Exterior view of the colonial residence built 1763-1767 by master carpenter Jacob Knor for Philadelphia attorney Benjamin Chew at 6401 Germantown Avenue. Shows an African American man, James Smith, posed near the front door of the home. He is attired in a hat, a white collared shirt, white gloves, a dark-colored jacket, pants, and shoes. A smaller building used as a kitchen or for laundry is visible in the rear (left). Smith was enslaved in Chestertown, Maryland before buying his freedom. He began work for the Chews as a coachman in 1819 and later worked as a general servant until his death in 1871. Chew House, also known as Cliveden, was the site of the turning point in the Battle of Germantown in 1777. The Chew family enslaved people of African descent in the city of Philadelphia and in Germantown during the 18th and 19th centuries. The estate was the Chew family residence until 1972 when it was acquired by the National Trust for Historic Preservation., Title and date from inscription on mount., Originally part of an album of seventy eight views by John Moran entitled "A collection of photographic views in Philadelphia & its vicinity taken in the year 1868-1869" (Philadelphia, 1870)., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited., Photograph pasted on verso: Stenton 1900., See website "Cliveden. Know it. Feel it. Share it." (link above)., Purchase 1870., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
Creator
Moran, John, 1831-1903, photographer
Date
1867
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Moran album [1717.F.123], http://www.cliveden.org/
