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- Title
- [Unidentified elderly African American man]
- Description
- Three-quarter length portrait of an African American man seated in a wooden Windsor chair in front of the doorway of a house with walls that are cracked with exposed wood. Sitter, wearing white hair and sideburns and attired in a white shirt, a dark-colored jacket and pants, and a dark-colored coat with paint splatters on the elbow and sleeves, holds a hat in his hand as he looks directly at the viewer., Title supplied by cataloger., Originally part of a S.W. Dwayne scrapbook., 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.
- Date
- [ca. 1885]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department portrait photographs - unidentified male [8836.Q.1]
- Title
- Foxy Granduncle's first mistake. How is that? Hello! Hello! Hello! Well, well, well! What's this?
- Description
- Metamorphic foldout trade card promoting "Imperial Metal Polish." Card composed to portray the perceived and actual scene viewed by an old man "Granduncle" looking through a peephole in a fence (completely folded). The perceived scene shows a bare bottom and a woman's feet (partially-folded). The actual scene shows a racily-attired young woman, smoking cigars, drinking, and seated on a hammock near a pig with his rear to the viewer (unfolded). Also contains the "Imperial" trademark label depicting an image of the world. Label captioned "Reg. U.S. Pat. Office.", Distributor's stamp on verso: Hainsworth Supply Co., 2247 N. 8th St., Phila., Registration Applied For., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Gift of Helen Beitler and Estate of Helen Beitler.
- Date
- [ca. 1895]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Helen Beitler Graphic Ephemera Collection - Trade cards & Blotters [P.2011.10.27]
- Title
- [Portrait of an unidentified older man, who is blind, facing slightly right]
- Description
- Half-length portrait depicting an older man, balding, and with long white hair tucked behind his ears. His right eye is shut and his left eye is clouded over. He is seated and holds a walking stick in his right hand. He wears a medium-colored overcoat, button-down vest, white shirt, and black cravat., Pad: None., Mat: Nonpareil., Case: Leather. Lacking front cover. Octagonal shape within concentric circular patterns surrounded by scrolls., Purchased partially with funds for the Visual Culture Program.
- Date
- [ca. 1850]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Cased photos - unid. photo - unid. sitter - daguerreotypes [P.2019.7.1]
- Title
- Mother and great-grand-aunt of the two daughters
- Description
- Group portrait of woman holding her two daughters with her aunt sitting next to her on a couch., Title from photographer's manuscript note on verso., Photographer's manuscript note on verso: Age of the g-g-a 103 yrs. Does not wear glasses, can walk, attend to household duties and possesses a remarkable memory. Is hard of hearing but can keep up a rapid fire conversation. Has a fine sense of humor. Eats what she wants, when she wants it, does not worry and has never had indigestion. Age authentic. (Relate story of the fractured hip and dislocated shoulder blade). Had her hair bobbed., Gift of Margaret Odewalt Sweeney., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited.
- Creator
- Wilson, G. Mark (George Mark), 1879-1925, photographer
- Date
- ca. 1923
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Wilson 113 [P.8513.113], http://www.lcpimages.org/wilson/wilson113.htm
- Title
- "She lives way down dar"
- Description
- Scene depicting an older African American woman giving directions to another African American woman in front of her home. At her open gate, the woman, wearing gray hair and attired in a long-sleeved, patterned dress, a plaid shawl, and a white apron, points left indicating the desired direction. The other woman, attired in a bonnet, a long-sleeved shirt, and a skirt, holds a milk can in her right hand and looks left with her back to the viewer. In the background is a wooden house with a large vine propped up on poles., Title from manuscript note by photographer on verso., Signed by photographer on verso., Alternate title from lantern slide at the Staten Island New York Historical Society., Gift of Elsie Wood Harmon, 1982., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014., Wood, a Philadelphia artist, turned to photography in the 1880s exhibiting his work, including genre studies of African Americans, at national and international photography exhibitions. His photographs won several prizes.
- Creator
- Wood, George Bacon, 1832-1909, photographer
- Date
- [photographed ca. 1886, printed ca. 1895]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department photo - Wood [P.8743.177]
- Title
- Use Merrick's thread. "Gully this cotton beats 'em all!"
- Description
- Racist trade card promoting Merrick thread and depicting a domestic scene of an older African American man sewing. Shows the man, in a cabin setting, seated atop a stool, his feet slightly turned in, and mending the seat of a pair of blue pants. The man holds th epants in his left hand and pulls a needle and thread through a patch on the pants in his right. The thread comes from a large spool beside the man which is marked with "Merrick Thread Co. Best Six Cord 8" logo. Behind the man is a window with a sill. Plants line the window sill. A candelabrum rests on a shelf attached to the wall below the window. The man is attired in a red button-down shirt, blue suspenders, brown pants, and brown shoes. Merrick Thread Co. was founded in 1865 by Timothy Merrick, Austin Merrick, and Origen Hall in Mansfield, Connecticut. After its founding, the company established mills in Holyoke, Massachusetts. In 1898, the company merged with thirteen other independent thread and yarn manufacturers to form the American Thread Company., Title from item., Date inferred from content and genre of print., Several lines of advertising text printed on verso. Verso is defaced and text is illegible., Gift of David Doret.
- Date
- [ca. 1885]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Merrick [P.2017.95.122]
- Title
- The love drop
- Description
- Racist, card depicting a genre scene of an African American woman fortune teller with three white women clients. Shows the elderly African American woman, attired in a red head kerchief, spectacles, a yellow shawl, a long-sleeved white dress, and a white apron, sitting on a green, wooden chair and tea reading. She pours tea out of a cup, and it drips into a small bottle. A saucer is on the floor below. The illustration’s title, “The Love Drop” refers to a tea leaf reader’s term for the last drop that falls from the cup, which would supposedly provide a glimpse into affairs of love. In the right, three young white women look on at the fortune teller. The blond-haired white woman, attired in a hat decorated with flowers and a long-sleeved pink dress with black decorative ribbons, sits on the floor on a rug with her parasol next to her. To her right, seated on a wooden chair, the brown-haired woman, attired in a hat decorated with a black ribbon and red flowers and a yellow dress with black lace accents, leans forward holding her parasol in both hands underneath her chin. Sitting on the chair’s right armrest, the blond-haired woman, attired in a green dress decorated with black ribbons, looks on. Behind the women is an open hearth with a black pot hanging above the fire. A clothesline of laundry hangs in front of the hearth. In the left is a table with a red tablecloth and a shelf above it that has a copper coffeepot and plate. There are cups and saucers on the floor and a round container possibly of red knitting. A chair is visible in the far right., Title from item., Text printed on recto: The Love Drop. From Painting by Harry Roseland., Publication information and date from the copyright statement: Copyright 1903 by Harry Roseland., Gift of David Doret.
- Date
- 1903
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Greeting Cards, etc. - Love [P.2017.95.249]
- Title
- [The love drop]
- Description
- Racist post card depicting a genre scene of an African American woman fortune teller with three white women clients. Shows the elderly African American woman, attired in a red head kerchief, spectacles, a yellow shawl, a long-sleeved white dress, and a white apron, sitting on a green, wooden chair and tea reading. She pours tea out of a cup, and it drips into a small bottle. A saucer is on the floor below. The illustration’s title, “The Love Drop” refers to a tea leaf reader’s term for the last drop that falls from the cup, which would supposedly provide a glimpse into affairs of love. In the right, three young white women look on at the fortune teller. The blond-haired white woman, attired in a hat decorated with flowers and a long-sleeved pink dress with black decorative ribbons, sits on the floor on a rug with her parasol next to her. To her right, seated on a wooden chair, the brown-haired woman, attired in a hat decorated with a black ribbon and red flowers and a yellow dress with black lace accents, leans forward holding her parasol in both hands underneath her chin. Sitting on the chair’s right armrest, the blond-haired woman, attired in a green dress decorated with black ribbons, looks on. Behind the women is an open hearth with a black pot hanging above the fire. A clothesline of laundry hangs in front of the hearth. In the left is a table with a red tablecloth and a shelf above it that has a copper coffeepot and plate. There are cups and saucers on the floor and a round container possibly of red knitting. A chair is visible in the far right., Title supplied by cataloger based on P.2017.95.249., Date inferred by the date of the original painting., Text printed on verso: Post card. This side for address only. Place stamp here. United States, Cuba, Canada and Mexico one cent. Foreign two cents., Gift of David Doret.
