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- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "Is Miss Dinah at home?"
- Description
- Racist caricature depicting a well-dressed, middle-class African American dandy, his right side toward the viewer, calling upon "Miss Dinah" on the outside of her basement apartment. He wears a black top hat, bright green waistcoat, tan pants, yellow gloves, and black slipper shoes adorned with bows. He holds a walking stick perpendicular to his thigh and a fob hangs away from his coat. An African American woman servant, wearing short-cropped hair and earrings, and attired in a red, short-sleeved dress and blue apron, stands at the open cellar doors and informs the suitor that Miss Dinah "is bery pertickly engaged in washing de dishes." She holds out a silver tray to collect the dandy's calling card. The dandy states that he is sorry that he "cant have the honour to pay [his] devours to her" and slightly crouches to place his card on the tray. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. Scene also shows an adjacent basement cellar with open doors and views of shuttered windows on the first floor to "Dinah's" residence and those adjoining, Title from item., Date inferred from content., Inscribed: No. 5., After the work of Edward W. Clay., Probably printed and published by Anthony Imbert of New York., Contains three lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: "Is Miss Dinah at home?""Yes sir but she bery pertickly engaged in washing de dishes.""Ah! I'm sorry I can't have the honour to pay my devours to her. Give her my card.", Shane White and Graham White's Stylin': African American Expressive Culture (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1998), p. 108. (LCP Ii 4, A2880.O)., Nancy Reynolds Davison's E.W. Clay: American Political Caricaturist of the Jacksonian Era (PhD. diss., the University of Michigan, 1980), p. 88. (LCP Print Room Uz, A423.O), Purchase 1968., 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.2]
- Title
- Illustrations of Philadelphia, from fugitive sources only
- Description
- Scrapbook containing clippings, prints, and ephemera dated between 1778 and 1864 pertaining to the built environment, and social and cultural climate of Philadelphia. Illustrated newspaper and periodical clippings (several from The Casket) describing prominent city landmarks during the 1820s to 1840s forms the majority of the content. Subjects include St. Stephens Church (Poulson's annotation states image includes the rear of President’s House on Ninth Street in background); Pagoda near Philadelphia; Gray's Ferry; the Philadelphia Library (i.e., Library Company of Philadelphia); "Statue of Wm. Penn, at the South Front of the Pennsylvania Hospital"; "New Street Cleaning Machine"; and "Rail Shooting on the Delaware.", Scrapbook also contains newspaper articles, advertisements, and prices lists. Subjects include historical anecdotes about Market Street in 1729, the Library Company of Philadelphia, Walnut Street Theatre, Letitia Court, Dock Street, Superstitions of ‘Ye Olden Times,’ and American “firsts”; improvements and alterations to city architecture, including Walnut Street Theatre and the State House; Infant Schools; the April 25, 1846 Eclipse of the Sun; an 1828 transparency illustrated with a caricature of Andrew Jackson; the dissolution of the circulation of “small notes” (1828); the Labyrinth Garden of Thomas Smith at Arch above Broad; Pennsylvania Museum and Menagerie (Market Street); commemoration of the Landing of William Penn; steamboat and stage coach schedules (1828); shift in social classes in Philadelphia society (1842); the 1837 court case against Commodore Perry sloop Capt. Blankman; and the Mauch Chunk Railway. Ephemera includes a facsimile of the original circular "Proposal for the Printing of a large Bible, by William Bradford" held by Nathan Kite. Many of the articles are accompanied by commentaries or are partially transcribed by Poulson. Scrapbook also includes detailed manuscript notes about Hamilton Mansion and the Old Court House., Graphic materials, predominately advertisements and views of prominent landmarks, include wood engravings, engravings, lithographs, and an albumen print. Views include images of "T.W. Dyott’s Apoth’y and Patent Medicine Store N.E. cor. Vine and Second Street"; "Gray’s Ferry on the Schuylkill (a Relic of the Olden Time)"; "Green Hill, The Seat of Samuel Meredith Esq. near Philadelphia"; Birmingham Meeting House "from a Daguerreotype by Mess. Langenheim"; and Cornelius & Baker manufactories on Cherry Street and Columbia Avenue. Advertisements depict N. Lloyd & Son (Seventh and Cherry) elegant coal grates; John Duross Black Horse Alley Old and Extensive Printing Establishment (showing a printing press); M.B. Dyott, manufacturer of Gas Fixtures and Lamps; Bennett’s Tower Hall Clothing Bazaar; Moore, Henzey & Co., hardware; and Wright, Smith & Co., china, glass, queensware. Graphics also include an 1828 vignette showing a carriage and captioned "High Fashion"; "The Stage Coach in 1816"; an 1857 caricature of a Quaker couple; and material added in the 20th century, including a 1905 photo-engraving of the "House and Counting House of Stephen Girard.", Majority of contents annotated with a date and explicative manuscript notes by Poulson., Title page illustrated with a ca. 1856 lithographer's advertisement issued for Wagner & McGuigan. Depicts an allegorical, patriotic scene with the figure of Columbia, attired in a toga, American flag, and laurel wreath, and with a broken shackle under her foot as she stands on a pedestal., Verso of front free end paper contains Poulson inscription: “The Dates of the articles herein, are those of the newspapers &c from which they were cut. Cut out designed with floral details frames the inscription., "Index to set in back part of vol. XI.", Artists, engravers, and printers include John Boyd; William Breton; Jacob Hoffman; George Gilbert; John Hill; Kennedy & Lucas; E. Rogers; Frederick Pilliner, Samuel Sartain; M. Schmitz; James W. Steel; and George Worley., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Several pages have been removed., Small number of original photographs by McClees removed to the Print Department.
