The Wagner Free Institute of Science of Philadelphia. [membership certificate] : Incorporated March 9th 1855.
Title
The Wagner Free Institute of Science of Philadelphia. [membership certificate] Incorporated March 9th 1855
Description
Life membership certificate containing a montage of plants, animals, minerals and fossils to represent different fields of the natural sciences, i.e., natural history, taught at the institute. Iconography encircles an oval containing the certificate text. Includes a bat for "Mammalia"; a human skull for "Anatomy"; an eagle for "Ornithology" perched on a slab with rocks and minerals for "Mineralogy"; a butterfly for "Entomology"; stems of flowers and plants for "Botany"; a thorny fish for "Ichtheology"; pre-historic crustaceans for "Palaeonotolgy"; the skeleton of an elephant for "Comparative Anatomy"; a shell for "Conchology"; a rattlesnake for "Herpetology"; a horseshoe crab for "Crustacea"; and Fossils - "Botany," Entomology," "Crustacea," and "Zoology" showing a fossilized plant, fish, dragon fly and lobster. Filigree adorns the corners. Wagner Free Institute was founded in 1855 by philanthropist and professor William Wagner to provide free public education in the sciences. Wagner donated his large collection of specimens and his science library in addition to monetary support to establish the institution., Not in Wainwright., Philadelphia on Stone, POSP 266, Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Certificates - Wagner Free, P. S. Duval & Co. operated as a firm 1851-1857., Inscription lower left corner torn: Est. C. J. [ ?].
Date
[ca. 1855]
Location
Historical Society of Pennsylvania | Print Department | HSP at LCP HSP Certificates - Wagner Free
Second Reformed Dutch Church [commemorative print]
Title
Second Reformed Dutch Church [commemorative print]
Description
Commemorative print containing a pasted lithograph of an exterior view of the Presbyterian church with colonnade portico (811 N. 7th Street). Lithograph partially printed over and surrounded by an ornate chromolithgraphed decorative border and pasted letterpress cutouts. Shows pedestrian traffic in front of the church built 1853-1854 under the supervision of the building committee of Rev. Dr. J. F. Berg, George Hawes, D. W. C. Moore, and Charles Collins Jr. Pedestrians include a man carrying a bundle on his shoulder and a boy playing with a hoop. Congregation organized in 1852 from members withdrawn from the First German Reformed Church. Chromolithographed border comprised of a wreath of different flowers and cutouts with gold printed letterpress text describing, and listing prominent figures in, the history of the church., Text cut-outs surrounded by chromolithographed bead-like strands. Information includes the date of the organization (March 29, 1852), laying of the corner stone April 21, 1853), opening of basement, lecture, and Sabbath School rooms (October 25, 1852), and dedication of the church (March 5, 1864); names of the first pastor (Joseph F. Berg, D.D.), organist (Charles Collins Jr.), board president (Albert Rorer), secretary (D. W. C. Moore), sexton (J. Collom), superintendent of Sabbath Schools (Charles Santee), and treasurer (John Ross); the list of officers (i.e., elders, deacons, trustees) in 1853 and 1857; "Contents of the Corner Stone, Deposited April 21, 1853, including a constitution of the church and newspaper accounts of the laying of the cornerstone; "Ceremonies at Laying the Corner Stone April 21, 1853"; the names of the builders, carpenters J. & G. A. Binder, and bricklayers William Chapman & Son; the names of the building committee; and the price of the lot purchased from Joseph J. Sharpless, the cost of the building, and the acknowledgement that the "Church made free of debt by subscription, January, 1857.", Philadelphia on Stone, POS 688, Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Bc 138 R 332
Creator
Sherwin, John H., b. 1834, artist
Date
March 1857
Location
Historical Society of Pennsylvania HSP Bc 138 R 332