- Date
- [ca. 1903]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Greeting Cards, etc. - Love [P.2017.95.249a]
- Title
- [African American man with a basket of produce and carrying a dead duck]
- Description
- Racist, trade card specimen depicting a caricature of an older African American man, possibly a peddler, carrying a dead duck and a basket of produce. The man is balding and has tufts of white hair on the sides of his head and is attired in plaid pants, a collared shirt, a collared jacket, and a plaid scarf tied around his neck. He holds a dead duck by the legs in his left hand. Around his left shoulder, he carries a straw handled basket, which has the leaves of a vegetable sticking out of it. Behind him in the background is a shelf that has a bottle and a glass on it., Title supplied by cataloger., Date deduced from the visual content., Printed in red ink., Gift of David Doret.
- Date
- [ca. 1880]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Misc. 25 [P.2017.95.236]
- Title
- Theo. Leonhardt & Son, importers of cards, 324 & 326 Chestnut St., Philadelphia
- Description
- Not in Wainwright., Trade card depicting similarly-featured portraits of a tabby cat and mustached, bushy white- haired man as side by side pages of an open book. Cat wears a blue collar offset by a blue bookmark ribbon extending from the book edge. Advertising text on verso reads "We will furnish you One Thousand French Art Chromo Cards in complete sets, assorted from 10-20 designs which you may select from our price list, for Ten Dollars net. 500 cards assorted as above for $6.00 net. (The retail price of the cards is 12-15 cents per set.)" The Leonhardt lithographic studio was renamed following the partnership between Leonhardt and his son Arno circa 1874 and the firm remained in operation until the early 20th century., Philadelphia on Stone, POSA 100, Smithsonian Institution: NMAH Archives Center – Warshaw Collection - Lithography - Vertical Box 2 - Leonhardt - Cat
- Creator
- Theo. Leonhardt & Son
- Date
- [ca. 1880]
- Location
- Smithsonian Institution | Archives Center Warshaw Collection SI NMAH Archives Center – Warshaw Collection - Lithography - Vertical Box 2 - Leonhardt - Cat
- Title
- Scandal and slander are what you deal in,
- Description
- Two women and a man sit at a table with tea-cups in front of them, and all three figures hold their hands up and have their mouths open. A cat hisses at the teapot on the floor. The valentine criticizes gossips, particularly those who ruin younger people's reputations., Text: Scandal and slander are what you deal in, / Such ghosts as you are without soul or feeling: / With serpents' tongue youth's hopes you sell, / You'll get your just deserts in h--l., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
- Date
- [between 1840 and 1880?]
- Title
- Infancy to old age
- Description
- Complementary testimonial trade cards containing portraits of older consumers of Eskay's Food. One card shows "Ebenezer F. Andrews," rosy-cheeked, wearing a beard, and attired in a suit and tie. Testimonial text below the image reads "I am an invalid troubled with indigestion for over 40 years (am now 67). Over a year ago I commenced using Eskay's Food, and can truly say it is the best Food for invalids I have ever tried." Second cards shows "Mrs. Amelia O'Keefe," rosy-cheeked, and attired in a neckerchief adorned with a pin, spectacles, and her white hair pinned under her ears. Promotional text below the image reads "Now over 98 years old, was nourished and sustained through a very critical illness by the use of Eskay's food. She was unable to retain any nourishment on her stomach until she resorted to this Food.", Printed on versos: vignettes showing children playing and individuals near a river, testimonials from parents of babies fed Eskay's, and a description for preparing the modified milk product., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Gift of William H. Helfand.
- Date
- 1898
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Helfand Misc. Popular Medicine Collection [P.2010.36.18 & 19]
- Title
- [Portrait of an African American family]
- Description
- Family portrait of several generations of a middle-class African American family posed in front of a Christmas tree. The family, attired in suits and dresses, sit and stand in the living room. In the foreground, an African American boy sits on the floor, crossed legged, and smiles at the viewer. Behind him, seven men and women sit on chairs. Two young girls sit on the laps of the older men. Nine men and women stand behind the chairs. In the background, the top of a decorated Christmas tree is visible., Title supplied by cataloger., Date written on recto: Mosby 1936., Purchase 1993., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
- Date
- 1936
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department group portrait photographs - family [P.9410.31]
- Title
- [African American man delivering firewood to an African American woman]
- Description
- Depicts an older African American woman standing in her doorway receiving firewood from an older African American man. The woman, wearing white hair and attired in a long-sleeved dress, a torn and worn apron, and shoes, stands in the doorway of her wooden house with her arms crossed at her waist. In the right, the man, wearing white hair, a torn and worn coat with patches, pants, and shoes, stands with a large bundle of firewood in his hands. In the left are wooden buckets and a bowl., Title supplied by cataloger., Gift of Elsie Wood Harmon, 1982., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014., Wood, a Philadelphia artist, turned to photography in the 1880s exhibiting his work, including genre studies of African Americans, at national and international photography exhibitions. His photographs won several prizes.
- Creator
- Wood, George Bacon, 1832-1909, photographer
- Date
- [ca. 1886]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department photo - Wood [P.8743.178]
- Title
- [Full-length portrait of an unidentified older woman seated in a wheelchair]
- Description
- Full-length, forward facing portrait of an unidentified older white woman, seated in a wheelchair positioned at a slight angle. Sitter has gray hair parted in the center and is attired in a dark-colored lace cap with lappets and a dark-colored, long-sleeved dress with a white collar. Her cheeks are tinted pink. She holds a book, with the spine towards the viewer, in her right hand on her lap. Her left arm is propped on the armrest. A small pouch-like bag hangs from the corner of the back of the wheelchair visible in the left of the image. The chair back is covered with a patterned cloth., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from photographic medium and attire of the sitter., Pink tinting on cheeks., Pad: Red velvet with a leaf in the center and decorative scroll border., Mat: Nonpareil., Case: Leather. Decorative geometric and leaf pattern in the center with leaves in the corners. Same design on verso.
- Date
- [ca. 1860]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Cased photos – unid photo –unid sitter - ambro [P.2021.31]
- Title
- Vegetable dealer Bermuda
- Description
- Postcard depicting an older Black man with a beard, seated in a mule-drawn cart. Bunches of root vegetables, a basket, and a barrel lay behind him in the cart. A partial view of a building with three windows is visible in the background., Title from item., Date inferred from design of verso of postcard: Undivided back and "Post Card" in thin serif letters, Manuscript note written on recto: How would you like to ride [in that?] [ illegible]., Name and address of recipient in manuscript on verso: Miss Mabel McClure, 328 Preston St., W. Phila, Pa. U.S.A., RVCDC, Description reviewed 2022., Access points revised 2022.
