Search results

Title: [Portrait of an unidentified man]
Description: Bust-length, forward facing portrait of an African American man. Sitter is attired in a white collared shirt, a black bowtie, and a black jacket. Sitter is probably a member or acquaintance of the Dickerson Family of Philadelphia., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from photographic medium and attire of the sitter., Pad: Red/brown velvet with geometric design in center surrounded by scrolls., Mat: Oval., Case: Leather. Spray of flowers in a nonpareil like border. Scroll work all around. Plain verso. Design called "Lily and Rose" and is Plate 114 in Floyd and Marion Rinhart's American miniature case art (Cranbury, New Jersey: A. S. Barnes and Co., Inc., 1969.), Gift of Mary P. Dunn, 1993., Reproduced on cover and on page 42 of Julie Winch's The Elite of our people (University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2000)., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1993, p. 17-24., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
Date: [ca. 1850]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Cased photos - Dickerson Family Collection [P.9427.2]

Title: [Portrait of an unidentified man]
Description: Bust-length, portrait of an African American man facing slightly right. Sitter is attired in a white collared shirt and a dark-colored necktie and jacket. Sitter is probably a member or acquaintance of the Dickerson Family of Philadelphia., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from photographic medium and sitter's attire., Pad: Red velvet with geometric design in center surrounded by scrolls., Mat: Oval., Case: Leather. A small floral spray is within a curlicued border within a modified oval. Scroll work all around. Same design on verso., Gift of Mary P. Dunn, 1993., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1993, p. 17-24., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
Date: [ca. 1850]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Cased photos - Dickerson Family Collection [P.9427.1]

Title: [Bust-length portrait of an unidentified young African American man]
Description: Copy photograph of a bust-length portrait of a young, unidentified African American man facing forward. The man has rosy-colored cheek, wears a mustache, and is attired in a white collared shirt, a waistcoat, and a jacket., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from dates of operation of the photographer and attire of the sitter., Photographer's imprint stamped on mount., Gift of David Long, 2001., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., 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: Shaw, Jeremiah H., photographer
Date: [ca. 1891]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department cabinet card portraits - photographer - Shaw [P.9969.2]

Title: [Bust-length portrait of an unidentified young African American man]
Description: Bust-length studio portrait of an unidentified young African American man. The man, wearing a mustache and attired in a white collared shirt, a striped tie, a waistcoat, and a jacket, faces slightly right., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from operation dates of the photographer and attire of the sitter., Photographer's blindstamp on mount., Purchase 2001., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., 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: Hurst, Jonathan A., photographer
Date: [ca. 1892]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department portrait photographs - misc - unidentified male [P.9967.1]

Title: [Full-length portrait of an unidentified young African American man]
Description: Full-length portrait of an African American man, attired in a white collared shirt, a pin-striped waistcoat with a watch chain and jacket, lighter-colored pin-striped pants, and shoes. He stands and holds a bowler hat in his right hand and rests his left hand on a chair draped with an animal fur. He is posed in front of a painted backdrop and looks at the viewer., Title supplied by cataloger., Manuscript note on verso: 6420., Purchase 2001., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., 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: Grier, Andrew A., photographer
Date: [ca. 1890]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department cabinet card portraits - photographer - Grier [P.9930.4]

Title: [Portrait of five African American men attired in uniforms, probably band uniforms]
Description: Full-length portrait depicting the five young African American men, standing in a row, in a studio setting. The men on either end are slightly angled toward the man in the middle. The men have short-cropped hair, some with it parted in the middle. One man also has a mustache. The men are attired in white high collar shirts; bow ties; three-buttoned, dark jackets with flourishes across the chest and on the arms; and dark pants. One man (second from right) wears a black bow tie, while the others wear white ones. The man in the middle wears his jacket unbuttoned, while the others have theirs buttoned. Setting includes a palatial backdrop, a balustrade covered in drapery (in left), the edge of a platform (in right), and a fur rug on which the men stand., Title supplied by cataloger., Photographer's imprint with insignia printed on mount. Insignia composed of H.W. monogram with flourishes., Date inferred from years (1888-1892) photographer operated at address listed in imprint., Printed on verso: Harry A. Webb, art photographer, 112 and 114 N. 9th St., Philadelphia. Instantaneous process used exclusively. All negatives preserved. Duplicates, enlargements, or lockets. Can be furnished without resitting. Text surrounded by and within pictorial details. Details resemble pine needles, banners, and a circular ornament. The text and pictorial elements are within an ornamented border composed with bark-like details and ornate cornices adorned with floral twigs., Description reviewed 2022., Access points revised 2022., Harry A. Webb, born in England, worked in Philadelphia as a photographer by 1880. He continued in the profession through 1900. By the time of his death in 1927, he worked as a clerk for William H. Horstmann, a dress trimmings, military and regalia manufactory.
Creator: Webb, Harry A., 1847-1927, photographer
Date: [ca. 1890]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department cabinet card portraits - photographer - Webb [P.2017.40]

