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- Title
- [Scrapbook with linen pages]
- Description
- Scrapbook containing scraps, cutouts, periodical illustrations, and trade cards. Contents depict sentimental, genre, and religious scenes; images of children, animals, mothers and mothering; fancy heads; patriotic, historical, and allegorical figures, including George and Martha Washington; advertisements for Philadelphia, Hartford (Conn.), and New York businesses, including promotions for druggists, patent medicines, and soap; imagery documenting the Centennial Exhibition 1876, including portraits of prominent figures; figures in European costumes; scenes of rural life and European scenery; and landscape views. Also includes a small number of views of factories and industrial buildings; a patent medicine advertisement including an African American man servant character opening a door (p. 76); a print depicting a stanza from Robert Burn’s “The Cotter’s Saturday Night” (p. 22); illustrations of Little Red Riding Hood; the periodical cartoon “A Parent’s Vengeance” (p. 53); "La Belle Chocolatiere from the original painting by Leotard now in the Dresden Gallery" (p. 57); a cutout from a women’s fashion plate (p. 77); H.M.S. Pinafore theatrical character illustrations printed by Ledger Job Printing Office (p. 64); and a calling card for Mary S. Bassett (back inside cover)., Businesses represented include B. T. Babbit (soap); Clark’s O.N.T. (thread); C. F. Rump (leather goods); Corning & Tappan (perfumes); Marburg Bros. (tobacco); Devlin & Co. (clothiers); Dundas, Dirk & Co. (pharmacists); [Hiram] Duryea’s Starch Works; Fairbanks scales (E. & T. Fairbanks & Co.); J. Milton Brewer (druggist); C. L. Hauthaway & Sons (shoe polish); Charles S. Higgins (German laundry soap); The New York Bazar (fancy goods, Phillip Isaacs, proprietor); Demorest’s Monthly Magazine (W. J. Demorest, publisher); Edwin C. Burt (shoes); E. P. & Wm. Kellogg; Samuel Gerry & Cos. (patent medicine); Alex. Boost (analytical chemist); Chas. F. Hurd & Co. (chinaware); E. P. & Wm. Kellogg (photographers & art dealers); and Willcox & Gibbs (sewing machines)., Title supplied by cataloger., Front cover stamped: Scrap Book, Various artists, engravers, and printers including F. Beard; Illman Bros.; Ledger Job Print; L. Prang & Co.; Major & Knapp; Thomas Moran; and Shober & Carqueville., Cutouts and calling card pasted to inside front and back covers., Edges of scrapbook leaves contains stitching in different colors, including yellow, green, blue, red, lilac, and purple., Purchased with funds for the Visual Culture Program., Housed in phase box., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [ca. 1876-ca. 1879]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department albums - Linen [P.2013.69.1]
- Title
- Life in New York
- Description
- Collection of primarily racist social caricatures lampooning the etiquette and conventions of early 19th-century, middle-class New Yorkers, particularly the growing community of free African American persons. Eliciting the heightened racism in the antebellum North, the African American men, women, and children characters are depicted with exaggerated features, wearing boldly-patterned and colored clothes, and speaking in a vernacular to be portrayed and denigrated as illegitimate elite society. Caricatures also address “rules” of courtship, fashion, classism, and a dance lesson. Some caricatures also represent the sexism and ethnic divisions of the era., Influenced by the "Life in Philadelphia" series of 1828-1830, the series consists of at least eight prints published around 1830 by eminent New York lithographer Anthony Imbert. Although often attributed to Edward W. Clay, the different styles of the caricatures imply that the prints were executed by various artists employed by Imbert. The African American caricature, "A Five Points Exclusive," a lithograph published in the early 1830s by John Pendleton, an associate of Imbert, has been included as a part of the series., Serie title from items., Dates inferred from content and names of publishers., Original series contained at least eight prints., LCP holds four of the series. Three are first editions., Nancy Reynolds Davison's E.W. Clay: American Political Caricaturist of Jacksonian America (PhD. diss., The University of Michigan, 1980), p. 93-95. (LCP Print Room Yz, A423.O), 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., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
- Date
- 1830-ca. 1834, bulk 1830
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in New York (New York Set)
- Title
- Life in New York. My name is Antonio Ceasa de Wilson..."
- Description
- Racist and sexist caricature exploiting a documented assault case reported as a lampoon in the September 30, 1829 edition of the "Morning Courier and New York Enquirer" about two African American men in an altercation over the intentions and handkerchief of "Miss Minta." In front of the left side of a police station counter attended by seven white men, "Antonio Cesea de Wilson" is being held back by his coat lapel by a white older man. The older man, attired in a waist coat and pantaloons, has a slight frown. Wilson, portrayed with wide, round eyes and a plain expression, and attired in a cravat, shirt, waistcoat, vest, and pants, stands with his feet apart and his left arm outstretched and his hand in a fist as his other arm is pulled back. He explains to the police how he came to the tussle with "Massa Sambo." On the right side of the counter, "Massa Sambo," portrayed with a plain expression, and attired in a ruffled shirt, cravat, waistcoat, and stirrup pants, stands and gestures behind him to Miss Minta." She holds a closed fan up in one hand and a parasol to the ground with the other. She is portrayed with a plain expression and wears her hair in a top knot and is attired in a long-sleeved, double-skirted dress with a check pattern and lace details, stockings, and slip on shoes. She looks in the direction of “Massa Sambo.” He explains that he is the receiver of the handkerchief and her rightful suitor. He has not only received her "witching glance" but has given her several gifts, including a lock of hair. The men, congregated behind the station's counter, include the magistrate recording the testimonies. The men are attired in waistcoats, shirts, and cravats. Many of the men laugh and, in the right, one reads a paper near shelves of ledgers. The African American figures are portrayed with oversize features., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., Contains several lines of dialogue in dialect and the vernacular below the image: My name is Antonio Ceasa de Wilson, I have been paying a visit to Miss Araminta Arabella Tomson in de oyster cellar where she live, Where Massa Sambo come in and say “You have no business here” so I look at Miss Minta and she say I have, and this gentleman and me have a tussle. The handkerchief is not his, but one Miss Minta made a present of to me.”/I can assure you “that Miss Araminta did give me the witching glance, which told me as plain as eye could speak that I was the more welcome visiter, and as to the handkerchief, it is Miss Minta’s, and I have better right to it than this other gentleman, as I have presented to her, a scissor, a timble, and a lock of my hair.”, Anthony Imbert, a New York artist, was a pioneer of American lithography who was also known for his ability as a marine painter., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
- Creator
- Canova, Dominico, artist
- Date
- [ca. 1830]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in New York (New York Set) [P.9704.1]
- Title
- Life in New York. My name is Antonio Ceasa de Wilson..."
- Description
- Racist and sexist caricature exploiting a documented assault case reported as a lampoon in the September 30, 1829 edition of the "Morning Courier and New York Enquirer" about two African American men in an altercation over the intentions and handkerchief of "Miss Minta." In front of the left side of a police station counter attended by seven white men, "Antonio Cesea de Wilson" is being held back by his coat lapel by a white older man. The older man, attired in a waist coat and pantaloons, has a slight frown. Wilson, portrayed with wide, round eyes and a plain expression, and attired in a cravat, shirt, waistcoat, vest, and pants, stands with his feet apart and his left arm outstretched and his hand in a fist as his other arm is pulled back. He explains to the police how he came to the tussle with "Massa Sambo." On the right side of the counter, "Massa Sambo," portrayed with a plain expression, and attired in a ruffled shirt, cravat, waistcoat, and stirrup pants, stands and gestures behind him to Miss Minta." She holds a closed fan up in one hand and a parasol to the ground with the other. She is portrayed with a plain expression and wears her hair in a top knot and is attired in a long-sleeved, double-skirted dress with a check pattern and lace details, stockings, and slip on shoes. She looks in the direction of “Massa Sambo.” He explains that he is the receiver of the handkerchief and her rightful suitor. He has not only received her "witching glance" but has given her several gifts, including a lock of hair. The men, congregated behind the station's counter, include the magistrate recording the testimonies. The men are attired in waistcoats, shirts, and cravats. Many of the men laugh and, in the right, one reads a paper near shelves of ledgers. The African American figures are portrayed with oversize features., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., Contains several lines of dialogue in dialect and the vernacular below the image: My name is Antonio Ceasa de Wilson, I have been paying a visit to Miss Araminta Arabella Tomson in de oyster cellar where she live, Where Massa Sambo come in and say “You have no business here” so I look at Miss Minta and she say I have, and this gentleman and me have a tussle. The handkerchief is not his, but one Miss Minta made a present of to me.”/I can assure you “that Miss Araminta did give me the witching glance, which told me as plain as eye could speak that I was the more welcome visiter, and as to the handkerchief, it is Miss Minta’s, and I have better right to it than this other gentleman, as I have presented to her, a scissor, a timble, and a lock of my hair.”, Anthony Imbert, a New York artist, was a pioneer of American lithography who was also known for his ability as a marine painter., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
- Creator
- Canova, Dominico, artist
- Date
- [ca. 1830]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in New York (New York Set) [P.9704.1]
- Title
- A five points exclusive taking the first steps towards the Last Polish
- Description
- Racist caricature depicting a group of middle-class African American women receiving a dance lesson at the "Bon Enfantfile Cross St. Saloon." Shows the four women in a semi-circle, looking at the white dance instructor, “Mr. Boeyfong,” in the right and one woman, in the center, looking at the viewer. Two of the women slightly pull up their skirts, one has her heels together and the other points her right foot. The women wear their hair in top knots, and all but one also wear hair adornments. Three are attired in off the shoulder puffed-sleeved dresses and one woman wears a blue dress with a collar. They all wear jewelry, including earrings and necklaces, as well as ankle-laced shoes and a red ribbon on one leg and a blue ribbon on the other, the latter to aid in the lesson. In the right, “Mr. Boeyfong” stands with his left foot pointed out and holding a violin in one hand and the corresponding bow down toward the foot of the woman across from him. He instructs the pupil to "hold in ze stomach and stick out behind!" He has sideburns and wears his dark hair styled out to the sides. He is attired in a white ruffled shirt, a vest with a floral pattern, a cravat with a floral pattern, a black waistcoat, blue pantaloons, white stockings, and slip on shoes adorned with ribbons. Behind them is a sign with the "Regulations" of the "Saloon" which state that the women must wear the ribbons to distinguish their right foot from their left; they must not come undressed; and they may not have more than ten partners at one time. The women figures are portrayed with oversized features and their skin tone is depicted in brown hand coloring. The man figure is portrayed with muscular physical features and small feet., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., Contains several lines of dialogue in dialect and the vernacular above the image: Allons Mademoiselle raise ze leg wis ze red ribbon so bring him to ze ozer leg wis de blue ribbon, hold up ze head, elevate ze bosom, hold in ze stomach and stick out behind! tres bien ver well-/Now Mr. Boeyfong is dat ‘ere step right?, Contains a caption below the image, a quote from Shakespeare's "Hamlet":” A station like the herald Mercury. New lighted on a heaven kissing hill. -Shakespeare., 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., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
- Date
- [ca. 1833]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in New York (New York Set) [P.9187]
- Title
- Life in New York. "Blakey I say, can't you by the powers of your stame engine..?"