- Date
- [ca. 1905]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department LCP postcards - Genre [P.2019.80.10]
- Title
- Mirth! music! originality! The success of the season! "Jollities"
- Description
- Racist trade card promoting “The Electrical Doll” play at the Gaiety Theatre in Boston. Depicts a caricature of an older African American man, possibly a peddler, carrying a dead duck and a basket of produce. The man is balding and has tufts of white hair on the sides of his head and is attired in plaid pants, a collared shirt, a collared jacket, and a plaid scarf tied around his neck. He holds a dead duck by the legs in his left hand. Around his left shoulder, he carries a straw handled basket, which has the leaves of a vegetable sticking out of it. Behind him in the background is a shelf that has a bottle and a glass on it. The Gaiety Theatre in Boston was located on Washington Street between West and Avery Streets. The 800-seat theater operated from 1878 to 1882 when it became the Bijou Theatre. Charles Atkinson with his Jollities theatre troupe produced comedic plays, including “The Electrical Doll,” which was written by Clinton G. Parrefield with music by J. Adalim. It first appeared in December, 1879 and ran for a number of years in America and Europe., Title from item., Publication information and date inferred from the content., Text printed on the recto: (Over.), Advertising text printed on the verso: Boston Press Notes. [Boston Herald, Dec. 14.]“Standing room only.” and precious little of that, was what late comers at the Gaiety Theatre found last evening. One of the largest audiences ever gathered in this cosy little house extended to the ‘Jollities’ Combination such a welcome as to dispel all doubts, if, indeed, any existed, that the levees to be given during the present week by “The Electrical Doll” will be little short of a perfect ovation.” [Boston Post, Dec. 14.] “The ‘Jollities’ presented the ‘Electrical Doll,” the funniest of all musical absurdities, before an over-flowing house last evening at the Gaiety, and gave universal satisfaction.” [Boston Globe, Dec. 14.] The Jollities. “There was not a vacant seat at the cosy Gaiety last evening. Why? Simply from the fact that Manager Gouge, who knows just what a Boston audience requires, gave one of the best performances that has graced this theatre this season. If good acting, splendid singing, bright and witty dialogue, with a capital orchestra—whose sparkling music was rendered under the baton of J.A. Norris in such an acceptable manner that encores were demanded—deserve to be called first-class, then a faint idea may be conceived of the excellencies of the Jollities Combination entertainment.”, [Boston Journal, Dec. 14.] Gaiety Theatre—“The Jollities Combination is well named, for jollier lot of performers could scarcely be brought together. At the Gaiety Theatre, last night, they appeared before a large audience in a two-act musical piece entitled ‘The Electrical Doll.” On the bills the piece is called an ‘absurdity,’ and it is deliciously absurd, yet marked by a consistency that places it as a composition for the stage very far ahead of the majority of similar productions. The Jollities deserve full houses during their stay of a week, and all who attend their clever entertainments are certain to be pleased.”, Printed with green ink., Gift of David Doret.
- Date
- [ca. 1880]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Gaiety [P.2017.95.67]
- Title
- Go to Edelman's for your kid gloves, zephyrs, ribbons and hosiery, 335 Northampton St., Easton, PA
- Description
- Trade card promoting Edelman's store and depicting a satiric, racist caricature of an older African American man misunderstanding an operator to whom he speaks on a wall-mounted telephone. He faces the viewer, leans against the wall, and remarks in vernacular speech "dis chile's rich...dis man... gib me de city hall." The man is balding and has tufts of hair on the sides of his head. He has a white beard and is attired in a beige coat, an undersized, green vest with buttons, and blue plaid pants rolled up at the bottom exposing his socks and black shoes. On the ground beside his feet is a banjo and brimmed hat. M.A. Edelman had a shoe store on 146 Northampton Street, Easton, PA circa 1871. Circa 1880s, he opened a store selling women's accessories on 335 Northampton Street., Title from item., Publication information from copyright statement: Copyright 1883 by J H. Bufford's Sons., Text printed on recto: Golly! I guess dis chile's rich- dis man him say wait a minute and him gib me de city hall., Gift of David Doret.
- Date
- 1883
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Edelman [P.2017.95.54]
- Title
- A darktown wedding, the ceremony
- Description
- Racist depiction of the nuptials of a young African American couple officiated by a white-haired African American man and witnessed by six African American attendants. In the left, the officiant, attired in a suit, holds a paper as he conducts the ceremony. The bride, attired in veil pinned to the back of her hair, a white dress with a large boutonniere of flowers, and white gloves, has her head tilted down and holds the hand of the groom. The groom, attired in a white collared shirt, a waistcoat, a jacket with a large flower boutonniere, pants, and shoes, stands facing left towards the officiant. Two women and three men stand behind the couple and watch the ceremony. One man alters a placard on the wall that reads, “suffer little children to come unto me” by crossing out “me” and writing “us” inverting the “s.” The dilapidated wall with exposed brick is sparsely decorated with another placard, “God bless our home” and a framed picture. A top hat rests on a stool., Title from item., Date from copyright statement: Copyright 1901 by C.H. Graves., Publisher's blindstamp on mount., Distributor's blindstamp on mount: The Universal Photo Art Co. Philadelphia, Napierville, Ill., London, Paris, Hamburg., Stamped on mount: 4574., Purchase 2001., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Digitization funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
- Date
- 1901
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department stereo - Graves - Genre [P.9922]
- Title
- A bran new coon in town
- Description
- Racist, satiric postcard depicting an African American family (portrayed as racist stereotypes) welcoming a “new” member, a baby. Shows the grandfather standing and weighing the infant on a hand held scale, as the grandmother, attired in a head kerchief, a floral shirt, a skirt, and an apron, cradles the baby’s head. In the right, the father smiles as he stands leaning down with both hands clutching a small table. In the center, a young boy sits at the table eating as he looks up at the baby. In the left, the mother sits smiling beside a stove as she pours water from a kettle into a cup., Title from item., Date from copyright statement: Copyright, 1898, and published by Knaffl & Bro., Knoxville, Tenn., Originally published in an 1898 edition of Leslie's Weekly as part of "The Blackville Gallery" series under the title "Weighing the Christmas Baby.", RVCDC, Accessioned 1999., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Digitized with funding from a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
- Date
- 1898
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department LCP postcards - Genre [P.9725.1]
- Title
- " Ariosa" Coffee. One gleam of consolation. From "Judge" by permission
- Description
- Trade card promoting Arbuckle's Ariosa Coffee. Depicts a racist caricature originally published in the satirical periodical “Judge” of an older African American woman and older, African American Deacon in conversation. The figures are portrayed with exaggerated facial features and speaking in the vernacular. They stand across from each other in a home setting. "Mrs. Johnson" is attired in a attired in a yellow apron over a black dress, a red vest, and an orange, head kerchief. She has a pipe in her mouth. "Deacon Smith" is attired in a top hat, blue coat over a white collared shirt with red bow tie, brown pants, black shoes, spectacles, and leans on a cane. Depicts Deacon Smith providing comforting words to Mrs. Johnson after she "loose de bigges' chile." The Deacon consoles "Providence am allus mercies in disguise" to which Mrs. Johnston agrees the child was "allus a mon-st'ous eatah." In the background is a steaming kettle on a small stove with a chimney pipe. On the verso is an illustration showing the exterior of the Arbuckle Ariosa Coffee's Brooklyn factory near a dock. View includes men loading train cars, horse-drawn wagons, and ships with cargo. Brothers John and Charlie Arbuckle, Arbuckle Bros., established their factory and warehouse in Brooklyn in 1881 after they invented a machine that roasted, ground, and packaged coffee into bags. Their first national brand was patented under the name Arbuckle’s Ariosa. The company succeeded into the 20th century. Following John’s death in 1912 the company declined and was broken up by the Arbuckle family in the late 1930s., Title from item., Place of publication deduced from place of operation of advertised business., Text printed on recto: Mrs. Johnson (mournfully)--"Ah deacon! It am very hard to loose de bigges' chile I's got." Deacon Smith (consolingly)-- "Dat am true, Mrs. Johnsing; but dese cha'tisements of Providence am allus mercies in disguise." Mrs. Johnson (meditatively)-- "Y-e-e-s; Jeems was allus a mon-st'ous eatah.", Advertising text printed on verso: "Ariosa" Coffee. No. 96. 839,972 pounds roasted daily. The enormous consumption of the popular brand gives proof that for strength, purity and deliciousness it has no equal., Gift of David Doret.
