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Title: Cartes de visite reproductions of "Campaign Sketches"
Description: Series of reproductions of lithographs of military life "sketched on the spot" by Homer and originally published by L. Prang & Co. in 1863. Includes "A Pastime," "The Coffee Call", and "Our Jolly Cook" showing white men soldiers gathered around camp fires to play cards; get coffee; and watch the African American man camp hand, portrayed as a racist caricature, dance. Also shows white men soldiers "Foraging" as they round up a cow on a homestead; the "Baggage Train" with two African American camp hands on the back of a conestoga wagon; and "The Letter for Home" showing a white woman volunteer assist an injured white man soldier in the hospital to write a letter., Title and date based on the L. Prang & Co. publication in 1863., Three of the images signed by artist: Homer del., Created postfreeze., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of humorous caricatures and photographs. McAllister Collection, gift, 1886., Original lithographs described in Katherine McClinton's The chromolithographs of Louis Prang (New York, C. N. Potter distributed by Crown Publishers, 1973), p. 144-147., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Digitized by Alexander Street Press for Images of the American Civil War.
Date: [ca. 1863]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department cdv - miscellaneous - Civil War - Homer - Caricatures & cartoons - Homer [5780.F.52i; 53b, d, g, i & n]

Title: [Civil War drawings and cartes de visite reproductions of drawings by Henry Louis Stephens]
Description: Series of caricatures predominately satirizing the effects of the presidential policies of Abraham Lincoln on his re-election and the candidacy of Democratic nominee and former Commander of the U.S. Army, George McClellan, in the presidential election of 1864. Lincoln caricatures depict racist scenes and themes of election loss and show the president as a comic stage performer; a feeding open-mouthed tool of the abolitionists; as a defeated Robin Hood with his "Band of Brothers," (i.e. cabinet members Edwin Stanton, William Seward, and Gideon Welles); as weighed down by the "Old Keystone", a visual metaphor for the large number of Pennsylvania soldiers lost in the war; as a buffoon tripped up by his large boots of "military necessity"; as patronizing a miniature McClellan propped up on the "Chicago Platform"; as McClellan's puppeteer; and as "loved little and long" for his emancipation of the enslaved. McClellan caricatures primarily use the themes of McClellan, known as "The Young Napoleon," as a "MacNapoleon" and his contradictory personal and party platforms in relation to the war. Caricatures show "MacNapoleon" searching for the White House, childishly whining about his quest for the White house, and singing a "doleful ditty" about himself. Platform caricatures show McClellan as a squeeze doll who speaks two words - war and peace, and in a "Quandary" to choose between a ballerina representing war and another representing peace. Collection also contains caricatures of Edward Stanton making a "Soliloquy" as an allusion to a Republican loss in the presidential election; of Peace Democrat Clement Vallandigham satirizing his sentence of banishment to the South for anti-war sentiments as well as a racist caricature of the "The American Eagle.1864. A likely young bird" showing an eagle with the head of an African American resting on the American shield marked "E. Pluribus. U-No-Um.", Title supplied by cataloger., Date from copyright., Created postfreeze., Originally part of McAllister scrapbooks of materials related to Abraham Lincoln and of humorous caricatures and photographs. McAlister Collection, gift, 1886., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021.
Creator: Stephens, H. L. (Henry Louis), 1824-1882
Date: 1864
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Henry Louis Stephens Collection [(11)1540.F.20a; 5780.F.52m; 5792.F.4d&e; 97a-c &f; 98a,b,d, e-i; 99a-h; P.2282.50; P.8686.1-2; P.2005.2.12a-e; P.2006.1.25a&b]

Title: [ African American boy playing soldier]
Description: Reproduction of a Thomas Nast drawing showing an African American boy, portrayed as a racist caricature and attired in a striped, collared shirt, torn and worn pants, and boots. He holds a broom like a rifle and marches near a pile of hay., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from Thomas Nast drawing., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of humorous caricatures and photographs. McAllister Collection, gift, 1886., Created postfreeze., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Digitized by Alexander Street Press for Images of the American Civil War., 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. 1863]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department cdv - miscellaneous - Civil War - Caricatures & cartoons [5780.F.51c]

