John Jay Smith was the Library Company's Librarian from 1829-Feb. 1851 and Treasurer from 1840-1857., Painting is signed on the lower right., Receipt for portrait, frame, and tablet for name, dated April 13, 83, in vol. 3 of John Jay Smith's Recollections-manuscript copy [8442.F]., LCP Minutes vol. 8, May 3, 1883, p. 474: "Mr. L.P. Smith, having in behalf of himself and his brothers Mssrs. Robert P. Smith and Horace J. Smith, presented the Library Company with a portrait of the late John Jay Smith; the Secretary was directed to thank the donors, for the very acceptable gift of the portrait of one who had so long and faithfully served the Library Company.", Gift of Lloyd Pearsall Smith on behalf of himself and his brothers, Robert P. and Horace J. Smith, 1883., Exhibited in the Library Company's exhibition, Building a City of the Dead: The Creation and Expansion of Philadelphia’s Laurel Hill Cemetery (2010-2011).
Benjamin Morgan was a prominent Philadelphia lawyer. Admitted to the bar in 1785, he became one of the judges of the District Court in 1821, and, previous to this, one of the founders of the Penna. Academy of the Fine Arts in 1805. Morgan was Secretary of the Library Company from 1792-1825 and one of its directors, 1825-1840., LCP Minutes vol. 9, April 4, 1889, p. 158: “A vote of thanks was directed to be sent to Mrs. Robert W. Leaming for her gift of a portrait of Benjamin R. Morgan.”, Gift of Mrs. Robert W. Leaming, 1889.
Published in conjunction with an exhibition commemorating the bicentennial of the Constitution, consisting of books that were available to the framers in the Library Company during the Constitutional Convention.
Creator
Greene, Jack P.
Date
c1986
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Stack Uy6 A706.O, Library Company of Philadelphia | Stack Ref. Uy 6 (2)A706.O
Shows the expanded building of the library, formerly the Free Quaker Meetinghouse, built 1783 after the designs of Timothy Matlack and Samuel Price Wetherill at 500 Arch Street. Also shows partial views of the adjacent buildings, including a liquor store and a business adorned with an iron-wrought balcony. The library, the oldest free circulating library in the United States, was established in 1820 to aid in the knowledge of apprentices. Building housed the library 1841-1897 and was expanded in 1868 after the designs of Stephen Decatur Button., Photographer's imprint and title printed on mount., Lavender paper mount with rounded corners., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of views of Philadelphia., Reproduced in The Print and Photograph Department of the Library Company of Philadelphia's Center City Philadelphia in the 19th century (Portsmouth, N.H.: Arcadia Publishing, 2006), p. 11., Arcadia caption text: The Apprentices’ Library was founded in 1820 to provide young people free access to books. No idle reading of sensational fiction was done here. The board of managers reviewed every book before placing it on the shelf, with the goal of promoting “orderly and virtuous habits,” the diffusion of knowledge, and betterment of scientific skill. The library rented this building (designed in 1783 by Timothy Matlack and Samuel Price Wetherill) at 500 Arch Street from the Society of Free Quakers from 1841 until 1897, and provided separate reading rooms for girls and boys. This view dates to c. 1870.
Creator
Simons, M. P. (Montgomery P.), photographer
Date
ca. 1870
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department stereo - Simons - Libraries [(8)1322.F.5e-2]
Views showing the library built 1844-45 after the designs of William Johnston at 125 South Fifth Street. Demolished circa 1925. Image includes the Library Company of Philadelphia, a partial view of Philadelphia Dispensary, four horse-drawn carriages, and the block of Fifth Street between Market and Chestnut streets in the background., Yellow mounts, including two with rounded and one with square corners., Title from labels on versos of P.9260.9 and P.9573.14., One of images originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of views of Philadelphia., Digitization funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Bartlett & French was a partnership between Philadelphia photographers George O. Bartlett and William French circa 1867-1868.
Creator
Bartlett & French, photographer
Date
ca. 1868
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department stereo - Bartlett & French - Libraries [(8)1322.F.5f; P.9260.9; P.9573.14]
These materials are part of the Library Company Papers Project: Archiving and Preserving Early American History. For additional information on this project, visit librarycompany.org/lcppapersproject.
Papers Project processing and digitization has been made possible through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this resource do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. For additional information on NEH, visit www.neh.gov., All use must credit The Library Company of Philadelphia. For additional information on Rights & Reproductions, visit https://librarycompany.org/using-the-library/rightsrepro/#/.
Creator
Library Company of Philadelphia
Date
1836-05-02
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia. | MSS MSS MSS00270b02f52
These materials are part of the Library Company Papers Project: Archiving and Preserving Early American History. For additional information on this project, visit librarycompany.org/lcppapersproject.
Papers Project processing and digitization has been made possible through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this resource do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. For additional information on NEH, visit www.neh.gov., All use must credit The Library Company of Philadelphia. For additional information on Rights & Reproductions, visit https://librarycompany.org/using-the-library/rightsrepro/#/.