Title: [Full-length studio portrait photograph of an unidentified, young African American man, seated]
Description: Shows the man, posed slightly to the left, seated on a wooden chair, and his left leg crossed over his right. He looks toward the photographer. His left hand rests in his lap and his right hand rests on the fore edge of the right arm of the chair. He wears a dark-colored suit, white shirt, neck tie, and laced up boots. Image also includes a backdrop and decorated flooring., Title supplied by cataloger., Photographer's imprint and insignia blindstamped on mount., Paper cover is embossed with floral pictorial details., Gift of J. Murray Atkins Library., Benjamin W. Fowler operated from 238 N. Eighth St., Philadelphia between 1889 and 1917.
Creator: Fowler, Benjamin W., photographer
Date: [ca. 1915]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department portrait photographs - photographer - Fowler [P.2022.54]

Title: [Half-length portrait of James Rodgers]
Description: Glass negative showing a half-length portrait of James Rodgers. Rodgers, attired in a cap, a white collared shirt, a patterned tie with a pin, a waistcoat, and a jacket, sits on a wooden bench in a garden facing slightly left. Trees and the rear of a house are visible in the background., Title supplied by cataloger., Purchase 2001., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Digitization and cataloging has been made possible through the generosity of David Marriott Morris, Eleanor Rhoads Morris Cox, and William Perot Morris in memory of Marriott Canby Morris and his children: Elliston Perot Morris, Marriott Canby Morris Jr., and Janet Morris and in acknowledgment of his grandchildren: William Perot Morris, Eleanor Rhoads Morris Cox, Jonathan White Morris, and David Marriott Morris., Edited.
Creator: Morris, Marriott Canby, 1863-1948, photographer
Date: [ca. 1885]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Marriott C. Morris Collection [P.9895.87.9]

Title: [Three-quarter length portrait of an unidentified African American man]
Description: Three-quarter length portrait of an African American man standing with his hands behind his back facing slightly left. He is attired in a white collared shirt, a bowtie, a waistcoat, a jacket, and pants. His jacket is adorned with a ribbon on his lapel, and there is a watch chain on his waistcoat, both decorated with metal stars, possibly signifying his membership within a fraternal lodge., Title supplied by cataloger., Mount contains gold border., Gift of Mrs. Barbara Jacobsen, 1988., Image slightly out of focus., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., 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: Graeff, photographer
Date: [ca. 1890]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department cabinet card portraits - photographer - Graeff [P.9216]

Title: [African American musicians performing on a riverboat]
Description: Scene depicting a group of four African American men singing and playing guitars while surrounded by spectators, seated on the deck of a riverboat, possibly in Tennessee. The musicians sit on a raised platform with their feet dangling. The third performer to the right plays a star shaped guitar and sings with his head tilted back and mouth wide open. He props his right foot on a stool. In the right, two African American men sit in wooden chairs. Surrounding the musicians, white men, women, and children sit and stand and look on. In the background, people walk on the deck and the smokestacks are visible., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from content and attire of the sitters., Gift of Elsie Wood Harmon, 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 Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014., Wood, a Philadelphia artist, turned to photography in the 1880s exhibiting his work, including genre scenes of African Americans, at national and international photography exhibitions. His photographs won several prizes.
Creator: Wood, George Bacon, 1832-1909, photographer
Date: [ca. 1885]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Photographs-Wood [P.8743.189]

