Membership certificate for the relief society, later the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, organized in Philadelphia in 1771. A large central oval contains an allegorical scene showing the classical figures of Hope, Columbia, and Concordia near a column marked "Hibernian Society." The women welcome immigrants disembarking from a sailing ship on long boats. Hope leans on an anchor; bare-breasted Columbia (i.e., United States) holds a shield; and Concordia, a bag of money in her hand and an Irish harp resting behind her, reaches out to an allegorical female arrival. An American eagle with a shield, and tools and symbols of agriculture and industry border the oval., Illustrated seal of the society blindstamped on recto., Title supplied by cataloger., Date inferred from active dates of the artist and engraver., Signed by Hugh Holmes, president., Holmes, a founder of the society, served as its president 1800-1817., Gift of David Doret., Houston worked as a engraver in Philadelphia in the late 1790s.
Creator
Houston, H. H., engraver
Date
[ca. 1797]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *Philadelphia certificates - Organizations [P.2006.28.12]