- Date
- [ca. 1880]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection -Arbuckle [P.2017.95.7]
- Title
- Dis yer misery makes dis chile done gone mournin orful! orful! No. 18 cured this gempleman thanks to massa Hartshorn
- Description
- Racist, fold-out circular advertisement for Dr. Hartshorn's No. 18 Liniment depicting a before and after caricature of an older African American man in two separate panels. In the first panel, shows the balding man with white hair, hunched over, standing in profile, and using a cane. He is attired in a blue tailcoat, a white shirt with upturned collar, a red necktie, a yellow vest, red and white plaid pants, and red and black shoes. In the background, a log cabin and wooden fence is visible. In the second panel, shows the man facing the viewer, standing upright without the cane, and holding a red package labelled "No. 18." He kicks his left leg up and reveals the bottom of his shoe, which is also labelled "No. 18." The man is depicted with exaggerated features. Dr. Edward Hartshorn was a Massachusetts physician who began selling medicines in the 1850s in the town of Berlin, and later Boston. Hartshorn passed the business on to his sons Edward Howe and William Henry before his death in 1887., Title from item., Date inferred from dates of operation of business advertised., Advertising text printed in circular fashion around company logo on inside: Wonderful! Wonderful Liniment!!! What has been the most popular [?] Family Liniment for 30 Years? Dr. Hartshorn. 2,000,000 Bottles have been [?] one is always warrented, yet not one was ever returned, or the [?] The Rapid Healer of Injuries. What Heals Bruises, Cuts, Stings, Bites, Poisons, Chilblains, Sore Skin, Croup, Ague, Numbness &c. immediately? Dr. Hartshorn's No. 18. The Instantaneous [?] Sudden Illness. What has relieved the worst case [?] Diptheria, Colic, Chills, Colds, Headaches, and numberless [?] Hartshorn's No. 18. It is a general panacea for man, [?] wonderful relief externally or internally for Horse and Cattle. E. Hartshorn, Boston, Mass. The Balm for Every Pain. What is the quickest relief for Rheumatic, Neuralgia or Nervous Pain of the Face, Teeth, Ears, Side, Back, Chest, Limbs, &c.? Dr. Hartshorn's No. 18. Company logo illustrated on verso. Logo composed of a geometrically-shaped ornament marked "N 8." Logo surrounded by captions reading "Sold Every Warranted. Large Sizes Cheapest. Three Sizes [?] Cts. And $1.00. Ask Any One About It.", Gift of David Doret., The front and back of the card are separated.
- Date
- [ca. 1890]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Hartshorn [P.2017.95.115]
- Title
- Ask for the "Wenck" perfumes. (Warranted the best.) And take no other
- Description
- Racist trade card promoting the Wenck Perfume Manufacturing Company and depicting a caricature of an older African American man reading a notice on a country grocery store. Shows the man with a white beard and attired in a yellow brimmed hat, a long-sleeved red shirt, red and yellow pants with patches and held up by suspenders, and black shoes. He bends forward to read the sign on the boarded up, dilapidated store. It states in the vernacular that the Johnsing & Skinner Grocery is out of business and that, “Dem as owes de firm, will settle wid me--dey de firm owes will settle wid Skinner. G.W. Johnsing." The African American man is labeled as a creditor who says in the vernacular, “I’ll hab a hundred and fifty cents on de dollar, or I’ll lick de hul firm.” In the right, the man’s donkey is tied to an orange post behind him. In the background, fenced in fields and trees are visible. George J. Wenck founded the Wenck Perfumes Manufacturing Company in 1872. The Firm manufactured perfume into the 20th century., Title from item., Place of publication deduced from place of operation of the advertised business., Date deduced from the history of the advertised business., Text printed on recto: Johnsing & Skinner Grocery. Notis—De firm of Johnsing & Skinner am resolved. Dem as owes de firm, will settle wid me—dey de firm owes will settle wid Skinner. G.W. Johnsing. Creditor of Johnsing & Skinner—“I’ll hab a hundred and fifty cents on de dollar, or I’ll lick de hul firm.”, Advertising text printed on verso: “Wenck’s” Special Perfumes for the Handkerchief. Opera bouquet. Grand Army Bouquet. Queen Mary Bouquet. “Wenck’s” Toilet Water. Florida Water. Lavender Water. Eau Oraline for the Teeth. Gilt Edge Cologne. The “Wenck” Perfumes M’f’g Co., 36 West 14th Street, N.Y., Gift of David Doret.
- Date
- [ca. 1890]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Wenck [P.2017.95.189]
- Title
- Use Merrick's thread. "Gully this cotton beats 'em all!"
- Description
- Racist trade card promoting Merrick thread and depicting a domestic scene of an older African American man sewing. Shows the man, in a cabin setting, seated atop a stool, his feet slightly turned in, and mending the seat of a pair of blue pants. The man holds the pants in his left hand and pulls a needle and thread through a patch on the pants in his right. The thread comes from a large spool beside the man which is marked with "Merrick Thread Co. Best Six Cord 8" logo. Behind the man is a window with a sill, which is lined with potted plants. A candle holder rests on a shelf attached to the wall below the window. The man is attired in a red button-down shirt, blue suspenders, brown pants, and brown shoes. Merrick Thread Co. was founded in 1865 by Timothy Merrick, Austin Merrick, and Origen Hall in Mansfield, Connecticut. After its founding, the company established mills in Holyoke, Massachusetts. In 1898, the company merged with thirteen other independent thread and yarn manufacturers to form the American Thread Company., Title from item., Date inferred from content and genre of print., Advertising text printed on verso: Buy Merrick Thread Co's best six cord soft finish spool cotton for machine & hand sewing warranted 200 yds. also these threads are made from the finest quality of combed sea island cotton, and for strength, evenness, elasticity and smoothness surpass anything in the market. By the use of the "ready wound bobbins" the annoyance of winding the iron bobbin is done away with, and a more perfect stitch obtained. When in want of more thread, don't fail to ask for Merrick's., See related copy: Goldman Trade Card Collection - Merrick [P.2017.95.122], Gift of George Allen, 2022., RVCDC
- Date
- [ca. 1885]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Trade cards - M - Merrick [P.2022.42.10]
- Title
- [Racist and sexist metamorphic New Years Day card depicting a man kissing a series of women, including an African American woman depicted in caricature]
- Description
- Racist and sexist metamorphic trade card showing an older man in a tuxedo, holding a bouquet of roses, and kissing a "rotating" series of women through a "window." Only the women's heads are visible. The women include a white woman with auburn hair in a top knot and adorned with a rose; a young white woman with blonde, puffed, chin-length hair and adorned with matching blue bows; a white woman with raven-colored hair, pulled up, and adorned with a bridal veil; a white woman with pulled up cherry-blonde hair and adorned with blue flowers; and an African American woman, wearing a kerchief, hoop earrings and depicted with caricatured and exagerrated features. The man has grey hair and a dark-haired, pencil mustache and also wears a monocle., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from fashion of figures depicted., Greeting printed inside: Here's a nosegay sweet and fair, Lilies, roses, rich and rare. Try each in turn then take a rest, And choose the one you love the best. They're charming, ah I thought you'd say so, Make up your mind pray don't delay so. That SHE'll be faithful, fond, and true, The odds are FIVE to ONE on you! E.E.G. With [fond love and] best Wishes for a Happy New Year, To [Mrs. ? ? ?]., Purchased with funds for the Visual Culture Program., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
- Date
- [ca. 1895]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department ephemera - Cards - New Years [P.2019.23.2]
- Title
- "Dat corn takes a might site a hoe'in"
- Description
- Depicts an older African American man, attired in torn and worn clothing, exiting through the doorway of his wooden house carrying a hoe. The man, wearing white hair and a white beard and attired in a top hat, a white shirt, a waistcoat, a torn coat, torn pants with patches, and shoes, steps down his front stairs of the dilapidated house. In front of the house is a stool with a basket on top, a broom, a small table with a wooden bushel and a bowl, and a cup rests on the windowsill., Title from manuscript note on verso., Variant of prize winner at the Philadelphia Photographic Society Exhibition 1886., Gift of Elsie Wood Harmon, 1982., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Frances Orlando's "George Bacon Wood, photographer of the 1880's: an introduction to the Wood Collection in the Library Company of Philadelphia." (Master's thesis, Philadelphia College of Art, 1985), p. 41., Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014., Wood, a Philadelphia artist, turned to photography in the 1880s exhibiting his work, including genre studies of African Americans, at national and international photography exhibition. His photographs won prizes.
