770), 6119 Germantown Avenue and used as a hospital during the American Revolution;, "Morris House" also known as the Deshler-Morris House (built 1772) and used as the summer residence of President George Washington 1793 and 1794; "Old Fort Mifflin" (built ca. 1772-98) on Mud Island; Penrose Ferry Hotel near the Penrose Ferry Bridge in Kingsessing; St. Peter’s Church at Third and Pine Streets (built 1758-61); Smith Mansion on Queen Lane, Germantown also known as Carlton built ca. 1780 and owned by Cornelius S. Smith ca. 1840-ca. 1880s; Wagner House also known as Mechlin-Wagner House (built 1747), 4840 Germantown Avenue and used as a hospital during the American Revolution; and "Wister House, Germantown" (built 1744) also known as Grumplethorpe, 5267 Germantown Avenue. Most of the views include the surrounding property and/or adjacent buildings and residences. Some of the views also show street and pedestrian traffic, including persons in conversation, market visitors, and a street car. Some of the church views show the church’s graveyard as well. Penrose Ferry Hotel view includes chickens in the side yard., Mount Pleasant Mansion was built 1761-1765 for Captain John Macpherson after the designs of Thomas Nevil in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pa. Macpherson, a privateer during the Seven Years’ War, purchased the estate with profits from these operations. Free white and Black laborers, indentured servants, and at least four enslaved people of African descent, whose names are unknown, worked on the plantation. In 1779, General Benedict Arnold purchased Mount Pleasant for his wife Peggy Shippen, but they never occupied the house. In 1792, General Jonathan Williams purchased the mansion. The City of Philadelphia purchased the property from the Williams family in 1869. On behalf of the city, the Philadelphia Museum of Art restored the house in 1926., The Johnson House was built 1765-1768 by master builder Jacob Knor at 6306 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. John Johnson resided in the house during the Battle of Germantown. The dwelling sustained damage including a hole in the parlor door caused by a cannon ball and a chipped corner. It served as a station on the Underground Railroad. The Johnson family owned the house until 1908. The Woman's Club of Germantown purchased the house in 1917, and in 1980, gifted the house and its contents to the Germantown Mennonite Historic Trust to operate as a house museum. In 2002, the deed of ownership was transferred to the Johnson House Historic Site, Inc., Title supplied by cataloger., Watercolors signed by the artist in lower left or right corner: T.H. Wilkinson., Small number of the drawings include a title in the lower left corner., Accompanied by label: The Historical Collection of the late Samuel Castner, Jr. of Philadelphia., Gift of David Doret and Linda G. Mitchell., LCP also holds glass plate negatives in the Marriott C. Morris Collection showing a variant ca. 1893 watercolor view of the Morris-Deshler house by Thomas H. Wilkinson [*P.9895.6.3 and *P.9895.11.18]., New items acquired for and housed with collection after 2017., See Lib. Company. Annual report, 2017, p. 62-64., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Thomas H. Wilkinson (1847-1929) was a British-born artist who specialized in landscape views. Although he settled in Canada in the later 19th century, he traveled the United States through the 20th century to execute his art works. During the 1890s, he created several watercolor views of Philadelphia. He died while a well-known local artist and resident of Hamilton, Ontario.
- Creator
- Wilkinson, Thomas H., 1847-1929, artist
- Date
- [ca. 1890-ca. 1895]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Doret and Mitchell Collection - Watercolors and Drawings - Wilkinson [P.2017.8.2-18]