- Description
- Racist caricature depicting a conversation between a middle-class African American merchant and a working-class Irish man. Depicts the well-dressed man "merchant" of a "Patent Steam" laundry and his well-dressed woman companion being approached by a white Irish man outside the doorway to his “Patent Steam Scouring Establishment. Clothes of all kinds, etc.” He wears a top hat, green waistcoat, a white ruffled shirt and stiff collar, white pants, and black shoes. He holds a walking stick. His companion wears a yellow, wide-brimmed hat adorned with feathers and ribbons, a blue and yellow, long-sleeved dress with lace details, white stockings and slipper shoes. She holds up a monocle toward the Irish man who is in bare feet and attired in worn and torn clothing. He holds a stained and patched waistcoat. The Irish man asks the merchant to "shift" his coat for a new one, as by the appearance of the merchant's coat, he is just the man for whom he has been looking since leaving "Kilarney." The merchant and his companion are "salted" by the notion that they are of the same nature as the "ruffian" and will "larn" him better by telling him to "ply to the office." The African American figures are portrayed with oversized features and their skin tone is depicted in black hand coloring., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., Contains several lines of dialogue in dialect and the vernacular below the image: What you mean sir! I’m a merchant, I larn you better! cant you rid dat dere Sign, ply to the Office./Aint it too gusting for a lady of quality to be salted so in Street by Ruffians./Blakey I say! Can’t you by the powers of your Stame Engine Shift me this coat for a new one! I trust by the looks of yours youre the very man I have been looking for since I left Kilarney., Inscribed: Pl. 2., Charles Ingrey was a premier London lithographic printer of the 1830s., LCP AR [Annual Report] 1972 p. 60., 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., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Purchase 1972.
- Date
- [ca. 1831]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in New York (London Set) [8025.F.2]
- Title
- Life in New York. "Blakey I say, can't you by the powers of your stame engine..?"
- Description
- Racist caricature depicting a conversation between a middle-class African American merchant and a working-class Irish man. Depicts the well-dressed man "merchant" of a "Patent Steam" laundry and his well-dressed woman companion being approached by a white Irish man outside the doorway to his “Patent Steam Scouring Establishment. Clothes of all kinds, etc.” He wears a top hat, green waistcoat, a white ruffled shirt and stiff collar, white pants, and black shoes. He holds a walking stick. His companion wears a yellow, wide-brimmed hat adorned with feathers and ribbons, a blue and yellow, long-sleeved dress with lace details, white stockings and slipper shoes. She holds up a monocle toward the Irish man who is in bare feet and attired in worn and torn clothing. He holds a stained and patched waistcoat. The Irish man asks the merchant to "shift" his coat for a new one, as by the appearance of the merchant's coat, he is just the man for whom he has been looking since leaving "Kilarney." The merchant and his companion are "salted" by the notion that they are of the same nature as the "ruffian" and will "larn" him better by telling him to "ply to the office." The African American figures are portrayed with oversized features and their skin tone is depicted in black hand coloring., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., Contains several lines of dialogue in dialect and the vernacular below the image: What you mean sir! I’m a merchant, I larn you better! cant you rid dat dere Sign, ply to the Office./Aint it too gusting for a lady of quality to be salted so in Street by Ruffians./Blakey I say! Can’t you by the powers of your Stame Engine Shift me this coat for a new one! I trust by the looks of yours youre the very man I have been looking for since I left Kilarney., Inscribed: Pl. 2., Charles Ingrey was a premier London lithographic printer of the 1830s., LCP AR [Annual Report] 1972 p. 60., 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., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Purchase 1972.
- Date
- [ca. 1831]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in New York (London Set) [8025.F.2]
- Title
- Life in New York. "Shall I hab the honour of glanting...?"
- Description
- Racist and sexist caricature depicting two African American dandies attempting to attain a date with "Miss Dinah" who stands between them on a New York street. In the left, "Mr. Sancho", wearing tan pantaloons, a brown waistcoat, a high neck collar, and blue cravat, stands with his left foot pointed, and slightly bows. He holds his top hat in his left, ungloved hand and his removed glove in his right, gloved hand. He asks “Miss Dinah” to "squeze the brupt inbitation" and go to the Battery with him. "Miss Dinah," dressed in a pink gown with puffed sleeves and a lace collar, a wide-brimmed hat with pink and yellow ribbons, feathers, and a veil, as well as gloves, has her head turned to him and informs him that she has a "privyous gagement to Mr. Romio." She also holds a closed fan in her right hand. In the right, "Mr. Romio," dressed in a black top hat, striped, tan trousers, a blue waistcoat, a large pink tie, and with a monocle hanging from his neck, stands slightly bowed, and responds that as he has been standing there for three hours he hopes that she will not break her "gagemen" to him. The figures are portrayed with oversize features and their skin tone is depicted in brown hand coloring., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., Contains several lines of dialogue in dialect and the vernacular below the image: Shall I hab the honour of glanting you to the battery, this afternoon, Miss Dinah? Hope you’ll squeeze the brupt inbitation/O you allready squeezed, Mr. Sancho, only, I made a privyous gagement to Mr. Romio/hope you not going to break your gagemen, to me, I hab been standing here, for three hours., Anthony Imbert, a New York artist, was a pioneer of American lithography who was also known for his ability as a marine painter., Shane White and Graham White's Stylin': African American Expressive Culture... (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1998), p. 95. (LCP Ii 4, A2880.O)., 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., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Purchase 1971.
- Date
- [ca. 1830]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in New York (New York Set) [7993.F.2]
- Title
- Life in New York. "Shall I hab the honour of glanting...?"
- Description
- Racist and sexist caricature depicting two African American dandies attempting to attain a date with "Miss Dinah" who stands between them on a New York street. In the left, "Mr. Sancho", wearing tan pantaloons, a brown waistcoat, a high neck collar, and blue cravat, stands with his left foot pointed, and slightly bows. He holds his top hat in his left, ungloved hand and his removed glove in his right, gloved hand. He asks “Miss Dinah” to "squeze the brupt inbitation" and go to the Battery with him. "Miss Dinah," dressed in a pink gown with puffed sleeves and a lace collar, a wide-brimmed hat with pink and yellow ribbons, feathers, and a veil, as well as gloves, has her head turned to him and informs him that she has a "privyous gagement to Mr. Romio." She also holds a closed fan in her right hand. In the right, "Mr. Romio," dressed in a black top hat, striped, tan trousers, a blue waistcoat, a large pink tie, and with a monocle hanging from his neck, stands slightly bowed, and responds that as he has been standing there for three hours he hopes that she will not break her "gagemen" to him. The figures are portrayed with oversize features and their skin tone is depicted in brown hand coloring., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., Contains several lines of dialogue in dialect and the vernacular below the image: Shall I hab the honour of glanting you to the battery, this afternoon, Miss Dinah? Hope you’ll squeeze the brupt inbitation/O you allready squeezed, Mr. Sancho, only, I made a privyous gagement to Mr. Romio/hope you not going to break your gagemen, to me, I hab been standing here, for three hours., Anthony Imbert, a New York artist, was a pioneer of American lithography who was also known for his ability as a marine painter., Shane White and Graham White's Stylin': African American Expressive Culture... (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1998), p. 95. (LCP Ii 4, A2880.O)., 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., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Purchase 1971.
- Date
- [ca. 1830]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in New York (New York Set) [7993.F.2]
- Title
- Life in New York. The rivals
- Description
- Racist and sexist caricature depicting two African American dandies attempting to attain a date with "Miss Dinah" who stands between them on a New York street. In the left, "Mr. Sancho", wearing light blue pantaloons, a blue waistcoat, a high neck collar, and cravat, stands with his left foot pointed, and slightly bows, He holds his top hat in his left, ungloved hand and his removed glove in his right, gloved hand. He asks “Miss Dinah” to "squeze the brupt inbitation" and go to the Battery with him. "Miss Dinah," dressed in a yellow gown with puffed sleeves and a lace collar, a wide-brimmed hat with ribbons, feathers, and a veil, as well as gloves, has her head turned to him and informs him that she has a "privyous gagement to Mr. Romio." She also holds a closed fan in her right hand. In the right, "Mr. Romio," dressed in a black top hat, white trousers, a green waistcoat, a large blue tie, and with a monocle hanging from his neck, stands slightly bowed, and responds that as he has been standing there for three hours he hopes that she will not break her "gagemen" to him. The figures are portrayed with oversize features and their skin tone is depicted in black hand coloring., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., Contains several lines of dialogue in dialect and the vernacular below the image: Shall I hab the honour of glanting you to the battery, this afternoon, Miss Dinah? Hope you’ll squeeze the brupt inbitation/O you allready squeezed, Mr. Sancho, only, I made a privyous gagement to Mr. Romio/hope you not going to break your gagemen, to me, I hab been standing here, for three hours., Charles Ingrey was a premier London lithographic printer of the 1830s., Shane White and Graham White's Stylin': African American Expressive Culture...(Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1998), p. 95. (LCP Ii 4, A2880.O)., 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., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Purchase 1968.
- Date
- [ca. 1831]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in New York (London Set) [7701.F]
- Title
- Life in New York. The rivals
- Description
- Racist and sexist caricature depicting two African American dandies attempting to attain a date with "Miss Dinah" who stands between them on a New York street. In the left, "Mr. Sancho", wearing light blue pantaloons, a blue waistcoat, a high neck collar, and cravat, stands with his left foot pointed, and slightly bows, He holds his top hat in his left, ungloved hand and his removed glove in his right, gloved hand. He asks “Miss Dinah” to "squeze the brupt inbitation" and go to the Battery with him. "Miss Dinah," dressed in a yellow gown with puffed sleeves and a lace collar, a wide-brimmed hat with ribbons, feathers, and a veil, as well as gloves, has her head turned to him and informs him that she has a "privyous gagement to Mr. Romio." She also holds a closed fan in her right hand. In the right, "Mr. Romio," dressed in a black top hat, white trousers, a green waistcoat, a large blue tie, and with a monocle hanging from his neck, stands slightly bowed, and responds that as he has been standing there for three hours he hopes that she will not break her "gagemen" to him. The figures are portrayed with oversize features and their skin tone is depicted in black hand coloring., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., Contains several lines of dialogue in dialect and the vernacular below the image: Shall I hab the honour of glanting you to the battery, this afternoon, Miss Dinah? Hope you’ll squeeze the brupt inbitation/O you allready squeezed, Mr. Sancho, only, I made a privyous gagement to Mr. Romio/hope you not going to break your gagemen, to me, I hab been standing here, for three hours., Charles Ingrey was a premier London lithographic printer of the 1830s., Shane White and Graham White's Stylin': African American Expressive Culture...(Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1998), p. 95. (LCP Ii 4, A2880.O)., 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., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Purchase 1968.