- Creator
- Wood, George Bacon, 1832-1909, photographer
- Date
- [ca. 1888]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department photo - Wood [P.8743.181]
- Title
- J.C. Hand & Co. Fine furniture, no. 1205 Market Street, Philadelphia
- Description
- Racist trade card promoting the J.C. Hand & Co. and depicting a caricature of an older African American man reading a notice on a country grocery store. Shows the man with a white beard and attired in a yellow brimmed hat, a long-sleeved red shirt, red and yellow pants with patches and held up by suspenders, and black shoes. He bends forward to read the sign on the boarded up, dilapidated store. It states in the vernacular that the Johnsing & Skinner Grocery is out of business and that, “Dem as owes de firm, will settle wid me--dey de firm owes will settle wid Skinner. G.W. Johnsing." The African American man is labeled as a creditor who says in the vernacular, “I’ll hab a hundred and fifty cents on de dollar, or I’ll lick de hul firm.” In the right, the man’s donkey is tied to an orange post behind him. In the background, fenced in fields and trees are visible. J. C. Hand & Co. operated circa 1882-circa 1884 and the failure of the business., Title from item., Place of publication deduced from place of operation of the advertised business., Date deduced from the dates of operation of the advertised business., Text printed on recto: Johnsing & Skinner Grocery. Notis—De firm of Johnsing & Skinner am resolved. Dem as owes de firm, will settle wid me—dey de firm owes will settle wid Skinner. G.W. Johnsing. Creditor of Johnsing & Skinner—“I’ll hab a hundred and fifty cents on de dollar, or I’ll lick de hul firm.”, Text and illustrations printed on verso. Illustrations depict a closed sofa bed that looks like a chair with the caption "closed," and the open sofa bed resembling a cot, captioned, "open." Text reads: J.C. Hand & Co. 1205 Market Street. Manufacturers of Patent Sofa Beds. These beds can be made up as low as $25. In Raw Silk. We have a large stock of well made Furniture at moderate Low Prices. Size of Bed, 4ft. 6x6 ft. 2. Can be made any length or width. Estimates Given. J. C. Hand & Co., 1205 Market Street., Gift of Dr. Milton and Joan Wohl., RVCDC
- Date
- [ca. 1883]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department trade cards - Hand [P.2011.64.34]
- Title
- Aunt Phebe at Mcaboy's, Polk Co. North Carolina
- Description
- Glass negative showing Phebe Mills, an older African American woman, sitting on the porch steps of the McAboy House. She is attired in a striped bonnet, a long-sleeved shirt with buttons down the front and a tie across the waist and a long skirt with ruffles at the bottom. She sits with her hands folded in her lap and looks slightly to the right. Beside her on the step lies a package wrapped in cloth. A white man, wearing a white beard and attired in a suit, sits in a rocking chair on the porch and looks towards her. Also visible is a shuttered window and an open doorway. Phebe Mills, born circa 1806, was married to Pauldo Mills, a farmer on the Columbus Mills Plantation. Originally owned by John Mills, this plantation was bought by Dr. Leland Reid McAboy in 1872 and became an inn known as the McAboy House., Time: 12:30 P.M., Light: Fair sun., Purchase 2001., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Digitization and cataloging has been made possible through the generosity of David Marriott Morris, Eleanor Rhoads Morris Cox, and William Perot Morris in memory of Marriott Canby Morris and his children: Elliston Perot Morris, Marriott Canby Morris Jr., and Janet Morris and in acknowledgment of his grandchildren: William Perot Morris, Eleanor Rhoads Morris Cox, Jonathan White Morris, and David Marriott Morris., Edited.
- Creator
- Morris, Marriott Canby, 1863-1948, photographer
- Date
- March 27, 1890
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Marriott C. Morris Collection [P.9895.1604]
- Title
- Aunt Phebe, Mcaboy's, N.C
- Description
- Glass negative showing Phebe Mills, an older African American woman, sitting on the porch steps of the McAboy House. She is attired in a long-sleeved shirt with buttons down the front and a tie across the waist and a long skirt with ruffles at the bottom. She sits with her hands balls and folded in her lap and looks slightly to the right. Beside her on the step lies her striped bonnet. A white man, wearing a white beard and attired in a suit, sits in a rocking chair on the porch and looks towards her. Also visible is a shuttered window and an open doorway. Phebe Mills, born circa 1806, was married to Pauldo Mills, a farmer on the Columbus Mills Plantation. Originally owned by John Mills, this plantation was bought by Dr. Leland Reid McAboy in 1872 and became an inn known as the McAboy House., Same as last., Time: 12:30 P.M., Light: Fair sun., Purchase 2001., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Digitization and cataloging has been made possible through the generosity of David Marriott Morris, Eleanor Rhoads Morris Cox, and William Perot Morris in memory of Marriott Canby Morris and his children: Elliston Perot Morris, Marriott Canby Morris Jr., and Janet Morris and in acknowledgment of his grandchildren: William Perot Morris, Eleanor Rhoads Morris Cox, Jonathan White Morris, and David Marriott Morris., Edited.
- Creator
- Morris, Marriott Canby, 1863-1948, photographer
- Date
- March 27, 1890
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Marriott C. Morris Collection [P.9895.1605]
- Title
- Compliments of the Domestic Sewing Machine Co
- Description
- Racist trade card promoting the Domestic Sewing Machine Company and depicting a comic genre scene of an older African American man peddler mistaken as a suitor. In the center, the older, balding peddler speaks to an African American family at the door of their cottage house. The man is portrayed with exaggerated features, wears spectacles, and is attired in a purple coat; a white shirt; yellow pants; and brown shoes. A goat eats red cloth pulled out from underneath his coat. On the ground in front of him is his top hat turned upside-down. Papers are placed inside of it. He leans forward to speak with the African American woman in the doorway. His hands are out like he is displaying an object. The woman wears mammy-like attire of a beige head kerchief; a yellow shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows; a blue shirt; and a white apron. She holds a broom. Behind her is another woman attired in a green dress and head kerchief. In the left are a young woman and a girl. The young woman is attired in a pink dress with a green ruffle at the bottom and cut-out shoulders, matching pink stockings, and a bow in her hair. She coquettishly holds a fan ornately decorated with pink flowers to the side of her face. The girl to her left is barefoot and attired in a white dress. In the right background are sunflowers behind a fence and the peddler's horse-drawn wagon loaded with boxes out of view of the family. William S. Mack & Co. and N.S. Perkins founded the Domestic Sewing Machine Company in 1864 in Norwalk, Ohio. The White Sewing Machine Company bought the company in 1924., Title from item., Place of publication deduced from place of operation of advertised business., Date inferred from history of the advertised business., Distributor's imprint printed on verso: M.E. Hartzler's "Domestic" & "Royal St John" sewing machine office. In Odd Fellows Hall cor. Geo. & King Sts, (opposite Reevers tavern,) York, PA. Anything pertaining to sewing machines of every kind and make, furnished at this office. Repairing of all kinds of sewing machines a specialty., Gift of David Doret., Library Company holds duplicate copy [P.2017.95.48] and another with variant distributor [P.2017.95.47].
