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Title: Missionary Society of the Evangelical Association of North America [certificate]
Description: Life membership certificate containing a vignette contrasting scenes of apocalyptic doom and religious salvation. Shows to the right an angel trumpeting salvation and wielding the Bible; a white man missionary preaching to a large group of Native Americans; and a converted African family of a man, woman, and child, kneels and reaches toward the winged messenger of God. On the ground are broken chains and swords, and a hut and palm trees are in the background. Opposite the scenes of salvation, a cross rises from the ground, bringing forth a river of redemption too late for the lost souls of a bejeweled "heathen" woman and a skull-headed man entangled by serpents. Behind them a temple, probably the Vatican, collapses to the ground. The Evangelical Association, a Methodist ministry, worked first to convert Native Americans and enslaved people before extending their missions to the Black inhabitants of Liberia in the 1820s., Issued to Peter H. Cage of Catasauqua, Pa. on February 24, 1870. Signed by Thomas Bowman, Secretary; Francis Hoffman, President; and Isaac Hess, Treasurer., Gift of David Doret, 2004., 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.
Creator: Sartain, John, 1808-1897, engraver
Date: [ca. 1850]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *Philadelphia certificates - Organizations - M [P.2004.46.1]

Title: Grand United Order Odd Fellows America [membership certificate]
Description: Membership certificate for the African American fraternal organization containing an allegorical view that includes Odd Fellow iconography. Shows the female figures of Justice and Truth standing on globes and flanking a framed view of an ark at sea. Justice holds a sword and scale and Truth holds a torch, serpent, and a mirror from which a light shines. Visible within and bordering the view are Odd Fellow symbols, including the sickle and hourglass, dove, skull and crossbones, the lamb, heart-in-hand, and the lion. Above the view the female figure Charity sits and holds children in her lap below the all Seeing Eye in the night sky under a rainbow marked "G.U.O. of O.F." The G.U.O.O.F was established in 1843 with a charter from the Grand Lodge in Manchester, England., Not in Wainwright., Copyrighted by D. B. Bowser, probably the artist., Issued to David B. Bowser, Unity Lodge, No. 711, G.U. O. of O.F. on July 10, 1844. Signed James Needham, N[oble] F[ather], James McCrummill, N[oble] G[rand] and Joshua Campbell, P. S[ecretary]., Philadelphia on Stone, Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Certificates - Odd Fellows, Bowser, was a prominent African American ornamental artist and social activist, who specialized in signs, banners, and paraphernalia in addition to portraiture. Major commissions included volunteer firefighter apparel and equipment, Civil War pictorial banners, and Grand United Order of Odd Fellows regalia.
Date: c1843
Location: Historical Society of Pennsylvania | Print Department | HSP at LCP HSP Certificates - Odd Fellows

Title: Washington and Lafayette Benefical Society Incorporated April 12th 1825
Description: Membership certificate containing a scene showing the December 31, 1777 meeting between Marquis De Lafayette and General Washington during the American Revolution. On the banks of the Delaware River, under the watch of guards, Washington attended by his officers extends his hand to the young Franch Major General who is accompanied by his two officers. The men stand in front of a row of tents beside which a band of uniformed militia stand near an armed frontiersman and Native American witnessing the event. In the background, militia troops drill and ships sail on the Delaware. Also contains a vignette showing a society member in his sick bed attended by his wife and fellow members. The seated men talk and sit at a table playing cards as the ailing man's son, holds a hoop, and cries at the foot of the bed. Vignette bordered by two posted schedules of the month, day, and hour of "Stated Meetings" for the year that is also printed with the notice that "The Roll shall be called precisely 30 Minutes after the time above specified. Also includes the American eagle holding a shield marked with the incorporation date of the society., Not in Wainwright., Philadelphia on Stone, Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Bc 983 Q 3
Creator: Queen, James Fuller, 1820 or 21-1886, artist
Date: [ca. 1845]
Location: Historical Society of Pennsylvania HSP Bc 983 Q 3