- Date
- [ca. 1831]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in New York (London Set) [7701.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]
- Title
- Illustrations of Philadelphia
- Description
- Scrapbook containing newspaper clippings, prints, drawings and manuscript notes, predominantly dated to the 1850s, pertaining to the history, the built environment, and social climate of Philadelphia. Subject matter includes clippings about Federalists, Leiper Railroad, beer brewing, historic private houses, and Patrick Lyon from the newspaper column series "Reminiscences of Philadelphia" (Christian Observer, 1856), "Philadelphia Peculiarities" (Philadelphia Sunday Mercury, 1856), and "Recollections from the Past" (authored by Poulson) and "To Readers and Anxious Inquirers" (Sunday Dispatch, 1856); articles about the early history of Germantown and Independence Hall, the origin of April Fools, a “Venerable document,” i.e., a 1747 indenture between the Library Company and librarian Robert Greenway, and the 1859 cholera epidemic at the Arch Street Prison; and newspaper advertisements for the Zoological Institute (48 S. Fifth St.), Page's Patent Safety Cab, and Colonel Chaffin, “The Celebrated Dwarf, at the Masonic Hall" (1845). Also contains an editorial about the poor quality of the Philadelphia Directory for 1865; a song sheet "Social Quoit Club" by Charles Alexander inscribed with a note about its provenance by Poulson on the verso; Poulson manuscripts about notable houses, including the Butler Mansion (Chestnut & Eighth Sts.), William Waln House (Chestnut & Seventh Sts.), and James Fisher mansion (Chestnut & Ninth Sts.); and prints, watercolors, and sketches, several created and signed by Poulson, predominantly showing Philadelphia residences, landmarks, and city and landscapes., Graphic materials include a Charles Magnus print after the Trumbull painting, "Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776"; the captioned George Gilbert illustration "A View of the Grand Civic Arch... in Honor of Lafayette" (1824); a Le Met miniature portrait of Timothy Palmer; a James McClees photograph of the engraving "The Hour of Sunset, on the Fourth of July 1776" and Poulson watercolor and sketches (often with extensive manuscript captions) showing "Episcopal Academy," "A House on the North side of Chestnut Street, next to that on the N.E. corner of Eighth Street, lately occupied by Danl. W. Coxe, Esq. who deceased there June 3, 1852" (1857), "Sketch of the river Schuylkill at Fairmount. The wooden floating bridge and tavern &c by C. A. P. under the tuition of Jemmy Cox, the drawing master," "Jonathan Leedom’s Iron Store, no. 211 S. Front St. or now no. 343," "Sketch of the Emlen or [Benendye?] house Chestnut St. opposite the State house and next to Jacob Ridgway’s house on the east" (1858); and advertising vignettes and cameo stamps for businesses, including a segar store (Mulberry St.), G. S. Appleton, bookseller, publisher & importer of foreign books (148, i.e, 600 block Chestnut St.), W. C. Allen, broom & variety store, and a multi-manned press of “The Saturday Evening Post.” Other images include satiric women's fashion vignettes and a cut out caricature of an African American man advertising Sanford's Opera House., 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 "Articles" in the book are taken from fugitive sources only; and the dates affixed to each are those of the newspapers &c from which they were procured.", Back free end paper contains Poulson inscription: "The dates of the articles herein, are those of the Newspapers &c from they are cut.", "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.
- Creator
- Poulson, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1789-1866, compiler
- Date
- ca. 1824-1864
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare Poulson scrapbooks - vol. 2 [(2)2526.F]
- Title
- Illustrations of Philadelphia. Vol. X
- Description
- Scrapbook containing newspaper clippings and prints predominately dated 1858 and pertaining to the built environment, and social, cultural, economic, and political climate of Philadelphia. Majority of the contents are articles about city businesses, industries, and municipal services; public interest stories; editorials relating to public concerns and social mores; and reports, lists, and statistics. Subjects include the operation of the fire department, including the introduction and trials of steam fire engines, the discontinuation of fire bells, and the yearly report of the “Fire Detective”; the City Passenger Railroad, including its commencement, progress and improvements to the city, and the auction of former omnibus horses at Herkness’s Auction House; balls, parades, lectures, and other forms of entertainment, including the questionable protocols of the minor theatres, horse racing in Chestnut Hill, and the opera season at the Academy of Music; fashion, including histories of the red petticoat and crinolines, hoop skirts, and satires about style and cost; the prison system, including Eastern State Penitentiary and corruption; the Great Comet and Blizzard of 1858; the removal of the market sheds and increasing the value of properties on Market Street; the inauguration of the Schuylkill Navy; and the economic state of shad fishing and fisheries, the oyster trade, dairy owners, ice dealers, paper manufacturers, and dentists., Several articles also report about city construction, improvements, and renovations. Sites referenced include businesses on downtown Chestnut Street and in South and North Philadelphia (Bailey & Co., silverware; Levy & Cox, retail dry goods store; Caldwell & Co., jewelry; the Butler House Hotel; John McClure, stationery store; John Fuss, lager beer); Church of the Incarnation, and Pine Street Presbyterian and Tabernacle Methodist Episcopal churches; Hunting Park; and the new market house (Sixteenth and Market). Editorials address the institution of a city ordinance against public smoking; the daily inhabitants of the State House Square and Custom House steps; the plight and nuisances of city street beggars, fortune tellers, gamblers, and organ grinders; and the heavy use of opium by Americans. Additional articles discuss Christmas, including retail store windows adorned for the holiday; events and activities of local organizations, including the Washington Monument Association, American Systematic Beneficence Society, American Veterinary Association, and the Newsboys’ Aid Society; auctions by M. Thomas & Sons, including the Howard Tilden estate, the wine cellar of the late Joseph Gratz, and oil paintings sold below market value; the closing of the Jones Hotel; proposal by city commissioner James M. Leidy for the creation of ward maps to aid city development; histories of the 12 1/2 Society and Hurst Mansion; the exercise mania; lost and found advertisements; the “fogyism” and “favoritisim” of the Franklin Institution mechanical exhibitions; and views of historic landmarks and the Hope Hose Company by photographers James McClees (p. 57) and Walter Dinsmore (p. 102)., Reports, lists and statistics detail mortality and crime rates; the domestic, flour, produce, hay, cattle, and pork markets; the weather for the week, season, and year; real estate and stock sales; churches in the city; taxes; the public schools; fire companies; current town topics; and “Local” and “Noteworthy” events, fires, and railroad and steamboat accidents for the year. Also contains the “Annual Message of the Mayor” reporting on the state of the city and classifieds for patent medicines and entertainments, including fortune tellers, the National Circus, and balls and parties attended, according to Poulson, by “firemen, apprentices boys, new boys, gamblers and fancymen" who are the " ‘efficient beaus’ " of the factory girls, milliners, shop girls etc."… on the occasions.” Ephemera includes a “Ticket of Admission to ‘Franklin Hall’ " for the Heenan & Jones Sparring Exhibition., Scrapbook also contains graphics including an albumen print, engravings, wood engravings, trade cards and cameo stamps. Comic and advertising vignettes, caricatures, and advertisements predominate as genres. Comic vignettes include many satirizing the fashion of large hoop skirts. Other vignettes satirize the new police uniform, gentlemen’s collars, the Irish, and African Americans ("Baker-street beauties"). Non-satiric vignettes show predominately home furnishings and wares, including silver utensils and serving ware, boxes for papers and deeds, a wire dish cover, coffee pots and kettles, pudding moulds, perforated nursery lamps, serving platter, and a double oven cooking stove. Caricatures (some hand-colored) depict burglars (annotated by Poulson as “ ‘fair hits’ at…the inconsiderable folly of the ‘compassionate’”); "The City Inspector," i.e., a street rag picker; the crude manner of men “on the balconies in front of the ‘gentleman saloons’”; a ‘Schuylkill Ranger’ and “chocker’ gang member; “A Juvenile Party” annotated as "A fair hit at precosity [sic]"; Kris Kringle; and comparisons of country and city doctors, store-keepers, and belles., Advertisements include views of " 'Sharpless’ new store on the N.W. cor. of Chestnut and Eighth Street (Butler property)' "; Crystal Building, F.H. Smith, forte monnaie, pocket book, & dressing case manufacturer (Fourth and Chestnut); Barnes cough syrup establishment (333 Chestnut); Giovanni & Oliver, wholesale fruit store (248 Market); Bailey & Co., British sterling silver ware (819 Chestnut); Perry & Erety, booksellers, binders & stationers (Fourth and Race); Warnick & Leibrandt, Philadelphia Stove Works & Hollow-Ware Foundry (First Wharf above Noble Street); Girard House ( 800 block Chestnut); Henry O.B. Banks, paint and glass store (400 block Callowhill) French, Richards & Co., wholesale, drug, paint & glass warehouse (1000 block Market); M’Daniels & Fort, saddlery, hardware & coach trimmings (101 N. Third); Wright, Hunter & Co., plumbers and gas fitters (900 Walnut); Moore’s Porter & Ale Brewery (1300 block Fitzwater); Anspach, Jacoby & Co., dry goods (Third and Cherry); J. Thornley’s India Rubber Emporium (311 Chestnut); John C. Keller, stove manufacturer (Ridge Avenue and Willow Street); St. Lawrence Hotel (1000 block Chestnut); Merchant’s Hotel (000 block N. Fourth Street); Mansion House (1000 Market); and Weymer & Brothers, dealers in warm air furnaces, stoves, and ranges & c. (1000 block Coates). Graphics also depict a photographic reproduction of a daguerreotype of the moon, a hand-colored illustration showing lady’s "Winter Fashions," and an illustration of "Lalla Rookh, The Tight Rope Elephant" annotated “exhibited at ‘Dan Rice’s great show’ … 29th of March 1858.” Many of the advertisements include street and pedestrian traffic and merchandise displays., Majority of contents annotated by Poulson with dates and manuscript notes, particularly social commentaries., Title page illustrated with a ca. 1856 lithographer's advertisement issued by Wagner & McGuigan after the work of lithographer Maurice Traubel and artist William Croome. 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., Front free end paper contains Poulson inscription: "The "Articles" in the book are taken from fugitive sources only; and the dates affixed to each are those of the newspapers &c from which they were procured CAP." Inscription framed with cut out containing filigree and an eagle. Clipped vignette of a pointed finger also pasted on page., "Index to set in back part of vol. XI.", Artists, engravers, printers, and publishers include Calvert & McClaine, Robert Crump, M’laughlin Bros, J.B. Neagle, E. Rogers, J. Spitall, and J.W. Steel., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
- Creator
- Poulson, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1789-1866, compiler
- Date
- 1857-1858
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare Poulson scrapbooks - vol. 10 [(10)2526.F]
- Title
- [Scraps no. 3 for 1832]
- Description
- Plate one from the 1832 edition of, "Scraps," Johnston's popular satirical series of societal caricatures published between 1828 and 1840, and in 1849. Depicts a montage of nine scenes lampooning contemporary social issues and every day life such as corporal punishment, public drunkenness, popular fashion, marital relations, and libraries. Includes "Lock on the Understanding in two Toms bound in boards" depicting two "Toms" locked in a stockade without refreshment discussing their "Dry Goods" & "Stationary" business;" Heavy Wet" depicting a white man homeowner shocked to see a bank of snow fall from his roof unto a passerby's head; 'What a piece of work is a Man...." depicting hogs ashamed to be seen with a white man drunkard unconscious in their slop near a distillery; "Cowed Down" depicting a white wife upset about her cow's well-being as she watches her "mischievous" white husband being gored by it; "The Menagerie" depicting a confused African American man witnessing children mistaking a white man dandy and white woman dandiette for wild creatures at an animal menagerie; "Bullying Up" depicting a white farm boy haranguing a bull in front of his angry mother; "The Cat Doth Play & After Slay" depicting a picture "copied from an innkeeper's sign in Jugtown, N. Jersey" showing a cat playing a fiddle in front of a horse-drawn sleigh; "The Library" depicting the interior of a library where a foppish white woman, a Frenchman, and white men librarians misinterpret and misunderstand comments about popular literature; and "A Soporific" depicting an ailing white man unaffected by "laudanum opium" requesting his Reverend to preach a sermon in order to put him to sleep., Title supplied by cataloger., Printed in upper left corner: Plate 1., Published in D.C. Johnston's Scraps No. 3 1832 (Boston: D.C. Johnston, 1832), pl. 1., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited., Accessioned 1893., RVCDC, 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.
