Search results

Title: [Arthur Showell]
Description: Full-length studio portrait showing Showell, seated in a chair, and attired in a suit, tie, and spats. His legs are crossed, with one hand resting on his knee, and the other hand resting on the arm of the chair. A studio backdrop is visible in the background. Showell, a resident of South Philadelphia, worked as a laborer with the Adams Express Co. He also served in World War I in the 368th Infantry, part of the African American 92nd Infantry Division known as the "Buffalo Soldiers.", Title supplied by cataloguer., Gift of Brice C. Showell., Fragile condition.
Date: [ca. 1923]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department portrait photographs - misc. - sitter - Showell [P.2015.1.1]

Title: "What do you all want to do wif dat pixture tak'en contraption"
Description: Depicts an older African American woman, with a stern expression, her arms crossed in front of her body, standing next to her brick home at Jessup and Irving Streets in Philadelphia. According to the photographer, the home is "a good example of a skilled mechanics home - the middle class of from 60 to 80 years ago," and that the woman was coaxed in to allowing the photograph after he described her house as "quaint" and she as "beautiful." Today this house is connected to the one behind it on Quince Street. Plaques on Quince Street house list builder of both buildings as Henry Vollum in 1813; the architect of additions and alterations made in 1924 was Wetherill P. Trout; those involved with connecting the two buildings in 1989 were Francis Henkels, architect, Diana Fertik, designer, and Philip Johnson, builder., Title from descriptive manuscript note on verso., Photographer's manuscript note on verso: "I don't 'low no one no how to make no fotygraf of me nor my house." "Madam" we said "we are interested in quaint old residences and beautiful women and desire to have the camra [sic] record both." The picture was a natural sequence of this little speech. The house is not far from 10[th] and Locust Sts. - Jessup and Warnock Sts. Now I wonder how many know where Jessup and Warnock Sts. bisect."A good example of a skilled mechanics home, or as this and other 'wider spread' bread earners are now designated "the middle class of from 60 to 80 years ago.", Gift of Mrs. Margaret Odewalt Sweeney, 1979., 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.
Creator: Wilson, G. Mark (George Mark), 1879-1925, photographer
Date: [ca. 1923]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Wilson [P.8513.188], http://www.lcpimages.org/wilson/wilson188.htm

Title: [Young African American woman]
Description: Sample of photo restoration work depicting a damaged and touched up bust-length portrait mounted side-by-side of a young African American woman. The woman, attired in a beret, a white shirt, and a plaid jacket, faces right with her eyes looking left., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from attire of the sitter., Gift of Joseph Kelly, 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.
Creator: Photo Illustrators (Firm)
Date: [ca. 1930]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Photo-Illustrators-Non-Philadelphia-Afro-Americana

Title: Digging potatoes with modern machinery
Description: Touched up newspaper photograph depicting a portrait of the back of an African American man riding his horse-drawn "Iron Age" potato machine as he harvests a field of potatoes. The man, attired in a brimmed hat, a long-sleeved shirt, overalls, and shoes, sits on the machine and holds the reins to the two horses. The machine is pulled down rows of potato plants. The newly harvested potatoes are visible on the ground., Title from typed note pasted on verso., Printed caption pasted on verso: "Digging Potatoes with Modern Machinery.", Manuscript note on verso: Bateman & Cos Inc., Grenloch, N.J., Gift of Jane Abrams Bender, 1997., 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: March 25, 1928
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department photos - unidentified - Industry [P.9520.51]

Title: [African American woman playing tambourine]
Description: Snapshot photograph showing an African American woman outside and playing a tambourine between two white women who play guitars. The white woman in the left is partially removed from the view and the white woman in the right is partially obscured by the woman playing tambourine. The tambourine player has her hair pulled back and wears a silk shawl and long, ruffled, tiered skirt. Spectators, including an African American boy attired in overalls, and white men attired in summer suits stand near and behind the women. Wooden warehouse and barn-like structures, including one with signage reading "Sterline," are visible in the background., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from format of photograph and attire of sitters., Gift of Ivan Jurin, 2019., Description revised 2022., Access points revised 2022.
Date: [ca. 1925]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department portrait photographs - misc. - sitter - female [P.2019.2.1]

Title: Man in straw bowler standing in front of brick house, Philadelphia
Description: Portrait of a middle-aged man wearing a straw hat and collarless shirt standing in front of a brick house in Philadelphia. He stands between two windows with shutters., Photographer's imprint stamped on verso: John Frank Keith, 2703 E. Ontario St., Phila., Pa., Defender postcard., See Robert Bogdan and Todd Weseloh’s “Real Photo Postcard Guide: The People’s Photography,” (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 2006), p. 228., Keith was a Philadelphia photographer who specialized in portraiture, mainly of working-class Philadelphians in South Philadelphia and Kensington from the 1910s to the 1940s.
Creator: Keith, John Frank, 1883-1947, photographer
Date: ca. 1928
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Photographs-Keith [P.2008.10.161]