- Date
- [ca. 1880]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Domestic [P.2017.95.46]
- Title
- Bloch. Bros. West Virgina mail pouch tobacco I tell you breddern, it pays you to read erbout W.V.A Mail Pouch terbacker on de oder side dis yer card
- Description
- Trade card promoting the Bloch Brothers' chewing tobacco. Depicts a racist caricature of an older African American man tobacco peddler portrayed with exaggerated features and selling his product in a clumsy manner on a stage. He looks flabbergasted, stands behind a small table with two leaves drawn open, and holds a green umbrella over his head with his right hand. He holds the top of the table with his other hand while a pitcher, cup of water, and a lit candle in a candlestick fall off of the table or fly in the air. An illustrated package of "Bloch Brothers' Mail Pouch Tobacco" falls toward the audience. On the stagefloor in front of the table is a brown bottle with a lit candle, a hurricane lantern, a candle in a candlestick, and a brimmed hat. Behind the salesman in the right is an open bag with a boot and clothes spilling out. A clock hangs on the back wall. In the foreground, the backs of four men’s heads in the audience are visible. The white-haired salesman is attired in a red, plaid suit; a red tie waving in the air; white collared shirt; black boots; and spectacles. Brothers Aaron and Samuel Bloch founded the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company in Wheeling, West Virginia in 1879 by manufacturing cigars. They created Mail Pouch chewing tobacco by flavoring and packaging leftover cigar clippings. Bloch Brothers was sold in 1969 to the General Cigar and Tobacco Company, which became a division of Culbro in 1978. The Company was acquired by the Helme Tobacco Company in 1983 and later changed its name to Swisher International. Swisher continues to produce Mail Pouch tobacco into the 21st century., Title from item., Date inferred from the history of the advertised business and the attire of figures depicted., Distributor's imprint stamped on verso: Jacob G. Shirk, 886 N. Christian St., Lancaster, PA., Stamp partially visible on recto: Note: [?] Jacob Shirk, [308?] N. Christian Street., Advertising text printed on verso: To consumers of smoking and chewing tobacco: There has for years been a demand for a superior smoking tobacco, something cheap and meritorious, reverse from most brands, which are only manufactured for the profits derived by the manufacturer and the dealer, with no satisfaction to the consumer. It is a reform in Tobaccos, no stems to smoke nor mysterious compounds to chew. The qualities that recommend "Mail Pouch" Tobacco strongest as an article of merit, are:-- 1st. That it is a combination of Long Cut manipulated Virginia, Kentucky, Connecticut and Pennsylvania Leaf, by our own and original process, which makes it a cool smoke and a lasting chew. 2nd. In cheap tobaccos the smoker has been so long dosed with doctored, perfumed stuff, flattened stems mixed in with common Tobacco, to get something free from noxious flavorings and adulterations, is a result that must be appreciated. 3d. We claim that it is, without exception, the best and cheapest Tobacco ever offered to the consumer. The popularity of the W. Va. Mail Pouch Smoking and Chewing Tobacco is sufficient recommendation. It has attained its success and demand on its merits and sterling worth, it therefore has many imitators, but no equal. Bloch Bros., M'f'rs, Wheeling, W.Va., Gift of David Doret.
- Date
- [ca. 1880]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Bloch [P.2017.95.15]
- Title
- Ayer's cathartic pills. (The country doctor)
- Description
- Racist trade card promoting Dr. J.C. Ayer & Co.’s Cathartic Pills and depicting a caricature of an older African American man doctor administering Ayer’s pills to an infant girl on his lap. Shows the African American man with white hair and a white beard, attired in spectacles, a brown hat, a white collared shirt, a brown bow tie, a green waistcoat, a green jacket, green pants, and black shoes. He sits on a wooden chair and holds an infant African American girl, attired in a red dress with yellow polka dots and a white collar, on his lap. In his left hand he carries a box filled with white pills, and in his right hand he holds a single white pill. The infant carries a pamphlet labeled "Ayer’s pills" in her hands. In the left, a barefooted African American boy, attired in a blue and white checked shirt and orange and yellow striped overalls, kneels beside the chair and looks on. On the ground in front of the boy is an open medicine bag labeled “Dr. Bolus” and filled with containers labeled, Ayers. James Cook Ayer (1818-1878) was a successful patent medicine manufacturer who estabished a factory in Lowell, Mass. After his death, J.C. Ayer & Co. continued to manufacture medicine under the management of his brother Frederick Ayer (1822-1918). After Frederick's death, the company continued to operate under the management of family members and professional managers until it left Lowell in 1943., Title from item., Publication information and date from the copyright statement: Copyright, 1883, By J.C. Ayer & Co., Lowell, Mass., Advertising text printed on verso: Ayer’s pills supply the universal want of a safe and reliable purgative medicine. The disorders which they are designed to cure, and for which they prove a sure remedy, are all caused by the derangement of one or more of the digestive and assimilative organs, and include constipation or costiveness, indigestion, dyspepsia, biliousness, heartburn, loss of appetite, flatulency, foul stomach, nausea, dizziness, headache, numbness, jaundice, diarrhoea, dysentery, and disorders of the liver. Eruptions and skin diseases, and piles, when the result of indigestion or constipation, are cured by the use of Ayer’s pills. They are, also, often the best remedy for rheumatism, gout, neuralgia, dropsy, kidney complaints, and other disorders arising from a reduced condition of the system, or the obstruction of its functions. In colds they operate beneficially by opening the pores, removing inflammatory secretions, and allaying fever. Ayer’s pills are made of vegetable ingredients only, and may be administered even to children with perfect safety. They are sugar-coated, and pleasant to take; and for all the purposes of a cathartic medicine they are unequalled. Ayers’ pills are usually put up in oval wooden boxes; but for hot and damp climates, and for export, in sealed glass vials, as above represented. Sold by., Text printed on verso: “The Country Doctor.” A fine Chromo-Lithograph (7 ½ x 13 inches, in “Statuette” style) of this original and popular subject, will be sent, post-paid, to any address, with a set of our elegant Album Cards, on receipt of 10 cents in cash or postage stamps. Address, Dr. J.C. Ayer & Co., Lowell, Mass., Gift of David Doret.
- Date
- 1883
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - J.C. Ayer [P.2017.95.91]
- Title
- The old and the new – “Nothin’ but niggers nohow.”
- Description
- Photographic reproduction of a print drawn by Helen M. Colburn, daughter of New Jersey artist Rembrandt Lockwood, depicting an older African American woman watching and "judging" a young African American couple walking in a park. The figures are drawn with racist and caricatured features and mannerisms. Shows, in the right, the older woman, attired in a kerchief, coat, shawl, long skirt, and holding a wooden cane, and with a squinted expression looking toward the back of a fashionably-attired couple in the left. The man of the couple to the right of the woman looks down and at his companion whose back is to the viewer. She is attired in a cap, a long winter wrap, and a skirt with a short train. The man wears an imperial mustache and is attired in a cap and a long winter coat. The man and women walk on a path lined with trees and birds peck at the ground. In the far left background, a woman and child attired in winter wear and walking on the path are visible. Robinson, married to Washington U.S. Treasury clerk Rollinson Colburn, lived in the Capitol between circa 1870 and her death in 1912. In 1887 eight of her works, some purported to based on her own eye-witness accounts during the 1870s, showing African American life in the city were published as a collectible series of photographs. Occassionally, Colburn described and signed her descriptions of the scenes on the versos of the photographs., Title printed on mount., Date from copy right statement printed on mount: Copyright 1887., Written in lower right of original print: Mrs. R. Colburn 1881., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Purchased with the 2019 Junto Fund.