Title: [Unidentified African American man in militia uniform]
Description: Full-length portrait photograph by African American photographer Gallo W. Cheston depicting an African American man in a light-colored militia uniform. The man stands, turned slightly toward the right. He holds a long rifle in front of himself with his gloved hands. His left foot is slightly in front of his right. His uniform includes a Shako cap; jacket with epaulettes, buttons, and service stripes; shoulder strap marked "4"; belt; and pants with a dark vertical stripe down the leg. The tip of a rifle and holster is seen below his back. Portrait also includes, to the man's left, a pulled-back drape propped up on a pedestal. Following the Civil War and during Reconstruction (1865-1877), several African American militia units formed, particularly in the South., Title supplied by cataloger., Name of photographer from photographer's label pasted on verso: Cheston's 227 Lombard St., between 2d and 3d, Philadelphia. All the various styles of pictures known to the art, made in a manner as near perfection as possible; and all Improvements or additions introduced as soon as made and perfected. Your patronage is solicited. N. B. Old pictures copied to any size, in an artistic manner., Date inferred from tenancy of the photographer at the address listed on his label pasted on verso., Photograph mounted on board, rounded at the corners, and with a printed oval-shaped, frame-like border surrounding the image. Border adorned with ornaments and filigree., Photograph altered with ink and watercolor details highlighting parts of the sitter's uniform, including his cap, epaulettes, service stripes, shoulder strap, belt, and buttons, as well as his eyes, eyebrows, and sideburns. The pull of a drape included in the studio setting is also hand colored., Purchased in part with the Davida T. Deutsch African American History Fund., Description reviewed 2022., Access points revised 2022., Gallo W. Cheston (ca. 1846-1882) served as a private of the Pennsylvania National Guard 1871-1873.
Creator: Cheston, Gallo W., approximately 1846-1882, photographer
Date: [ca. 1870]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department portrait photographs - photographer - Cheston [P.2018.3]

Title: No. 5 The duel
Description: Fifth scene in a racist series of African American caricatures originally created for Harper's Weekly in 1878 by Sol Eytinge that satirized the courtship and marriage of and the start of families by "The Twins." The African American figures are depicted with exaggerated features and mannerisms. Scene shows two African American men (i.e., the suitors of the twins), attired in suits, at the start of a duel in a pasture between two trees. The suitor with a squat figure is in the right and the tall suitor in the left. They point guns at each other and look aghast. An African American man (witness), attired in a ruffled suit and hat, stands behind the tree in the foreground and another, in shirtsleeves, kneels behind the tree in the background. “Dr. Black M.D.,” an older African American man, sits behind the standing observer with his medical bag, labeled “Dr. Black M.D.,” in one hand and a medicine bottle in the other. Figures representing the twins are visible in the distant left background near their log cabin., Title from item., Publication information from copyright statement in other reproduced drawings in series: Copyrighted 1881 John McGreer, Chicago, Ill., Name of publisher from other reproduced drawings in series: Cartoon Printing Co., Name of artist stamped on verso: McGreer Chicago., Purchased with the Davida T. Deutsch African American History Fund., Lib. Company. Annual Report, 2017, p. 52., RVCDC, Desciption revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
Creator: McGreer, John, 1839-1908
Date: 1881
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department photo - 5 x 7 - Unid. - Events [P.2017.26.5]

Title: No. 9 Coming events
Description: Ninth scene in a racist series of African American caricatures originally created for Harper's Weekly in 1878 by Sol Eytinge that satirized the courtship and marriage of and the start of families by "The Twins." The African American figures are depicted with exaggerated features and mannerisms. Shows "Dr. Black MD" on his donkey racing with the twins' husbands on their donkeys down a dirt road along a river. A raft sails on the river past a log cabin and a dwelling with smoke-spewing chimneys is visible in the background., Title from item., Name of publisher inscribed in original drawing., Date from copyright statement inscribed in original drawing: Copyrighted 1881 John McGreer, Chicago, Ill., Name of artist from stamp on verso: McGreer Chicago., Purchased with the Davida T. Deutsch African American History Fund., Lib. Company. Annual Report, 2017, p. 52., RVCDC, Desciption revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
Creator: McGreer, John, 1839-1908
Date: 1881
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department photo - 5 x 7 - Unid. - Events [P.2017.26.8]