Title: Dan Bryant
Description: Full-length portrait of the popular New York minstrel performer and manager in Blackface and costumed as a disheveled 18th-century gentleman. Bryant stands posed with his right hand on his hip and his left hand holding a sword to the ground while looking up to the left. Known for his versatility as a comedian, actor, dancer, and musician, Bryant was most famous for his rendition of the dance, "Essence of Old Virginny," and for popularizing the songs "Dixie," "Turkey in the Straw," and "Shoo Fly." He performed in Philadelphia in September 1856. "Blackface minstrelsy is a popular entertainment form, originating in the United States in the mid-19th century and remaining in American life through the 20th century. The form is based around stereotypical and racist portrayals of African Americans, including mocking dialect, parodic lyrics, and the application of Black face paint; all designed to portray African Americans as othered subjects of humor and disrespect. Blackface was a dominant form for theatrical and musical performances for decades, both on stage and in private homes.", Title from manuscript note on mount., Date based on presented age of the sitter., Description of Blackface minstrelsy from Dorothy Berry, Descriptive Equity and Clarity around Blackface Minstrelsy in H(arvard) T(heater) C(ollection) Collections, 2021., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of portraits. 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 Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
Date: [ca. 1865]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department portrait cdvs - sitter - Bryant [(1)5750.F.60f]

Title: [Caricature of capture of Jefferson Davis May 10, 1865]
Description: Carte-de-visite caricature satirizing the unusual circumstances of the capture of the Confederate president, detained by Union cavalry troops on May 10, 1865, while wearing his wife's overcoat and shawl as a disguise. Depicts Davis being inspected by Union soldiers as he emerges from a tent, holding a basket, while attired in a hood and skirt. His wife, Varina Davis, stands next to him. An African American enslaved servant depicted with oversize and exagerrated features peers from behind the tent flap. Bottles and a case marked "Silver Spoons, C.S.A." (an allusion to Jefferson's safeguarding of the remaining Confederate treasury) lay on the ground in front of the tent. Also shows a saddle hanging in a tree to the right of the tent., Title supplied by cataloguer., Publication information from copyright statement: Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1865 by Francis Hacker, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Rhode Island., See photo - Hacker [5795.F.15a]., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
Creator: Hacker, Francis
Date: 1865
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department cdv - miscellaneous - Civil War - Caricatures & cartoons - [P.2016.63]

Title: Happy contraband
Description: Photographic reproduction of a caricature depicting a half-length, cameo portrait of an African American man playing a fife. Shows the man, posed to the right, looking up with his eyes, and holding up with both his hands, a fife to his pursed lips. He leans slightly forward, is portrayed with a furrowed brow, and is attired in a wide-brimmed hat adorned with a ribbon, white shirt with long sleeves, and a dark-colored vest. While commander of Fort Monroe, Virginia, General Benjamin Butler declared freedom seekers as "contraband of war," providing the impetus for Congress to enact the Confiscation Act of 1861. During the war, several visual materials, often satires, depicting Black persons as "contraband" were published., Title from manuscript note on verso., Date inferred from active dates of publisher., RVCDC, Philadelphia Photographic Company operated from 730 Chestnut Street circa 1864-1865 before relocating to 24 N. 8th Street. Active until about circa 1869, the firm, per advertisements, issued a catalog, sold "specialties" for albums, including "from original drawings by artists of high quality," and published "[Thomas H.] Johnson's Photographic Views of the Whole Oil Regions," as well as sold election campaign cards and badges.
Creator: Philadelphia Photographic Company
Date: [ca. 1865]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department cdv - non-portrait -Philadelphia Photographic Company - Happy [P.2022.50]