- Date
- 1887
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department photos - 5 x 7 - unidentified - Events [P.2020.16.3]
- Title
- Compliments of the Domestic Sewing Machine Co
- Description
- Racist trade card promoting the Domestic Sewing Machine Company and depicting a comic genre scene of an older African American man peddler mistaken as a suitor. In the center, the older, balding peddler speaks to an African American family at the door of their cottage house. The man is portrayed with exaggerated features, wears spectacles, and is attired in a purple coat; a white shirt; yellow pants; and brown shoes. A goat eats red cloth pulled out from underneath his coat. On the ground in front of him is his top hat turned upside-down. Papers are placed inside of it. He leans forward to speak with the African American woman in the doorway. His hands are out like he is displaying an object. The woman wears mammy-like attire of a beige head kerchief; a yellow shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows; a blue shirt; and a white apron. She holds a broom. Behind her is another woman attired in a green dress and head kerchief. In the left are a young woman and a girl. The young woman is attired in a pink dress with a green ruffle at the bottom and cut-out shoulders, matching pink stockings, and a bow in her hair. She coquettishly holds a fan ornately decorated with pink flowers to the side of her face. The girl to her left is barefoot and attired in a white dress. In the right background are sunflowers behind a fence and the peddler's horse-drawn wagon loaded with boxes out of view of the family. William S. Mack & Co. and N.S. Perkins founded the Domestic Sewing Machine Company in 1864 in Norwalk, Ohio. The White Sewing Machine Company bought the company in 1924., Title from item., Place of publication deduced from place of operation of advertised business., Date inferred from history of the advertised business., Distributor's imprint printed on verso: D.S. Andrus & Co. pianos, organs & sewing machines, 17 West Third Street, Williamsport, PA., Gift of David Doret., Library Company holds duplicate copy [P.2017.95.48] and another with variant distributor [P.2017.95.46].
- Date
- [ca. 1880]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Domestic [P.2017.95.47]
- Title
- [Philadelphia Inquirer art supplements]
- Description
- Series of art supplements depicting genre, historical and allegorical scenes, landscapes, portraiture, and character studies. Includes "Aurora" showing a white female fairy figure smelling a flower; "The Pilot" portrait of an older white man sea captain smoking a pipe; "The Partners" showing a white girl and boy with a broom and shovel; "Tambourine Girl"; "Playmates" depicting a white girl holding a cat; "Deep Sea Fisherman"; "Night of the Ball" depicting an exterior view of a palatial estate in the snow with an inset showing a young white woman in evening attire; "One of the Four Hundred" showing a white boy costumed as a vagabond; "By the Sea" showing an older African American seaman, attired in a grey top hat, a white collared shirt, a blue and gold bowtie, red suspenders, a yellow jacket with a flower boutonniere, brown pants, and boots, smoking a pipe; an older white man reading "Fairy Tales" to a white girl; "Sheik of the Desert" a bust-length portrait of an Arab man; "A Lively Scrimmage" during a football game; a dog inspecting "Five O'Clock Tea"; a white clergyman having "A Disappointing Luncheon"; a view "Off the Belgium Coast near Ostend"; "Spring" and fall landscapes; "Does You Mother Know You're Out" depicting a white girl with a newly hatched chick; "Napoleon and the Old Guard"; "Wellington and His Soldiers"; a white man and woman couple on "A Honeymoon at Niagara"; and a white lady portrayed fancifully "Among the Roses.", Title supplied by cataloger., Various artists, including M. Duboy, C.L. Van Vredenburgh, Charles P. Gruppe, A. I. Keller, and W. Merritt Post., Various printers, including Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing Company; Leopold Gast & Brother; Julius Bien & Co.; Donaldson Bros.; Ketterlinus; and J. Ottmann., Two of prints designed to stand as display cards., Originally part of Specimens Album [P.9349]., Gift of Margaret Robinson, 1991., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
- Date
- [ca. 1894-1898]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Specimens Album Loose Prints Collection - Philadelphia Inquirer [P.9349.282, 287, 295, 310, 313, 323-325, 330-331, 413, 424, 432, 434, 440, 457, 463-464, 466, & 469]
- Title
- [J. & P. Coat's thread trade cards]
- Description
- Series of trade cards promoting J.&. P. Coats thread and depicting men, women and children performing a variety of activities with the thread, including a white girl swinging on a tree swing; a white man fishing in a stream while a white woman watches; and several white children pretending to be a horse team. Includes a large frog on a riverbank. "So do my sisters and my cousins and my aunts!" depicts an older white woman carrying packages. "Gulliver and the Lilliputians" based on Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels" shows an oversized Gulliver being tied down with thread by the Lilliputians. "That's the kind! Bring me some more" depicts an older white woman inspecting different colored spools of thread in a box held up by a white boy. "Ef dis don't fetch you nothing will" depicts an African American man and woman, portrayed in racist caricature, trying to tame a donkey. In the left, the woman, attired in a white bonnet with a red ribbon, a red shirt, a blue scarf, a yellow shirt, a white apron, and gray shoes, uses thread from an enormous J. & P. Coats spool to pull on the bridle on the donkey, who pulls back with its mouth open. Behind the donkey, the man stands, attired in a brown, brimmed hat, a red shirt, blue plaid pants, and blue shoes, who holds a rope in his left hand and scratches his head with his left hand. "We never fade!" depicts an African American boy, portrayed in racist caricature, sitting on an oversized spool of thread in a field. Shows the boy seated and with his legs straddling a giant spool of black thread. He says “we never fade!!” and points his finger at the sun, which has a face and a concerned expression with a downward turned mouth. The boy is barefoot and attired in a white collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows; a multi-colored tie and belt; and red pants rolled up to the knees. In the foreground, two black crows look at the thread. A house is visible in the right background., Brothers James Coats, Jr. (1803-1845) and Peter Coats (1808-1890) established the firm J.&P. Coats, a thread manufactory. Their brother Thomas Coats (1809-1883) joined the firm soon after. By 1840, three quarters of the British company’s business was with the United States. In 1896, the firm merged with thread manufacturer Clark & Co. and formed J. & P. Coats, Ltd. In 2015, the firm was renamed, “Coats Group.”, Title supplied by cataloger., Five prints printed by E. Ketterlinus & Co., Ten prints contain advertising text printed on versos, including promotions for J. & P. Coat's best six cord, soft finish spool cotton; a table of needle and thread numbers; a calendar for 1880; and a description of "Gulliver and the Lilliputians" illustration (on recto of print 1975.F.220)., Gift of Emily Phillips, 1883. Purchase 1999. Purchase 2001., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Digitized.
