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- Title
- The Gale costume lectures music and myth of old Japan
- Description
- Program for "Music and Myth of Old Japan," performed by Albert Gale and Martha Brockway Gale as a part of their lecture series. On the cover, shows Albert Gale "drawn by a Japanese artist" wearing a chonmage hairstyle and attired in a kimono and holding a fan in his right hand. On pages two and three are photographs of Albert and Martha, attired in kimonos, acting in scenes from the performance. In the left, the image titled "posing" shows Albert kneeling and playing a shamisen as Martha stands on one leg and holds a fan behind her head. "Ready for guests" depicts Martha holding her hands up with a fan in her right hand. "Salutation" shows Albert and Martha facing each other in a deep bow. In the top center, "the stage setting" depicts Albert and Martha kneeling surrounded by Japanese objects, including screens, parasols, and a potted flower. In the right, "magic" shows Albert standing with his left hand out and holding a fan in his right hand as Martha kneels and looks up at him. "Ready for the street" shows Martha standing and holding a parasol. "'Ikebana (flower arrangement)'" shows Martha kneeling and placing flowers into a vase. Drawings in between the photographs include: a Japanese boy, attired in a kimono, with his back to the viewer and holding a kite shaped as a fish as a bird flies; vases filled with flowers; and a bird. On page four are bust-length portraits of Albert and Martha attired in Western dress. There are drawings of a landscape view with ships and a mountain and a Japanese woman, attired in a kimono, carrying a baby on her back., Title from item., Date inferred from dates of the stage production., Manuscript note written on cover: "Given under auspices of Senior class [extras?]. In Town Hall Wed. eve., Dec. 13. 1913. Adm. 50¢ Student 25¢. R.L.M., Text printed on cover: Elaborate stage setting of handsome Japanese draperies, rich costumes of Oriental silks and gold brocade, priceless musical instruments from the Buddhist and Shinto Temples, fascinating fold-tales interwoven with seductive melody, a glimpse of the queer and quaint customs of the "little brown people," the art-life of a strange, poetic race revealed. It takes you away from the commonplace and transports you to a wonderland of fancy - a land of myths and mystics., Contents: Program: Mythological birth of the fairyland of Nippon (Japan) - Kimigayo (the National Anthem of Japan) - The Music of a race the expression of its character - Banzai march - Japanese scales - The Shakuhachi - Oiwaki - Oiwaki (harmonized) - Shen Nen (New Year's song) - The Sono koto - Hime Matsu - Legend of the Koto - Legend of the bells - Costumes - Shin-fa-diu (Chinese melody) - Sumera-Mikuni (patriotic Japanese melody) - The Theater orchestra - Percussive instruments of wood - The Hioshigi - Riu-kiu-bushi (Formosan air) - A Buddhist prayer - Drums - Sakura (cherry tree) - The Hichiriki - Musical frogs and beetles. No intermission. Part II. A short scene from Japanese home-life, given entirely in the Japanese language, introducing home devotions to ancestors, flower arrangement, tea-drinking, posing to music and Japanese magic., Albert Gale (1870-1952) was a musicologist who described himself as a "ethnologist of music." His wife, Martha Brockway Gale, was a vocalist and choral director. Together they toured the country, including Philadelphia, giving lectures and recitals starting around 1906 on Native American, Chinese, and Japanese music and culture. Gale never traveled to Japan. He took lessons on Japanese and Chinese instruments from Japanese musicians in Seattle.
