Certificate for the mutual aid association incorporated in 1859 containing seven vignettes showing street cars and street car depots and stations. Two untitled views flank the certificate text. One shows a horse-drawn omnibus traveling during the night by lantern (left) and the other shows a brightly painted and elegantly detailed steam powered street car (right). The steam powered car passes a couple in the doorway of the "Duval" lithography studio. Other vignettes show passenger railroad depots at “Race & Vine Sts.”; “Second & Third Sts.”; “Tenth & Eleventh Sts,”; “Ridge Avenue”; and “Fifth & Sixth Sts." Views include omnibuses parked in and arriving and departing from the depots; pedestrian and street traffic, including ladies on promenade, a man herding a flock of sheep, and a horse-drawn carriage; and neighboring buildings. Race Street view also includes a bridge and Fifth Street view includes train traffic in the background. Other incidental figures include a man seated on a chair and conversing on the sidewalk; two men leaning on the fence of a stable yard; and two young men descending a street enbankment. Also includes at the top of the print an eagle holding an American shield in its claws and a banner in its beak. Banner reads “Instituted Nov. 27, 1858. Incorporated March 30th 1859." Twigs covered with vines separate the graphic elements. The philanthropic society was established by city passenger railway employees for the purpose "of assisting each other when in distress," including securing a burial lot in Greenwood Cemetery., pdcp00034, Title supplied by Wainwright: This certifies That [blank] was elected a member of The Passenger Railroad Relief Association of Philadelphia., Philadelphia on Stone, Free Library of Philadelphia: Oversize Philadelphiana - Societies - Membership Certificates
Creator
Queen, James Fuller, 1820 or 21-1886, artist
Date
[ca. 1859]
Location
Free Library of Philadelphia. | Print and Picture Collection. FLP FLP Oversize Philadelphiana - Societies - Membership Certificates
