Scrapbook containing newspaper clippings, prints, and manuscript notes, predominantly dated between 1856 and 1860, pertaining to the built environment, and social, cultural, economic, and political climate of Philadelphia. Subject matter includes the Sunday Dispatch newspaper column series “Indian Names”; reports on municipal services, including the fire department; population, trade, and crime statistics; mortality rates; real estate sales; descriptions of new building construction, including the Continental Hotel, Jayne Building (1856), new Bank of Pennsylvania (1856), churches, and storefronts on Arch, Market and Chestnut streets and in various wards, including the Twenty-Fourth and Fifteen, and near Rittenhouse Square; commentaries about city businesses and industries, including Harvey & Ford, turners in ivory and bone, Lacey & Phillips, saddler, markets, flour mills, sawing machines, omnibuses, joiner, and envelope and paper bag machinery, and the publishing trade. Other articles discuss fashion trends; the Schuylkill Rangers gang; “Street Nomenclature”; the early histories of Philadelphia, Germantown, Roxborough and Manayunk; benevolent and educational institutions and societies, including the Alms House, Philadelphia Orphan Society and the City Institute; food ways and manufacturing; the growth of Philadelphia; and a “Fistic”, i.e., fighting exhibition at Franklin Hall (1860). Also contains classifieds dated 1786; vignette wood engravings showing top hats, a stove, a plane, and a city fire plug; and satirical articles and illustrations, including African American characters, about the “Fine Arts”, i.e., street trades, fashion, the 1857 mayoral election, and improper use of a heating stove titled "A Picture of the Season.” Majority of graphics are wood and intaglio engravings, predominately advertisements showing storefronts., Graphics depict the Custom House; the Northern Home for Friendless Children; Mills B. Espy, pickels and fruits (109 S. Third.); the exteriors and interiors of Samuel Simes, store and family medicine laboratory (S.W. cor. Chestnut and Twelfth) and Wm. D. Rogers, coach manufactory (Sixth & Master); Loxley House (307 S. Second St.); Church of the Epiphany and Residence of Mr. Godey; Henry A. Bower (“N.E. cor. 6th and Green Sts.”); United States Hotel; Farmer’s and Mechanic’s Bank; Franklin Swimming Bath (68 N. Twelfth); Charles Ellis & Co., wholesale druggists (65 Chestnut.); Jones & Co., clothing store (200 Market); Baker & Williams, ranges & warm air furnaces (406 Market); "Schuylkill River, below Norristown, Pennsylvania"; Philadelphia Steam Marble Works (1700 block Chestnut); Continental Hotel; Consolidation Bank (331 N. Third St.); Union Saw & Tool Manufactory. Johnson & Conway, Office and Wareroom (Fourth & Cherry); and the Bulletin Building., 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 dates of the articles herein, are those of the Newspapers &c from they are cut." Inscription framed with cut out designed with ornamental pictorial details., Artists, engravers, printers, and publishers include D. C. Baxter, George T. Devereux, David Scattergood, and Joseph M. Wilson., "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., Loxley House engraving (p. 14) accompanied by extensive manuscript note by Poulson.
Creator
Poulson, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1789-1866, compiler
Date
1786-1860, bulk 1856-1860
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare Poulson scrapbooks - vol. 8 [(8)2526.F]