- Creator
- Poulson, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1789-1866, compiler
- Date
- 1798-1864, bulk 1829-1845
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare Poulson scrapbooks - vol. 11 [(11)2526.F]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "Is Miss Dinah at home?"
- Description
- Racist caricature depicting a well-dressed, middle-class African American dandy, his right side toward the viewer, calling upon "Miss Dinah" on the outside of her basement apartment. He wears a tan top hat, bright green waistcoat, a yellow cravat with polka dots, tan pants, yellow gloves, and black slipper shoes adorned with bows. He holds a walking stick perpendicular to his thigh and a fob hangs away from his coat. An African American woman servant, wearing short-cropped hair and earrings, and attired in a red, short-sleeved dress and blue apron, stands at the open cellar doors and informs the suitor that Miss Dinah "is bery pertickly engaged in washing de dishes." She holds out a silver tray to collect the dandy's calling card. The dandy states that he is sorry that he "cant have the honour to pay [his] devours to her" and slightly crouches to place his card on the tray. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. Scene also shows an adjacent basement cellar with open doors and views of shuttered windows on the first floor to "Dinah's" residence and those adjoining., Inscribed: Plate 3., Title and date from item., 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" and possibly helped finance the cost of production., Shane White and Graham White's Stylin': African American expressive culture ... (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1998), p. 108. (LCP Ii 4, A2880.O)., Nancy Reynolds Davison's E.W. Clay: American political caricaturist of the Jacksonian Era. (Phd. diss., The University of Michigan, 1980), p.88. (Print Room Uz, A423.O)., Accessioned 1999., 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.9689]
- Title
- Illustrations of Philadelphia
- Description
- Scrapbook containing newspaper clippings, prints, drawings and manuscript notes, predominantly dated to the 1850s, pertaining to the history, the built environment, and social climate of Philadelphia. Subject matter includes clippings about Federalists, Leiper Railroad, beer brewing, historic private houses, and Patrick Lyon from the newspaper column series "Reminiscences of Philadelphia" (Christian Observer, 1856), "Philadelphia Peculiarities" (Philadelphia Sunday Mercury, 1856), and "Recollections from the Past" (authored by Poulson) and "To Readers and Anxious Inquirers" (Sunday Dispatch, 1856); articles about the early history of Germantown and Independence Hall, the origin of April Fools, a “Venerable document,” i.e., a 1747 indenture between the Library Company and librarian Robert Greenway, and the 1859 cholera epidemic at the Arch Street Prison; and newspaper advertisements for the Zoological Institute (48 S. Fifth St.), Page's Patent Safety Cab, and Colonel Chaffin, “The Celebrated Dwarf, at the Masonic Hall" (1845). Also contains an editorial about the poor quality of the Philadelphia Directory for 1865; a song sheet "Social Quoit Club" by Charles Alexander inscribed with a note about its provenance by Poulson on the verso; Poulson manuscripts about notable houses, including the Butler Mansion (Chestnut & Eighth Sts.), William Waln House (Chestnut & Seventh Sts.), and James Fisher mansion (Chestnut & Ninth Sts.); and prints, watercolors, and sketches, several created and signed by Poulson, predominantly showing Philadelphia residences, landmarks, and city and landscapes., Graphic materials include a Charles Magnus print after the Trumbull painting, "Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776"; the captioned George Gilbert illustration "A View of the Grand Civic Arch... in Honor of Lafayette" (1824); a Le Met miniature portrait of Timothy Palmer; a James McClees photograph of the engraving "The Hour of Sunset, on the Fourth of July 1776" and Poulson watercolor and sketches (often with extensive manuscript captions) showing "Episcopal Academy," "A House on the North side of Chestnut Street, next to that on the N.E. corner of Eighth Street, lately occupied by Danl. W. Coxe, Esq. who deceased there June 3, 1852" (1857), "Sketch of the river Schuylkill at Fairmount. The wooden floating bridge and tavern &c by C. A. P. under the tuition of Jemmy Cox, the drawing