Library Company of Philadelphia
This lithograph, which was done after a painting by renowned artist Lilly Martin Spencer, depicts her family enjoying a Fourth of July picnic on the banks of the Passaic River in Newark, New Jersey. While the scene is meant to depict the jubilant celebrations typically associated with the holiday, the presence of two Black figures in positions of servitude is an important reminder of the inherent contradictions of a holiday meant to celebrate freedom and independence.
In his 1852 speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July,” Frederick Douglass famously addressed this issue:
“What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us? and am I, therefore, called upon to bring our humble offering to the national altar, and to confess the benefits and express devout gratitude for the blessings resulting from your independence to us?”
This stereograph view shows the crowds visiting the Centennial International Exposition on July 4, 1876. Stagecoaches, horses, and pedestrians make their way down Elm Avenue (now Parkside Ave), with the Main Exhibition Building stretching along the entire length of the background. At the time, the Main Exhibition Building was the largest building in the world.
Of the 200 structures that were built in Fairmount Park for the Centennial Exhibition, only four remain, including Memorial Hall (the Art Gallery), now home to the Please Touch Museum. The Main Building was demolished in 1881.
We’re 289 years young today!
In 1731, Benjamin Franklin convinced members of the Junto, his “society of mutual improvement,” to pool their resources and purchase a collection of books none could have afforded individually. The Articles of Agreement pictured here were drafted on July 1, 1731, and the Library Company of Philadelphia was established when 50 founding shareholders signed on, each contributing 40 shillings.
Articles of Association. (Philadelphia, July 1, 1731). Manuscript on vellum.
In honor of the last day of Pride Month, we’re sharing this photographic postcard by John Frank Keith from our 2014 exhibition, “That’s So Gay: Outing Early America.” Below is the accompanying label:
“It is tempting to suggest that the women in the first photograph are a couple. After all, the woman who is wearing the necktie has her arm around the other woman. Could she be the more man-identified if they are a couple? Or is she simply a woman wearing a necktie with panache? The exact nature of the relationships of the people in these photographs probably will remain forever unknown and unknowable."
Olaudah Equiano, also known as Gustavus Vassa, was a formerly enslaved man from present-day Benin. After gaining his freedom in 1766, Equiano became active in the abolitionist movement and authored his influential memoir, “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, the African.”
This engraving was published as the frontispiece for Equiano’s autobiography. Equiano is depicted in this portrait holding a Bible in his right hand. It was common for authors of slave narratives to proclaim their Christian faith and tell tales of their conversion.
Cornelius Tiebout, Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa the African (New York: W. Durrell), 1791.
Almost exactly 372 years ago, a stray question mark became a type ornament?
A rainbow of publishers bindings from our cloth bindings database to cap off Pride Month.
Hope your Wednesday is at least marginally better than Snail-man’s. (see what what we did there?)
Hamilton Book of Hours, Use of Thérouanne. Northern France, first quarter 16th century
This carte-de-visite of three Civil War-era soldiers shows three men posed closely together. Given how common all-male organizations and activities were at the time, such displays of intimacy would rarely elicit comment.
Three unidentified men in Civil War uniforms. Albumen carte-de-visite photograph, ca. 1865. Gift of S. Marguerite Brenner.
From our 2014 exhibition That’s So Gay: Outing Early America. To see more of the exhibition, visit www.librarycompany.org/gayatlcp
Knock, knock, knock. Someone’s at the door!
This canvassing book, or salesman sample, shows the various binding styles available for purchase. Bound into the book are samples of engravings, a family record page, photograph album pages, and a marriage certificate. These special pages have pink notes attached with a script for the canvasser to use in his sales pitch.
New devotional and practical pictorial family Bible. Philadelphia, PA.; Chicago, Ill.; St. Louis, Mo, and Atlanta GA: National Publishing Co., 1879.
From our 2017 exhibition The Living Book. See more at https://thelivingbook.librarycompany.org/