- Creator
- Gale Printing Co., engraver
- Date
- [ca. 1913]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *ephemera -- Misc. - Gale [P.2025.26]
- Title
- Pretty Hula Girls, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Description
- Photograph showing four Hawaiian women playing musical instruments and dancing outside at Punch Bowl Mountain in Honolulu. The women wear their long hair down and are attired in flower leis around the crown of their heads and around their necks, white chemise shirts, and skirts. Two women sit holding a gourd and a guitar. Behind them, two women stand with their left arms out as they dance the hula., Title from item., Date from copyright statement: Copyright 1901, by B. L. Singley., Text printed on verso: We here see a group of hula dancers, with leis of fragrant leaves and flowers crowning their heads and cast about their necks, a very pretty custom of the Hawaiians, especially worn on festive occasions. The hula hula has always been a feature of court festivities and also a common entertainment of the islanders, often danced in the lanai or open parlor of the home. The ancient hula was not danced to the accompaniment of musical instruments but rhythmic measures muttered by old men who kept time by striking a gourd; in the modern version of the dance, the lissom dancers, trained from childhood to delight the senses, sway their graceful figures to the music of the flute, guitar and other stringed instuments and the beat of the tom-tom. The white chemise and airy skirt with garlands about head and shoulders and sometimes ankle decorations form the dress of the dusky hula girls. This view was taken in the crater of Punch Bowl Mountain, an extinct volcano., Keystone View Company was founded in 1892 by B.L. Singley, an amateur photographer from Meadville, Pennsylvania. Keystone View Company was the leader in promoting stereographs for educational purposes. In 1912 the company purchased rights to some Underwood & Underwood negatives for use in educational sets, and in 1922 purchased the remaining stock of Underwood materials. The company remained in business until 1970.
- Creator
- Keystone View Company
- Date
- 1901
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department stereo - Keystone View Company - Portraits & Genre [P.2014.12.5]
- Title
- Tommy polka Dedicated to Tateish Onogero [or Tommy] of the Japanese Embassy
- Description
- Sheet music for a polka composed by Charles Grobe and depicting a full-length, seated portrait of Tateishi Onojirô, a member of the Japanese Embassy that traveled to the United States in 1860 to ratify the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, also known as the Harris Treaty. Shows the teenage Onojirô, wearing his hair tied back and attired in a kimono and shoes, sitting in a wooden chair and looking directly at the viewer. He holds a sword in its scabbard tied to his waist with his left hand and holds another sword in his right hand which points down to the floor. In the right is a side table covered in a floral print tablecloth and with a vase of flowers and a Japanese kasa (hat). Tateishi Onojirô, whom the media called “Tommy” was the youngest member of the ambassadorial delegation and served as an interpreter-in-training accompanying his adoptive father, formal interpreter Tateishi Tokujûrô., Composed by Charles Grobe., Copyright statement: Entered according to Act of Congress A.D. 1860 by Lee & Walker at the Clerk’s Office of the Dt. Ct. of the En. Dt. of Pa., Polka dance for piano., Dedication: To Tateish Onogero (or Tommy) of the Japanese Embassy., First line of text: Wives and maids by scores are flocking, Round that charming, little man, Known as Tommy, witty Tommy, Yellow Tommy, from Japan., Number 4 in 5 pointed star on lower right of the title page; Op: 1211; Publisher's Plate # 8085.4., Sold by: James E. Lent, Music Store, 359 Fulton St., Brooklyn, Stoddard Pianofortes for Sale or Rent., Retrospective conversion record: original entry.