Title: No. 1. The flirtation
Description: First scene based on a racist series of African American caricatures originally created for Harper's Weekly in 1878 by Sol Eytinge that satirized the courtship and marriage of and the start of families by "The Twins." The African American figures are depicted with exaggerated features and mannerisms. Scene shows the African American twins greeting two African American men. They depart from the gate of their log cabin home, attired in polka dot dresses, aprons, and turned-up brimmed hats. They smile at the two African American men as they begin their walk. One twin lifts her handkerchief. One of the men is tall and thin and he tips his hat. The other is shorter and squat and has a hand on his chest. The men are attired in suits with striped pants that are hemmed high. The twins' log cabin home with their parent's seeing them off is visible in the left background. Background also includes the log cabin with "Dr. Black’s Office"; the town church; a "Dry Goods and Clothing” store; a "Saloon"; and a "Hotel.”, Title from item., Name of publisher from other photographs in series., Date from copyright statement on original drawing: Copyrighted 1881 John McGreer, Chicago, Ill., Name of artist stamped on verso: McGreer Chicago., Purchased with the Davida T. Deutsch African American History Fund., Lib. Company. Annual Report, 2017, p. 52., RVCDC, Desciption revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
Creator: McGreer, John, 1839-1908
Date: 1881
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department photo - 5 x 7 - Unid. - Events [P.2017.26.1]

Title: No. 2 The introduction
Description: Second scene based on a racist series of African American caricatures originally created for Harper's Weekly in 1878 by Sol Eytinge that satirized the courtship and marriage of and the start of families by "The Twins." The African American figures are depicted with exaggerated features and mannerisms. Scene shows the “twins,” side-by-side, curtseying to their two male suitors (one tall and one squat) who stand across the parlor. The tall one bows with his hat in hand. The suitors’ mother, portrayed with a face with many wrinkles and attired in a polka dot dress, stands between the pairs. The room is adorned with a table that holds a vase of flowers, an album, and a glass. Framed pictures, including a portrait, as well as a cuckoo clock adorn the walls near a window with a partially rolled-up window shade. The twins are attired in polka dot dresses and the men in suits., Title from item., Inscribed on original drawing: Remodeled from sketch in Harpers Weekly., Date from copyright statement in other photographs in series: Copyrighted 1881 John McGreer, Chicago, Ill., Name of artist stamped on verso: McGreer Chicago., Name of publisher from other photographs in series., Purchased with the Davida T. Deutsch African American History Fund., Lib. Company. Annual Report, 2017, p. 52., RVCDC, Desciption revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
Creator: McGreer, John, 1839-1908
Date: 1881
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department photo - 5 x 7 - Unid. - Events [P.2017.26.2]

Title: No. 3 The courting
Description: Third scene in a racist series of African American caricatures originally created for Harper's Weekly in 1878 by Sol Eytinge that satirized the courtship and marriage of and the start of families by "The Twins." The African American figures are depicted with exaggerated features and mannerisms. Scene shows the twins and their suitors, seated in an open room with a stove by a mantle. In the left, one twin sits face to face with her tall suitor. She looks down and raises her hand to her mouth. In the right, the other twin sits next to her suitor and smiles. The twin holds a fan to her face. A hat and coat hang on the wall above them. The twins' parents watch from a doorway in the left background. The twins are attired in polka dot dresses and the men in suits., Title from item., Inscribed on original drawing: Reproduced from sketch by Sol Eytinge from Harpers Weekly., Date from copyright statement in other photographs in series: Copyrighted 1881 John McGreer, Chicago, Ill., Name of artist stamped on verso: McGreer Chicago., Name of publisher inscribed on original drawing., Purchased with the Davida T. Deutsch African American History Fund., Lib. Company. Annual Report, 2017, p. 52., RVCDC, Desciption revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
Creator: McGreer, John, 1839-1908
Date: 1881
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department photo - 5 x 7 - Unid. - Events [P.2017.26.3]