- Date
- [ca. 1885]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department trade card - Coats [1975.F.123; 1975.F.126; 1975.F.133; 1975.F.150; 1975.F.157; 1975.F.193; 1975.F.195; 1975.F.220; 69211.D; P.9743; P.9984.4]
- Title
- Sunday laws hanging the cat on Monday for killing the mouse on Sunday
- Description
- Cartoon mocking Philadelphia's Sunday Laws depicting the moment before "Thomas" the cat will be hanged for his murder of a mouse on the Sabbath. In the center, shows the gallows surrounded by a line of white policemen, attired in uniforms and caps. In the left, three white hangmen, attired in suits, hold onto the rope and pull on the unlooped end of the noose. Two of the men smile sinisterly, while the third man wipes his tears with a handkerchief as he says, “Alas poor Tom!” To the right, an African American man, portrayed in racist caricature with exaggerated features, carries the "Blood Tub." Under the noose, a white man, possibly Philadelphia Mayor Alexander Henry, stands holding an execution order that reads, “Mayor Public Execution Tom” and the cat by the scruff of its neck. Before him stands a minister, resembling John Chambers, a champion of the Sunday Laws. He holds the dead mouse in this right hand and an open book in his left hand as he sentences the cat to death for murder. Behind the minister, an elderly white man, attired in a suit with a white bowtie, stands slightly hunched down holding an ear trumpet to his right ear. He comments, “I can’t hear a word the minister says on account of them cars,” a reference to the contested Sunday Law against the running of streetcars. A black dog runs in the left foreground., Title from item., Date from manuscript note written on recto: Aug. 1859., Place of publication inferred from content., Text printed on recto, below image: In the Dark Ages, long ago, One Horne was flogged on Monday; What for? That’s what I want you to know, He danced a horn-pipe Sunday! That was all! He but danced a horn-pipe Sunday, But he danced to the horsewhip Monday. By the roundheads, too, when Cromwell reigned, We read there was a hung on Monday, A cat who “the Sabbath day (?) profaned” By cat-ching a mouse on Sunday? Understand: She played with him first on Sunday, ‘Twas for that she was hung on Monday! And by America’s Puritan men, Mrs. Hotchkiss was punished on Monday; Cotton Mather forbade her, but once and again, She had kissed her babe on Sunday; A blow for a kiss. For so many kisses on Sunday, She got so many blows on Monday. So, too, in Brooklyn, the other day, Meyerbeer was tried on Monday; The complaint against him thus did say “He has sold lager beer on Sunday” And he had! But the jury said, on Monday! A good drink might be sold Sunday! And in the West’s “Queen city,” too, One Rudolph’s just ‘quitted on Monday; He would drive his ‘bus the whole week through And accommodate people on Sunday: And the Court, Gave the very Pruden-t decision on Monday, That “there’s more than ‘one thing needful’ on Sunday:” And so the “good time” is “coming” boys When a thing that is good on Monday—A drink, or a drive, or a joyful noise—Will be thought not bad on Sunday! Everywhere When wrong will be wrong on Monday, And right will be right on Sunday!, 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 the Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
- Date
- [Philadelphia]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Political Cartoons - 1859-Sun [5656.F.24a]
- Title
- The Salt River gazette---extra, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 1867 The Great Negro Party--born, 1856--died Oct. 8, 1867
- Description
- Cartoon publicizing the death of the "Great Negro Party" (i.e., Republican Party) as a result of the defeat of several Republican candidates to Democrats in the Philadelphia local elections of 1867. Depicts a series of racist captioned vignettes and caricatures. Includes the head of an African American man above a coffin inscribed with the life and death dates of the party (1856-Oct. 8, 1867); “a Scene at the Broad St. League House” depicting a white man minister forced to perform an interracial marriage between a white woman and an African American man; and a scene entitled "The Work of Congress repudiated by the People" showing an African American man lounging and watching white men labor to pay their taxes. Also includes an African American man dandy commenting in the vernacular on his making electors sick "dis time"; and a scene titled "Statue to be erected in front of the Union League House" showing the sculpture of an older African American woman on a ragged horse. The African American dandy caricature originally appeared as an illustration titled "S.S. Sanford in One of his Great Delineations of Ethiopian Character" in "Our Day," an 1860 circular that advertised his Sanford Opera House. The statue caricature originally appeared in the "Original Comicalities" section of the June 1854 edition of "Graham's Magazine" and was titled "Woolly Equestrian Statue of the late Mrs. Joyce Heth." Mrs. Heth, an early attraction of P.T. Barnum from 1835 until 1836, claimed that she was over 100 years old and a nanny to George Washington., Title from item., Date inferred from content., Originally part of McAllister scrapbooks of views of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania views and political miscellany. McAllister Collection, gift, 1886., 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
- [1867]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department political cartoons - 1867-1W [5759.F; (2)1322.F.77]
- 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
- Compliments of the Domestic Sewing Machine Co
- Description
- Racist trade card promoting the Domestic Sewing Machine Company and depicting a comic genre scene of an older African American man peddler mistaken as a suitor. In the center, the older, balding peddler speaks to an African American family at the door of their cottage house. The man is portrayed with exaggerated features, wears spectacles, and is attired in a purple coat; a white shirt; yellow pants; and brown shoes. A goat eats red cloth pulled out from underneath his coat. On the ground in front of him is his top hat turned upside-down. Papers are placed inside of it. He leans forward to speak with the African American woman in the doorway. His hands are out like he is displaying an object. The woman wears mammy-like attire of a beige head kerchief; a yellow shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows; a blue shirt; and a white apron. She holds a broom. Behind her is another woman attired in a green dress and head kerchief. In the left are a young woman and a girl. The young woman is attired in a pink dress with a green ruffle at the bottom and cut-out shoulders, matching pink stockings, and a bow in her hair. She coquettishly holds a fan ornately decorated with pink flowers to the side of her face. The girl to her left is barefoot and attired in a white dress. In the right background are sunflowers behind a fence and the peddler's horse-drawn wagon loaded with boxes out of view of the family. William S. Mack & Co. and N.S. Perkins founded the Domestic Sewing Machine Company in 1864 in Norwalk, Ohio. The White Sewing Machine Company bought the company in 1924., Title from item., Place of publication deduced from place of operation of advertised business., Date inferred from history of advertised business., Gift of David Doret., Library Company holds duplicate copies [P.2017.95.46 & P.2017.95.47].
- Date
- [1880]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Domestic [P.2017.95.48]
- 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
- Reading the Emancipation Proclamation
- Description
- Print depicting a white Union soldier reading the Emancipation Proclamation to families of enslaved African Americans in a cabin. The families are depicted with anxious and solemn mannerisms. Family members surround the officer near a dining table and hearth. An older boy holds a torch providing the officer with light. The father watches over the soldier's shoulder. Other figures, including a "young woman with two children, the house servant of her [enslaver], not belonging to the cabin but happened to be in on the occasion" pray, cheer, and cling to their mothers. Interior also includes a side of bacon hanging next to a ladder, a drying line with cotton balls handing from it above the hearth, and a cradle. Contains portrait of Abraham Lincoln below the image. The Emancipation Proclamation, effective January 1, 1863, granted African Americans not only their right to freedom but the right to join the Union Army., Title from item., Date from copyright statement., After painting by Henry Walker Herrick exhibited at the National Academy of Design in New York in 1865. Exhibited by "possessor" Lucius Stebbins., Publisher and copyright holder Stebbins published complementary pamphlet "Emancipation Proclamation of January 1st, 1864 [sic]" that included "Description of the Engraving." Description: Old man at the right with folded hands, Grand-father; Old lady at the left with cane in hand, Grand-mother; man leaning on ladder, the father; woman with child in her arms, the mother; lad swinging his hat, oldest son; one holding torch, second son; little girl, oldest daughter; infant in the arms of its mother. Young woman with two children, the house servant of her master, not belonging to the cabin but happened to be in on the occasion. Party reading, Union Soldier. The internal view of the Cabin is true to nature. The stone chimney, garret, ladder, side of bacon, rough cradle, piece of sugar cane and cotton balls, &c, all combine to give a correct idea of the slaves' home. Lincoln Financial Foundation copy of pamphlet accessible at Internet Archive., Lib. Company. Annual report, 1993, p. 44., LCP exhibition catalogue: An African American Miscellany p. 22., Purchase 1993., 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., Lucius Stebbins (1810-1901), born in Massachussets, worked in Hartford, Connecticut, in the businesses of map coloring and subscription book publishing (American Publishing Company).
- Creator
- Watts, James W., -1895, engraver
- Date
- 1864
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department **GC-Emancipation [P.9429]