- Creator
- Johnston, David Claypoole, 1799-1865
- Date
- [1832]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department political cartoons - 1832 Scr (a) [5656.F.25]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. A crier extraordinary
- Description
- Racist caricature of an African American town crier performing his duties in front of a storefront on a busy Philadelphia street. The crier, attired in worn clothing and a yellow straw hat, holds up his bell in his right hand and the sheet of news down with the other. He calls out the upcoming events, including sales of merchandise, a "sarmont on Temperance," and a "Colored Ball at Mrs. Johnsons." His attire includes a blue jacket, striped shirt with patches, a red cravat, white pants with patches, and black shoes. Several spectators listen, including an African American belle, attired in a striped, hooded cape over a dress with floral details; an African American street boy, attired in a worn jacket, vest, and pants and holding a broken mug; a white boy peddler, attired in a smock and boots and with his wares on a tray over his shoulder; and a white shopkeeper holding a cloth work in his hands as his stands in his store's doorway. The peddler boy walks a dog that has torn the crier's copy of the news. Drapery hangs in the store’s display window. Black figures are depicted with oversize and exaggerated features. White figures are depicted with exaggerated features., Signed W.S. for William Summers in lower right corner., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., Contains five lines of dialogue in the vernacular below the image: Sale dis nite_Frying Pans_Grid Irons_Book_Oyster Knives and odder kinds of Medicines_Joe Williams will hab some fresh oysters at his stablishment_by tickler design, Mr. Hewlet will gib Imitations ober again_two or tree damaged Discussion Locks, and Rebd. Mr. P.Q. will deliver a sarmont on Temperance, half past 6 o’Clock precise, dats not all! Widout Money or Price _ de great Bull Phillip will be station at Squire S__s & dats not all nudder! dare will be a perlite & Colored Ball at Mr. Johnsons jus arter dis is bin done”_, Charles Hunt was a respected 19th century London engraver and etcher known mostly for his prints of sporting subjects., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Purchase 1968.
- Creator
- Summers, William, artist
- Date
- [ca. 1833]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (London Set) [7689.F]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. Dark conversation
- Description
- Circa 1833 racist caricature about the "disagreeableness" of the growing community of middle-class African Americans in Philadelphia. Depicts an African American man greeting an African American man-woman couple on a windy street corner, near the shop of a print dealer and where several fashionably-attired African American men and women are walking and standing. A river is visible below. In the left, the solitary man dressed in equestrian costume, including a white riding hat, green coat, and white ruffled shirt, holds a walking cane and comments about the "Black looking day." He extends a snuff box, with his ungloved left hand, to the man who is a part of the couple. The man, attired in a blue waistcoat and black pants, accepts the box with his ungloved right hand while holding a green umbrella under his left arm. He agrees about the stormy condition and that "De Blacks flying about so make it Petickly Disagreable." His woman partner, stands beside him and with her right hand under the elbow of his extended arm. She is attired in a white bonnet and a white shawl over a pink long-sleeved dress. She also wears white gloves, holds a black purse in her right hand, and her bonnet is adorned with a feather that blows in the breeze. Behind them, the African American men and women on promenade are similarly attired in waistcoats and pants; equestrian costume; and long-sleeved dresses and bonnets. Shadowy depictions of several prints are visible in the print dealer’s large display store window. Also shows in the far right, a river, bridge, and landscape. Figures are portrayed with oversize and exaggerated features and their skin tone is depicted with black hand coloring., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., Charles Hunt was a respected 19th century London engraver and etcher known mostly for his prints of sporting subjects., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
- Creator
- Summers, William, artist
- Date
- [ca. 1833]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (London Set) [P.9710.1]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. The new shoes
- Description
- Racist caricature depicting an African American woman trying on shoes at "Sambo Paley Boots & Shoe Manufacturer." In the left, the woman, seated on a chair, looks down at her slightly raised left foot on which an African American clerk has placed a black slip-on shoe. Her removed yellow shoe rests beside her feet. She is attired in a yellow bonnet adorned with feathers and with a white veil that frames her face like long straight hair, a red puff sleeve dress, and a yellow slip-on shoe. She slightly raises her dress with her left ungloved hand to appear at her shoe and holds a green parasol to the floor with her gloved right hand. A blue and yellow purse hangs from her right wrist. The clerk kneels in front of her and holds her left foot. He is attired in a striped shirt, neck tie, brown vest, brown pantaloons, white stocking and red slipper shoes. The woman states the shoe "is sich a bery dirty color" and does he not have any white or pink ones. The clerk replies that it may not be "handsome" to look at, but surely a "good color to wear." In the background, an African American man, attired in shirt sleeves and an apron, possibly the bootmaker, shines a boot behind a counter and in front of a row of boots and shoes on a cabinet. A brush and can of boot black rest on the counter. A sign reading “Sambo Paley Boots & Shoe Manufacturer. The Best Jet Blacking Sold Here" hangs above the man’s head. In the far left, shoes hang inside the store’s window and visible through the shop’s doorway, a well-dressed African American man and woman walk past in the street. The man wears a top hat and waistcoat and the woman wears a yellow bonnet and puff sleeve dress. Scene also shows pairs of boots resting on the floor across from the kneeling clerk in the right. Figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features and their skin tone is depicted in black hand coloring., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., Inscribed: No. 3., P.2016.45.1 trimmed., Charles Hunt was a respected 19th century London engraver and etcher known primarily for his prints of sporting subjects., P.2016.45.1 gift of Dr. Richard Dunn & Dr. Mary Maples Dunn., Digital image depicted is P.9710.3., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
- Creator
- Summers, William, artist
- Date
- [ca. 1833]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (London Set) [P.9710.3 & P.2016.45.1]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. A crier extraordinary
- Description
- Racist caricature of an African American town crier performing his duties in front of a storefront on a busy Philadelphia street. The crier, attired in worn clothing and a yellow straw hat, holds up his bell in his right hand and a sheet of news down with the other. He calls out the upcoming events, including sales of merchandise, a "sarmont on Temperance," and a "Colored Ball at Mrs. Johnsons." His attire includes a blue jacket, striped shirt with patches, a red cravat, white pants with patches, and black shoes. Several spectators listen, including an African American belle, attired in a striped, hooded cape over a dress with floral details; an African American street boy, attired in a worn jacket, vest, and pants and holding a broken mug; a white boy peddler, attired in a smock and boots and with his wares on a tray over his shoulder; and a white shopkeeper holding a cloth work in his hands as his stands in his store's doorway. The peddler boy walks a dog that has torn the crier's copy of the news. Drapery hangs in the store’s display window. African American figures are depicted with oversize and exaggerated features. White figures are depicted with exaggerated features.., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., Contains five lines of dialogue in the vernacular below the image: Sale dis nite_Frying Pans_Grid Irons_Book_Oyster Knives and odder kinds of Medicines_Joe Williams will hab some fresh oysters at his stablishment_by tickler design, Mr. Hewlet will gib Imitations ober again_two or tree damaged Discussion Locks, and Rebd. Mr. P.Q. will deliver a sarmont on Temperance, half past 6 o’Clock precise, dats not all! Widout Money or Price _ de great Bull Phillip will be station at Squire S__s & dats not all nudder! dare will be a perlite & Colored Ball at Mr. Johnsons jus arter dis is bin done”_, Charles Hunt was a respected 19th-century London engraver and etcher known mostly for his prints of sporting subjects., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
- Creator
- Summers, William, artist
- Date
- [ca. 1833]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (London Set) [P.9710.11]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings...?"
- Description
- Racist caricature of an African American woman shopping for a pair of "flesh coloured silk stockings" in a hosiery store with a white male sales clerk speaking with a French dialect. Depicts, in the center right, the woman standing at the counter in front of the clerk who holds up a pair of gray-colored stockings from out of a rectangular box. She is attired in a pink floral patterned dress, as well as tall, wide-brimmed pink hat adorned with several flowers, greenery, and a veil and long yellow ribbon, and yellow gloves, earrings, and blue button-up boots. She rests her yellow, flower-patterned purse on the counter and holds up a monocle from the end of her neck fob to inspect the stockings that the clerk declares are of "de first qualite!" Her red parasol rests against the counter. Rows of red, blue, and yellow stockings hang on the wall behind the clerk. The clerk is attired in a blue waistcoat with tails, a yellow vest, red cravat, and white pants. In the right, an African American woman attired in a yellow polka dot dress and tall, wide brimmed yellow hat adorned with ribbons is seen in the doorway of the shop in which multi-colored curtains hang and are pushed to the side. The wheel of a carriage is seen behind the woman. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. The women’s skin tone is depicted with brown hand coloring. The man is depicted with rosy cheeks and brown, curled hair., Title from print., Date from print., Inscribed: Plate XI., Inscribed: Copy Right Secured., Contains five lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect above the image: Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings, young man? Oui Madame! here is von pair of de first qualité!, RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Creator
- Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857, etcher
- Date
- May 1829
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [P.2004.39.1]
- Title
- Illustrations of Philadelphia. Vol. IX
- Description
- Scrapbook containing newspaper clippings, prints, and ephemera predominately dated 1857 and pertaining to the built environment, and social, cultural, and economic climate of Philadelphia. Majority of the contents are articles about city businesses and industries; public interest stories; editorials relating to public concerns and social mores; reports, lists, and statistics; and caricatures and cartoons. Several articles concern the new house numbering system; the chartering of Fairmount and Sedgeley parks; the Academy of Music (New Opera House), including the inaugural ball and first opera season; the temporary relocation of the Post Office; progress of Camden; volunteer fire companies, including the debate over the oldest instituted, new fire houses, and parades; fires on the 300 and 600 blocks of Chestnut (i.e., Peterson/Goodyear building and Melodion); transportation, including omnibus lines and the Camden and Atlantic, and Philadelphia and Baltimore Central railroads; and the new coinage of cents issued from the mint. Also contains numerous columns about building dedications, laying of cornerstones, and improvements and new construction to the city’s infrastructure, including Drown’s Umbrella Manufactory (86 Market); the silver plated ware establishment of John O. Mead (Ninth and Chestnut); the Butler house lot (800 block Chestnut); the hall of the "Colored Masons"; the Spring Garden district and Northwestern section of the city (Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Fifteenth wards); the Pennsylvania Bank building; First Welsh Presbyterian Church (1500 Lombard); the Penn Widow’s Asylum; Washington building (000 block S. Third); and the restaurant of John Campbell (500 block Chestnut)., Other articles describe the Library Company’s receipt of the ca. 1720 Peter Cooper painting of Philadelphia; culture, politics, and economy of the year 1856; local medical schools and hospitals, including Penn Medical University, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia small-pox hospital, and Eclectic Medical College; local industries and trades, including Wood & Perot's ornamental iron work establishment, Newell & Knight barrel making machinery and the oyster trade; and Moyamensing Prison. Anecdotal columns and editorials provide commentaries about Philadelphia Insurance companies; Aprils Fools Day; servants; tramps; the city’s “noisy spot” of Third and Chestnut; the lore of stage coaches; popular catch phrases, including those from the theater; the Molly Maquires; the public expense of public lamps and paupers; the importance of newspapers, including as a more perfect venue for advertising than storefront signage; the poor use of the language in classified advertisements; storefront and tavern signages (p.41-42); and the cricket mania. Also contains historical pieces about the University of Pennsylvania; Independence Square; Chew’s Mansion; Zion Lutheran Church; and the Chinese Museum; reports, lists and statistics detailing the crime and mortality rate, sales of stocks and real estate; the retail, cattle and produce markets, meteorology and weather, telegraph use for the year, the comparative health of manufacturing cities, and architectural improvements in progress; a column about how the 1785 city directories represented the population of the city from the series "Philadelphia As It Was"; and an illustrated article about shawls., Graphics, predominately caricatures and cartoons, include lithographs, engravings, and wood engravings. Majority of cartoons satirize the hoop skirt, including the Clara and Charles series. Other cartoons satirize German beer culture, patent medicine, P.T. Barnum, and the social mores of the upper classes. Caricatures, often racist, depict African Americans while at work, including a sweeper, cook, and painter. Prints also include advertisements, vignettes, and views. Advertisements depict the Union hotel (300 block Arch); Thornley & Chism, importers, jobbers and retailers of fancy & staple dry goods (N.E. cor. Spring Garden and Eighth); Lincoln, Wood & Nichols, manufacturers and importers of straw goods; and Fairbank’s patent platform scales. Vignettes depict a knife cleaning apparatus, Olmstead stove, and a piano. Views show a genre scene titled by Poulson "An ‘omnibus’ sleigh and a 'rung' "; the Academy of Music; Jefferson Medical college, Presbyterian Church; Central Presbyterian Church; and "The Performing Elephants" at the National Circus accompanied by the classified for the performance. Scrapbook also contains ephemera, including the "Deaf and Dumb Alphabet" chart inscribed "In use at Phila Institution 1857 as per report Jany 1858" ; a "Premium medal, Franklin Institute"; and two elaborately illustrated tickets to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society., Majority of contents annotated by Poulson with dates and explicative manuscript notes., Title page trimmed and illustrated with a ca. 1856 lithographer's advertisement issued by Wagner & McGuigan after the work of lithographer Maurice Traubel and artist William Croome. 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., Chart "Length of Squares East and West" pasted on verso of title page., Label inscribed "The "Articles" in the book are taken from fugitive sources only; and the dates affixed to each are those of the newspapers &c from which they were procured CAP" pasted on verso of front free end paper., "Index to set in back part of vol. XI.", Insert: “Report of the President of the Girard College to the committee on Instruction September 3, 1850, Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