master," "Jonathan Leedom’s Iron Store, no. 211 S. Front St. or now no. 343," "Sketch of the Emlen or [Benendye?] house Chestnut St. opposite the State house and next to Jacob Ridgway’s house on the east" (1858); and advertising vignettes and cameo stamps for businesses, including a segar store (Mulberry St.), G. S. Appleton, bookseller, publisher & importer of foreign books (148, i.e, 600 block Chestnut St.), W. C. Allen, broom & variety store, and a multi-manned press of “The Saturday Evening Post.” Other images include satiric women's fashion vignettes and a cut out caricature of an African American man advertising Sanford's Opera House., Majority of contents annotated with a date by Poulson., Title page illustrated with a ca. 1856 lithographer's advertisement issued by Wagner & McGuigan. Depicts an allegorical, patriotic scene with the figure of Columbia, attired in a toga, American flag, and laurel wreath, and with a broken shackle under her foot as she stands on a pedestal., Verso of title page contains Poulson inscription: "The "Articles" in the book are taken from fugitive sources only; and the dates affixed to each are those of the newspapers &c from which they were procured.", Back free end paper contains Poulson inscription: "The dates of the articles herein, are those of the Newspapers &c from they are cut.", "Index to set in back part of vol. XI.", Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
- Creator
- Poulson, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1789-1866, compiler
- Date
- ca. 1824-1864
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare Poulson scrapbooks - vol. 2 [(2)2526.F]
- Title
- The house intended for the President of the United States, in Ninth Street Philadelphia
- Description
- View showing the executive mansion, originally built for President Washington, on Ninth Street below Market Street. Erected between 1792 and 1797 by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the residence (completed after Washington's term in office), never housed a president, and was later purchased by the University of Pennsylvania. In the foreground, a horse-drawn cart travels the street; an African American man rides on horseback; and a white woman with a basket, possibly a peddler, sits across the street. Views of the Alms House and House of Employment are visible in the background., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited., Illustrated in S. Robert Teitelman's Birch's views of Philadelphia (Philadelphia: The Free Library of Philadelphia, 1982, rev. 2000), pl. 13., 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 13/P.2276.25]
- Title
- Jacob Duché's Mansion (3rd & Pine Streets)
- Description
- The painting is not signed or dated., The figure in the foreground supposedly is Benjamin Franklin flying a kite during an electrical storm., Exhibited in Haverford College's exhibition, The Pennsylvania Landscape: Colonial to Contemporary (2007).
- Date
- Ca. 1760
- Location
- OBJ 303
- Title
- "Saturday Jaunts: One-Day Holidays Spent Near the City" by the Ledger Monastery
- Description
- Volume composed of reprinted "Saturday Jaunts" columns (spring and summer 1891) and 25 photographs documenting the one-day excursions of the "Saturday Jaunters," employees of the Public Ledger in Philadelphia. Saturday Jaunters (identified with "monkish" pseudonyms) referenced in and authors of the columns include Bonifacius (William E. Meehan), Benedict (Addison B. Burk), Chrysostum (Joel Cook), Angelo (John J. Mckenna), Damon (Charles S. Spangler), Photius (Edmund Stirling), Friar Tuck (Edward Robinson), Constantius (Stephen J. Burke), Pius (Israel F. Sheppard), Sacristan (C. Johann), Fabian (Dr. William H. Burk), Medicus, Ananias (Collins W. Walton), Titian (John A. Johann), Cephas (Peter J. Heborn), and Brother Alban (Captain Robert C. Clipperton). Contains the columns: I. Marble Hall and Spring Mill. II. A Visit to the Coal Fields of Pottsville. III. A Trip along Cresheim Creek and the "Happy Valley." IV. A Roundabout Journey to Edge Hill. V. A Pilgrimage through the Gulf and to Belvoir. VI. A Pilgrimage through the Gulf and to Belvoir (Continued). VII. A Pleasant Pilgrimage into New Jersey. VIII. A. Walk Up the Wissahickon Valley. IX. A Trip to Reading and Its Grand Environs. X. The Soapstone Quarries and Rockdale. XI. Villanova and Its Vicinity. XII. Glimpses from a Car window of a Picturesque Country. XIII. A Trip to Mount Gretna and the Cornwall Ore Banks.