- Creator
- Grobe, Charles, 1817-1880
- Date
- 1860
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Books Rare Sheet Music Tom 8530.F
- Title
- [Ralston family cased photograph collection]
- Description
- Collection of daguerreotype and ambrotype portraits, several by Norristown daguerreotypist William Stroud, portraying clergyman and founder of Oakland Female Institute James Grier Ralston, his wife Mary Anderson Larimore Ralston, their daughters, and his and his wife’s female siblings, and women teachers at the Institute. Contains bust-, half-, three-quarter, and full-length portraits of individual and pairs of sitters. Sitters are often seated, but a number of the portrait depicts sitters in a standing pose. The women’s and girl’s attire includes bonnets; off-the-shoulder bateau neckline dresses; high-neck, long-sleeved dresses with lace collars and cuffs; brooch and belt chatelaines; and earrings. Dresses worn by the female sitters are often a solid dark color, but occasionally are of a pattern design or light color. James Grier Ralston’s attire included broad bow ties, vests, jackets, and suits. Many of the images also contain props, including covered side tables, chairs, flowers, possibly an ambrotype, and a crumpled piece of cloth., Sitters in addition to James Grier Ralston and Mary Anderson Larimore Ralston include their daughters Anna Larimore Ralston, Ella Grier Ralston, Lilly Grier Ralston (who died at 11 months old), and Cora (Cara) Ralston; Institute music teacher Mrs. John Hunsicker, i.e., Fannie Henry Hunsicker (married by James G. Ralston); Mary’s sister and Institute graduate, Hetty Clark Larimore; and Institute teacher and sister of James, Agnes Caldwell Ralston; Institute graduate Martha (Mattie) Divine (Mrs. Fleming); and an unidentified woman., Posed portrait pairs include images of Mary Anderson Larimore Ralston and daughter Anna Larimore Ralston (P.2012.5.6) in which Anna sits in Mary’s lap with her mother’s hand on her head; and Anna Larimore Ralston and Ella Grier Ralston (P.2012.5.8) which Anna stands next to Ella who sits on a chair, while she rests her arm on a covered side table adorned with a basket of flowers; Anna Larimore Ralston and Fanny Hunsicker (P.2012.5.16) in which Fanny, seated, has her one hand at her hip and her other hand and arm around the waist of Anna who stands; and Hetty Clark Larimore and Mary Larimore Ralston (p.2012.5.17) in which the women are seated, side by side, and Hetty holds a bound object, possibly an ambrotype and Mary holds a crumpled white cloth., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from photographic medium and age and attire of sitters., Photographers include William Stroud (Norristown, Pa.) and Theodore L. Chase (Philadelphia, Pa.)., Various-shaped mats, including oval, elliptical, double elliptical, and non pareil., Various colored pads, including blue, red, and maroon velvet or silk, several with embossing. Embossings include photographer’s imprints and/or imagery. Imagery includes floral and geometric designs, scroll work, and eagles., Primarily leather cases, and one thermoplastic case. Case designs vary, but are predominantly rose and mixed flower designs, in addition to geometric, scroll, and quatrefoil designs. Designs also include Pressed Flower, plate 154; The Delicate Roses, variant, plate 123; A Spray of Roses, plate 131; Mixed Garden Flowers, plate 133; Two Lilies, variant, see plate 112 and 113 in American miniature case art by Floyd and Marion Rinhart (Cranbury, New Jersey: A.S. Barnes and Co., Inc., 1969)., Majority of sitters identified by accompanying slips of paper with manuscript notes., Several of the images contain pink tinting on the cheeks of the sitters., P.2012.5.4, P.2012.5.8, P.2012.5.11-15, P.2012.5.21 contains daguerrean's imprint on pad or inside rim of case. Various imprints include: William Stroud, Norristown; William Stroud's Skylight Gallery, Norristown, Pa.; Stroud’s Ambrotypes Norristown, Pa., P.2012.5.6 contains dagurrean's imprint on pad: Theodore L. Chase, N.E. cor. Chestnut & Fifth Sts., Fannie Henry Hunsicker was a woman of Chinese descent. Official records are conflicting as to whether she was born in China, at sea, or in Connecticut., Several of the images contain weeping glass deterioration, tarnished plates, or other damage., Inventory of collection available at repository., See Sarah Weatherwax, "Revealing the Ralston Family," The Daguerreian Society Quarterly (July-September 2021), p. 3-6., Clergyman James Grier Ralston (1815-1880) founded Oakland Female Institute in 1845 in Norristown, Pa. Ralston studied at the Theological Seminary at Princeton and headed the Female Seminary at Oxford, Chester Country, PA before establishing Oakland. He married Mary A. Larimore (1822-1891) in 1842 and they had four children Anna L. (1848-1902), Ella M.(1847-1924), Lillie G. (1852-1853) and Cara G. (1856-1928), with Lillie dying in infancy. Ralston’s children were educated and/or taught at Oakland, as did his sister Agnes C. Ralston. The Institute operated until 1880 and the death of Ralston
- Date
- [ca. 1845-ca. 1855]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department cased photos - Ralston Family [P.2012.5.1-22]