- Creator
- Poulson, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1789-1866, compiler
- Date
- 1857-1858
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare Poulson scrapbooks - vol. 9 [(9)2526.F]
- Title
- Sketches of character. Plate 2. At home. Plate 3. Abroad
- Description
- Racist caricature contrasting two scenes of the same African American couple "At Home" and "Abroad." The "At Home" scene depicts the couple in their kitchen with a wood floor washing dishes together. In the right, the woman, attired in a kerchief, short sleeves, apron, skirt, and slip on shoes, is bent over and washes the dishes in a tub on a stool. In the left, the man, barefoot and attired in a shirt with the sleeves rolled up, vest, bow tie, and pants, sits on the edge of a butcherblock table on top of which a pile of dishes rests, and dries one. The man and woman look at each other. In the background, on the wall, cooking utensils, pots and pans, and a slab of bacon hang from hooks underneath a shelf lined with cook and dishware near a large woven basket, a cupboard, and a small shelf with two bottles. The "Abroad" scene depicts the pair well attired and about to promenade down a city street, possibly Philadelphia and from near Independence Hall. The woman wears a large plumed bonnet with a veil and a ribbon tied under her chin, a blue cape over a dress giving her the appearance of a bell, and gaiter-like shoes. Her husband wears spectacles, a top hat, white shirt, yellow vest, black waist coat, grey pants, and yellow gloves. He holds a walking cane down toward the ground in his left hand and his other arm out to his companion. A guardhouse is seen in the right and the edge of a building (possibly Independence Hall) in the left. Cityscape is visible in the distant background. Figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features and their skin tone is depicted in brown hand coloring., Title and date from item., Copy right secured., Lib. Company. Annual Report, 2013, p. 51., Purchased with the Davida T. Deutsch African American History Fund., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
- Creator
- Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857
- Date
- January 12, 1830
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [P.2013.74]
- Title
- Sketches of character. Plate 2. At home. Plate 3. Abroad
- Description
- Racist caricature contrasting two scenes of the same African American couple "At Home" and "Abroad." The "At Home" scene depicts the couple in their kitchen with a wood floor washing dishes together. In the right, the woman, attired in a kerchief, short sleeves, apron, skirt, and slip on shoes, is bent over and washes the dishes in a tub on a stool. In the left, the man, barefoot and attired in a shirt with the sleeves rolled up, vest, bow tie, and pants, sits on the edge of a butcherblock table on top of which a pile of dishes rests, and dries one. The man and woman look at each other. In the background, on the wall, cooking utensils, pots and pans, and a slab of bacon hang from hooks underneath a shelf lined with cook and dishware near a large woven basket, a cupboard, and a small shelf with two bottles. The "Abroad" scene depicts the pair well attired and about to promenade down a city street, possibly Philadelphia and from near Independence Hall. The woman wears a large plumed bonnet with a veil and a ribbon tied under her chin, a blue cape over a dress giving her the appearance of a bell, and gaiter-like shoes. Her husband wears spectacles, a top hat, white shirt, yellow vest, black waist coat, grey pants, and yellow gloves. He holds a walking cane down toward the ground in his left hand and his other arm out to his companion. A guardhouse is seen in the right and the edge of a building (possibly Independence Hall) in the left. Cityscape is visible in the distant background. Figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features and their skin tone is depicted in brown hand coloring., Title and date from item., Copy right secured., Lib. Company. Annual Report, 2013, p. 51., Purchased with the Davida T. Deutsch African American History Fund., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
- Creator
- Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857
- Date
- January 12, 1830
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [P.2013.74]
- Title
- Millie Christine, "the Two Headed Nightengale."
- Description
- Full-length portrait of the African American conjoined twins and performers posed near an arm chair. The women are attired in a long-sleeved damask dress with front ruching. Each wears a lace neckerchief, an adornment in her hair, and earrings. Millie (on the left) holds a fan in her hands. A backdrop illustrated with a changing screen is visible in the background. The twins were born in Whiteville, North Carolina on July 11, 1851, to Jacob and Monemia McKoy who were enslaved to Jabez McKay. Various enslavers and managers exhibited the twins nationally and internationally. By the end of the 1880s, the twins retired to a farm in their home state of North Carolina., Title printed on mount., Photographer's imprint printed on mount., Date inferred from address of photographer., See History and medical description of the two-headed girl:...(Buffalo, N.Y.: Warren, Johnson, & Co., 1869). (LCP Am 1869 Hist, 70318.D)., Lib. Company. Annual report, 2015, p.42-43., Purchase 2015., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., RVCDC, Horace Ollivier operated his studio from 466 5th Avenue between 1889 and 1903.
- Creator
- Ollivier, Horace, photographer
- Date
- [ca. 1889]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department cabinet card - sitter - Millie [P.2015.23.2]
- Title
- [Scraps no. 3 for 1832]
- Description
- Plate two from the 1832 edition of, "Scraps," Johnston's popular satirical series of societal caricatures published between 1828 and 1840, and in 1849. Depicts a montage of nine scenes lampooning contemporary social issues and everyday life, such as dueling, juries, the wealthy, debt, education, and the use of coal as a fuel. Includes "Fair Play: Safe Play" depicting two absurd methods of dueling utilizing chalked figures on a rotund man and a barn door; "Hunger Versus Judgment Jury -Room" depicting a hungry jury voting for execution in order to adjourn for dinner; "Who Are You Looking At?" depicting an indignant white man looking at the viewer; "The Last Bell" depicting a wealthy, white "belle" with an entourage transporting her numerous belongings for a river voyage, annoyed with her son who has fallen in the water; "Military Precocity" depicting a young white boy aspiring to fit into his grandfather's oversized military uniform; "Anti-Phlogistic" depicting white gentlemen experimenting with safe, economical "Rhode Island coal" in a fireplace attended by an African American man servant; "Primary School Examination" depicting an elementary classroom where a white man teacher is mocked as a "jackass" and a white girl student reveals during a spelling lesson that her mother takes rum in her tea; "An Incarcerated Monster" depicting a white man artisan debtor on display in his prison cell in front of a wealthy family commenting about his deserved incarceration as a monster., Title supplied by cataloger., Printed in upper left corner: Plate 2., Published in D.C. Johnston's Scraps No. 3 1832 (Boston: D.C. Johnston, 1832), pl. 2., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited., Accessioned 1979., RVCDC, 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., African American household employees
- Creator
- Johnston, David Claypoole, 1799-1865
- Date
- [1832]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department political cartoons - 1832-Scr (b) [P.2275.26]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings...?"
- Description
- Racist caricature of an African American woman shopping for a pair of "flesh coloured silk stockings" in a hosiery store with a white male sales clerk speaking with a French dialect. Depicts, in the center right, the woman standing at the blue and pink counter in front of the clerk who holds up a pair of gray-colored stockings from out of a rectangular box. She is attired in a pink floral patterned dress, as well as tall, wide-brimmed blue hat adorned with several flowers, greenery, and a veil and long yellow ribbon, yellow gloves, earrings, and blue button-up boots. She rests her blue, flower-patterned purse on the counter and holds up a monocle from the end of her neck fob to inspect the stockings that the clerk declares are of "de first qualite!" Her brown parasol rests against the counter. Rows of stockings, including in the color of blue, hang on the wall behind the clerk. The clerk is attired in a green waistcoat with tails, a yellow vest, red cravat, and white pants. In the right, an African American woman attired in a yellow polka dot dress and tall, wide brimmed hat adorned with blue ribbons is seen in the doorway of the shop in which blue curtains hang and are pushed to the side. The wheel of a carriage is seen behind the woman. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. The women’s skin tone is depicted with black hand coloring. The man is depicted with rosy cheeks and brown, curled hair., Title from print., Date inferred from content., Inscribed: Plate XI., Inscribed: Copy Right Secured., Probably published by Sarah Hart of Philadelphia., Contains five lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect above the image: Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings, young man? Oui Madame! here is von pair of de first qualité!, RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Creator
- Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857, etcher
- Date
- [ca. 1830]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [P.9701.9]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings...?"
- Description
- Racist caricature of an African American woman shopping for a pair of "flesh coloured silk stockings" in a hosiery store with a white male sales clerk speaking with a French dialect. Depicts, in the center right, the woman standing at the blue and white counter in front of the clerk who holds up a pair of brown-colored stockings from out of a rectangular box. She is attired in a pink floral patterned dress, as well as tall, wide-brimmed pink hat adorned with several flowers, greenery, and a veil and long yellow ribbon, white gloves, earrings, and tan button-up boots. She rests her white, flower-patterned purse on the counter and holds up a monocle from the end of her neck fob to inspect the stockings that the clerk declares are of "de first qualite!" Her green parasol rests against the counter. Rows of stockings, including in the color of blue and pink, hang on the wall behind the clerk. The clerk is attired in a tan waistcoat with tails, a white vest, purple cravat, and purple pants. In the right, an African American woman attired in a blue polka dot dress and tall, wide brimmed hat adorned with ribbons is seen in the doorway of the shop in which purple and white curtains hang and are pushed to the side. The wheel of a carriage is seen behind the woman. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. The women’s skin tone is depicted with black hand coloring. The man is depicted with dark brown, curled hair., Title from item., Date inferred from content., Plate 11 of the original series published in Philadelphia., After the work of Edward W. Clay., Possibly by New York lithographer Curtis Burr Graham (1814-1890)., Contains five lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect above the image: Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings, young man? Oui Madame! here is von pair of de first qualité!, RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [ca. 1830]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (New York Set) [P.9701.10]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. The lub letter
- Description
- Racist caricature depicting an African American woman reading a love letter. Depicts "Angelica” seated on a couch across from an end table on which a stationery box, ribbon, and a jar of ink rest as she reads her "billet-doux" addressed to “Miss Lillywhite, Snow Blackfriars." The couch has a wood frame and blue cushions. “Angelica” is attired in a pink cap-sleeved dress with lace details at the bust-line, blue, ankle-laced, slip-on shoes, and jewelry, including a heart-shaped pendant choker necklace, gold drop earrings, and rings. She wears her hair in a top knot and with a hair adornment. In the letter, “Augustus Octavio Whiteman” proclaims he cannot think of anything but her "classic features" and he would be "de Blackest ob villains" if he could see such "lubliness without feeling its influence." Figure of “Angelica” is portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features and her skin tone is depicted in black hand coloring., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., Contains several lines of dialogue in the vernacular in the image: Ah! A billet-doux from my Charming Augustus/ My Fairest Angelica/Dy Slender form and Classic Features hab made sich an impression on my poor heart dat I cannot tink ob anything else. Indeed I must be de Blackest of Villains if I could see sich lubliness widout feeling its Influence as de Song says_”Eye ob fire lips ob Dew” “Cheeks dat shame the roses hue”/Tremain your Adorable Lubber Augustus Octavio Whiteman., Inscribed: No. 4., Charles Hunt was a respected 19th century London engraver and etcher known mostly for his prints of sporting subjects., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
- Creator
- Summers, William, artist
- Date
- [ca. 1833]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (London Set) [P.9710.4]
- Title
- Life in Philadephia [sic]. The valentine
- Description
- Racist caricature depicting an African American man reading a comic valentine in his bedroom as he prepares for bed. Shows the bearded man, beside a bed with a pink canopy, holding the back of a tilted chair (his waistcoat on it) with his left hand and holding up the valentine illustrated with a picture of the devil in his right hand. The man is portrayed with an angry expression and standing with his feet far apart. He wears a night cap, a blue-striped shirt, a black neck tie, brown pantaloons from which a watch fob hangs, white stockings and one red slipper. A water pitcher and boots lie near his feet. In the left, an African American woman, smiles, and stands behind the ajar bedroom door. She wears a night bonnet, neckerchief, short-sleeved shirt, blue skirt, and black slippers. A stairwell is seen behind her. Figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features and their skin tone is depicted in black hand coloring., Title from item,, Date inferred from content and name of publisher., Contains one bubble of dialogue in the vernacular within the image: Holl’a! What’s all dis about_. “De rose is Red de Violets blue” De Debils Black and so are You. Well dat’s bery Fair indeed., Inscribed: No. 6., Charles Hunt was a respected 19th-century London engraver and etcher known mostly for his prints of sporting subjects., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
- Creator
- Summers, William, artist
- Date
- [ca. 1833]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (London Set) [P.9710.6]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings...?"