- Title
- Photographic Views of Philadelphia's New City Building
- Description
- Albums of progress photographs of the early construction of City Hall built 1871-1901 on Penn Square after the designs of John McArthur, Jr. Photographs show different stages of the construction of the foundation and lower floor of the building between 1873 and 1875. Includes images of the dirt sub basement; construction materials, equipment, and workers; aerial views of the built foundation; partially completed walls and abutments; and studio views of columns and architectural ornaments. Several of the views include scaffolding; horse-drawn carts; pulleys; piles of construction debris; Pennsylvania Railroad cars on Market Street; and workers and well-dressed men, probably the commissioners, reviewing and posed on or near constructed parts of the building and construction materials. Views also show surrounding cityscape, including the Masonic Temple (Broad and Filbert); United States Mint (1331-1337 Chestnut Street); the Seventh Presbyterian Church (Broad Street above Chestnut Street); Pennsylvania Railroad Freight Depot (13th and Market); La Salle College High School (Filbert and Juniper); Sharpless & Watts, flooring tile (1325 Market Street); the spires of Arch Street Methodist Episcopal Church (s.w. cor. Broad & Arch) and First Baptist Church (n.w. cor. Broad and Arch); and other surrounding businesses (beer hall, wall paper, and furniture) and residences.
- Title
- Old Landmarks and Relics of Philadelphia Album, Fourth Series
- Description
- Viewbook containing a folded leave of six titled photographs and a folded leave of titled, narrative texts about the images. Photographs depict "The House in which Gen'l Agnew Died Germantown" showing an exterior view of Grumblethorpe, the house built in 1744 in which British General James Agnew died in 1777; "Swedes Church. Front View" showing the Episcopalian, former Lutheran, church known as Gloria Dei Church, built 1700-1703 at 929 South Water Street; "Old Log Cabin, Richmond & Vienna Sts." showing an 18th-century style dwelling in Fishtown; "The Old Market House, Callowhill & New Market Sts." showing one of the four old market houses, known as Norwich Market, established in 1783 on the 100 block of Callowhill Street; Robert Morris Hotel Phila. Park showing the four-story hotel opposite the race bridge of the Fairmount Water Works that was razed in 1868; and "Ancient Building, First Fish House, Arch St. bel. 4th Sts." showing the 18th-century attached, brick buildings in Loxley Court that purportedly housed fishing implements for the Penn family. Images include grave stones; broadsides; signage; neighborhood dwellers; and partial views of horse-drawn carriages.
- Title
- Old Landmarks and Relics of Philadelphia Album, Second Series
- Description
- Viewbook containing six titled photographs and a folded leave of titled, narrative texts about the images. Photographs depict "Independence Hall" showing the front facade of the building built 1732-1748, including the front courtyard with the Joseph A. Baily statue of George Washington; "Whitby Hall" showing the country dwelling built in 1754 on land in Kingsessing acquired by Philadelphia merchant James Coultas in 1741;" "Friends Alms House, Walnut Bel. Fourth" showing the benevolent institution erected in 1729 and razed in 1841; "Acadamy [sic] of Fine Arts, Chestnut St. Bet. 10th & 11th Sts. Phila." showing the arched entry way to the building erected in 1806 and shortly before it was "torn down in 1870, to make way for Fox's American Theatre; "Rittenhouse Mansion, Arch & Seventh Sts." showing the former residence of astronomer David Rittenhouse built 1786-1787 by master builder Joseph Ogilby; and "St. Peters Church, Fourth & Pine" showing the Episcopal church built 1758-1761 "in the midst of a graveyard." Images also include residents; street lamps; signage; partial views of storefront awnings; and trees and greenery.
- Title
- Memories of the home of Grandma Lewis Scrapbook
- Description
- Memory album compiled by Lewis containing written narratives, photographs, watercolors, textiles, drawings, prints and ephemera documenting her marriage, early married life, households and residences, and family events and excursions between 1851 and the 1890s. Specific narrative topics include the Lewis's honeymoon to Niagara; the death of their parents the Larcombes and John F. and Eliza Lewis; the birth of grandchildren; the method and style of interior decoration of their residences at Sixteenth and Walnut streets (1851-1855), 325 South Eighteenth Street (1855-1874), and 1834 DeLancey Place (1874-1915); the Civil War, Sanitary Fair, and Centennial Exhibition (1876); their religious life in the First Baptist Church; club meetings of the Lewis children when older and parlor "teas"; recreational activities, including sailing and skating on the Schuylkill River, carriage and horse back rides, excursions to Broad Top Mountain House (Pa.), and visits to their summer residences in Wallingford and the Bryn Mawr Hotel; boarding near Bryn Mawr ("Eachus Place") and the Delaware Water Gap ("Mr. Croasdale"); Anne and G. Albert's European trip (1891); and family pets.
