In 1790, Samuel Jennings wrote to the Library Company expressing his support for the arts and sciences and the desire to commence a painting that represented the ideals of the institution. In the completed painting, titled Liberty Displaying the Arts and Sciences, or The Genius of America Encouraging the Emancipation of the Blacks, Liberty is surrounded by books and symbols of culture, one being a catalog of the Library Company. The allegory not only implies knowledge as power, but knowledge as freedom. Jennings gifted the large painting to the Library Company in 1792 and it still hangs prominently in our reading room today, representing our mission to share knowledge with all those who wish to learn. 

Jennings, Samuel. Liberty Displaying the Arts and Sciences, or The Genius of America Encouraging the Emancipation of the Blacks. London, 1792.

Snowy city sidewalks, shovels and sweeps highlight this holiday week #FlashbackFriday and #LibraryWonderland. 

Depicts the sons of the photographer bundled and hard at work outside the Doering family residence.

Doering, William Harvey, 1858-1924, photographer. [Albert Lindsay and Karl Doering shoveling snow near 1837 N. Bouvier Street, Philadelphia.] [graphic]. ca. 1897.

#FlashbackFriday to the Wissahickon Falls, circa 1874. 

This hand-colored lithograph shows the Wissahickon Falls at the junction of Wissahickon Creek and the Schuylkill River in Fairmount Park. 

In the background, carriages are seen departing and arriving at Wissahickon Hall, erected circa 1849 by Harry Lippen at Wissahickon Drive (i.e., Lincoln Drive) below Gypsy Lane. 

The Wissahickon remains one of the gems of Philadelphia, especially as the leaves begin to change

Kelly, Thomas. Wissahickon Falls [graphic]. New York: Publ. & print. by Th. Kelly, 17 Barclay St. c1874 1 print: lithograph, hand-colored; 25 x 35 cm. (10 x 14 in.)

#FlashbackFriday to Philadelphia in 1848, when a fashionable hat proved you were on top of the trends.

This hand-colored lithograph is an advertisement for Charles Oakford’s fashionable hat, cap, and fur business. Oakford established his business in 1827 and relocated to 104 Chestnut in 1843 where he began his wholesale trade. He operated from the address until 1852.

Charles Oakford’s 1848 & 49 fashions for hats, caps & furs, wholesale & retail establishment, no. 104 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. [graphic] . Kramer, Peter, 1823-1907, artist. Philadelphia: P.S. Duval Lith. Ranstead Place. [1848] 1 print: lithograph, hand-colored; 31 x 24 cm. (12 x 9.5 in.)

#FlashbackFriday to Swann Memorial Fountain at Logan Square in Philadelphia before the 1924 installation of Alexander Stirling Calder’s sculpted naiad figures.

Logan Circle [graphic].  Wilson, G. Mark (George Mark), d. 1925, photographer. Philadelphia, ca. 1923. 1 photographic print: gelatin silver; 8 x 10 in.

Those who have never used a large format camera, there is nothing like it. It is incredibly technical and temperamental, but the results (when shot correctly) are also incredibly sharp and detailed. It is not something easily achieved by smaller formats, including digital formats. This photograph by William Rau aptly captures the process involved in taking large format photographs. This photograph is part of a mini-exhibition to coincide with today’s lunchtime talk with John Stauffer about the German influence on American photography. For more information please visit http://www.librarycompany.org/events/index.htm .

William Rau. [Photographing the Packsaddle for the Pennsylvania Railroad], ca. 1891. Albumen photograph. Gift of William Rau Haden, Sr.