Title: No. 4 The proposal
Description: Fourth scene in a racist series of African American caricatures originally created for Harper's Weekly in 1878 by Sol Eytinge that satirized the courtship and marriage of and the start of families by "The Twins." The African American figures are depicted with exaggerated features and mannerisms. Scene shows the twins and their suitors, seated in an open room with a stove by a mantle. The tall suitor of the twin in the left kneels on the floor, his chair fallen behind him, and proposes to her as he holds her right hand. She covers her mouth with the other. The twin of the couple in the right sits on her suitor’s lap as he holds her. Her foot rests on his hat on the floor, and she holds a fan down on her legs. The parents of the twins, an older couple, stand, their mouths ajar, in an open entryway in the left background. Keepsakes and knick knacks adorn the mantle behind the stove. A coat and hat hang above the couple in the right. The twins are attired in polka dot dresses and the men in suits., Title from item., Date from copyright statement inscribed on original drawing: Copyrighted 1881 John McGreer, Chicago, Ill., Name of artist stamped on verso: McGreer Chicago., Name of publisher from other photographs in series., Purchased with the Davida T. Deutsch African American History Fund., Lib. Company. Annual Report, 2017, p. 52., RVCDC, Desciption revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
Creator: McGreer, John, 1839-1908
Date: 1881
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department photo - 5 x 7 - Unid. - Events [P.2017.26.4]

Title: No. 6 The wedding
Description: Sixth scene in a racist series of African American caricatures originally created for Harper's Weekly in 1878 by Sol Eytinge that satirized the courtship and marriage of and the start of families by "The Twins." The African American figures are depicted with exaggerated features and mannerisms. Shows the twins getting married in the parlor in which they were introduced to their fiancés (see No. 2 The Introduction). The twins are attired in white wedding dresses and veils and their betrothed in formal suits. An older African American reverend stands in front of them and officiates. Their relatives, including an older woman, attired in a bonnet, and seated in a rocker and holding in her lap a boy, attired in a striped suit with ruffled collar, watch the nuptials from behind them. "Dr. Black" and other acquaintances watch from through a doorway. Framed pictures adorn the wall. A table with a cake and a decanter with glasses is visible behind the reverend., Title from item., Name of publisher inscribed on original drawing: Cartoon Printing Co. Chicago., Date from copyright statement in other photographs in series: Copyrighted 1881 John McGreer, Chicago, Ill., Name of artist stamped on verso: McGreer Chicago., Purchased with the Davida T. Deutsch African American History Fund., Lib. Company. Annual Report, 2017, p. 52., RVCDC, Desciption revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
Creator: McGreer, John, 1839-1908
Date: 1881
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department photo - 5 x 7 - Unid. - Events [P.2017.26.6]

Title: Testimonial banquet to Ms. Eugenia M. Neal. Daughter Ruler Keystone Temple, No. 448 I.B.P.O.E.W., Dec. 8, 1930. O. V. Catto Elks Home, Philadelphia
Description: Panoramic group portrait photograph depicting over one hundred African American men and women, of all ages, at a testimonial banquet of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World for Eugenia Neal (1873-1949). The attendees, attired in evening wear, sit at rows of tables and a few booths in the right of the room. Attendees wear suits, tuxedos, and evening and cocktail dresses. Most of the sitters do not smile and face the camera. Some are turned away or eating. Some of the men wear their I.B.P.O.E.W. fezzes. In the right background, one woman has an arch of flowers over her. The tables are covered in white tablecloths and lined with plates of food, serving platters, and silver pitchers. In the background, at the back of the room, a small band of men musicians is seated next to a woman at a piano. Streamers and a paper bell adorn the ceiling. The O.V. Catto Elks Lodge began in 1903 as a chapter of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World established in 1897 with a mission to "practice charity by providing and performing charitable services in our communities throughout the world and by promoting harmony, friendship, and unity among our esteemed members." By 1926, the Lodge had over 3000 members, and in 1929, it relocated to a new building that included a boxing ring, basketball court, and rooftop garden, at 16th and Fitzwater. Eugenia Neal, born Eugenia Brisby in Virginia, worked as a typesetter in Philadelphia by 1920. Married to Moses Neal in 1896, the couple resided in Atlantic City before relocating to Philadelphia by 1910. As a Daughter Ruler, Neal lead the Keystone Temple with her male counterpart, Exalted Ruler, and "under their leadership, all Elks shall show[ed] truth in activities and live[d] to help others, while promoting Brotherly and Sisterly Love to all.", Title and date from item.
Date: [1930]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department framed graphics [P.2023.5]

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