Creator
Library Company of Philadelphia
Date
1881-12
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia. | MSS MSS MSS00270b04f12
Dr. James Rush's last will and testament, proven in 1869, with amendments to the Charter of the Library Company of Philadelphia., Pagination statement has been simplified by cataloger., These materials are part of the Library Company Papers Project: Archiving and Preserving Early American History. For additional information on this project, visit librarycompany.org/lcppapersproject.
Papers Project processing and digitization has been made possible through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this resource do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. For additional information on NEH, visit www.neh.gov., All use must credit The Library Company of Philadelphia. For additional information on Rights & Reproductions, visit https://librarycompany.org/using-the-library/rightsrepro/#/.
Creator
Rush, James, 1786-1869
Date
1889
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia. | Books & Other Texts | Rare MSS00270v109
View showing the Library Company of Philadelphia (organized by Benjamin Franklin and his Junto in 1731) built 1789-1790 after the designs of Dr. William Thornton on the 100 block of Fifth Street. A group of young men and boys stand near the entrance of the building. Also shows a horse-drawn carriage and lamppost in the foreground., Title and photographer's imprint from Poulson inscription on mount of (3)2526.F.105 (Poulson)/8339.F.5., Date inscribed on photograph (3)2526.F.105 (Poulson)/8339.F.5., Compass directions given in manuscript on mount., One of the images originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of views of Philadelphia., One of the images originally part of a series of eleven scrapbooks compiled by Philadelphia antiquarian Charles A. Poulson in the late 1850s entitled "Illustrations of Philadelphia" volume 3, page 105. The scrapbooks contained approximately 120 photographs by Philadelphia painter and pioneer photographer Richards of 18th-century public, commercial, and residential buildings in the city of Philadelphia commissioned by Poulson to document the vanishing architectural landscape., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited., (3)2526.F.105 reaccessioned as 8339.F.5., Part of the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom (PW-285234-22), 2023-2025.
Creator
Richards, F. De B. (Frederick De Bourg), photographer
Date
February 1859
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department photo - Richards - Libraries - L [(6)1322.F.10e; (3)2526.F.105], http://www.brynmawr.edu/iconog/rcd/8339f5.jpg
Shows the first permanent building of the subscription library, organized by Benjamin Franklin and his Junto in 1731, built 1789-1790 after the designs of Dr. William Thornton at Fifth and Library streets. View includes the Benjamin Franklin statue sculpted by Francesco Lazzarini and installed in 1792 in the niche above the entrance of the Palladian building., Half-stereographic prints including one on white paper mount with square corners., Title supplied by cataloguer., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of views of Philadelphia., Digitization funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Part of the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom (PW-285234-22), 2023-2025.
Date
[ca. 1860]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department stereo - unidentified - Libraries [(6)1322.F.20b; P.2282.41]
Panoramic view showing cityscape in Center City near the Delaware River. Includes residential buildings, storefronts, and factories. Particularly depicts the old City Hall (500 Chestnut), the Library Company of Philadelphia (5th and Library) and the 400 block, north side of Chestnut Street, including the U.S. Hotel (419-423). Also shows the steeples of Christ Church and the Merchant's Exchange, the U.S. flag-adorned roof of the U.S. Custom House (420 Chestnut), trees in Independence Square, maritime traffic on the Delaware River, and Camden, N.J. Pedestrian and street traffic, including a horse-drawn carriage, visible in the lower left corner of the image., Copyrighted by E. Whitefield., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 544a, LCP copy of separately issued tinted and hand-colored "East View" in poor condition. Right edge torn., Library of Congress: PGA - Endicott--Panoramic views... (E size) [P&P], Digital image in Philadelphia on Stone Digital Catalog shows LOC copy of Panoramic Views of Philadelphia from the State House, including "East View." To request a reproduction of this image, please contact this holding institution., To request a reproduction of the print with this record in the Philadelphia on Stone Digital Catalog, please contact the holding institution cited., P.2119 part of National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom (PW-285234-22), 2023-2025.
Creator
Whitefield, Edwin, 1816-1892, artist
Date
[c1850]
Location
Library of Congress | Prints and Photographs Division LOC PGA - Endicott--Panoramic views... (E size) [P&P], Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *BW - Views [P.2119]
View looking northeast at the first permanent red-brick building of the subscription library, organized by Benjamin Franklin and his Junto in 1731, built 1789-1790 after the designs of Dr. William Thornton. View includes the Benjamin Franklin statue sculpted by Francesco Lazzarini and installed in the niche above the building entrance in 1792. Also shows a man digging up the street near a pile of stones and dirt, a partial view of a horse traveling north on Fifth Street, and men standing near the building on the corner. The library sold the building 1880 and it was demolished in 1887., Title printed on mount below image., Yellow mount with rounded corners., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Part of the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom (PW-285234-22), 2023-2025.
Date
[ca. 1875]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department stereo - unidentified - Libraries [P.9058.170]
