Disaster scene showing the aftermath of the explosion of the factory of Professor Samuel Jackson located in South Philadelphia. Shows people fleeing, trapped, and engulfed in flames at the ruins of the burning factory. In the foreground, a man rushes to cover a man's body that has had its head and arm amputated; men throw buckets of water and blankets on women on fire; individuals carry the wounded; comfort the survivors; rush in with buckets; and hose the fire. Also shows a man looking in horror from a train car in the left of the image and debris flying in the air and lying on the ground. Over 15 people, including the son of the proprietor, perished in the explosion of the factory that was contracted to produce one and a half million experimental "solid water proof patent cartridges" during the Civil War. Jackson, a Philadelphia pyrotechnist and inventor, began the manufacture of fireworks in Philadelphia in 1837. He continued in pyrotechnics until 1887, when he began to manufacture danger signals for railroads. During his pyrotechnic career, a number of his establishments were destroyed through explosions., Name of artist supplied by Wainwright., The numeral "9" printed in the reverse in the date in the title., Inscribed on recto: North of Moyamensing Prison. Philada., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 215, Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Bb 83 C 328
Creator
Magee, John L., artist
Date
[1862]
Location
Historical Society of Pennsylvania HSP Bb 83 C 328
View looking south from the east bank of the Schuylkill River showing the Fairmount Water Works. Depicts the old engine house; old mill house; new mill house (completed 1862); and the observatory tower arch (built 1860), stand pipe (built 1852), and pavilion on Reservoir Hill. In the foreground, trees and bushes line the river bank and small boats sail near the Schuylkill Canal lock in which a barge travels. Also shows the Wire Suspension Bridge at Fairmount in the far right background. The waterworks were originally built between 1812 and 1822 after the designs of Frederick Graff., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 237, Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Bc 88 C 936, Palmer, was one of a few women lithographic artists, who also developed innovative coloring techniques as well as made improvements to the lithographic crayons used by the firm Currier & Ives. Palmer worked for Currier, and later the firm, from 1851 to 1876.
Creator
Palmer, F. (Fanny), 1812-1876, artist
Date
[ca. 1865]
Location
Historical Society of Pennsylvania HSP Bc 88 C 936