- Description
- Racist caricature of an African American woman shopping for a pair of "flesh coloured silk stockings" in a hosiery store with a white male sales clerk speaking with a French dialect. Depicts, in the center left, the woman standing at the green counter in front of the clerk who holds up a pair of black-colored stockings from out of a rectangular box. She is attired in a pink floral patterned dress, as well as yellow tall, wide-brimmed floral-patterned hat adorned with purple flowers, greenery, and a veil and long yellow floral-patterned ribbon, yellow gloves, earrings, and green and red button-up boots. She rests her white, polka-dot-patterned purse on the counter and holds up a monocle from the end of her neck fob to inspect the stockings that the clerk declares are of "de first qualite!" Her yellow parasol rests against the counter. Rows of brown, white, pink, black, and tan stockings and fashion accessories hang on the wall behind the clerk. The clerk is attired in a green waistcoat with tails, a blue vest, white cravat, and white pants. In the left, an African American woman attired in a blue polka dot dress with pink neckerchief and tall, wide brimmed hat adorned with a veil and yellow ribbons is seen in the doorway of the shop in which multi-color curtains hang and are pushed to the side. A shelf lined with bolts of textiles hangs above the doorway. The wheel of a carriage is seen behind the woman. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. The woman’s skin tone is depicted with black hand coloring. The man is depicted with rosy cheeks and brown, curled hair., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., After the work of Edward W. Clay., Plate 11 of the original series of Life in Philadelphia., Contains five lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect above the image: Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings, young man? Oui Madame! here is von pair of de first qualité!, Inscribed: No. 9., Charles Hunt was a respected London engraver who was most known for his aquatints of sporting subjects., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [ca. 1833]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (London) [P.9710.9]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings...?"
- Description
- Racist caricature of an African American woman shopping for a pair of "flesh coloured silk stockings" in a hosiery store with a white male sales clerk speaking with a French dialect. Depicts, in the center left, the woman standing at the brown counter in front of the clerk who holds up a pair of black-colored stockings from out of a rectangular box. She is attired in a red floral patterned dress, as well as yellow tall, wide-brimmed floral-patterned hat adorned with tan flowers, greenery, and a veil and long yellow floral-patterned ribbon, white gloves, earrings, and brown button-up boots. She rests her white, polka-dot-patterned purse on the counter and holds up a monocle from the end of her neck fob to inspect the stockings that the clerk declares are of "de first qualite!" Her black parasol rests against the counter. Rows of black, white, pink, and yellow stockings and fashion accessories hang on the wall behind the clerk. The clerk is attired in a green waistcoat with tails, a blue vest, white cravat, and white pants. In the left, an African American woman attired in a white polka dot dress and tall, wide brimmed hat adorned with a veil and pink ribbons is seen in the doorway of the shop in which light blue curtains hang and are pushed to the side. A shelf lined with bolts of textiles hangs above the doorway. The wheel of a carriage is seen behind the woman. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. The central woman figure’s skin tone is depicted with black hand coloring and the woman figure in the doorway’s skin tone is depicted with brown hand coloring. The man is depicted with rosy cheeks and brown, curled hair., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., After the work of Edward W. Clay., Plate 11 of the original series of Life in Philadelphia., Contains five lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings, young man? Oui Madame! here is von pair of de first qualité!, Inscribed: No. 9., Charles Hunt was a respected London engraver who was most known for his aquatints of sporting subjects., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Creator
- Summers, William, artist
- Date
- [ca. 1860]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (London) [P.9713.2]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. Romeo and Juliet
- Description
- Racist caricature depicting an African American man-woman couple in the characters of Romeo and Juliet during the balcony scene from Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." In the right, "Romeo" wearing an Elizabethan costume including a plumed white hat, red cape, and white sash, holds his right, gloved hand over his heart and his left, ungloved hand out and holding the edge of his cape. He recites, "How silver sweet sounds Lubbers Tongues by Night, like sorpest Music to attending Ears." In the left, from the balcony, "Juliet" responds with the self-derogatory remark that as her complexion is "de mark of night" it is impossible to see that "a maiden blush bepaint" on her cheek. She is attired in a pink puffed sleeve, décolleté dress, earrings, a necklace, and hair adornment. She holds a glove and fan in her right gloved hand at her side and her left hand rests on the balustrade of the balcony. A rose vine climbs up the balcony and the tops of trees and a balustrade are visible behind “Romeo.” Figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features and their skin tone is depicted in black hand coloring., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., Contains two lines of dialogue in the vernacular below image: Romeo: How silber sweet, sounds Lubbers Tongues by Night; like sorptest Music to attending Ears./Juliet: Dou know’st de mask ob night is on my face, else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek., Signed W.S. for William Summers in lower right corner., Charles Hunt was a respected 19th century London engraver and etcher known mostly for his prints of sporting subjects., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
- Creator
- Summers, William, artist
- Date
- [ca. 1860]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (London Set) [P.9713.4]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. Sketches of character: At home. Abroad
- Description
- Racist caricature contrasting two scenes of the same African American couple "At Home" and "Abroad." The "At Home" scene depicts the couple in their kitchen with a wood floor washing dishes together. In the right, the woman, attired in a striped kerchief, short sleeves, apron, skirt, and slip on shoes, is bent over and washes the dishes in a tub on a stool. In the left, the man, barefoot and attired in a shirt with the sleeves rolled up, red vest, bow tie, and pants, sits on the edge of a butcherblock table on top of which a pile of dishes rests, and dries one. The man and woman look at each other. In the background, on the wall, cooking utensils, pots and pans, and a slab of bacon hang from hooks underneath a shelf lined with cook and dishware near a large woven basket, a cupboard, and a small shelf with two bottles. The "Abroad" scene depicts the pair well attired and about to promenade down a city street, possibly Philadelphia and from near Independence Hall. The woman wears a large plumed black and yellow bonnet with a veil and a ribbon tied under her chin, a blue cape over a red dress giving her the appearance of a bell, and gaiter-like shoes. Her husband wears spectacles, a top hat, red-striped shirt, vest, green waist coat, brown pants, and grey gloves. He holds a walking cane down toward the ground in his left hand and his other arm out to his companion. A guardhouse is seen in the right and the edge of a building (possibly Independence Hall) in the left. Cityscape is visible in the distant background. Figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features and their skin tone is depicted in brown hand coloring., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., Inscribed: Pl. 10., After plate by E.W. Clay originally printed by C.G. Childs and published by Clay in Philadelphia in 1830., Charles Ingrey was one of the premier London lithographic printers of the 1830s., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
- Creator
- Harrison, H., artist
- Date
- [ca. 1833]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (London Set) [P.9716]
- Title
- Tregears black jokes. The Lady Patroness of Alblacks
- Description
- Racist caricature depicting a middle-class African American woman looking at herself in a full-length mirror in her well- decorated bedroom. Shows the woman, attired in a white, low décolleté underdress with puffed, cap sleeves, slightly lifting up the skirt of her dress in her left hand and her raised right hand holding a comb near her hair that is styled in a top knot. She looks at her reflection. She is portrayed with a wrinkled brow and bags under her eyes. Her reflection does not have these features. In the right, a bed with a canopy on which a wide-brimmed hat rests on a post; a table on which a pin pad, hair comb, pearl necklace, and earrings rest; and a black cat with its back raised are visible. In the left, on either side of the mirror, a pink dress rests on a clothing rack and white ankle-lace shoes lie on the carpeted floor. Scene also includes three framed picture on the wall in the background. Two are partially visible and the one fully visible shows a genre scene outside of a stone dwelling where an African American man is on his knee and holding the hand of an African American woman who stands in front of him. Figure is portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features and her skin tone is depicted in black hand coloring., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., Inscribed: No. 2., This caricature is similar in content to the prints from the series, "Life in Philadelphia" (London Set), and has been catalogued as a part of the series., Charles Hunt was a respected 19th century London engraver and etcher known mostly for his prints of sporting subjects., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
- Creator
- Summers, William, delineator
- Date
- [ca. 1834]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia PRINT | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (London Set) [P.9719]
- Title
- The Philadelphia dandies. A group of fashionables. "Shoot folly as it flies."
- Description
- Caricature lampooning "fashionable" middle-class Philadelphians depicting two scenes of “belles” being greeted. The first scene portrays a white belle, in the right, being greeted by a white dandy, in the left, who holds up a monocle in his left hand and asks, "How do you do?" They are each bent over and face each other. The dandy is attired in a white ruffled shirt, blue waistcoat, tan pants, and grey boots with spurs. He holds down a black top hat from which a cane hangs in his right hand. The belle is attired in a large green bonnet that curves at the back of her head and that is adorned with feathers and a ribbon, a pink, long-sleeved, knee-length, belle-shaped dress, and boots. She holds a green umbrella up in her right hand toward the raised arm of the dandy and the back of her dress has risen up. A pug-like jumps up and barks at her from behind. She responds that she is “rather cold.” The second scene depicts a white belle being greeted by a "fashionable" white woman and girl whose hand she holds. The women and girl are all similarly attired in large bonnets adorned with flowers, long-sleeved, high waisted, calf-length dresses in pink or green, and boots or ankle-laced shoes. They are also portrayed with stooped postures and accentuated posteriors. The woman with the child also holds a pink purse in the same hand as that of the girl who also wears pantalettes and holds a green parasol in her left hand. A third woman wearing a mortarboard style hat adorned with feathers, a long-sleeved, calf-length, high-waisted dress with under skirt, and boots, holds a spear-shaped umbrella over her shoulder and "marches" passed them in the right. Also, shows a pug-like dog standing in the left by the women who greet each other., Title from item., Date inferred from content., Contains two bubbles of dialogue within image of first scene: How do you do? How do you do? Madam! How is it with you today? It is rather Cold, sir!-, This caricature is similar in content to the prints from the series, "Life in Philadelphia" (London Set), and has been catalogued as part of the series., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
- Creator
- Kensett, Thomas, 1786-1829, engraver
- Date
- [ca. 1820-ca. 1830]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (London Set) [P.9720]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings...?"