Title: Woman standing in front of brick house with stone porch, Philadelphia
Description: Portrait of a young woman with dark hair wearing a two-piece dress standing in front of a stone porch in Philadelphia. Her blouse is plain with an inset of striped fabric and some embroidery. The skirt is full-length and made of striped fabric. Patent leather shoes complement her dress. Behind her is a decorative iron grille on a cellar window., Defender postcard., See Robert Bogdan and Todd Weseloh’s “Real Photo Postcard Guide: The People’s Photography,” (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 2006), p. 228., Keith was a Philadelphia photographer who specialized in portraiture, mainly of working-class Philadelphians in South Philadelphia and Kensington from the 1910s to the 1940s.
Creator: Keith, John Frank, 1883-1947, photographer
Date: ca. 1928
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Photographs-Keith [P.2008.10.133]

Title: Young girl standing outside a house, Philadelphia
Description: Portrait of a girl about seven or eight years old, dressed in a plaid, summer dress with white stockings, white shoes laced up to her calves, and a big bow in her hair, standing in front of a brick house in Philadelphia. Beside her is a doorway to a cellar. The brick sidewalk underneath her feet is old and set in the herringbone pattern., Artura postcard., See Robert Bogdan and Todd Weseloh’s “Real Photo Postcard Guide: The People’s Photography,” (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 2006), p. 225., Keith was a Philadelphia photographer who specialized in portraiture, mainly of working-class Philadelphians in South Philadelphia and Kensington from the 1910s to the 1940s.
Creator: Keith, John Frank, 1883-1947, photographer
Date: ca. 1922
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Photographs-Keith [P.2008.10.11]

Title: Small girl sitting on marble steps, Philadelphia
Description: Portrait showing a little girl, about two years old, wearing a summer dress, white shoes and stockings. She is sitting on the steps in front of the open door to the vestibule of a brick house in Philadelphia. Her dark hair is cut short with bangs., Artura postcard., See Robert Bogdan and Todd Weseloh’s “Real Photo Postcard Guide: The People’s Photography,” (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 2006), p. 225., Keith was a Philadelphia photographer who specialized in portraiture, mainly of working-class Philadelphians in South Philadelphia and Kensington from the 1910s to the 1940s.
Creator: Keith, John Frank, 1883-1947, photographer
Date: ca. 1922
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Photographs-Keith [P.2008.10.38]

Title: Little boy riding a small tricycle, Philadelphia
Description: Portrait showing a little boy riding a children's tricycle on the sidewalk in Philadelphia. He wears a white playsuit and black boots., Artura postcard., See Robert Bogdan and Todd Weseloh’s “Real Photo Postcard Guide: The People’s Photography,” (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 2006), p. 225., Keith was a Philadelphia photographer who specialized in portraiture, mainly of working-class Philadelphians in South Philadelphia and Kensington from the 1910s to the 1940s.
Creator: Keith, John Frank, 1883-1947, photographer
Date: ca. 1922
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Photographs-Keith [P.2008.10.73]

Title: Little girl in dress standing on marble step, Philadelphia
Description: Portrait showing a little girl, about three or four years of age, standing on a marble step in front of a door in Philadelphia. She wears a summer dress trimmed with ruffles and a headband with big ribbon bows on both sides. Her hair is cut short and she has bangs. Her stockings and shoes are white., Artura postcard., See Robert Bogdan and Todd Weseloh’s “Real Photo Postcard Guide: The People’s Photography,” (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 2006), p. 225., Keith was a Philadelphia photographer who specialized in portraiture, mainly of working-class Philadelphians in South Philadelphia and Kensington from the 1910s to the 1940s.
Creator: Keith, John Frank, 1883-1947, photographer
Date: ca. 1922
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Photographs-Keith [P.2008.10.125]

Title: Little girl in summer dress standing on sidewalk, Philadelphia
Description: Portrait showing a little girl wearing a white dress trimmed with ribbon flowers at the neckline and shoulders standing on the sidewalk in front of a brick house in Philadelphia. She also wears white knee high socks, white shoes, and a white ribbon in her hair. The cellar window behind her is protected by metal bars., Artura postcard., See Robert Bogdan and Todd Weseloh’s “Real Photo Postcard Guide: The People’s Photography,” (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 2006), p. 225., Keith was a Philadelphia photographer who specialized in portraiture, mainly of working-class Philadelphians in South Philadelphia and Kensington from the 1910s to the 1940s.
Creator: Keith, John Frank, 1883-1947, photographer
Date: ca. 1922
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Photographs-Keith [P.2008.10.148]

Title: Young man standing in front of board fence, Philadelphia
Description: Portrait showing a young man, in his twenties, wearing a striped shirt with sleeve garters and no collar or tie standing in front of a wooden fence in Philadelphia. He holds his workman's cap and a sprig of flowers. His hair is neatly combed. Two pens are in his vest pocket. The blurred image of a little girl is visible to the left., Artura postcard., See Robert Bogdan and Todd Weseloh’s “Real Photo Postcard Guide: The People’s Photography,” (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 2006), p. 225., Keith was a Philadelphia photographer who specialized in portraiture, mainly of working-class Philadelphians in South Philadelphia and Kensington from the 1910s to the 1940s.
Creator: Keith, John Frank, 1883-1947, photographer
Date: ca. 1922
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Photographs-Keith [P.8649.45]