Title: [Stevens-Cogdell and Sanders-Venning and Chew families miscellaneous portraits collection]
Description: Collection of photographs, several unidentified, of members of the African American middle-class Steven-Cogdell and Sanders-Venning and Chew family of Philadelphia, as well as their extended families and friends. Includes predominantly studio portraiture, including a portrait of William H. Chew (P.2013.14.10), in addition to two miniatures (possibly members of the Cogdell family) and a casual group photograph. Also includes a small number of photographs representing the African American expatriate entertainers' community in Paris in the 1930s; a group portrait of the “Soap Box Minstrels, Musical Fund Hall, December 7, 1909”; and a group portrait with possibly George Washington Musgrave. Minstrel show photograph depicts performers in black face and African American musicians on a stage in front of which a row of African American performers, some in costume and some in tuxedoes, is seated. George Venning and his brother-in-law William Holden were founders of the Soap Box Social in 1908. The Soap Box Social performed an annual minstrel show in the aughts as a fundraiser for the Citizens Republican Club, a social and political club of African American elite men started in 1884. The club’s mission focused on the election of African Americans into public office., Blackface minstrelsy is a popular entertainment form, originating in the United States in the mid-19th century and remaining in American life through the 20th century. The form is based around stereotypical and racist portrayals of African Americans, including mocking dialect, parodic lyrics, and the application of Black face paint; all designed to portray African Americans as othered subjects of humor and disrespect. Blackface was a dominant form for theatrical and musical performances for decades, both on stage and in private homes., Identified sitters include Ivan H. Browning, Edward W. Venning, Sallie Venning (Holden), Turner Layton, Clarence Johnstone, Thomas "Fats" Waller, and Ada "Bricktop" Smith., Title supplied by cataloger., Date from content., Various photographers, including L. Blaul, African American photographer G. W. Cheston, Flett, J. E. Forbert, O. B. De Morat, S. Georges Ltd, Studio di Art, Sol Young Studios, and Suddards & Fennemore., P.2013.14.12 contains manuscript note on verso: My Honey, My Wife, My All., P.2013.14.15 contains manuscript note on recto: To two regular fellows “Bill & Agnes” Ivan Browning, Paris, France, 1932., P.2013.14.16 contains manuscript note on recto: To The Agnes, Bill, Gene Upshur, With Warmest Wishes, Turner Layton. C.T. Johnstone., P.2013.14.17 contains manuscript note on recto: To Mr. & Mrs. Chew. With Tons of Good Wishes for Every Joy & Oceans of Happiness. Layton & Johnstone., P.2013.14.19 contains manuscript note on recto identifying the sitters: Unknown; [Us.?] Browning; Snow; Unknown; Fats Waller; Unknown; Bricktop., P.2013.14.20 contains manuscript note in ink on recto identifying the sitters: Unknown; Fats; [Mau?]; [Mask?]; Bricktop; Uncle John; Unknown; Ms. Chew; Susan Williams; Unknown; Maureen Browning; Mr. Anson; Ms. Hinkson; Dr. Hinkson; Mr. Chew; Mr. Browning; Unknown. Also contains manuscript note on recto: To Uncle John-Don’t get your derby knocked off. Thomas “Fats” Waller; Uncle John, I think your great & how. Bricktop., See Lib. Company Annual Report, 1991, p. 26-31., Gift of descendants Cordelia H. Brown, Lillie V. Dickerson, Mary Hinkson Jackson, and Georgine E. Willis in honor of Phil Lapsansky., See LCP exhibit catalogue: African American Miscellany p. 45., Genealogical charts available at repository., Description of blackface mintrelsy from Dorothy Berry, Descriptive Equity and Clarity around Blackface Minstrelsy in H(arvard) T(heater) C(ollection) Collections, 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., RVCDC, Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
Date: [ca. 1800-1932]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Stevens-Cogdell/Sanders-Venning Collection [P.2013.14]

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