- Description
- Racist caricature of an African American woman shopping for a pair of "flesh coloured silk stockings" in a hosiery store with a white male sales clerk speaking with a French dialect. Depicts, in the center left, the woman standing at the blue counter in front of the clerk who holds up a pair of black-colored stockings from out of a rectangular box. She is attired in a yellow floral patterned dress, as well as tall, wide-brimmed floral-patterned hat adorned with yellow flowers, greenery, and a veil and long floral-patterned ribbon, white gloves, earrings, and white button-up boots. She rests her pink, polka-dot-patterned purse on the counter and holds up a monocle from the end of her neck fob to inspect the stockings that the clerk declares are of "de first qualite!" Her brown parasol rests against the counter. Rows of red, blue, brown, black, and yellow stockings and fashion accessories hang on the wall behind the clerk. The clerk is attired in a green waistcoat with tails, a blue vest, white cravat, and white pants. In the left, an African American woman attired in a pink polka dot dress and tall, wide brimmed hat adorned with a veil and green ribbons is seen in the doorway of the shop in which curtains hang and are pushed to the side. A shelf lined with bolts of textiles hangs above the doorway. The wheel of a carriage is seen behind the woman. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. The central woman figure’s skin tone is depicted with black hand coloring and the woman figure in the doorway’s skin tone is depicted with brown hand coloring. The man is depicted with rosy cheeks and brown, curled hair., Title from item., Date inferred from content and name of publisher., After the work of Edward W. Clay., Plate 11 of the original series of Life in Philadelphia., Contains five lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect above the image: Have you any flesh coloured silk stockings, young man? Oui Madame! here is von pair of de first qualité!, Charles Hunt was a respected London engraver who was most known for his aquatints of sporting subjects., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Date
- [ca. 1831]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (London) [P.9707.3]
- 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]
- Title
- The girl graduate: her own book
- Description
- Memory book compiled by Philadelphia High School for Girls student Mildred Davis Zaiser (later Cope) containing snapshot portraits with signatures and addresses of her classmates, including three African American students; prose and essays by her fellow students about their school experiences, teachers and classes; transcriptions of the class yell, motto, and commencement address; and class autographs and lists of class officers. Also contains an inserted snapshot photograph depicting four young well-dressed women in “Washington DC 5/9/14” (p. 31); snapshot photograph depicting history instructor “Miss Isabel W. Franklin” (p. 57); professional group portrait photograph showing the student members of “The Captain Ball Team of A prime 8” (a few of the girls hold a stuffed cat, a ball, and the school banners); anecdotal entries titled “Class Prophecy, And how it comes out” and “Class History”; tongue-in-cheek “Last Will and Testament” essay of student bequests to school instructors and departments; and a copy of the commencement announcement. “Miscellaneous” section contains several essays colloquially describing classes and written and signed by Zaiser’s fellow students, including ‘Physics Hour” written by Lucy Seiber (p. 169-171); “Mathematics Hour” written by Emily M. Woodward and Blanche Rostow (p. 172-177); “Drawing Hour” incomplete and unsigned (p. 178-179); “Physiology Hour” written by Marie Zaun (p. 181-184); “Gymnasium Hour” written by Della Martin (p. 185 -188); and “English Hour” written by Lillian Schivare (p. 189). Notes by Zaiser detailing the class flower and colors and her graduation gown and presents and the prose “Who’s Who in A8” written by Dorothy Noe (p 141-143) also comprise the manuscript content of the book. Captain ball is a game similar to basketball played on an area marked with six circles with the goal to pass the ball to the player in the end circle., Portrait sitters (p. 15-29) include: Rheba Luberoff, 1928 N. 7th St., Phila; Mary Olivell, 341 S. Lawrence St., Phila; Helen Mahoney, 1502 Hollywood St., Phila; Della Markie, 4118 Pechin St., Rox.; Minnie Mayerle, 2406 Sedgely St., Phila.; Minnie Mayerle, 2406 Sedgely St., Phila.; Della Markie, 4118 Pechin St., Rox.; Minnie Mayerle, 2406 Sedgely St., Phila.; Florence Martin, 1234 N. 54th St., W. Phila ;Lea Meisel, 630 N. 55th St., W. Phila.; Mattie Miller, 3859 Olive St., W. Phila. (African American student); Dorothy Noe, 3311 N. 17th St. [830 Windsor Square, Phila – crossed out in different hand]; Tillie Mellanoff, 634 Hoffman St., Phila.; Mary Patterson, House of Correction, Holmesburg; Helen Pechin, N.E. Cor. 20th St. and Columbia Ave., Phila.; Lillian Pollard, 5339 Lena St., Germantown; Helen Radcliffe, 801 E. Washington Lane [6213 Germantown Ave G’m’t – crossed out in different hand]; Blanche Rostow, 1222 N. 7th St., Phila; Marion Schurer, 1103 Fairmount Ave., Phila.; Lillian Schware, 1342 Poplar St., Phila.; Lucy Seiber, 7024 Second St. Pike, Lawndale, Phila.; Elva Smith, 2502 N. Garnet St., Phila.; Fannie Still (later Lloyd)(abolitionist William Still’s granddaughter), 1607 Bainbridge St., Phila.; Helen Taylor, Upsal and Sullivan Sts.; Esther Tittman, 419 Moore St., Phila; Arabella Turney, 2334 S. 17th St., Phila.; Rosalie Tutleman, 5230 N. Broad St., Phila.; Grace Wilhelm, 1524 Parker St., Phila.; Annie Wood, 762 N. Uber St., Phila. (African American student); Emily Woodward, 518 W. Venango St., Phila.; Mildred Davis Zaiser, 4548 Manayunk Ave., Rox.; Marie Zaun, 122 E. Gorgas Lane, Mt. Airy; and Alberta Goodwin, President of the Graduating Class, Feb. 1915., The portraits are bust-length and the sitters are posed in profile, facing forward, and looking down upon books. Most of the young women wear their hair long and swept back and up. Some wear their hair bobbed or with bangs. The attire of most of the students include white or patterned blouses and neckties and neckerchiefs. Some also wear necklaces and/or jackets or smocks or ribbon headbands., Book illustrated with art nouveau-style pictorial, border, and ornamental details depicting images of young women in flouncy dresses reading newspapers, holding brownie cameras, writing invitations and in a journal; views of desks and shelves containing objects associated with studying, school, and young women, including books, ink wells, candlesticks, a box of letters, and flowers; and borders and ornaments composed of rose and floral designs., Bound in limp olive suede with blind-embossed design and gilt titling on front cover. Cover stamped with design composed of book, quill pen, and a bough of greenery with banner., Title stamped in gilt on cover: The Girl Graduate: Her Own Book., Contains inscription: This book belongs to [Mildred Davis Zaiser]. Graduated from [The Philadelphia High School for Girls. 17th and Spring Garden Sts.] Inscription in art nouveau-style border shaped like a frame and composed of flowers and branches., Title page illustrated with art nouveau-style border composed of vinery, roses, and the bust of a young woman attired in a flouncy blouse and with a yellow ribbon in her hair., Table of Contents: Date. Flower. Colors 11; Class Yell. Motto 13; Class Photographs 15; Class Autographs 33; Class Officers 49; The Teachers 53; Class Prophecy 61; Her Invitations 75; The Programmes 83; Social Events 95; Press Notices 113; Her Gowns 125; The Presents 133; Jokes and Frolics 141; Baccalaureate Sermon 161; Miscellaneous 169., Several editions of "The Girl Graduate" with variant cover designs and a loose leaf version were published 1906-ca. 1927., Purchase 2015., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Mildred Zaiser Cope (1897-1981) was raised in a German section of Philadelphia and noted as the "German Dictionary" by her classmates at her graduation in 1915. She still lived with her parents in 1920 when she worked as a clerk for the Board of Education. By 1930 she had married William Cope and lived in Norwalk, Connecticut., Louise Perrett (b. 1878) was an illustrator who studied under Howard Pyle. She was also an instructor at the Art Institute of Chicago circa 1920s. She partnered with Sarah K. Smith on several memory albums first published by Reilly and Britton Co. in the early 1900s. By 1940 she was an art teacher at the Elizabeth Peabody House in Boston.
- Creator
- Perrett, Louise, illustrator
- Date
- [ca. 1915]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department albums [P.2015.2]
- Title
- 2 headed girl, Millie Crissie
- Description
- Full-length portrait of the African American women conjoined twins and performers known as the "two-headed nightingale" and "Carolina twins." The twins wear their hair in chin-length pin curls and are attired in an off-the shoulder, short-sleeved, light-colored, calf-lengthed dress, black boots, and crown-shaped headpieces adorned with stars. Millie (left) holds a newpaper to her side in her left hand. Christine (right) holds a book in her hands in front of her. They stand, looking toward the viewer, and posed in front of a backdrop depicting a window view. The feet of a posing stand are visible behind their feet. Millie and Christine were born in Whiteville, North Carolina on July 11, 1851, to Jacob and Monemia McKoy who were enslaved to Jabez McKay. Various enslavers and managers exhibited the twins nationally and internationally. In 1870, the sisters traveled and performed throughout the midwest., Title from item., Photographer's imprint printed on verso., Contains semi-legible printed ink transfer in upper edge of image., See History and medical description of the two-headed girl:...(Buffalo, N.Y.: Warren, Johnson, & Co., 1869). (LCP Am 1869 Hist, 70318.D)., RVCDC, John H. Fitzgibbon was a St. Louis photographer who began as a daguerreotypist. He operated from 116 North Fourth Street between 1866 and 1876 before founding the journal, "The St. Louis Practical Photographer and Illustrated Monthly Journal."
- Creator
- Fitzgibbon, John H., 1816?-1882, photographer
- Date
- [ca. 1870]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department cdv portraits - sitter - Millie [P.2023.28]
- Title
- [Portrait of Millie and Christine McCoy]
- Description
- Full-length portrait of the African American co-joined twins and performers. The women are attired in striped-patterned shirtwaists, a white ankle-length skirt with a black lace overlay, and black high-heeled boots with white stripes. Each wears a white neckerchief, and an adornment in her pulled back hair. Millie (on the left) holds a white fan in her hands. A backdrop and ornate, wooden pedestal with a book resting on it are visible in the background. The end of a drape partially covers the book. In the left, another wooden prop is partially visible. The twins, born enslaved, were exhibited nationally and internationally under various owners and managers. By the end of the 1880s the twins retired to a farm in their home state of North Carolina., Title supplied by cataloger., Photographer's imprint printed on mount., Date inferred from age of sitters and active dates of photographer in New York., Printed on verso: I was born in the State of North Carolina, Columbus Co., Anno Domini, 1851. And pronounced by scientists to be the 8th wonder of the world. / 'Tis not modest of one's self to speak,/ Buts, daily scanned from head to feet,/ I freely talk of everything,/ Sometimes to persons wondering./ Some people say I must be two!/The doctors say it is not true,/Some cry out humbug, till they see,/ And then exclaim, "great mystery."/ Two heads, four arms, four feet,/ All in one perfect body meet./I am most wonderfully made, /All scientific men have said./ None like me since the days of Eve,/ None such perhaps shall ever live./ If marvel to myself am I,/Why not to all pass me by?/ I am happy too, because content;/ For some wise purpose I was sent./ Our maker knows what he has done,/ Whether I'm created two or one./ Respectfully, Millie Christine. The Carolina twin, surnamed the 2-headed Nightingale., Mount trimmed., See History and Medical Description of the Two-Headed Girl:...(Buffalo, N.Y.: Warren, Johnson, & Co., 1869). (LCP Am 1869 Hist, 70318.D)., See LCP AR (Annual Report) 2015, p.42-43., Lib. Company. Annual Report, 2018, p. 61., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Horace Ollivier operated a New York studio beginning around 1881 at 779 Broadway.