Title: Man leaning against an old wooden wall of a house, Philadelphia
Description: Portrait showing a man in shirtsleeves and a workman's cap standing in front of a wall of a wooden house in Philadelphia. He wears sleeve garters. The wooden wall behind him is very rough and carries some graffiti. The shutters to the window behind him are closed. He is standing on the door to the cellar., Keith was a Philadelphia photographer who specialized in portraiture, mainly of working-class Philadelphians in South Philadelphia and Kensington from the 1910s to the 1940s.
Creator: Keith, John Frank, 1883-1947, photographer
Date: ca. 1925
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Photographs-Keith [P.2008.10.25]

Title: Small child sitting on marble steps, Philadelphia
Description: Portrait showing a small child sitting on marble steps in front of a door in Philadelphia. The child wears a summer dress and striped stockings and holds a toy in its hand., Keith was a Philadelphia photographer who specialized in portraiture, mainly of working-class Philadelphians in South Philadelphia and Kensington from the 1910s to the 1940s.
Creator: Keith, John Frank, 1883-1947, photographer
Date: ca. 1925
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Photographs-Keith [P.2008.10.84]

Title: Graduating class of June 19[24]. The McMichael School - Phila. PA
Description: Class portrait of students, including African American children, from the school at 36th Street and Fairmount Avenue named after Philadelphia mayor Morton McMichael. Six rows of children sit and stand, posed outside the school, which was organized in 1892 from students from the Belmont and Haverford schools., Title from item., Photographer's stamp on verso: Dan E. Paul Commercial Photography Bell Phone 2225 N. 2nd St. Phila, PA., Gift of Elizabeth MacGuire, 2002., 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.
Creator: Paul, Dan E., photographer
Date: 1924
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department group portrait photographs - education - McMichael School [P.2002.35.1]

Title: [George H. McFadden and E.T. Stotesbury in Palm Beach, Florida, winter 1921]
Description: Portrait of Philadelphia financier, Edward T. Stotesbury, and Philadelphia cotton merchant, George H. McFadden in a rickshaw driven by an African American man near a palm tree in Palm Beach. Stotesbury and McFadden sit in the wicker rickshaw and look at the viewer. At the back, the African American man, attired in a brimmed hat, a white collared shirt, a tie, a waistcoat, a jacket, pants, and shoes, sits with his feet on the pedals and looks at the viewer., Title supplied by cataloger., Manuscript note on recto and verso., Purchase 1989., 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: 1921
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department LCP postcards - portraits [P.9276.52]

Title: Daily Vacational Bible School #63
Description: Group portrait photograph depicting the African American Bible school, students and instructors, posed before a large brick residence, probably in Philadelphia. The students and men and women teachers sit and stand in five rows. In the right back row, two boys hold baseball bats., Title, date, and photographer's imprint inscribed in negative., Purchase 1989., 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.
Creator: Paul, Dan E., photographer
Date: 1920
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *group portrait photographs - education [P.9273.7]

Title: [African American basketball team]
Description: Group portrait photograph depicting members of an African American basketball team with their coach, probably in Philadelphia. Three players sit on wooden chairs, the middle one with a basketball on his lap. Behind them, the coach and three more players stand and look at the viewer. The athletes are attired in uniforms consisting of a sleeveless shirt with a logo on the front, shorts, knee-length socks, and shoes. Posters for good health and African American participation in athletics hang on the walls, possibly of a Boys' Club or YMCA., Title from item., Photographer's imprint stamped on verso., Purchase 1989., 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.
Creator: Paul, Dan E., photographer
Date: [ca. 1920]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *group portrait photographs - recreation [P.9273.6]

Title: Bread St. bel. Arch St
Description: Exterior view of depicting the entrance of a Jewish family’s brick house north of Arch Street in Philadelphia. In the right, a white man, attired in a cap, a collared sweater, pants, and shoes, holds a broom and sweeps in front of the door. In the left, four white women peer out of two first-floor shuttered windows and look at the viewer. Underneath the windows five young African American children sit, attired in winter hats and coats., Title from descriptive manuscript note by photographer on verso., Photographer's manuscript note on verso: (without wisp of smoke). Mortor [sic] was mixed in those days in a huge mortor [sic] box. The lime was slacked by shoveling it into the box, permitting water to flow into the box and keeping the mass in constant motion with a hoe, thereby preventing the lime from being burned or killed, when properly slacked, it was run off into a basin of sand, where it was mixed with the sand and made ready for use., Gift of Margaret Odewalt Sweeney, 1979., 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.
Creator: Wilson, G. Mark (George Mark), 1879-1925, photographer
Date: [ca. 1923]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Wilson [P.8513.97], http://www.lcpimages.org/wilson/wilson97.htm

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]

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