- Title
- Photograph Album of Philadelphia and Vicinity
- Description
- Photograph album compiled by Philadelphia photographer Robert Newell containing views by the photographer and his peers, including F. De. B. Richards. Images depict major city landmarks and views of Fairmount Park, including benevolent, educational and financial institutions, historic sites, residences, churches and meetinghouses, bridges, and hotels and taverns. Sites documented include Broad Street (Civil War) Hospital; Foster Home (Twenty-Fourth and Poplar); Germantown Academy; the former bookstore and printing office of William Young (200-204 Chestnut); Landing Avenue during alterations (East bank of Schuylkill); Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (old and new); Carpenters Hall; Independence Hall; Academy of Music; Merchants' Exchange; Girard, Farmers', Mechanics', Pennsylvania, and Fourth National banks; Bartram's, Keene, and Rittenhouse mansions; Woodford residence (Fairmount Park); Washington's residence (Germantown); Womrath property, "where the first 4th of July" was celebrated" (4216 Frankford); Oldest house in Lansdown" (West Fairmount Park); Old Farm house (Broad and Oxford); St. Judes Episcopal church; Fairmount Water Works, and boat houses and ice houses along the Schuylkill; Cedar Hill, Laurel Hill and Woodlands cemeteries; Columbia, Old Callowhill Street, Girard Avenue, and New York Connecting Railroad bridges; Continental, Valley Green, Maple Spring, Markley's and Cole's hotels; and "Punch Bowl" (2100 Broad), "Abbey" (Hunting Park and Wissahickon Aves), Old Buck? (Lancaster Pike) and Old Grey's Ferry taverns.
- Title
- John J. Smith and Rachel Collins Pearsall Smith Family Photograph Album
- Description
- Photograph album containing predominantly posed portraits of the family, extended family, and friends of prominent Philadelphia Quakers John Jay and Rachel Collins Pearsall Smith.
- Title
- George Albert Lewis Old Houses and Stores Album
- Description
- Memory album compiled by Lewis containing written narratives, photographs, watercolors, textiles, drawings, prints and ephemera documenting his childhood and his lineage and family businesses and residences from the late 18th century to mid 19th century. Specific narrative topics include the provenance of the "Pictures" included in the album; "Memorabilia"; the "Marriage of our Ancestor, 1786. Johann Andreas Philipp Ludwig (i.e., J. A. P. Lewis) and Anna Maria Klingemann"; 'In Memoriam: Johann Andreas Philipp Ludwig' "; the "Memorials of the old Houses, Stores &c.," including deed, plot, architectural, and decor information pertaining to Lewis family residences at 121, i.e., 311 North Fifth Street (1791-1797), 60, i.e., 128 North Fourth Street (1797-1805), 82, i.e., 132 North Second Street (1814-1818), 124, i.e., 264 South Third Street (1818-1824), 148, i.e., 264 South Second Street (1824-1840) and rear storehouse on Laurel Street, and Sixteenth and Walnut streets (1840-1858), and the stores at Walnut and Front streets (1829-1856).
- Title
- Albert Hatch Photograph Album
- Description
- Photographs compiled and possibly taken by Albert Hatch showing city and landscape views as well as family views and portraits, ca. 1866-ca. 1888.
- Title
- Rae's Philadelphia Pictorial Directory & Panoramic Advertiser
- Description
- Folio volume of panoramic views of businesses on the 200-900 blocks of Chestnut Street and corresponding pages of advertisements. Also contains a preface, which details that inclusion in the directory required subscription to or purchase of the volume; the intention to "issue the Panoramic View annually"; and the publisher's endeavor to correct all lettering errors "upon the publication of the second edition." Volume also includes interspersed full-, half- and, one-third-page advertisements for business subscribers tenanting, as well as not located on Chestnut Street. Publisher issued only the 1851 directory.
- Title
- The Game of Philadelphia Buildings Flashcards
- Description
- Card game containing fifty-three cards depicting landmarks and historic and well-known sites in the city.