Apprentices' Library. [graphic] / M.P. Simons, 1320 Chestnut St. Philadelphia. Landscape and portrait photographer.
Title
Apprentices' Library
Description
Shows the expanded building of the library, formerly the Free Quaker Meetinghouse, built 1783 after the designs of Timothy Matlack and Samuel Price Wetherill at 500 Arch Street. Also shows partial views of the adjacent buildings, including a liquor store and a business adorned with an iron-wrought balcony. The library, the oldest free circulating library in the United States, was established in 1820 to aid in the knowledge of apprentices. Building housed the library 1841-1897 and was expanded in 1868 after the designs of Stephen Decatur Button., Photographer's imprint and title printed on mount., Lavender paper mount with rounded corners., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of views of Philadelphia., Reproduced in The Print and Photograph Department of the Library Company of Philadelphia's Center City Philadelphia in the 19th century (Portsmouth, N.H.: Arcadia Publishing, 2006), p. 11., Arcadia caption text: The Apprentices’ Library was founded in 1820 to provide young people free access to books. No idle reading of sensational fiction was done here. The board of managers reviewed every book before placing it on the shelf, with the goal of promoting “orderly and virtuous habits,” the diffusion of knowledge, and betterment of scientific skill. The library rented this building (designed in 1783 by Timothy Matlack and Samuel Price Wetherill) at 500 Arch Street from the Society of Free Quakers from 1841 until 1897, and provided separate reading rooms for girls and boys. This view dates to c. 1870.
Creator
Simons, M. P. (Montgomery P.), photographer
Date
ca. 1870
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department stereo - Simons - Libraries [(8)1322.F.5e-2]
Free Quakers meeting house. On the southwest corner of Fifth Street. Benjm. Tucker's schools, for many years, were kept in upper portion of this building. [graphic] / Photograph by Richards.
Title
Free Quakers meeting house. On the southwest corner of Fifth Street. Benjm. Tucker's schools, for many years, were kept in upper portion of this building
Description
Shows the former meeting house built 1783 after the designs of Free Quakers Timothy Matlack and Samuel Price Wetherill at 500 Arch Street. Building tenanted by the Apprentice's Library 1841-1897. View includes a vendor's stand in front of the library and slabs of stone laying in the street. Building served as the Free Quakers' meetinghouse until circa 1838. Second floor added 1788. Free Quakers were excommunicated from the Society of Friends because of their violent resistance during the American Revolution., Date inscribed on photograph., Title and photographer's imprint from Poulson inscription on mount of 3599.Q.110., One of images originally part of a Philadelphia scrapbook directory for 1768 compiled by John McAllister, Jr., Charles Massey, Jr. and Charles Poulson., One of images originally part of a series of eight scrapbooks compiled by Philadelphia antiquarian Charles A. Poulson entitled " A collection of Miscellaneous Scraps: Illuminating the history of the city of Philadelphia in the 'olden time,'" volume 4, page 36a., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited., Select link below for a digital image.
Creator
Richards, F. De B. (Frederick De Bourg), photographer
Date
March 1859
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department photo - Richards - Churches and meetinghouses [3599.Q.110 (Poulson); (4)3602.F.36a (Poulson)], http://www.brynmawr.edu/iconog/rcd/3599q110.jpg