- Creator
- Ollivier, Horace, photographer
- Date
- [ca. 1881]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department cdv portraits - sitter - Millie [P.2018.28]
- Title
- [Sharpless & Sons trade cards]
- Description
- Series of illustrated trade cards depicting women in a variety of settings, including a woman sitting on the beach with a parasol and fan; a woman attired in gypsy-inspired clothing kneeling next to an urn; the bust of a woman wearing a large plumed hat superimposed onto a painting palette; and another bust portrait of a woman wearing a hat. Also shows men in hunting gear with rifles and dogs; clowns balancing on the hardware of a clock; a couple on the beach stopped in front of an enormous hermit crab, birds and guitar; a chef wielding a large knife with his hand around the throat of a large duck; a couple standing inside of a large lantern; men working on a large paper lantern that hangs from a tree branch; a couple being transported in a covered gondola; and a table containing wine, fruit, bread and dishes superimposed onto a painting palette., Title supplied by cataloger., Printers and engravers include D. Hutinet (Paris), Bognard (Paris) and John A. Lowell & Co. (Boston)., Advertising text printed on versos: Sharpless & Sons, importers, jobbers & retailers of dry goods, 801, 803, 805 & 807 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Digitized.
- Date
- [ca. 1880]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department trade card - Sharpless [1975.F.760; 1975.F.762; 1975.F.766-768; 1975.F.780; 1975.F.794; 1975.F.812; 1975.F.814; 1975.F.825; 1975.F.838-840]
- Title
- Portrait photograph album of Mary McPhilomy
- Description
- Photographs predominantly depict the acquaintances and relatives of the McPhilomy family of Philadelphia, including men, women, and children. Most are bust-length portraits, with a number of full-length portraits, including a couple in bathing wear, children in sailor suits, and women fashionably attired and holding fans and purses. Many of the women and girls wear jewelry. Also includes images of a priest, a nun, a display of religious floral decorations; a sepulchral monument; a religious allegorical scene; a reproduction of a framed testimonial with portrait photograph vignettes; and a photo-collage portrait showing a man driving a horse-drawn wagon., Sitters include Mary, John and Frank McPhilomy; Rev. Mother Louis Gonzaga of the Sisters of Notre Dame (Boston); members of the Logue family, including Charles Logue; David Mulcahy (died March 31, 1876); Al. Schaff; members of the Bradford family, including John Bradford; John Keenan; members of the Sacriste family, including Mr. and Mrs. Sacriste and Hortense Sacriste White., Chromolithographed title page: The Photographic Album. Philadelphia. J.B. Lippincott & Co., [ca. 1875]., Embossed leather binding with gold stamping., Spine embossed and stamped: Photographs., Inscribed: To Miss Mamie McPhilomy with compliments of the season, Dec 25 1875. D.P.M. E.S.C., Various photographers, including A. P. Beecher of Wilmington, De.; L. S. Griffin of Jersey City, N.J. and B. Frank Saylor & Co. of Lancaster, Pa. and Philadelphia photographers, including George W. Evans, Gilbert & Bacon, and O. B. De Morat., Several sitters identified by inscriptions on mount or album page. Some misidentified due to the relocation and removal of photographs., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Binding in poor condition. Album housed in phase box.
- Creator
- McPhilomy, Mary
- Date
- ca. 1865-ca. 1920, bulk ca. 1865-ca. 1875
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department albums [P.2007.17]
- Title
- The Universal clothes wringer
- Description
- Metamorphic trade card promoting the American Wringer Company's Universal Wringer. Depicts a racist "before and after" scene with and without the product. The before scene shows an African American laundress "Dinah" wringing clothes by hand over a tub. She states in vernacular speech that "de wringing am awful." A white woman chastises her to "look at these torn clothes." She holds up a square shaped cloth with tears. A clock is visible in the background. The women are shown as bust-length. Dinah wears a kerchief, an open collared shirt, and her sleeves are rolled up. The after scene shows a smiling "Dinah," wringing laundry with a "Universal" clothes wringer under the happy gaze of her employer. The women reach a hand out to one another. Dinah wears a high ruffled collar shirtwaist with a bow at her neck, long sleeves, an apron, and kerchief. A clock rests on a sideboard in the background. The American Wringer Company was established about 1861 and operated until at least the early 20th century. The company often provided a clock as a premium to purchase their laundry equipment., Title from item., Date inferred from attire of figures depicted., Text printed on recto: Oh mistis de wringing am awful, always tear de clothes 'spect dat I neber get through. What Dinah, six o'clock and not done yet! And look at these torn clothes. "What Dinah! Finished washing so soon! Why it's only three o'clock." "Hi golly! Mistis, been done dese two hours dis chile hab no more trouble, since you done got dis wringer. Neber tear de clothes neder., Advertising text on verso: The Universal Wringer Has the Following Points of Superiority. 1. Rolls of Solid White Rubber. 2. Rowell's Double Cog-wheels. 3. Two Independent Pressure Screws. 4. Double cogs at both ends of each Roll. 5. Folding Apron or Clothes Guide. 6. Rocking Springs of wood and rubber. N. P. Baker, Dealer in General Merchandise, Sunapee, N. H., Purchased with funds from the Albert M. Greenfield Foundation., RVCDC, 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 the Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
- Date
- [ca. 1885]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department trade card - American [113420.D]
- Title
- Beadle's half dime singer's library. Selected favorites. Comic and sentimental songs of all nations and ages "An encyclopedia of song." For sale here. Price five cents
- Description
- Poster-size advertisement containing a montage of the cover illustrations for Beadle & Adams songbooks No. 1- No. 17 published May 18, 1878 - September 14, 1878. Montage laid out as a grid. Illustrations often depict gender, ethnic, and racial stereotypes. Includes No. 1. "Whoa Emma and 59 other songs" depicting the profile of a woman attired in a horse costume composed of a horse head-shaped head piece and red dress with an immense bustle and a horse tail; No. 2. "Captain Cuff and 57 other songs" depicting a blonde male effete wearing a monocle, checkered suit, blue overcoat with red lapels, and holding a top hat in one hand and twirling the tip of his mustache with his other; No. 3. "The Gainsboro' Hat and 60 other songs" depicting a profile portrait of a fashionable brunette woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat, red long-sleeved dress with yellow and blue bodice and holding a parasol stick in one hand and a flower to her mouth in the other; No. 4. "Johnny Morgan and 60 other songs" depicting a dark-haired, mustached male organ grinder singing and playing his street organ; its strap hung over his shoulder; No. 5. "I'll Strike You with a Feather and 60 other songs" depicting a fashionable blonde woman in a coy pose and holding a feather in one hand and her gathered skirt edge in the other; No. 6. "George the Charmer, O! And 60 other songs" depicting an African American male dandy, with a mischievous glint in his eye and attired in a top hat, ruffled white shirt, yellow vest adorned with a watch fob, blue waist coat with tails, red checkered pants, and gloves;, No. 7. "The Belle of Rockaway and 52 other songs" depicting a brunette woman in swim attire (kepi, long-sleeved blue blouse, yellow and green two-tiered, ruffle edged knee length bustled skirt); No. 8."Young Fellah, You're too Fresh and 60 other songs" depicting a blonde male bon vivant attired in an orange bowler, white collared shirt, red bow tie, blue jacket, fob, and light blue pants, standing, leaning back and with his hands, one holding an upturned cane, in his pockets; No. 9. "I'm a Shy Young Girl and 65 other songs" showing a young blonde woman attired in a long-sleeved green dress with red and yellow details and multi-tiered, ruffled skirt, and standing in a demure pose, her head slightly tilted, as she slightly leans over, with her hands clasped over each other and placed near her knees; No. 10. "I'm the Governor's only Son and 59 other songs" depicting a dark-haired, mustached, confident-looking man, attired in a bowler, tan coat with collar, and light blue pants, as he stands, one leg crossed over the other, and with one hand in a coat pocket and the other resting on a walking stick; No. 11. "Comin' Thro the Rye and 55 other songs" depicting a Scottish lad, attired in a cap and kilt, and blonde-haired lass, embracing each other about the waist, and on a stroll in a rye field; No. 12. "Wave my fan just so! And 60 other songs" showing a light-haired woman, attired in a red evening gown with gold trim, and holding a blue shawl over her arm and a large green fan to her face;, No. 13 "The Rollicking Irishman" depicting a hod carrier, attired in a yellow broad-rimmed hat, an open-collared red shirt, and blue pants, and standing with a hod over his shoulder near a ladder and a pile of bricks; No. 14 "Old Dog Tray and 62 other songs" depicting a fair-headed woman, her eyes closed, attired in a blue Elizabethan-style dress with red details, and holding a black long-furred dog by his collar; No. 15. "Whoa, Charlie! And 59 other songs" depicting a fashionably-attired couple with a dark-haired, mustached man on his knee, hands clasped, and behind a fair-haired woman who stands and looks over her shoulder at him; No. 16. "In this Wheat by and by and 62 other songs" depicting anthropomorphized grasshoppers, with valises, and at rest from travel, including playing sticks, on and near a fence post; No. 17. Nancy Lee" depicting a light-haired woman, attired in green shirt, yellow kerchief at her neck, and a red skirt, standing on a pier, and waving goodbye with a red-striped handkerchief to a ship at sea., Date inferred from date of publication (September 14, 1878) of last songbook advertised: No. 17. Nancy Lee., Advertisement reverses the titles of No. 11 and 12 from their listings in Albert Johannsen's "House of Beadle and Adams" (1950)., Gift of Robert Staples and Barbara Fahs Charles., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
- Creator
- Orr, Nathaniel, engraver
- Date
- [1878]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department **GC - Advertisements - B [P.2013.86]
- Title
- Life in Philadelphia. "Behold thou art fair Deborah,..."
- Description
- Caricature satirizing the manners of Quakers and depicting a white Quaker couple, Deborah and Timothy, courting in front of a fireplace in a sitting room. In the right, Timothy, depicted in left profile sits stiffly in a wooden, straight back chair with his hat in his lap. He is portrayed with full lips, a pronounced nose, and large ears and with his brown hair in a cowlick at the back top of his head. He wears a brown long coat, brown pants, and tied shoes. He compliments Deborah by reciting verses from the biblical love poem Song of Solomon. In the right, Deborah, portrayed facing the viewer, and looking down, sits stiffly in a wooden, straight back chair with her hands in her lap. She is attired in a brown plain, long-sleeved dress, and a white kerchief over her shoulders. She also wears a white cap out of which sprays of her brown hair are visible on her forehead. Dorothy replies she is overcome by him and recites that his hair is like a flock of goats "from Gilead." A small dog with a curled tail sits between their feet. Also shows, in the background, wooden, straight back chairs flanking the mantelpiece of the fireplace on which two candles rest., Title from item., Date inferred from content., Plate 2 of the original series published in Philadelphia., After the work of Edward W. Clay., Probably published by Anthony Imbert of New York., Contains five lines of dialogue below the image: Behold thou art fair Deborah, thou hast doves eyes! Behold thou art fair Deborah, yea pleasant! Turn away thine eyes from me, Timothy, for they overcome me; thy hair is a flock of goats that appear from Gilead!, Nancy Reynolds Davison's E.W. Clay: American Political Caricaturist of the Jacksonian Era (PhD. diss., The University of Michigan, 1980), p. 88. (LCP Print Room Uz, A423.O)., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Accessioned 1999.
- Date
- [ca. 1830]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | PRINT. Life in Philadelphia (New York Set) [P.9701.6]