Title: Order of the United Daughters of America [membership certificate] Honesty, virtue & industry
Description: Membership certificate for the patriotic nativist women's society established in New York in 1845 as an auxilliary to the Order of United Americans. Contains a vignette portrait of Martha Washington flanked by the allegorical figures of Liberty and Justice perched in a cluster of clouds. Below on each side, columns entwined with the American flag and adorned with the American eagle and shield rest on pedestals decorated with horns of cornucopia. Between the columns, a "United Daughter" leads a little girl to another "United Daughter" who welcomes them into a temple adorned with garlands of flowers. The society weakened by the collapse of the nativist political movement remained active until circa 1861., Not in Wainwright., Copyrighted by Wm. Patton., Issued October 23, 1847 to Elizabeth Curry for membership in the Lady Taylor Council, No. 10 State of Pennsylvania. Elizabeth Wentz, Governess. Anna Clewell, Recd. Secretary., Philadelphia on Stone, POSP 160, Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Bc 052 U 58, LCP exhibit catalogue: Women 1500 to 1900, entry #192., See "Order of the United American Mechanics." AAS Graphic Arts Lithf Patt Hone.
Date: c1848
Location: Historical Society of Pennsylvania HSP Bc 052 U 58

Title: Pennsylvania. SS. In the name & by the authority of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. David R. Porter, Governor of the said Commonwealth. [Alexander C. Hart of the County] of Philadelphia, Esquire, Greeting: Know that you, the said, [Alexander C. Hart] being duly [appointed] and returned, are hereby commissioned [Surgeon of the First Regiment of Artillery] Regiment of the Militia, of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the [First] Brigade of the First Division, composed of the Militia of the City and County of Philadelphia
Description: Membership certificate appointing Dr. Alexander C. Hart as a surgeon in the first regiment of artillery of the Pennsylvania militia in 1843. Alexander Chambers Hart (1811-1884) was a physician and surgeon. He helped found the Charity Hospital of Philadelphia and served during the Civil War., Title and date from item., Text printed on recto: To have and to hold this Commission, exercising all the powers and discharging all the duties thereunto lawfully belonging and attached, until the third day of August, one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, if you shall so long behave your self well, and perform the duties required by law [unless sooner removed by the commanding officer of said Regiment.] In testimony whereof, I have set my hand, and caused the less seal of the State to be affixed to these presents, at Harrisburg, dated agreeably to law, the [first] day of [June] in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty [three] and of the Commonwealth, the sixty [seventh.] [Chas. McClure] Secretary of the Commonwealth., Contains a wax seal and the signature of the Governor of Pennsylvania, "David R. Porter.", Gift of David Doret, 2017.
Date: [ca. 1843]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *Phila Certificates - Military - Hart Collection [P.2010.21.5.4]

Title: [Eighty-fourth] Regiment of the militia, of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the [second] brigade, Of the first division, compound of the militia of the city and county of Philadelphia
Description: Membership certificate appointing Dr. Alexander C. Hart as a surgeon in the 84th regiment of the Pennsylvania militia in 1842. Alexander Chambers Hart (1811-1884) was a physician and surgeon. He helped found the Charity Hospital of Philadelphia and served during the Civil War., Title and date from item., Text printed on recto: To have and to hold this commission, exercising all the powers and discharging all the duties thereunto lawfully belonging and attached, until the third day of August, one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, if you shall so long behave your sold well, and perform the duties required by law [unless sooner removed by the commanding officer of said regiment] In testimony whereof, I have set my hand, and caused the less seal of the state to be affixed to these presents, at Harrisburg, dated agreeably to law, the [third] day of [August] in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty [two] and of the commonwealth, the sixty [seventh] By the Governor: [Chas. McClure] Secretary of the Commonwealth., Gift of David Doret, 2017.
Date: [ca. 1842]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *Phila Certificates - Military - Hart Collection [P.2010.21.5.3]

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